F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch

 PlayStation 5
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 115 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 82 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 115
  3. Negative: 21 out of 115
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. kasparius
    Nov 24, 2021
    6
    As I played more of the game, it appeared clear that it was developed by fans of the Metroidvania genre with a lack of experience or skill. There is ambition at work here, expansive map, tons of items to discover and ever expansive combat tools, however it is in the fine details that the game falters. Tedious and friction laden stealth and puzzle sections that showcase an inability toAs I played more of the game, it appeared clear that it was developed by fans of the Metroidvania genre with a lack of experience or skill. There is ambition at work here, expansive map, tons of items to discover and ever expansive combat tools, however it is in the fine details that the game falters. Tedious and friction laden stealth and puzzle sections that showcase an inability to spice the game up without resorting to tired ways to challenge the player, and an overall sameness to the entire affair. The creators are trying really hard to create a memorable story and charming characters, but the fuzzy cast seems pulled out of a creepy third rate puppet tv show cancelled after a test screening ended up with traumatized children begging their parents to leave. I’m not sure whose idea it was to have a bunch of rejects from Watership Down and Animal Farm as the unlikely heroes of a clunky futuristic rebellion, but suffice to say I was skipping cutscenes and hitting buttons with zeal during conversations.

    To be honest I’ve always preferred my Metroidvanias light on story and dialogue, environmental storytelling should be key here, and the only thing the environment was indicating was a lack of creative spark in the world design department.

    It’s not all bad, mind you, combat was enjoyable enough in a belt action kind of way, and the presentation even though lacking in style indicates a lot of work went into it, but there is a very strong lack of polish that permeates most aspects of the game and I can only recommend it to Metroidvaniacs who’ve played pretty much every other game in the genre and need a fix. For others, if the mood strikes you there is so much better out there.    … Expand
  2. zzuchara
    Sep 17, 2021
    6
    The game is generally good, the art style is excellent, the combat system pleases, the plot in the style of old superhero action movies also made me smile a couple of times, but the game has a very big but. I did not go through it to the end because I was finished off by your giant labyrinths overflowing with obstacles .. well, this is too much ... I would like to put all 10, but excuseThe game is generally good, the art style is excellent, the combat system pleases, the plot in the style of old superhero action movies also made me smile a couple of times, but the game has a very big but. I did not go through it to the end because I was finished off by your giant labyrinths overflowing with obstacles .. well, this is too much ... I would like to put all 10, but excuse me, I'm not a masochist and the game did not pass. In the end, she disappointed me with her artificially wound duration
    Игра в общем хорошая , арт стиль прекрасен, боевая система радует ,сюжет в стиле старых супергероиских боевиков тоже застиавил пару раз улыбнуться, но в игре есть очень большое НО. Я не прошел ее до конца потому что меня добили ваши здоровенные лабиринты переполненные препятсвиями..это уже слишком много... Хотелось бы поставить все 10 но извините я не мазахист и игру не прошел. Под конец она меня разочаровала своеи упрямои искуственно накрученной продолжительностью    … Expand
  3. Swamileoni
    Sep 15, 2021
    7
    I wrapped up the game last night, here are my thoughts:

    Pros: The game is stunning. The devs paid great attention to detail blending Chinese and Steam-Punk art styles. Many of the areas are large in scale and the backgrounds are very creative. The combat system is fun. There’s good variety and the challenge the game gives you trying to link combos together makes it fun to pummel    I wrapped up the game last night, here are my thoughts:

    Pros:
    The game is stunning. The devs paid great attention to detail blending Chinese and Steam-Punk art styles. Many of the areas are large in scale and the backgrounds are very creative.

    The combat system is fun. There’s good variety and the challenge the game gives you trying to link combos together makes it fun to pummel enemies.

    The platforming is fun and challenging. The team brought together some new ideas that blend well with the different areas. To traverse certain parts of the game, you’ll need to use your gadgets.

    Cons:
    Enemy variety is really lacking. Think of it like the ‘footclan’ in TNMT. They’re all technically ‘footclan’ but some of the members do different things. In one area a new type of enemy shows up, but that was it.

    The battle system needs some work. Switching through weapons is done through either L1/L2 or trough the pad. It can be confusing when executing a multi-weapon combos. Further, one of the weapons is much stronger than the other two. I ran through the whole game with one combo with one specific weapon and it made the game easy.

    The difficulty spike happened too late in the game. You don’t start seeing the game get difficult until the area with the new enemies. Even then, the game was a breeze. I died a few times, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t do a few tries over. From the enemies to the platforming to the bosses, they were all easy. Nothing really screams ‘challenging’ in this game.

    The game was much too linear. At all times, you knew exactly where to go. The game pushes you in a certain direction and in the end, it gives little incentive to backtrack. I understand this is how the story was written, but it made the game feel short. Maybe they could have taken more of a ‘detective’ direction and let you figure the story out.

    Overall I’d give it a 7/10. Although the game is beautiful, the combat is deep and there are some fun ideas, the game suffers from a lack of enemy variety, easy areas / bosses and a forced linear approach.    … Expand
  4. nassimrates
    Sep 9, 2021
    10
    Amazing chinese 20th century steampunk style, if you know chinese history, you would understand alot this game's trying to tell you.A very good game except few types of enemies
  5. Da7o0om
    Sep 9, 2021
    10
    Amazing metroidvania game ..hope they make DLC

    for me this game one of the best games in 2021
  6. TheDude222
    Sep 9, 2021
    9
    This game has absolutely blown me a way. So damn good. I'm normally not a side scroller guy either but this has a good sense of progression and fun challenging combat to keep me going.
  7. DonaldVIVA19
    Sep 10, 2021
    9
    Absolutely amazed by the level of completion, proud of the Chinese developers which lets me finally see a good game
  8. geonole
    Sep 9, 2021
    9
    Great game! I really enjoy Metroidvania-type games and this one definitely delivers. Fun level design, exciting combat, great graphics, and interesting characters are my must-haves for me to consider a game good in this genre. FIST provides all of this.
  9. Giamast
    Sep 9, 2021
    9
    A wonderful metroidvania, with stunning presentation, great graphics and performance on PS5 and an incredible style and art design. This game really has souls, characters are unique and the setting is beautiful. Combat is top notch and overall gameplay is so smooth and tight. I’m also really liking the platforming and the puzzles

    This game was a really nice surprise and a must have for    A wonderful metroidvania, with stunning presentation, great graphics and performance on PS5 and an incredible style and art design. This game really has souls, characters are unique and the setting is beautiful. Combat is top notch and overall gameplay is so smooth and tight. I’m also really liking the platforming and the puzzles

    This game was a really nice surprise and a must have for everyone who likes metroidvania games    … Expand
  10. TaYroN2021
    Sep 12, 2021
    10
    Very fun game! I really don't undrestand 0 scores at all... Well... This game is more funner than some AAA games ;)
  11. TheGamesVault
    Sep 14, 2021
    9
    Amazing game, one of the best Birthday presents I've received.

    Amazing gameplay, level design, music, boss fights and characters, my only issue was the vague/confusing ending
  12. GlaucioM
    Sep 17, 2021
    4
    Beautiful design and gameplay is funny, but the boss is very hard to win. The last boss is impossible to win.
  13. Christo1
    Oct 15, 2021
    10
    F.I.S.T is such a great Metroidvania I can honestly say it breathes new life into such an excellent but already established gaming genre!! I can’t wait to see more of what this game studio has to offer in the future!!
  14. chronicrenegade
    Jan 23, 2022
    9
    I have never been interested in Metroidvania games, but FIST is absolutely essential. I had a blast playing it and the worldbuilding is top shelf material. Such a fantastic game.
  15. Benjy5045
    Feb 18, 2022
    9
    Highly underrated game I honestly can’t believe it hasn’t got the attention it deserves you must try this when you get the chance you will not be disappointed!
  16. lolicow
    Sep 26, 2021
    10
    Good art, good gameplay. Finally got some good Chinese game without **** monetization trap.
  17. PMG-Writer
    Oct 16, 2022
    8
    "F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch" surprised us directly in a positive way and brought us a lot of joy. The storyline and the controls were really fun and kept us hooked for a long time. The graphics are also great, and the animations and sound cut a great figure. If you want to experience an action-packed side-scroller for your console, you should definitely pick up "F.I.S.T.: Forged In"F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch" surprised us directly in a positive way and brought us a lot of joy. The storyline and the controls were really fun and kept us hooked for a long time. The graphics are also great, and the animations and sound cut a great figure. If you want to experience an action-packed side-scroller for your console, you should definitely pick up "F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch".… Expand
  18. Exlee3000
    Sep 16, 2021
    10
    To the clowns giving this game a zero, you are despicable! This game is quality through and through. This is one of the best metroidvanias I've played in a while. But it's just a good game, period. The graphics are so good. Each new location is beautifully realized. The sound and music is top notch as well. There is a spot where a character plays you an acoustic song and it'sTo the clowns giving this game a zero, you are despicable! This game is quality through and through. This is one of the best metroidvanias I've played in a while. But it's just a good game, period. The graphics are so good. Each new location is beautifully realized. The sound and music is top notch as well. There is a spot where a character plays you an acoustic song and it's awesome! The true star of the show is the combat! It is so fun. You get tons of combos and finshers called executions. You start with your big metal fist which is awesome for combat and breakung through to find secret areas. There are also 2 other augmentations to your fist that totally change combat and traversal. And they are all great. There are also cool upgrades that open up the world even more which leads to more areas and secrets. The game loop is so fun. To make it all even better the artwork is so, so good. The anthropomorphic characters are all amazing. It makes it a joy to meet each new character. Finally the voice acting and localization is really, really solid. Everything comes together to make an extremely polished and fun experience. I would rate the game a 9 but because some losers who haven"t played the game gave it a zero I'm giving it a 10. Highly recommended. Support this awesome game!… Expand
  19. RexZor
    Sep 14, 2021
    6
    This game is a metroidvania that doesn't do anything revolutionary but it has great moments that are hindered by some awkward design choices.

    The combat in this game at first seems very cool and deep especially by the trailers and the combo training lets you see you complex the combos can become. But the issue lies in how clunky pulling off combos are. You have 3 different weapons in    This game is a metroidvania that doesn't do anything revolutionary but it has great moments that are hindered by some awkward design choices.

    The combat in this game at first seems very cool and deep especially by the trailers and the combo training lets you see you complex the combos can become. But the issue lies in how clunky pulling off combos are. You have 3 different weapons in this game and swapping between is not smooth at all. Its very slow and clunky at times and at other times it works fine. Not to mention later on in the game one weapon outshine the other two by a huge margin and makes the other 2 obsolete. Also that best weapon has the least combo variety so you are just spamming simple moves for big damage. On paper this games combat should work but in execution it falls a little flat.

    Overall map design and flow is probably the best thing about the game. There are ton of secrets and collectables so you 100%ters will have a lot to do. The platforming is pretty good not the best I have experienced but it fun. When you are using all the abilities given to you to traverse the map it is satisficing and a joy to do over and over.

    As a PS5 game you expect a certain level of speed. This is the first PS5 game I have played with a ton of loading screens and elevators. And this becomes an issue when you are repeating boss fights because you are dying. You have to wait for the loading screen, run back to the boss then watch an unskippable cutscene every single time before you can fight the boss again. If this was last generation this would not be a complaint but with the current state of games this is not acceptable.

    The difficulty of this game is the same for everyone and it starts off relatively easy and by the final boss fight it is ramped all the way up. Be prepared to die again and again. The enemies also get more complex and tankier the later the game goes on. So if you are looking for a challenge you have it.

    Overall it is a decent Indie game but I would recommend to wait for the price to job before picking this up. Or if you have Xbox gamepass wait for it to maybe go on there. I give it 6 carrot sticks out of 10.    … Expand
  20. Unbiasedgamer23
    Sep 8, 2021
    10
    Just finished this game and am Absolutely pleased with how this game turned out. Good job to ChinaHeroProject for this absolute masterpiece. I may have a new GOTY.
  21. Enycem5
    Sep 9, 2021
    10
    Absolute amazing metroidvania. Haven’t had this much fun since Ori & Hollow Knight honestly. Brilliantly paced, beautiful to explore. Combat is super fluid and rewarding. Insane this is from an Indie team. Need more perfectly polished metroidvania’s like this. Love the pixel art, but it’s too played out anymore. If you enjoy metroidvania games whatsoever, this is a MUST PLAY!
  22. Sin2222
    Sep 26, 2021
    2
    The gameplay is below average and the art style, if not to say boring, is a well-worn cliche just like that of Eastward. For me the thing that stands out is the combat, combat feels smooth and there’s a certain flexibility and uniqueness in the design of the movements of the characters. However, I personally do not think that this game to be worth it’s price since at the same price level,The gameplay is below average and the art style, if not to say boring, is a well-worn cliche just like that of Eastward. For me the thing that stands out is the combat, combat feels smooth and there’s a certain flexibility and uniqueness in the design of the movements of the characters. However, I personally do not think that this game to be worth it’s price since at the same price level, there’re just too many better alternatives out there to pick from.… Expand
  23. NihiRagnarK
    Sep 20, 2021
    9
    10 for Combat Design: The combat with 3 vastly different switchable weapons, 8 directions of Dash, and a Street-fighter 3 like blocking mechanism makes it full of possibilities and funs like a 2D Devil May Cry game.

    9 for Metroidvania World: The world is additive for players to explore with various details and secrets hidden all over the place and interconnected together. However, it    10 for Combat Design: The combat with 3 vastly different switchable weapons, 8 directions of Dash, and a Street-fighter 3 like blocking mechanism makes it full of possibilities and funs like a 2D Devil May Cry game.

    9 for Metroidvania World: The world is additive for players to explore with various details and secrets hidden all over the place and interconnected together. However, it does not outperform any other great Metroidvania game.

    9 for Platformer: There are already some wall jumps + backward double jumps at the very first few secrets. Really reminds players of the old Mega Man X/Z series. Nothing excels or becomes too hard at the end though.

    8 for Level Design: The difficulty curve is a bit steep and inconsistent in the final levels and bosses, but generally it is not a hard game. There are also limited Boss designs but it doesn't feel too replicated in 20 hours of gameplay.

    7 for Story: Overall not a very interesting storyline and not much depth of characters    … Expand
  24. HTGamer
    Dec 30, 2021
    8
    Forged In Shadow Torch (aka FIST) is a great modern Metroidvania game, and the closest we ever got to a AAA production for this genre.

    FIST's presentation is its strongest feature, with Unreal Engine 4-powered steampunk-style graphics and great cut-scenes with voice-acting that move forward the story. This isn't another game like Guacamelee where the story takes a backseat in favor of    Forged In Shadow Torch (aka FIST) is a great modern Metroidvania game, and the closest we ever got to a AAA production for this genre.

    FIST's presentation is its strongest feature, with Unreal Engine 4-powered steampunk-style graphics and great cut-scenes with voice-acting that move forward the story. This isn't another game like Guacamelee where the story takes a backseat in favor of gameplay, there is a real story going on with some great-written animal-based characters.

    Graphics are 4K and run at 60 fps on PS5. On PC the game features Ray Tracing effects which are missing from the PS5 version. The developers said they could update the PS5 version with Ray Tracing post-launch, but so far they haven't (and I don't see it ever happening).

    Gameplay doesn't break any new grounds for the genre, but doesn't disappoint either. You begin exploring the world with limited abilities but slowly unlock more and more skills and gadgets as you go, opening new paths that were previously inaccessible. The combat system is designed somewhat like a fighting game, you can grab and throw enemies, learn various combos and mix up different weapons on-the-fly if you like, but you can make do even with simplistic yet effective 3-hit combos. There is a dodge button for quick manoeuvers. But one blemish of the fighting-like combat system is that standard actions like parries or uppercuts are considered as special moves and require to spend an energy point to activate them. Another negative point is the clunkiness of some stealth sections and some puzzles with moving batteries around ain't well-designed.

    FIST will likely last you a good 12 hours or so to beat the main story, and probably closer to 20 hours if you want to do all the side content and explore every nook and cranny of the map. Pretty meaty game for 30 USD or Euros.

    If you wanna see what a modern AAA-style take on the metroidvania template would be like, I recommend checking out FIST.    … Expand
  25. jeffsaw1
    Nov 18, 2021
    10
    If u love Hollow Knight, Ori and the blind forest, Strider, all those kind of games, this one is for u. I really enjoyed this game, and the boss fight make it more challenging
  26. szymaniaq
    Sep 23, 2021
    8
    This game provides a lot of fun. Nice design and game mechanics, different style of weapons means you can fight you own style. Bosses are rather challenging. One thing I don't like is that you cannot access some of the places (parts of location) until you progress game and get f.e (mask to breath underwater). Maybe solution for that would be more teleport pods (fast travel). Generally tonsThis game provides a lot of fun. Nice design and game mechanics, different style of weapons means you can fight you own style. Bosses are rather challenging. One thing I don't like is that you cannot access some of the places (parts of location) until you progress game and get f.e (mask to breath underwater). Maybe solution for that would be more teleport pods (fast travel). Generally tons of fun for around 30 EUR. Money well spent. I recommend it.… Expand
  27. fadz13
    Sep 28, 2021
    10
    One of the best new Metroidvania's. I highly recommend it. Great steampunk atmosphere.
  28. Nikfusek
    Sep 9, 2021
    1
    The level design is terrible! Last boss fight give you no option to return and collect all items to get stronger, I just stuck there with unbeatable rabbit. Sadly ps have no refund
  29. ciccio80_1980
    Sep 16, 2021
    8
    I played F.I.S.T .: Forged In Shadow Torch on PlayStation 5 thanks to a code given to me by the distributor. I ran the test on an LG OLED55BX6LB TV and finished the main campaign in thirteen hours. The game features lyrics and dubbing in English and Chinese, both of which are well-made. The developers have stated that in the coming weeks a series of patches will arrive for the inclusion ofI played F.I.S.T .: Forged In Shadow Torch on PlayStation 5 thanks to a code given to me by the distributor. I ran the test on an LG OLED55BX6LB TV and finished the main campaign in thirteen hours. The game features lyrics and dubbing in English and Chinese, both of which are well-made. The developers have stated that in the coming weeks a series of patches will arrive for the inclusion of additional languages, among which, unfortunately, Italian is not included.
    Fun, crafted with obvious attention to detail and featuring a rewarding combat system, F.I.S.T .: Forged In Shadow Torch is a game with a lot of heart and personality. The articulated level design, full of secrets and shortcuts, lets itself be explored in all its extension, slowly revealing itself and pushing us to peer into every nook and cranny. The fights are almost similar to those of modern action, putting aside the long-range weapons typical of the genre to bet everything on clashes with overwhelming physicality. Some fights are not exactly "spotless", with the camera moving too far and the protagonist tending to blend in with the enemies. Fortunately, the legibility of the action is compromised only at times, resulting in a forgivable annoyance, rather than a serious defect. Thanks to a very punctual control system in the jumps and thanks to the organicity of the settings, rich in explorable ravines, the adventure flows very well, even without jolts. In the end, this is the biggest flaw of F.I.S.T .: Forged In Shadow Torch: it is a pleasant and undeniably curated experience, but never able to really take flight. Formally devoid of gross flaws and unable to strike as hard as the protagonist's fists, it is bound to slip away from your memories just after the credits.    … Expand
  30. xiekaidream
    Sep 27, 2021
    7
    普通模式坚持到雷霆兄弟-。-果断切了简单模式~
    玩起来又想到了墨西哥英雄大混战2，不过墨西哥战斗是无双，这个是硬核格斗~
    到后来变成了无限鞭子蓄力攻击，就像大乱斗卡比无限↓B=。=
    剧情演出有点生硬，女主Lady Q实在代入不进去TAT
    虽然缺点一堆，但还是玩的停不下来~
    期待更多国产佳作~！
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2021
43
#43 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Gamersky
    Dec 2, 2021
    92
    As a Metroidvania, F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch has achieved the point of "making players feel comfortable". Even if you are not a fan of this type of game, its comfortable controlling feel, brilliant gameplay and moderate difficulty are still worth to try.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Nov 15, 2021
    85
    Torch City is really impressive. Every district has its own unique style and all the environments are extraordinarily detailed. The game’s atmosphere is fantastic, exploring the wonderfully designed world is very engaging and the combat system is great. Just go on and play it, unless you’re allergic to backtracking, because F.I.S.T. relies on it quite heavily. [11/2021, p.27]
  3. Meristation
    Oct 21, 2021
    80
    Forged In Shadow Torch is a highly recommended adventure for fans of metroidvania style, with gorgeous graphics and art design and frenzied and forceful gameplay. Only some issues about control and difficulty keep it from excellence.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »