A great game that doesn't deserve this fate...
This game was an ambitious project by Rebel Act and Codemasters. The mere fact that they could release such a complex game is remarkable, with little resources. I picked from from an interview that there isn't any other such Gaming industry in Spain.
Blade of Darkness is one of the best examples of hack-and-slash gaming. One has whole control over the character, which makes it way more involving. Which also lets you miss a slice slightly of your opponents shoulder if you turn by even a small angle. The combos for the different attack moves (though some are tedious) is quite fun. But yeah, you may not be able to do Tukaram's Great Fire Sword's Volcano everytime. The weapons are done up well, but the character animation is a major drawback.
For a game release in 2001, it has great graphics. The line of slashes, the character details, and the textures are quite impressive. The music and sound effects score high, too. The places are beautiful, and the music matching.
The greatest minus point is the weak storyline. Sometimes, you end up wondering what exactly you're doing.
In fact, a Blade of Darkness II (though not possible) with better character animation would be a rating 10 game.