Developer Voidpoint and publishers 3D Realms and 1C Entertainment collaborated to deliver an action-packed game that is Ion Fury. Originally named Ion Maiden, the game received threats of copyright infringement by the band, Iron Maiden. Although the initial name caught some controversy, honoring the game after the famous heavy metal band is quite fitting. If only Bruce Dickerson and Steve Harris picked up their controllers and tried it for themselves.
Many players will recognize strong feelings of nostalgia when diving deep into the game. Ion Fury was developed on the famous gaming engine, Build. The software was used in many classic videogames, such names include Duke Nukem 3D (1996), Shadow Warrior (1997), and Blood (1997). Ion Fury is a great homage to this era of titles while providing superior mechanics and advanced gameplay.
Plot
Although the story plays a secondary role, the narrative is a good drive to keep things moving forward. Behind the gun, you play as Shelley “Bombshell” Harrison. Harrison blasts her way through a fallen dystopia that takes place in Washington D.C. In this Blade Runner like world, Harrison is pinned against Dr. Jadus Heskel’s cyber advanced army. She kills her way through gruesome villains and fascinating maps and backdrops.
While playing the game, I appreciated the utilization of the main characters, they were used just the appropriate amount. The dialogue between the protagonist and antagonist was short and sweet. Heskel appears every so often to taunt and torment on nearby screens and Harrison provides badass catchphrases and responses.
Gameplay
Ion Fury is an intense and energetic videogame. There are no instructions or training to start you off, however, the learning curve is quick. It is no understatement to say this game is quite challenging. Luckily, the quick-save feature is available. Death is inevitable but fortunately players can retrace their steps in a manner of seconds.
It seems like Voidpoint recognizes the level of difficulty in the game but does not care how you feel about it. The bosses seem impossible to defeat and the levels stretch on for a considerable amount of time. Although most enemies are killed with one or two shots, the vast number of bots are overwhelming.
For beginners of first-person shooter games, I would suggest playing one level under the difficulty you are used to. I tried “Normal” and I still thought it was exhausting at times. For the advanced players, this game is great to speed run through. Once a map is memorized, the replay ability is incredibly high.
Ion Fury’s gameplay is what carries the game. It is welcoming to new players because the premise is simple: shoot to kill and look for keys to unlock doors. Harrison’s adventure provides a nice break from other titles that rely on cutscenes and heavy plot points to further the game.
My Personal Experiences
The default settings of the game felt a little stiff to me. While yearning for the retro touch, the choppiness of old games began to settle in. Changing my settings helped tremendously and I enjoyed it significantly more after some tweaking. The picture below displays my customized control setup that I found to be most successful:
When playing on the switch, I tried both handheld and on my TV. I would recommend only playing this game on the console. The handheld version, to me, felt awkward. However, if you have certain preferences to gaming, it is enjoyable either way.
The tracker music playing throughout my run was a nice touch, too. I thought it matched the overall theme of the game perfectly. The music made me feel fully engrossed with the experiences and I was shocked how much I appreciated it after playing.
Weapon selection was also done very well. Additionally, the scarcity of ammo and health made everything feel more authentic. Strategizing your every move based on low resources caused a lot of stress but felt rewarding after completion.
The Final Verdict
Overall, Ion Fury is worth the purchase. For the amount of money being spent, the hours of gameplay will be satisfying expectations. This prequel to Bombshell is an excellent addition to the series and to Nintendo’s rotation of shooter games.
Detailing in this game is outstanding. Hidden in every nook and cranny of the map will be an interesting treasure to discover. It would be impossible to beat the game without some venturing on the side. Health packs and ammo can be found scattered in odd places, but it provides a good chuckle after discovering.
The animation brought a nice touch that welcomes both new players and nostalgic gamers. The abstract designs of enemies highlighted some gory kills. Some may find the amount of blood and guts to be bothersome while playing (I personally thought it was awesome) but, at the end of the day it is all about individual preferences.
If I had to describe Ion Fury in one word, it would be “rare.” I have not seen many games made like this in the era of complex battle royales and online campaigns. The criteria have been set high for first-person shooters; it is refreshing to see a game so simplistic and aware of what it truly is.
Final score: 8/10
Check Out the Ion Fury Trailer:
Ion Fury is heading to PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on May 14, 2020.
For more information, please visit: http://www.ionfury.com
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Video games have played an essential role in my life since my parents purchased me my very own GameCube. Countless years and games later, I still have appreciation and love for the gaming community and culture. My passion for a variety of games has kept me close to many friends and roommates over the years. Starting in the fall, I will be embarking on my final year at Michigan State University. I am very excited to see what this year full of gaming will pertain.
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