Cold Iron: Quick Draw Western Duels
- January 29, 2018
- Catch & Release, LLC
Cold Iron's central mechanic isn't strong enough to carry a game. Combine this with a boring story, poorly made checkpoints, and an art style that has all the consistency of a Unity asset flip, and all you're left with is dish that would have been better served hot.
Get on Steam"Cold Iron: Quick Draw Western Duels" is a fast-paced VR game that simulates Old West showdowns. Players face off against opponents in intense duels, using realistic weaponry and movement. The game features various modes, including a story-driven campaign and multiplayer matches, providing a varied and engaging experience.
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of quick draw dueling and puzzle-solving elements, providing a satisfying challenge that keeps players engaged.
- The voice acting and humor add a charming touch to the experience, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Cold Iron is accessible for new VR users, as it requires minimal movement, making it a great introduction to VR gaming.
- The aiming mechanics are inconsistent, with many players reporting that the gun positioning feels unnatural and can lead to discomfort.
- The game is relatively short, with some players finishing it in under two hours, leading to concerns about replay value.
- Repetitiveness in gameplay can become an issue, as players may find themselves doing the same actions repeatedly without significant variation.
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging narrative and emotional impact, while others find it vague and simplistic. Despite its shortcomings, the story effectively captures the essence of old west duels and offers unexpected twists, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. While not the primary focus of the game, the storytelling elements enhance the gameplay and keep players invested.
“But the effort put into the story was awesome, made me really hyped for the ending (in a good way) and once I beat it I really felt like I overcame a huge obstacle.”
“The storytelling, gameplay, and learning curve is just perfect.”
“While the story may have its odd points, it definitely brings on the 'Clint Eastwood' feeling that a game centered around gun duels should strive for.”
“I only didn't like the story too much: it's a bit vague and simple.”
“But Cold Iron is not a story-focused game, so it doesn't really matter.”
“Luckily, the environments, story, and light puzzles do help remedy the repetitive nature, but even still, it feels like doing the same thing over and over again.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally regarded as fun and fair, particularly with its duel mechanics, but some players find it overly simplistic and prone to frustration due to its repetitive nature and occasional lack of clarity in objectives. While it offers a good introduction to VR gaming with straightforward controls, those who aren't particularly invested in the gameplay may tire of it quickly. Overall, it receives mixed reviews, with some praising its learning curve and others noting its limitations.
“The duel mechanic is fun and fair.”
“The storytelling, gameplay, and learning curve are just perfect.”
“This also seems like a pretty good game to show to people new to VR since the mechanics are pretty simple and the controls are so simple, they only need one controller.”
“But here is the thing, unless you really love the gameplay, you'll grow tired of it quickly.”
“They try to change up the gameplay a bit by making it so you have to figure out where the opponent is before you shoot, but this generates problems where you can't figure it out, and then have to go back to the first level again before you can try again.”
“This also seems like a pretty good game to show to people new to VR since the mechanics are pretty simple and the controls are so straightforward, they only need one controller.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in Cold Iron is highly praised, featuring a diverse score that varies for each enemy, complemented by professional voiceovers and well-executed animated cutscenes. Reviewers appreciate the art style and overall quality of the music, enhancing the game's atmosphere.
“Cold Iron has great music, a professional voiceover, and just enough well-done animated cutscenes to move things along.”
“I love the art style and the music score.”
“There is different music for every enemy.”
“The music score is great, but it feels repetitive after a while.”
“I appreciate the different music for every enemy, but some tracks are just not enjoyable.”
“While the art style is fantastic, the music doesn't quite match the game's atmosphere.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their appealing design and immersive quality, with comparisons to "I Expect You to Die" enhancing the overall experience. However, there are inconsistencies in visual quality across levels, with some areas appearing significantly better than others.
“The game has really nice graphics, and the audio is great!”
“Each level has a lovely looking intro with great dialogue and graphics that remind me of 'I Expect You to Die' and really get me in the mood for shooting criminals.”
“The game's graphics go from looking great to looking pretty 'okay,' seemingly randomly changing in quality from each level.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is limited, with some players finding minimal value in replaying it, especially given the short completion time of under two hours.
“I beat the game in less than 2 hours; there's some replay value for some, but not for me.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Cold Iron" is characterized by its wry and clever tone, complementing the game's epic western theme and challenging gameplay. Players appreciate the blend of humor with captivating production values, enhancing the overall experience.
“Cold Iron is an epic western dueling FPS that has wry humor, captivating production, and a steep difficulty curve.”
