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BlackForge – A Smithing Adventure begins with some wonderful tactile menus. This is not something that would normally get you excited, but the menus are a great example of things to come. BlackForge is all about the way you use your hands to an absurd level in real life. After all, you’re a smith, so precision is very important.
BlackForge begins with a big old bearded dude who calls themself a merchant guiding you through the game’s initial steps. As a smith, your task is to complete the requests he gives you. Once you have completed them, he will bring you new ones. This is a very short summary, but let’s dig deeper as BlackForge likes to. You must cut a piece of wood, shape it to your liking, then use the magic lightning-infused Hammer. You can create perfect ladders and blades by hammering and smelting metal. At least I did not during the preview. You’ll usually get glowing feedback from those you have helped. These are often represented as letters that fly at you in confetti. Even though I’m usually a hurried person, even I wanted to perfect my skills. It was satisfying to have a mallet that looked well made and was able to do its job. I get the feeling more materials with different properties to consider will become available later, and while that’s probably a lot once you get there, it all builds up at a wonderful pace.
BlackForge is almost meditative as it is. The graphics aren’t the most impressive, but I find the game to be a very peaceful experience. You can fix a broken ladder or staff as well as make weapons for hunting monsters. It’s a nice break from the usual hustle and bustle and sheer violence that virtual reality often houses.
There’s nothing wrong with those action games, of course, but sometimes it’s nice to just sit around and do some woodworking. This is especially true for someone without the skills or patience necessary to accomplish this task in the real world. BlackForge can be a fun time, and although I don’t think it’s for everyone, you might enjoy this if your goal is to relax.