Tails of Iron

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 38 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 38
  3. Negative: 2 out of 38

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  1. TomasLacerda
    Sep 20, 2021
    5
    The combat gameplay, which is the main focus on the game, I really can't get into it.
    I hate how unpredictable animations are in order to be able to correctly block and block & riposte. That's already really frustrating. I could get into the Dark Soul dodging and hitting, but every hit, every single in this game has a move boost, so it just gets too much going on hopping front and back    The combat gameplay, which is the main focus on the game, I really can't get into it.
    I hate how unpredictable animations are in order to be able to correctly block and block & riposte. That's already really frustrating. I could get into the Dark Soul dodging and hitting, but every hit, every single in this game has a move boost, so it just gets too much going on hopping front and back with this combat on steroids. That really fall flat early.
    Couldn't keep up and get into the game, refunded the game eventually.    … Expand
  2. Traxillion
    Oct 4, 2021
    7
    Very cute and inventive souls like
    Well worth your time considering how short it is (took me 4 hours to beat)
    Some points are docked due to the repetitive nature of the side quests, the game shines when the main story is put on display and no contrived obstacles are between you and the end goal.
  3. bambook
    Feb 17, 2022
    7
    Только из за рисовки, боевки и некоторых механик. А так в целом игра на любителя. Часто душная и нелогичная. Средне
  4. xDarkomantis
    Jul 18, 2022
    5
    Tails of Iron seemed like a promising game but its potential was squandered with the decisions made by the developer. Like most people, I was drawn in by the art style of the game and the trailer seemed to impress. The initial gameplay seemed good but as the game went on, I think they should have focused more on the exploration/platforming, making things intuitive, and more. Instead, youTails of Iron seemed like a promising game but its potential was squandered with the decisions made by the developer. Like most people, I was drawn in by the art style of the game and the trailer seemed to impress. The initial gameplay seemed good but as the game went on, I think they should have focused more on the exploration/platforming, making things intuitive, and more. Instead, you have clunky controls, weird design decisions, and an obnoxious combat system due to oversized hitboxes from enemies and an awkward dodge roll. If a stranger asked me on this game, then I'd tell them to wait for a big sale. I wouldn't recommend this to a friend.

    + Visual Art is phenomenal and is sure to attract people due to it
    +/- Good Narrator voice actor. Bad character voices (squeaking) that you'll opt to turn it off immediately. The characters use image bubbles but the narrator immediately summarizes/explains what the character is trying to say, so it seems out of place. They could have lessened the use of the Narrator and give characters dialogue lines.

    = Story is somewhat decent; could have been better
    = Music is passable. Nothing really memorable that you're drawn into the atmosphere of the game or you'd want to listen to post-game.

    - Gear system is mediocre & Weight system isn't really explained. There's a lot of weapons/armor you can get but they're incredibly lacking as far as what you can do. Most of the time you're focused on just equipping what gives the better stat and with the way the combat works, you'll be defaulting to the Spear (fastest weapon type) for your 1hand and the 2hand Axe for the Reach/Stun. The Ranged weapons don't have much variation to them besides just upgrading to the next version of the weapon.

    Weight isn't really explained in the game. So if you just unquestionably keep going for the gear that gives the most defense stat, you can find yourself being sluggish in actions/response time and your dodge roll distance reduced. This wouldn't be a problem if the dodge roll had i-frames but since they lack it, the slower weapons/heavy gear feel worse off to use compared to using the Spear (fast) and low weight gear.

    - Combat is bad or good depending on your preference of games & difficulty. The game draws inspiration from the Souls-like genre so its main focus is on the combat & timings. Dodge roll has no i-frames so you have to consider your positioning in boss fights. In the earlier parts of the game, the combat seems fluid enough but later on the bosses have an overabundance of "stomp" attacks and gigantic hitboxes for their attacks (that at times doesn't match the visual frames). At times you can get unlucky and get juggled to death from repeated stomp attacks. And some bosses do damage from simply picking themselves up from the ground.

    The lack of Dodge roll i-frames makes the combat terrible due to the attacks and their hitboxes. At times, you're praying for good RNG from the bosses to get through them if you're not accustomed to tight positioning & reflexes w/ clunky controls.

    - Exploration in this game could have been better. The game looks visually pleasing but there isn't much to explore and the platforming is clunky. Fast traveling in this game is subpar since you have to go to specific board posts to do so and you find yourself back-tracking for exploration due to the main quests (masquerading as side quests) requiring you to go to previously walked through areas.

    Your character jumps slowly and goes a surprisingly short distance. You also take fall damage when you're falling down, even dropping from a short ladder makes you take damage. This seems weird for a game focused on Rats, which are surprisingly good jumpers & agile and have the ability to survive tall heights without injury in the real world. I don't know what they were thinking adding Fall damage since 2D platformers by nature don't punish you at all for fall distance.

    The developer missed opportunities to have platforming sections that would add to the 2D side scrolling nature of the game and the fantasy of being a Rat. But they opted to focus on the combat.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Best PC Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. KeenGamer
    Jan 21, 2022
    90
    I have to say, I don't often play games like ToI. I don't mean souls-likes, or RPGs or Indie Games. I mean games that I excitedly yell at people about. Tails of Iron wasn't a transcended experience, it won't revolutionize the gaming industry or anything. It is, however, a well-designed, fun and charming game. It's something I simply need you to experience, and if it can make me feel that way, it deserves some praise.
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  2. CD-Action
    Jan 19, 2022
    85
    Superb visuals, distinctive atmosphere and a punishing Dark Souls-inspired combat system resulted in an engaging action RPG and one of the best indie games I played in 2021. [12/2021, p.42]
  3. Ragequit.gr
    Nov 3, 2021
    80
    Although Tails of Iron is made with care, exploration and player freedom could be emphasized much more. Thrilling combat, meagre optional content and some simplified quests strewn over a small gameworld comprise a game of contradictions. We hope it is successful enough so that we can see a more ambitious sequel at some point.
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