A small complaint, but not a deal breaker by any means.So begins Tails of Iron, an animal odyssey from Odd Bug Studios, a tiger of a different stripe. For the most part, this works, but some of the squeaks and squawks can get grating. Then, while a speech bubble displays some images, the narrator fills you in on what’s happening. None of the characters have spoken dialogue, for instance, and instead speak in a series of notes from an instrument. Satisfying thunks and shwings add real weight to fighting, and the music is so perfectly suited to the games tone. On the topic of affecting combat, the audio played its part as well. I genuinely can’t find anything wrong with the visuals, nice work! Cuts appearing on their bodies and blood splatters might sound low tech, but it’s a brilliantly simple way to let your players know they’re close to winning. It also had a big effect on gameplay, adding visual signifiers when fighting enemies without health bars. It lends itself well the to darker moments with it’s slightly grubby feeling, but there is a fantastical charm about it. There’s something about the almost storybook aesthetic of ToI that really captivated me. Where Audio and Visual design shines is in the “feel” of a game. When will Rats and Mozis learn to get along ToI? Audio and Visuals – Redefining “Ratty” It’s a bit too easy on the “easy” difficulty though, so I suggest normal or higher if you want a challenge. The kill animations don’t go on for two long, and everything is set up to make you feel awesome. That being said, I did have fun with the game. If I’ve proven that I can kill the big beetles over and over again, fighting them in the third last level feels repetetive. But there are a few moments where some enemy types shouldn’t have shown up. There’s a good variety of enemies, from warrior toads to feral bugs and a few things in-between.
Later in the game, some fights even start to feel trivial. Sure, there’s loads of weapons, but it always boils down to learning patterns and attacking. But the problem for me is that the combat is 90% of the gameplay, and it never evolves much. I enjoyed the introduction of the two-handed weapons, and how they can break barriers in the world and shields in combat. It can be easy to be stunlocked when fighting more than one foe, but it’s usually manageable. Attacks feel weighty, the platforming bits work well, dodging is fairly reliable. This might sound a bit dismissive, and while it isn’t exactly new, the gameplay is still fun. Heavy armour Redgi crafting some gear in ToI Wanna be a heavy armour rat with a spear? Go for it. Light attacks, heavy attacks, ranged and enough equipment to customize your build. And pattern learning fights, with visual prompts to let you know what to expect, yellow for parrying and red for dodging. A flask that refills your health, in this case filled with bug juice. Checkpoints, this time in the form of benches, that save the game but bring enemies back to life. Gameplay – Rat SoulsĪs I said before, Tails of Iron is a souls-like. While the story could be deeper, and the tone more consistent, the charm and creativity is something you just have to see for yourself. Tails of Iron is a much more focused experience, without having to sacrifice the world building that side quests can provide. A big problem most RPGs have is that the scope gets too broad, and the player loses sight of the original goal. I managed to get to 85% completion in about 7.5 hours, which could be a deal-breaker for some. Now, of course, there are one or two issues I can see people having. The writing manages to balance funny and dark quite adeptly, and the creativity on display is wonderful. That isn’t the only selling point, of course. Even the toads and moles in the later game have an undeniable charm about them. The world of Tails of Iron is just so bloody charming! All the cute little rat folk, trying their best. Why am I trying to save a world that doesn’t seem to want to be saved? ToI gives a lovely answer to that question. There is a point in most souls-likes where I begin to wonder why I’m doing this. You are the king! Then, the toads invade, kill your father and destroy your kingdom, leaving you to pick up the pieces. After fighting your brother in a tournament and winning, your greatest ambition comes true. You play as Redgi, smallest son of King Rattus, who is determined to become king. However, as all things do, he gets old and must choose an heir. Then, King Rattus united the rat kingdoms under one rule and pushed back the toad invaders. The rat people have always been at war with the toads. Tails of Iron begins with a short history lesson. 3) Audio and Visuals – Redefining “Ratty” Story – Rise and Fall of the Rat King
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