Ironcast

 Switch
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 21
  3. Negative: 3 out of 21

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  1. MediaFreak
    Aug 17, 2017
    7
    First off let me begin by saying this isnt a match 3 game in the slightest. I mean for a start you can match 2, but genrally a match 3 game consist of swapping around a couple of colours on a board to match 3 or more items creating combos etc. None of that is present here.

    At it core iron cast is a rogue micro management strategy game with elements of puzzle and rpg in it. I'll break    First off let me begin by saying this isnt a match 3 game in the slightest. I mean for a start you can match 2, but genrally a match 3 game consist of swapping around a couple of colours on a board to match 3 or more items creating combos etc. None of that is present here.

    At it core iron cast is a rogue micro management strategy game with elements of puzzle and rpg in it. I'll break down each element.

    The good

    Micro management - It reminds me a little or artemis bridge simulator but on a more basic single player scale. You've got 4 systems you can repair, you've got shield and movement to manage as well as weapons to fire.

    Strategy - So the strategy comes in at how you micro manage these system. You can only use a handful per turn, so you attack the oppoents shields or weapons? Do you up your movement until your evasive enough do dodge most attacks? Similar to turn based rpg strategies.

    Rpg - As well rpg like battles you also level up, unlock new abilities, upgrade your mech and make decisions in dialogue that affect the outcome of a mission.

    Now onto bad

    Puzzle - It probably should be a match 3 game. It looks like one, the grid takes up most of the whole screen, but really all your doing is deciding which power ups you want and how many. Its not really a puzzle, just looks like one.

    Rogue like/permadeath- This for me is the games biggest flaw. When i saw the words permadeath, being a big fire emblem fan, I was excited. But it does bring in the emotion of losing your favourite mech that permadeath does. It basically just means yoh lose the game you have to restart from the begining. Even fire emblem isnt that cruel. Sure plenty of rogue likes do this, binding of isaac, rogue legacy etc. But they're fun at the start and they're well made diverse rogue likes, this game isnt, you are going to have to replay the same boring early missions over and over and over.

    Overall its an addictive couple of hours here, but after 3-4 lost mechs it's like.the developers dont want you to keep playing    … Expand
  2. M1N1B34R
    Sep 14, 2017
    8
    it is a combination of rogue like game and puzzle quest, have the mechanic of puzzle quest and the luck of FTL, it a great game, you have a variance of character and ironcast that will have different game play each time, it is a shame that there is only one story line for all character, was hoping each character will have different campaign story, but it still have good replayability.
  3. riverkev95
    Aug 16, 2017
    9
    Un interesante juego de puzzle.
    Muy recomendado para pasar un buen rato.
    Una compra muy razonable para llevarla de forma portátil en el Nintendo Switch.
  4. snusmu
    Nov 1, 2017
    9
    when i saw the screenshots i didnt think much of it but bought later on after reading some reviews. great little game, surprising complexity and detail. first game i completed on switch (despite having Zelda, Mario & Rabbids and 30 other games)
  5. rvncto
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    I have a compulsion, im not sure that i actually like roguelike games all that much, but i get so excited for every new one i find, and usually buy it. And usually bow out after a few hours.

    Ironcast looked interesting. Now that i have played it for a lot of hours, and gotten a good feel for the "loop". i can endorse this. I know this game is hella old. But its new to me. The    I have a compulsion, im not sure that i actually like roguelike games all that much, but i get so excited for every new one i find, and usually buy it. And usually bow out after a few hours.

    Ironcast looked interesting. Now that i have played it for a lot of hours, and gotten a good feel for the "loop". i can endorse this. I know this game is hella old. But its new to me. The game it feels most like to me is Solitarica. Where i keep playing, and keep doing a little better each time... but sometimes the luck of the draw RNG doesn't go my way, and i think... one more shot maybe this time ill get better draw.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Best Switch Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. FNintendo
    Oct 9, 2017
    70
    Ironcast is an interesting, competent and addictive roguelike game that will be welcoming to those who enjoy taking a long look at their elements before they go into combat. It does suffer from its nature, as the random missions can harm the game's difficulty and after a while, a certain lack of variety starts to become apparent but the overall gameplay experience is worthy of note.
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  2. Worth Playing
    Sep 5, 2017
    80
    roncast rewards those who aren't easily frustrated by loss. The constant losing can be discouraging, but the incremental progress made through each defeat means the game eventually gets easier and more satisfying. It also helps that the only mode happens to be long enough to sustain many losses, so it'll be quite some time before players reach the end. For puzzle fans who crave difficulty, Ironcast is worth checking out.
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  3. Digitally Downloaded
    Aug 31, 2017
    70
    I do think that Ironcast has found itself the right home on the Nintendo Switch. In the way it plays, Ironcast benefits from spontaneous game play sessions which the Switch can provide due to its tablet mode.
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