In this Steampunk alternative version of Victorian Britain, bloody war is waged by noble men and women in mecha. Ironcast is a puzzle fighter developed by Dreadbit and published by Ripstone, with layer upon layer of strategy, rich customisation and a healthy peppering of roguelike brutality. Having had almost a full years run on the PC with a positive reception, this war is making it's way to next gen consoles in the first week of March. This title is way more then meets the eye and I for one had a real blast with it... Pun intended.
The year is 1886 and Britain is in the midst of an all out invasion from the French. The two nations have been at war for many years over a precious energy source named voltite, created by the French and dishonestly obtained by the English. Bad show old bean, that's just not cricket. The mechanised monstrosities, known as Ironcast, named after the method in which they are manufactured were conceived in a desperate attempt to break the stalemate and end this conflict for good. These 7 metre tall walking death dealers are piloted by society's elite noble men and women, known as Commanders in the Consortium of Merit. Waging bloody war in service to Queen and country.
At first glance you may well mistake this title as a casual gem matcher attempting to look the part of a far more complex game. In reality however it's very much the other way around. The puzzle gameplay is surprisingly simple and plays second fiddle to the combat and resource management gameplay elements. Matching three or more "nodes" will begin to fill bars of resources. Purple ammo, used for weapons dispersal. Orange power used for firing up defensive and evasive systems. Blue coolant used to prevent overheating from all systems, and green repair nodes for all round system upkeep. Each turn you are given the opportunity to match node combos three times and perform as many actions with these resources as you can.
My first concern when presented by the barrage of stats was the possibility of a steep learning curve. Fortunately however the tutorial mission does a good job of explaining everything without excessive time spongery. In a matter of minutes I was able to understand each resource function and Ironcast system and conclude my first battle all at a good pace. I Then jumped straight into the full campaign experience without hesitation. In fact it's this impressive balancing act of instantly accessible gameplay and deeper tactical execution that is Ironcast's greatest strength. The real learning curve comes from mastering the random number generated roguelike elements. Level ups provide perks from a large randomised pool and mission drops provide blueprints for Ironcast systems and weapons. This pot luck draw can result in the need to drastically change your playing style on the fly.
Now I have a great fondness for Roguelike titles, and Ironcast is a particularly good example of this genre. Despite any previous experience or prior preparation you never truly have the upper hand. And this is not entirely the doing of the random number generator, Ironcast is a very tough game indeed. Even a potentially simple confrontation or mission objective can turn on a dime for the worse. To make this struggle all the more significant, defeat will lead to permadeath. That's right it's back to the very beginning of the campaign at level 1! The feeling of losing over an hour and a half of successful campaign progress just before meeting with the final boss was a crushing blow I haven't felt since making it to the city of gold, then instantly meeting my death in Spelunky. This tension and feeling of utmost urgency that is war is truly captured in battles that often conclude so intensely that a missed attack or lack of much needed resource can spell disaster for either side.
After each campaign attempt you are awarded a number of commendation medals, based on experience points gained and bonus medals that may spawn on the puzzle grid during battle. These medals are used to purchase additional commanders and Ironcast models, as well as abilities and weapon/shield augmentations that are added to the level up pool. Also purchasable are health and experience boosters which if purchased early can make progression seem a little less like a grind. This feeling of growth can help to make crushing defeat feel just a tad less bitter as you push onwards, you’ll get ‘em next time.
My one real gripe with Ironcast is the lack of any other game mode. With only a campaign mode to keep (in my case) failing at. I'm stunned to see a game with such an impressive combat system go without a multiplayer verses mode that would make so much sense. A few other modes, for instance time attack, challenge, survival or practice with leaderboards for each would go a long way to provide a greater level of accessibility and replay value.
Without a doubt one of the most refreshingly unique titles I've played in recent years, Ironcast is an addictive and relentlessly challenging gaming experience. Accessible from the get go, yet fiendishly difficult to master. you may have just found your new obsession with this puzzle fighter that packs a hell of a punch.
Neil writes: "If you like mechs, love Match-3 and are partial to a bit of Steampunk, then you would quite possibly have been taken in by the joys of Ironcast. Well today a new DLC pack has arrived on the store, and it brings a couple of new Ironcasts and Commanders to the table."
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