Ion Fury

Ion Fury is a game I've started a few times, but never really finished until now and It was a blast. I have my gripes with the game (the final boss being the main on), but it was enjoyable none the less. Highly recommend picking it up when it goes on sale.

A modern take on classic Build engine titles such as Duke Nukem 3D, Blood and Shadow Warrior and with updated popular culture references. The gameplay is amazing and the levels are unlike anything seen before in a Build engine game. While Ion Fury surpasses all of its Build engine predecessors in gameplay and technical innovation, it lacks its own distinct personality. The game is very enjoyable, but the lack of original personality limits the amount of time you want to spend in its world. In many ways the game's content is very nostalgia driven with all the references. If you liked Build engine games back in the day or if you just like boomer shooters in general, then a definite recommend.

The sheer scope of this game is impressive. Level after level, secret after secret, new twists on gameplay mechanics even when you're deeper into the game. This is one of the best of the modern boomer shooters, and it pushes the Build Engine to its limits. Sometimes it gets to be too much, the level design too nonsensical, and the hordes of enemies too punishing, but you can't fault them for being ambitious. For the most part it works. The higher difficulties can be very challenging. You'll find yourself playing it more like a survival horror game than a straight FPS game as you conserve your health and ammo to make it through alive. Also, Iron Maiden are terrible people for suing this indie developer and not allowing them to use the original intended title of "Ion Maiden".

I wish I could give a game a neutral score, and by that thought process alone, I decided to write a “not recommend” review. It is not a bad game, but it had aspects that I disliked, and I think other retro boomer shooters do it better. The game’s claim to fame is that it uses the build engine, a legendary game engine that some have described as the “perfect transition from 2D to 3D games.” It is only realty used for small team projects here and there, the most recent being A.W.O.L, a total conversion of Duke Nukem 3D. But unless you’re really in it for the novelty of playing a Build Engine game, it detracts from the game’s experience. One big example of the Build engine being detrimental is that the simple act of looking up and down is disorienting. Perspective and FOV warp easily and can be frustrating, especially during jumping/platforming sections of the game when it can be difficult to look down and figure out where you are jumping to and how you are going to land. God forbid an enemy is at the weird angle above or below you, because the game WILL have hit detection issues. There were many instances where I would be shooting at the crawling enemies. When I aimed down at the…

I enjoyed the art and the gameplay.

Features several masterclasses in level design