Bound by Flame

Disclaimer for Steam Deck users: do not play the native Linux version; it has serious performance issues. Set compatibility to Proton Experimental (or any other, for that matter) and Steam will download the Windows version and run through the compatibility layer. You can play the Windows version with everything maxed out except shadows, which you should set to Medium, for a locked 60 FPS at native 800p.
Bound By Flame is a very big improvement over Mars: War Logs. I would say Spiders is 50% of the way to reach their goal of making BioWare-style games.
The first chapter is quite good, with intriguing characters and plenty of mundane quests that offer exposition about the world of Vertiel. The second chapter is fine, and the third one is rushed.
How good is the story? I felt invested enough in the world and in saving it that I accidentally did an evil run, since the plot made me feel like I wouldn't be able to save it if I did a cookie cutter, paragon playthrough.
The companions are quite fun, especially Edwen and Mathras. I, however, dislike the fact that Mathras wasnt available for dialogue at the end game.
Overall, a very solid AA RPG. It compares favourably with Piranha Bytes games, except it has MUCH better gameplay.

Bound By Flame Review
Review is after completing the main quest and about 80% of the side quests. I played a warrior build supported with pyromancy skills.
Pros:
Unique setting of a world at the very brink of its destruction. Most other games are about preventing the destruction within a very generous time period.
Cell shaded art style that captures the desolate theme of this world.
Familiar Spiders game weapon wheel and combat mechanics.
I was able to level up my preferred skill tree satisfactorily.
I was able to obtain most of the perks/feats.
Crafting and upgrading system was easy to understand and use at any time.
Armour sets that combine to give various perks.
Ability to sprint past enemies.
Traps and crossbow bolts are more powerful than you think. But they are clunky to use in combat.
Decent companions. I suppose the best is the busty lady as she has ties to the main story.
There are a few key decision points in the main quest with unexpected outcomes.
Ability to switch combat stances when needed.
Cons:
While the main story mentions 7 bosses, we only get to fight one or two of them at most.
Spiders set out to make a sprawling RPG then hit a budget ceiling. It's very apparent when playing this game.
The final boss is terribly designed and incredibly frustrating to defeat using normal attack, dodge, heal tactics.
The boss just before the final boss mind controlled all of my companions. So I had a horde of violent morons running charging after my Vulcan.
Companions are nerfed. Proven by the fact that they can 2 shot Vulcan under enemy mind control. Other times they flail ineffectively at the enemy.
The fire demons have terrible olde English.
Damage sponge enemies made combat tedious.
Respawning enemies when loading previously visited areas, which make backtracking very tedious.
Unreliable target lock feature.
Very small aggro range for enemies. If you lead them away too far they walk back to their original location and fully heal.
Plot loses its way at the end of the game. It made no sense and was confusing.
Advice:
Some cheesing strategies can be used. When entering a combat arena you can set traps at leisure around the edges and then draw enemies towards them.
The final fight is extremely brutal. Look for the cheesing strategy online. Its a cakewalk afterwards. Don’t waste your time trying to beat the boss fairly.
“I hoped for a bit more affection from someone who spies on me when I bathe” - Edwen
Overall Score: 5/10

This game was Spiders' response to Bioware's Dragon Age and CDPR's Witcher 2, both of which are vastly better games. That being said, for a AA-Studio game, it's fine. Spiders continued to refine their gameplay as the studio went on, but being earlier on in their development career, this game still suffers from classic Eurojank. If you've ever played a Spiders game, you know exactly what that means. Because of this, the balance feels all over the place, especially in the higher difficulties where the game feels like it was never tested. The story is a greatest hits of Dark fantasy cliches of the decade, and was severely rushed near the end. Standing out from the rest of the game however is its soundtrack, with some amazing work by Olivier Deriviere. I haven't touched this game in 8 years, but still regularly play the soundtrack. You can tell that Spiders wanted this game to be so much more than it ended up being.
Ultimately, I wish it had gotten the further attention and content it hinted at, and I'd still love to see a continuation someday. But despite all of its flaws, it is still a perfectly fine, serviceable game, especially coming from a AA-Studio. You can use Bound By Flame to kill a weekend, and at the current price of $7 that is very worthwhile, even more so if you can catch it on a sale.

Very hard for me to review this game.
I wish there was a neutral button because that's exactly what I feel.
Usually, you either like a game or dislike it, but this is the first time I'm not feeling anything.
This game isn't bad, but it is also not that good.
So I decided to rate it based on its price, and at about 8$ it barely makes it to get good rating (if it was 10$, i'd give it negative).
But it is really on the edge here, the price I'd recommend for this game is 5$ or less.

A very difficult game but I had my fun learning the combat system. This game will make you rage and it will teach you to be patient. Final boss fight 60 traps planted at entrance right before the final fight so i only need to lower his HP to half and damage dragon and then lure him into the traps and game over lol.( if you bring 120 traps then 60 for 100% hp to 50% and the other 60 is to kill him after damaging the dragon and you lure him to the traps and congrats you just beat the game.)

This is a game that i never heared about and when i looked it up only bad things mostly about it..
But after starting to play it its atually a fun n good game,nothing special,But for the price its more then a great purchase.
loved the world build n lore,Even the npcs i liked.
so recomend it for other gamers

Surprisingly a good game. Well balanced fights and skills and good progression through the story. I really hope a sequel is in the works because it is a solid story. Was a little let down with not being able to fight the other lords, but the game was just the right amount of challenging.