Tails of iron switch
Combining a metroidvania structure with an RPG loot system, combat that’s challenging but with readable tells to learn and exploit, it ticks all of the sub-genre’s tick boxes. Tails of Iron can affectionately be called a Soulslike despite it looking nothing like the genre staples. Tails of Iron is filled with exhilarating moments like this that pose a real challenge but are always surmountable with enough concentration and patience, and maybe a little bit of luck. I’d be frustrated but I’m too busy smiling. I load back up at the generous save point shortly before this fight. I take a deep breath to survey my handwork as a frog enters from the left and looses an arrow that flies across the screen. My fingers kick into over drive, stabbing, dodging and parrying all 3 frogs as they attack from all directions. There’s barely a figment of my health bar left.
It stabs me with a basic attack and immediately follows up with a running attack that I’m too slow to parry. Dodge, dodge roll and I can attack again – only I failed to see the trident carrying frog enter from the far right. Now it’s 2 shield wielding frogs coming from either side. Attack, attack, attack with my little rat spear. A frog with a nailed club comes at me first. I venture forth and the amphibian warriors finally see me, turn and yell out their battle call. I can see the armoured frog enemies up ahead, gathered around a camp fire. A gorgeous, enormously charming 2D aRPG, Tails of Iron is a challenging and deeply rewarding soulslike game.