Tag Archives: Ironcast

Ironcast (PC)

Ironcast

Developer(s)Ripstone Games, Dreadbit & Polygon Hearts

Ironcast is an indie game, developed with the likes of Candy Crush and Jelly Splash in mind. But offers something extremely different. Blending it with customization options as well as turn-based RPG combat. For me, it has been one of the best games released on Steam this year so far. Since it goes far beyond the level of enjoyment that a simple puzzle game can bring.

Graphics – 7/10

Aside from having a fairly decent range of different robots to command with each playthrough, Ironcast is set in an alternative reality. Where the English are still warring with the French by the year 1886. And England has taken on more of a steampunk theme during the Industrial Revolution. The only gripe I have with the game’s visuals is that the setting of each individual stage can become somewhat repetitive after a while. But where the game’s visuals truly excel is in the level of detail of the robots. As they either generate shields, fire weapons or take damage.

Gameplay – 7/10

To progress through each fight, the player must match up different symbols together to collect four different kinds of main resources for their robot. Coolant, weapons, energy, and repair substance. These are used to maintain and defend the robot during combat. As well as take down the opposing robot on the other side of the screen. After each battle, the player earns experience points to gain upgrades. As well as money to buy improved weapons and armor. With its Roguelike approach to gameplay, it offers a great deal of entertainment value, as well as a challenging learning curve for players to adapt to in order to progress.

Controls – 10/10

Since it’s a turn-based puzzle game exclusive to PC, there was never going to be an issue with the game’s controls, since the scheme is as straightforward as it could possibly have been. It’s actually quite interesting to learn new ways of joining icons on the puzzle board in order to gain as many of the resources on it as possible. Anyone who has ever played Jelly Splash will have a lot of fun with this game in particular.

Lifespan – 10/10

As I alluded to, Ironcast incorporates elements of the Roguelike genre of gaming, similar to either Rogue Legacy or Tower of Guns. This gives it infinite replay value. Since there are quite a few gameplay options and different styles of play to explore, this makes it all the more meaningful and varied. It has been very refreshing to see the resurgence of the Roguelike genre within the indie industry. And this game is most definitely one of the prominent examples of this.

Storyline – 7/10

The basic premise of the game’s story, as I mentioned, is that the English and the French are at war. And a new ability to wage war has been born in an alternative reality to our own. Soldiers are now fighting with machines known as Ironcasts. And the player character is on the side of the English and must do everything in their power to stave off the French advancement. It’s a pretty typical story, reminiscent of any story in either the Battlefield or the Call of Duty franchises. But although there isn’t any spoken dialogue, the characters still have a lot more personality than many of the characters in any of the aforementioned examples at least.

Originality – 7/10

For the longest time, I would look at games such as Candy Crush and Jelly Splash and think that there surely must be some way to modify the same existing formula to make it even more remotely interesting than those games are. Alas, the developers of this game have come up with a very interesting answer to that question. And have made for possibly the most interesting puzzle game I’ve seen since Tetris. If this is the kind of gaming experience that Ripstone Games can conceive, I’m looking forward to what they can possibly go on to do in the future.

Happii

Overall, Ironcast is an immensely pleasing title, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a Steam account. It’s an interesting puzzle-based RPG. Which can be enjoyed at the player’s leisure as opposed to them having to wait for hours at a time for lives to regenerate.

Score

48/60

8/10 (Very Good)