Review: Ironcast (Nintendo Switch)

Puzzlequest meets FTL in this Steampunk Victorian era roguelite.

Pros:

• Steam punk inspired graphics that look so detailed and really pop off the screen.
• Tutorial section. (optional)
• Controls-Touch screen and button support.
• Mech battling match 3 rogue-like game play.
• Rogue-like as in once you die you start again a fresh.
• Global unlock does keep your exp and here is where you unlock new characters, Ironcasts and abilities.
• Handful of characters to choose from each with a unique skill.
• Handful of Ironcasts to choose from each with different stats and weapons.
• Bite sized levels.
• Unlock/find blueprints to build new parts for your Ironcast.
• Buy/craft new guns/shields and buffs to add to existing weapons.
• Buffs are available for weapons and players and your Ironcast.
• Every time you level up you get a choice of 3 upgrades.
• Earn scrap and gold in game to buy/craft and repair weapons and your Ironcast.
• Map of England is where you pick levels to play.
• Mission difficulty and turn limit differ on each mission.
• Boss fights.
• Four bars represent parts of your Ironcast and must be filled up by matching the gems in order to use them. For example to repair you need to match a minimum of three spanner icons, Guns need ammo so match the ammo gems etc.
• Modifiers or special gems appear and can greatly improve your performance. Overcharge lets you do a more powerful attack whilst link allows you to match two or even three different gems in one string.
• Turn based combat. You get three moves then your opponent goes.
• Can skip cut scenes/conversations.
• Can highlight and attack specific parts of the enemy.
• Excellent vintage Victorian soundtrack with a Steam punk twist.
• You connect gems by drawing a line through them and the need to be adjacent to each other. Any line you draw will put a pop up on screen showing how much exp and resources you will acquire form this move.
• Excellent presentation.
• Clear easy to use interface across all aspects of the game.
• On your turn you can have 3 goes at matching gems, repair weapons/Ironcast, fire off any special abilities and even add a shield or put your Ironcast into walk mode.
• Aside from abilities you always have the option to add a shield to take the edge off any attacks. Put your Ironcast into walk mode and it makes it a harder target. Both of these abilities have a 3 dot power rating. The higher the rating the better they will be. Also when attacked the power will decrease.
• Very addictive.
• Easy to play hard to master.
• Perfect fit for mobile gaming.
• Vibration support that can be turned on/off.

Cons:

• Difficulty spikes.
• Cost to repair is high so buying new weapons and upgrades is slow.
• No multiplayer.
• Text is a bit small in places.
• No real customization options for your Ironcast. Like paint jobs etc
• Needs a decent compare function especially when buying blue prints.
• No undo button.