Speaking of weapons, Tails of Iron has one of the most unique combat systems I’ve encountered all year that offers so much with so little. The quest rewards are standard fare, but any excuse to see more of Redgi’s world and its bizarre, loveable, and lethal inhabitants is fine with me. Redgi has an impressive array of tricks up his sleeve, including multiple weapons, special recipes, and more, and finding that extra item or bit of gear makes a significant difference at times. You can finish the main story in 12 hours or so, though exploring every area and taking on side quests naturally lengthens that time a bit. It’s an epic for the busy RPG fan, with enough substance and hints of additional stories in the world to feel as grand as a game three times its length. The journey takes him across a vast world riddled with dangers and no shortage of wonders, but despite its size, Tails of Iron always feels manageable. Of course, taking his home back from the frog invasion is only part of Redgi’s adventure. When you're resting in a delicately carved wooden chair in the village hall-meets-clocktower, it's almost easy to forget there's a war on - or it would be if you weren't, ya'know, wearing the skull of your enemy. Some areas are even cozy in their own way. Hints of what used to be keep Tails of Iron from ever feeling too grim. Rain pours down around Redgi while villages burn in the background and invaders slay innocent civilians. Trees rustle in the foreground as enemies creep in the shadows before jumping you. Saying something feels lifelike or seemingly springs to life sounds like a cliché, but it’s the only way to describe Odd Bug’s creation. Odd Bug uses parallax features to extraordinary effect throughout Tails of Iron. Impressive as these travel screens are, it’s the destination that stands out the most. The design might be exquisite, but it doesn’t stop them from being nightmare fuel.Įven the travel screens tell a story, with Redgi’s mode of transportation and the environment changing depending on circumstances and where he is at the time. The fluting tones of Redgi’s retainer are literal, in this case.įrogs have a tinge of goblin to them, and the less said about some of the enemies Redgi encounters later in his journey, the better. They’re based on the dev team’s pet rats, and instead of having characters speak, Odd Bug wanted to reduce potential accessibility issues and have them communicate through pictures. Every rat has a distinct personality without ever even speaking, and that’s intentional in more ways than one. Odd Bug crammed so much detail in every environment, even the sewers, to say nothing of Tails of Iron’s character design. Tails of Iron’s visual storytelling is one of its strongest points. It’s in front of you, in the king’s grand audience chamber, the quiet and orderly servants cleaning the castle - then, later, in the dead rats hanging from the rafters and the ferocity of the frogs’ ransacking. You don’t have to hunt for lore scraps to understand the rats’ kingdom, its opulence, or the hatred frogs bear for it. That’s in keeping with some of its inspirations, but Odd Bug surpasses its sources in many ways. Tails of Iron reveals itself not just through the main narrative but from the relationships between characters and kingdoms and even the world design. Tails of Iron is that, and a surprisingly brutal one at times - frog lovers, beware - but it’s also a story with heart.Įven if another voice or only text told of Redgi’s journey, the world Odd Bug has created is a fascinating one on its own. Despite how recognizable his voice is for anyone familiar with The Witcher, this is more than just a nice fantasy cameo.Ĭockle immediately sets a strong tone for Tails of Iron, imbuing it with warmth and even gentle humor at times that elevates it from being just another dark fantasy. Doug Cockle, Geralt of Rivia’s voice in The Witcher games, helps Redgi’s tale unfold. Tails of Iron assaults the senses as soon as it begins, but you’ll likely notice one thing in particular before all others: the narrator. Tails of Iron Review: The Rat King Cometh While there’s plenty of room for expansion and improvement in future Tails games, Tails of Iron is a bold and captivating fantasy with one of the most absorbing combat systems around. It’s equal parts Redwall, Wind in the Willows, and Dark Souls, an unlikely combination that Odd Bug weaves together in such a way that seems entirely natural. So begins Tails of Iron, an animal odyssey from Odd Bug Studios, a tiger of a different stripe.
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