F.I.S.T. Forged In Shadow Torch

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 623 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
F.I.S.T. Forged In Shadow Torch Game Cover
An excellent Metroidvania adventure with intense combat, rewarding exploration and a visually immersive dieselpunk world.
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In "F.I.S.T. Forged In Shadow Torch," play as Rayton, a former soldier, who uses his mechanical fist to fight back against the Machine Legion that invaded and colonized Torch City. Explore a detailed Metroidvania-style game world, complete with interconnected areas, various challenges, and different weapons to master. Uncover a bigger scheme between the mafia, rebellion, and legion as you journey through this beautifully designed, torch-lit city.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 623 reviews
story65 positive mentions
optimization11 negative mentions
  • Outstanding graphics and art style that create an immersive world.
  • Engaging combat system with a variety of weapons and combos that keeps gameplay interesting.
  • Well-designed levels with plenty of secrets and collectibles to discover.
  • Significant difficulty spikes, especially with the final bosses, can be frustrating.
  • Some technical issues, including crashes and performance drops, particularly with ray tracing enabled.
  • The story and character development are lacking, making it feel generic at times.
  • story211 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it simplistic, cliché, and lacking depth, often describing it as a mere backdrop to the gameplay. While some appreciate the effort in voice acting and world-building, others feel the narrative is unengaging and predictable, failing to evoke strong emotional investment. Overall, the story is seen as functional but not a standout feature, with many players suggesting that the gameplay and visuals overshadow the narrative shortcomings.

    • “An absolute masterpiece, in the top 5 of metroidvania games... stunning graphics, storyline, combat system, and characters... bravissimo.”
    • “The map is sprawling without being confusing, the combat system is in-depth while being easy to pick up, and the story is a compelling tale of corruption, betrayal, and heroism in a dieselpunk world inspired by early 20th-century China.”
    • “I have to say I was initially skeptical about the anthropomorphic characters (I mean, they are even called 'furtizens'), but the story and dialogue are actually quite intriguing and have kept me playing this game for days, with no signs of me getting bored of it.”
    • “The story is just sort of bad on its own: barely set up, weirdly paced, and brimming with cheesy dialogue.”
    • “The linear story ensures you see everything there is to see, so don't expect any branching paths or deep side story content.”
    • “The big weak point of the game, it feels like they focused exclusively on gameplay and the story was added as an afterthought.”
  • graphics177 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, detailed environments, and unique art style that effectively captures the dieselpunk aesthetic. While some players noted minor issues like stuttering and graphical glitches, the overall presentation is considered top-notch, contributing significantly to the immersive experience of the metroidvania genre. The combination of beautiful character designs, smooth animations, and well-crafted backgrounds enhances the gameplay, making it a standout title visually.

    • “An absolute masterpiece, in the top 5 of metroidvania games... stunning graphics, storyline, combat system, and characters... bravissimo.”
    • “The graphics are incredible, super sharp and a really nice gritty aesthetic.”
    • “The graphics and animations are those of a AAA studio.”
    • “It comes off as a cheap metroidvania title that focused more on the graphics and presentation instead of a truly engaging combat system.”
    • “I could run the game at 60 with graphics set to medium, and ran into a lot of issues outside of framerate, mainly that textures would pop in a lot along with some lighting which was a little annoying but not experience-ruining; however, there were several instances where I'd enter a room and it would just be completely empty except for a gray background until the room fully loaded in a couple seconds later.”
    • “Several crashes, graphical glitches, entire areas turning into slideshows for 30 seconds at a time (settings didn't matter), and a really poorly thought out control system mar what is otherwise a pretty good time for the most part.”
  • gameplay155 mentions

    The gameplay of this metroidvania title is characterized by a mix of engaging mechanics and visual appeal, with many players praising its smooth controls, diverse combat options, and exploration elements. However, some critiques highlight issues such as clunky mechanics, oversimplified exploration, and a lack of challenge, which detract from the overall experience. While the game offers enjoyable combat and a variety of unlockable abilities, it struggles with consistency and depth, leading to a somewhat mixed reception among players.

    • “The gameplay is smooth as butter, bosses are epic, the map and level design are well defined and fun to explore, and the music is memorable.”
    • “Incredibly polished gameplay with great platforming and movement mechanics as well as deep combat and combo systems.”
    • “Awesome gameplay, great graphics and triple AAA quality attention to details.”
    • “Credit where credit's due: this game has some truly good qualities owing to hard work that went into the lighting, environmental design, controls, and combat mechanics, but they can't make up for the oversimplified exploration, lack of challenge, or disappointing story.”
    • “I really was looking forward to this game but its combat is just so stiff and mechanical that it lost all appeal, and the fact that some enemy attacks are so fast-paced and the input feels so unresponsive at times just ruins it.”
    • “Gameplay is extremely simplistic, glitchy, repetitive, and is not doing anything new.”
  • music61 mentions

    The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its variety and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly in terms of atmosphere and emotional impact. While some tracks are described as memorable and fitting for the game's tone, others are criticized for being repetitive or not particularly engaging. Overall, the soundtrack is generally considered solid, with standout moments that elevate the game's overall appeal.

    • “The soundtrack is pretty decent, featuring highly varied percussion and a fun melodic interplay between the synth and heavily distorted/reverbed guitar.”
    • “The music perfectly complemented the action, and it almost took a life of its own with all the orchestration and jazz licks that you are able to sample as you play through the game.”
    • “The graphics are amazing and the music ties in very well with zones and helps quite well with the immersion.”
    • “The music in the first area is so repetitive, it almost drove me crazy.”
    • “The music is often a miss too, with the very first location track being the worst offender and the best example of the issue – it’s not a bad track, but it’s short, repetitive and it soon becomes annoying.”
    • “Given how long you might be in an area, or paused, I think the soundtrack should have room to breathe and set the tone but the tracks are so damn short.”
  • optimization35 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance and no significant issues, while others report frequent stuttering, frame drops, and poor asset loading, particularly in specific biomes. Despite the game's impressive visuals, many users feel that the optimization needs significant improvement, especially for RTX users, as performance inconsistencies can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while some players enjoy a seamless experience, others find the optimization lacking, impacting gameplay enjoyment.

    • “Considering the number of enemies that can appear on screen, you have to tip your hat to the optimization.”
    • “That's how you should do very nice visuals and optimization.”
    • “As for the PC performance, I didn’t have any problem; my performance was perfect all the time, no drops, no stuttering, in general a very smooth experience with everything at max.”
    • “Too bad for the performance issues, I've had several moments (mostly at the start of the game) where framerate dropped for no reason.”
    • “But there are so many bad decisions by the devs I feel it deserves a not recommend unless maybe on sale for 90% off... the game is poorly optimized when it seems it should not be so demanding.”
    • “The poor optimization is the only thing keeping me from giving it a glowing review.”
  • grinding26 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often describing it as a chore due to excessive backtracking, repetitive combat, and a lack of engaging content. Many reviews highlight the need for a more efficient fast travel system and express dissatisfaction with the game's pacing, particularly during boss fights and exploration. While some players appreciate the map design and combat mechanics, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding detracts significantly from the overall experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Welp, sad to say that this game is frustrating, tedious, a tad unpolished here and there and just overall uninteresting. The world itself seems like it could have a cool and engaging story and background, but none of it is really delved into, so it's all just window dressing for a sloppy combat-focused Castlevania. Overall, just not worth your time.”
    • “Combat becomes tedious when the game's strategy is just to bombard you with enemies, and there isn't a block button anywhere in sight, so you just have to take hits.”
    • “Talking about backtracking, 100% the game does get very tedious since some of the areas are very long and linear, and getting certain items that you missed feels like a chore at times.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its high level of detail and immersive quality, with many reviewers highlighting its unique steampunk/dieselpunk aesthetic and engaging environments. The combination of impressive graphics, fitting music, and thematic elements contributes to a captivating experience, although some note that the story may not be as compelling. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that enhances the gameplay.

    • “Environments are highly detailed, atmospheric, and full of depth.”
    • “Amazing graphics and scenery, really knowing how to create the atmosphere they wanted.”
    • “Overall this is an excellent and enjoyable game with a unique atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is quite different, a bit of a Blade Runner vibe here.”
    • “A story you've heard before, but with the atmosphere and setting in mind, you can really get immersed into.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting occasional graphical glitches and stuttering, particularly when using RTX settings, which can lead to significant performance drops. While some players experienced no major issues, others noted frequent crashes and areas becoming unplayable for short periods. Overall, the game feels somewhat buggy and unfinished, but there is hope for improvement with future patches.

    • “I had no lag, no glitches, nothing getting in the way.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
    • “I experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
    • “With RTX on, transitions between screens cause massive stutters very often, sometimes almost freezing, dropping to around 3fps for a second or two (played on RTX 2080 Super).”
    • “It has the potential of being a good game, but unfortunately it feels too buggy and unfinished.”
    • “Several crashes, graphical glitches, entire areas turning into slideshows for 30 seconds at a time (settings didn't matter), and a really poorly thought out control system mar what is otherwise a pretty good time for the most part.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by random comedic events, amusing character interactions, and intentionally bad dialogue that adds to the overall enjoyment. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments, such as the unexpected dynamics between characters and the humorous localization in different languages, which contribute to a fun gaming experience despite some technical issues.

    • “I also found it quite funny that they introduce the cat woman like she's going to be some kind of relevant love interest but Rayton visibly doesn't care because he'd rather fight an entire army for one of his male friends, lol.”
    • “If anything, I kind of find them funny since every so often the machines make jokes.”
    • “It's buggy and the dialogue is hilariously bad in spots, but the combat is just so much fun and it's so damn pretty.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the creativity and visual appeal of the character designs, while others find them flat and lacking depth. Players noted that character progression feels slow and rushed, leading to a disconnect with the characters and their stories. Overall, the development aspect seems to struggle in creating emotional engagement despite the attractive visuals.

    • “The visuals such as character design, animation assets, and environmental design are all beautiful!”
    • “Story, character design, gameplay, level design, and everything was amazing!”
    • “Do not be put off, there is no odd 'furry' stuff; I found the characters and the character designs to be creative and fun.”
    • “Character design is a bit flat and not very engaging.”
    • “Character development felt a bit slow to me as I've only unlocked a few abilities so far.”
    • “It's rushed, all over the place, and lacking the character development to make you actually feel something about them.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while the music enhances some moments, the overall narrative feels awkward and lacks impactful emotional depth, partly due to poor voice acting and clunky dialogue. Players express a desire for a more expansive exploration of the environment, as the limited movement can evoke feelings of anxiety and claustrophobia. Despite these shortcomings, some still find it a heartfelt recommendation for action game enthusiasts.

    • “The story was surprisingly emotional at times, partly due to the music, which is incredibly well done.”
    • “The backgrounds look so good in certain locations that the style of only being able to move left or right across the screen sometimes made me feel anxious and claustrophobic; I want to see more of the city!”
    • “But for now, this is a heartfelt recommendation for any action game fan.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers good replayability due to its shorter playtime, allowing for multiple playthroughs; however, its linear story may limit the overall experience for some players.

    • “Infinitely replayable.”
    • “Replayability seems good, as it can be on the shorter side.”
    • “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
    • “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

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Play time

14hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
10-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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