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

When discussing metroidvania games, we thought we had seen all they had to offer in the late 2000’s. Everything felt formulaic, repetitive and stale. However, in recent years we have seen brilliant new IP’s galvanise these games, providing new 3D enhanced visuals, brilliant core mechanics and a focus on more difficult gameplay almost bordering on the masocore variety. So with this in mind, it seems that F.I.S.T: Forged in Shadow Torch, a Playstation China produced title is hoping to keep this trend going.

This game plays similarly to titles such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Super Metroid, Hollow Knight, Gestalt and Ori and the Will of the Wisps to name a few. This game conbines cute little bunnies and powerful gundam mech suits in an attempt to provide an action packed and wacky adventure. But will this cartoonish and over the top approach pay off. We find out in our preview of F.I.S.T: Forged in Shadow Torch

Automatronic Bunny Brilliance

Firstly, let’s discuss the story for this title. Essentially, there was an mechanical invasion on Torch City, the setting for this title. A city that was purely inhabited by animals to this point. You take control of Rayton, a bunny with an attitude who wishes to fight back against their oppressors. So with a mechanical fist as a weapon. Your goal is to overthrow the robot invaders and restore the city to it’s former glory. It’s a premise that works very well in practice and while not the deepest narrative out there, it’s more than enough to get the player invested.

Then once the game has its hooks in, it begins to show off its wonderful visual assets. The neon filled streets, the narrow, Japanese style areas, the gritty alleyways and slums. They all are rendered expertly, offering a set of areas that are a joy to explore. The character models, animations and enemy variants are also aesthetically pleasing too, culminating to offer a visual masterclass when compared to any other Medroidvania game out there.

Then lastly, we have the gameplay. We are also impressed with what we have seen so far. The variety of weapons on offer are good without being excessive. The combos and attack patterns lend themselves to tactical assaults on your foes and as most Metriodvania titles are, the game is brilliant at urging the player to explore, find goodies and power up their gear. It’s a quintessential Metroidvania experience and may be one of the hidden gems for the year.

The Verdict

Overall, we believe that F.I.S.T: Forged in Shadow Torch has all the makings of a classic Metroidvania title. The visuals are absolutely stunning. The level design is of the highest quality, the gameplay is tight and the combat is slick.

Pros:

• Stunning visuals courtesy of the Unreal 4 Engine
• Gameplay and combat look excellent
• Strong level design

Cons:

• The plot for this game looks sheet thin