Ironcast

 Switch
Ironcast Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

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  • Summary: Ironcast is a game of steampunk mech combat, set in a fictional version of the Victorian Era. Inspired by science fiction writers such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, Ironcast is set in an exciting alternative history; a time when refined men and women in top hats and bonnets commandedIroncast is a game of steampunk mech combat, set in a fictional version of the Victorian Era. Inspired by science fiction writers such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, Ironcast is set in an exciting alternative history; a time when refined men and women in top hats and bonnets commanded gigantic walking war machines, laying waste to the enemies of the British Empire!… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Nintendo Life
    Aug 9, 2017
    90
    Ironcast is one of the most in-depth and engaging match three puzzlers that we’ve seen. The game’s pitch is a bit of a tough sell — it’s clearly trying to juggle a lot of different genre elements — but Ironcast somehow manages to pull it all off in a way that is uniquely innovative and frustratingly addicting. The various elements being fused here make for a game that is endlessly replayable, but not at the cost of becoming repetitive or boring. We would strongly recommend that you pick up Ironcast if you’re looking for a game that can be a good time sink, but can also be comfortably played in short bursts. Do yourself a favour and try this one out.
  2. 4Players.de
    Aug 14, 2017
    88
    The slightly raised tactical demands and the improved freedom with the character development make the Switch iteration of this intricate match-3 variation the best version.
  3. NintendoWorldReport
    Aug 8, 2017
    85
    Depending on your skill and luck, Ironcast can be a fun 10 hour or so romp, fraught with many failures but likely numerous last-second victories and absolute dominations. The mixture of turn-based strategy and match-three puzzling is novel and for the most part, works extremely well in the rogue-like permadeath structure. The tedious and humdrum story can be tiresome, but if you focus on honing tactics to take down your rivals while building up your gear and abilities, Ironcast is a fantastic and unique game.
  4. Vooks
    Aug 8, 2017
    80
    Despite first appearances, I truly think Ironcast is something special. It's remarkably in-depth in everything it tries to achieve, and it pulls it all off without breaking a sweat. The steampunk setting is absolutely beautiful and executed well, and the game is an absolute joy to play over and over and over again. My only gripe with the game is that people will pass over it just for the match-3 mechanics it includes, and that's truly a tragedy.
  5. Switch Player
    Aug 13, 2017
    80
    With Ironcast, Dreadbit mixes up some elements from other genres to make a match-three that is both entertaining and complex. Its permadeath system may hinder the experience for some players, but lots of fun will be reserved for those who persist.
  6. Pocket Gamer UK
    Aug 10, 2017
    80
    Ironcast is a match three roguelike with surprisingly detailed tactical combat, but it's as much based of random luck as it is your own forward planning.
  7. God is a Geek
    Aug 22, 2017
    70
    A decent strategy puzzle-RPG that displays all the good bits and mitigates the bad ones, pip pip.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. 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    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.    … Expand
  2. 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 complexitywhen 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)… Expand
  4. 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 ait 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.… Expand
  5. dreamstate42
    Aug 13, 2017
    7
    Ironcast is an interesting mix of match-3 puzzle, rogue like and RPG.

    Match-3 The core game mechanic, the battles, is a match-3 type game    Ironcast is an interesting mix of match-3 puzzle, rogue like and RPG.

    Match-3
    The core game mechanic, the battles, is a match-3 type game in which you need different tokens to power your various "Ironcast" systems (ammo, energy, repair, coolant and others). You have 2 matches per round, and can use as many shots, abilities etc. as you can provided by the amount of tokens you matched. Pretty much like the good old "Puzzle Quest" games.

    Rogue-like
    The campaign is essentially a rogue-like, as you will need to start anew when you die. The only "progress" that carries over comes in the form of "commendations", which you can use to buy new commanders, Ironcasts and permanent upgrades.

    RPG
    You level up during the campaign and can buy new weapons, gears, shields etc. for your Ironcast with the money you earn during the fights.

    Why only 7/10?
    Well, Ironcast is an interesting concept, but in my opinion, it tries to be too much at once, which results in it not really excelling at anything. The match-3 mechanic in it's core is a great and fun idea (i LOVED the Puzzle Quest games), but it doesn't really allow for much tactics, as you're ultimately reliant on your luck to get good "matches". I lost a fight numerous times because my Ironcast overheated (no coolant nodes), I wasn't able to do the last bit of damage (no ammo nodes) or got killed in the last round (not enough energy nodes to move / defend).

    That in itself is not bad per se, but in contrast to Puzzle Quest: If you lose the fight, the campaign ends, because Ironcast is also a rogue-like with perma-death. What makes this worse is the fact that any damage you take carries over between battles. You can repair the damage of course, but if you put too much money into repairs, you will not have enough left to upgrade your Ironcast.

    I hope you can see what I meant with "Ironcast tries too much at once". All of these concepts (match-3, RPG, rogue-like) are a great idea, but ultimately, they kind of cancel each other out.

    Recommendation?
    Generally yes, but don't expect to much if you just want a match-3 puzzler with a little "depth". Ironcast is not really "casual friendly", but rather a pretty hardcore rogue-like with many layers, that do not work all that well together at times.    … Expand
  6. 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 gameFirst 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

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Best Switch Game of 2017

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