Ember and Blade is giving its demo another update today, although calling this one an “update” might be underselling just how much has changed.
LINE Games has launched Demo 2.0 for its upcoming survivor-like today, with the combat system rebuilt, new combos and stamina mechanics, smarter enemies, overhauled weapons, and plenty of changes elsewhere. The developer says feedback from the previous demo was behind the overhaul, particularly criticism that the combat didn’t give players enough meaningful choices.
Rather than trying to patch over those complaints with a few balance tweaks and shinier effects, the team went considerably further. Demo 2.0 revisits almost every part of the game, and players can try the results for themselves from today on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Xbox. While it has only just dropped, there have already been a few issues with demo 2.0 that the developer has acknowledged.
Light, Heavy, Repeat Until the Demons Stop Moving
The biggest changes are waiting in combat. Light and heavy attacks can now be combined into different combos, each with its own animations, attack range, and uses. Some can even interrupt elite enemies, giving players another reason to think about which attacks they’re throwing out rather than simply hammering away until everything falls over.
There’s also a new stamina system to keep all that aggression under control. Heavy attacks and dashes now consume stamina, with different combos requiring different amounts. Empty the bar completely and you’ll briefly become exhausted, which probably isn’t where you want to be when a screen full of demons is heading in your direction.
Input responsiveness, targeting, camera effects, and boss targeting have also been reworked, while the old auto-firing crossbow has been removed entirely. According to Design Director STEEL, the team wanted players to have more active decisions to make during fights, rather than relying on systems that did some of the work for them.
Sword, Hammer, Shotgun
Demo 2.0 gives players three rather different answers to the demon problem…a sword, hammer, and shotgun. All three have received major changes to their actions, effects, and sounds. The sword now has numerous combo possibilities, while the considerably less subtle hammer gets new charge, dash, dodge, and dodge-charge attacks.
Then there’s the shotgun. The new ranged weapon can fire barrages and unleash rapid spinning attacks, making it a slightly different proposition for anyone who thinks demon hunting could be improved by bringing considerably more firepower.
Enemies aren’t going to stand around politely while you’re experimenting either. Monster AI has been upgraded so groups can pressure and surround players from multiple directions, while hit reactions and death animations have also been reworked. Boss-level enemies now clearly enter a groggy state too, opening a window where attacks receive an additional bonus.
Demo 2.0 Goes Well Beyond Combat
The changes don’t stop once the weapons are put away. Blessings have been rebuilt around a new linking system that lets players attach them to light attacks, heavy attacks, or dashes. Where a Blessing is assigned can change how it behaves, including its projectile form, quantity, and activation timing, opening up more ways to shape a build during a run.
Act I has also been reworked, with clearer environments, new interactions around the castle, and adjustments designed to improve the pacing after players reported that the earlier portion of the game felt too slow. A new prologue has been added too, while Act I is now fully playable in the demo alongside revamped demo-exclusive endgame content.
Ember and Blade is eventually heading to Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox, although there’s currently no release date for the full game. For now, the demons are back for another round, and this time the Demon Hunter has learned a few new tricks.