If you’re looking for a challenging, satisfying, and stylistic game, then look no further. Tails of Iron, developed by Odd Bug Studio and published by United Label and CI Games, is an intense yet charming action RPG. You play as Redgi, the young rat king who ascends to the throne just as the evil frog clans attack his kingdom once more. Tails of Iron features a fast-paced combat system that will test your reflexes and strategic thinking, as well as provide a gorgeous world to explore.
The majority of your gameplay will be spent in combat fighting frogs, bugs, and more as you protect your kingdom. As soon as the game starts, you have a variety of moves available to you, including attacking, dodging, blocking, and parrying. You’ll need to use all of these moves to succeed in combat, as enemies will have different attacks that can only be countered in specific ways. For example, some attacks have to be dodged instead of blocked, and your enemies will telegraph their moves just before using them.
You’ll have to react quickly to avoid getting hit, and learning your opponent’s moves is crucial to coming out alive. Most enemies deal tons of damage with each attack, so you can’t afford to make too many mistakes.
This combat system was already engaging at the start, but the wide variety of equipment you find in the world opens up the combat even further. You’ll find multiple types of weapons, including spears, swords, and axes, to tailor the game to your own playstyle. Some of these weapons will also open up new combat options, like crushing your enemy’s shield with a two-handed axe. You’ll also gain new pieces of armor with varying levels of defense and resistances to different enemy types.
What I really appreciate about the equipment system in Tails of Iron is that you can’t just equip the “best” armor and weapons and move on. Each piece of equipment also weighs you down and makes your dodge roll worse, so you’re constantly balancing defense with mobility. While it would be nice to take more hits before dying, your dodge roll is incredibly useful for evading attacks and outmaneuvering your enemies. Trying to cut weight where you can or adding extra defense here and there makes equipping yourself a fun puzzle that you can customize depending on how you want to play.
Overall, I really enjoyed the combat. It’s so satisfying to respond just in time to an attack, or string together three or four moves to find an opening in your opponent’s defenses. The boss fights in this game are an especially fun challenge, and they really reward you for staying patient and learning what they’re going to do. With all of that in mind, you need to love a challenge to get the most out of Tails of Iron. If you hate dying over and over, or prefer more forgiving games, then you might not have the best experience. This game certainly isn’t punishing (you don’t lose anything when you die, and respawn points are frequent), but it is absolutely difficult.
Finally, I want to mention the game’s amazing presentation. The graphics are gorgeously detailed, and the narration by Doug Cockle, the voice of Geralt of Rivea in The Witcher 3, is enchanting. The game often feels like a dark fairy tale, which is nicely contrasted by frequent humor. I’m grateful that Tails of Iron has such a well–crafted world to explore in between slaying frogs.
If anything in this review piqued your interest, I highly recommend grabbing Tails of Iron for yourself. Whether you’re a fan of engaging combat, beautiful worlds, or you just really love rats, this game has you covered.
Final Score: 9/10
Check Out the Tails of Iron Trailer:
Tails of Iron is available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
For more information, visit: https://www.unitedlabelgames.com/tails-of-iron/
Nintendo Switch Review
Gaming has always been a huge part of my life. I've always appreciated how they can test an individual's skills as well as bring people together. In particular, The Legend of Zelda franchise has some of my favorite games of all time for the sense of wonder I get each time I return to them.
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