I have to admit that when it comes to any game in the Soulslike sub-genre, I never really get the sense that I belong. My reaction time to attacks is shoddy at best and memorizing enemy attacks can seem like the most difficult thing in the world sometimes. But over the last year or so, Souslikes have been some of my favorite titles, regardless of that.

Enter United Label Games and Odd bug Studio’s Tails of Iron, the best example of how to create an accessible title that’s not only fun but helps newer players become familiar enough with the gameplay to then try their hands at more complicated titles in the genre. This is a title that I believe is absolutely essential if you’re someone who, like me, wants to expand their horizons of playable titles.

Story

Like many things in Tails of Iron, the story is clear and easy to connect with from the get-go. You play as a rat prince named Redgi who’s thrust into power following the death of his father, the king, as his kingdom is invaded by the Frog Spawn. From the ashes of the attack, Redgi and his brothers band together in order to take back the kingdom and restore it to what it once was, and defeating the evil frogs in the process.

It’s a classic tale of vengeance that doesn’t try to blur the lines of good and evil or create some kind of commentary on life. It’s a story about rats which are good guys and frogs which are bad guys. It’s just as clear as that.

Gameplay

As I said above, Tails of Iron does a fantastic job at making itself an extremely accessible game in just about every way. While it hangs heavily on the gameplay we’ve all come to know from the Soulslike sub-genre, it’s married beautifully to few Metroidvania aspects.

Dodging, parrying, and countering enemy attacks is imperative to gameplay but it doesn’t limit the window of space to a millisecond-like reaction time as you might find in other titles in the genre. Instead, ToI is a pretty forgiving title that allows players to learn from their mistakes much quicker, thus gradually becoming more comfortable with how combat flows throughout it. That’s not to say that this game is necessarily easy though, because it’s not.

There are many enemies that you’ll come in contact with that will make you want to tear your hair out and the endless fodder enemies that oftentimes can kill you because you let your guard down. There are many enemy types and memorizing each one is particularly important.

This title is most definitely a test in memorization and reaction but I feel that it goes above and beyond in the steps it takes to make it fun and not just difficult. It’s also important to note that pacing is expertly done here as you aren’t given all of your weapons or enhancements all at one.

Like combat, you’ll gradually earn the different weapon types as you play, with each one organically making its way into the game through story beats. And while there are a few different kinds of attacks you have through these weapons, it’s a simplified experience that lends itself perfectly to calculating attacks on the fly.

Aside from using the weapons, there are different variants of them with differing stats which can be found on fallen enemies or by completing quests. This rings true for the different armors for which Redgi can don as well. I found the combat to be extremely fluid and satisfying. Attacks felt hard and it never seemed daunting to use the right controls when I needed to.

Speaking on the more Metroidvania type of aspects that the game plays into; it’s an open-world game where you’ll often trek the same area more than once. Whether it’d be to locate a missing item for a character, carry out a side-quest, or just see how each of the game’s many towns connect seamlessly. You can even fast-travel between them to get things done quicker.

There’s also a bit of platforming that ToI throws your way through its levels. It isn’t anything too demanding but it is worth noting as it’s a pretty versatile game through all of its elements, creating a truly unique experience.

Audio and Visuals

The story itself is expertly narrated by Doug Cockle (Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt) and brings elements of a storybook feel that I found blended perfectly with the title’s look. It’s a gorgeous game on both sides of the spectrum with each complimenting each other at every turn.

I have to say, the score for ToI is pretty dynamic as it manages to balance a bunch of different music genres to create a unique score for each area that Redgi ventures through.

The art style is fantastic, which as I said, gives the game a storybook feel with its characters and backdrops having a paper look to them. Though having a paper-like finish, the game is smooth as silk when you’re playing it.

What It Could Have Done Better

The only real critique I have for Tails of Iron is the fact that I wish Redgi could sprint. The game is big and a sprint function would’ve made it a bit quicker to get to point B. Although at the same time, I can understand why this function wasn’t included.

Verdict

Tails of Iron is a title that surprised me time after time as I journeyed through what it had to offer. Its characters, combat, and world pulled me in with a welcoming hand as I left my inhibitions at the door. This is the exact game I have been wanting to see exist in the Soulslike genre, and it will prove to be an important title not only for those like me but even the more accustomed, as it offers so much within its runtime. This is a triumph for Odd Bug Studio and the players that get to experience it.