Ion Fury Review
Release date: August 15th, 2019
Developer: Voidpoint
Platforms: Steam (Reviewed), coming to PSN/XBL in the future
Price: $25
Who doesn't like FPS games from the 1990s? Ion Fury formerly known as Iron Maiden is published by 3D Realms and looks to take FPS games back to a simpler time. The game is fast paced with plenty of secrets to keep new and old players interested.
Ion Fury was developed by Voidpoint and the game has a little bit of a story. Gamers play as Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison. She is a former bomb defuser for a Global Task Force. The game’s graphics take me back to Duke Nukem 3D or Doom 2. Everything is pixelated and gory, and there are plenty of weapons to use. Gamers can pick different difficulties right in the beginning. I played it on medium and I think about half way I mixed it up and switched to an easier mode.
How does the game work? Players run around trying to find the exit or some keys while blasting foes with a fantastic shotgun (it feels so good), grenade launchers, an uzi or two, a heavy revolver, bowling grenades that bounce around corners or a host of other weapons. Enemies are easy to see but the hit detection took a little to get use to. I found myself missing enemies sometimes, and I discovered its best to aim for the middle.
This game takes me back to a simpler time where its all about running and gunning and collecting keys. I played with the keyboard and mouse and tried a wired 360 controller. I recommend the keyboard and mouse as any gamer from the early 1990s knows this is the best combo. The mouse and keyboard will make a lot of difference. I felt like the controls were tighter and could kill enemies faster.
The sounds and music are reminiscent of the 1990s FPS games. Shelley is dropping one liners just like Duke which made me chuckle. Graphically Ion Fury is more colorful that games like Duke Nukem 3D. Environments are bright and colorful and there is a lot of scenery to take in. The Build engine is causing skyscrapers to crash and things to explode all over the place. Gamers may find themselves a little frustrated as they have to double back and hunt down keys or a door that was missed. This may take modern gamers a little bit to get the hang of the controls and some of the ideas in the game.
Despite the game’s older looking graphics I had a lot of fun. The game may not have the depth of something like System Shock, but it is as good as Hexen, Doom 1 and 2 and Rise of the Triad and should entice any old school PC gaming fans from the 1990s.
Thanks to the publisher for letting us review it. Final Score is
Pros:
Easy to play with lots of weapons
A great 90s inspired FPS
Cons:
Repetitive
Graphics can look flat sometimes