Icarus-X: Tides of Fire
- June 24, 2015
- The Quadsphere
Get on SteamBlast your way through waves of enemies and bullets and defeat massive boss ships in this fast-paced vertical Shoot'em Up with a traditional Arcade Mode and an experimental Campaign Mode that borrows from the mechanics of ARPGs such as Diablo and Borderlands.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a solid bullet hell gameplay loop with interesting RPG progression elements that keep players engaged.
- There is a decent variety of enemies, weapons, and upgrades, allowing for customization and strategic gameplay.
- The game runs smoothly and offers a casual mode for less experienced players to practice before tackling higher difficulties.
- The game suffers from a lack of content, with excessive reuse of enemy patterns and bosses, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- Visuals and audio are subpar, with some players finding the graphics uninteresting and the music dreadful.
- Balancing issues exist, with some bosses being overly difficult while others are too easy, and the shop often lacks significant upgrades.
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a solid bullet hell loop and engaging loot mechanics, though visibility of some bullets can be an issue. While some players find it somewhat repetitive, the customization options for ships and the integration of RPG elements add depth. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a compact top-down shooter experience with RPG mechanics, despite its limitations in presentation and depth.
“It's got a fine base bullet hell gameplay loop, and the creator has at least a better than average understanding of what makes a loot system interesting, at least in terms of managing to have some meaningful enchantments on occasion.”
“Has some interesting additions to customizing your ship and gameplay.”
“I think that the gameplay and mechanics are solid enough to recommend this.”
“✖ yawn-inducing gameplay.”
“Icarus-x has seen it fit to introduce that most traditional of gaming mechanics - the grind.”
“Although the description references Diablo and Borderlands, it is actually a very standard (length-wise) 5 levels top-down shooter with RPG mechanics mixed in.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some users finding it enjoyable while others describe it as dreadful and lacking compared to older titles. The audio quality is considered standard, allowing players to mute it if desired, and the overall presentation feels somewhat indie and underwhelming.
“Pretty cool music”
“Sounds, music, and backgrounds make it feel indie and it does make the presentation feel a little less than amazing.”
“Audio is standard volume so you can shut the music off if you want.”
“Dreadful music.”
“Music and the backgrounds aren't great.”
“Sounds, music, and backgrounds make it feel indie, which makes the presentation feel a little less than amazing.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics have been criticized for being unattractive and unengaging, with some users noting that the visual design can obscure important gameplay elements like enemies and projectiles. While dimming the backgrounds helps improve visibility, the overall aesthetic remains a significant drawback.
“You can dim the backgrounds, which makes it a lot easier to see enemies and other elements through the bullets and background graphics.”
“I never really care about art or graphic quality, but when it does hide the bullets or the enemies, there's a problem.”
“I never really care about art or graphic quality, but when it hides the bullets or the enemies, there's a problem.”
“You can dim the backgrounds, though, so it makes it a lot easier to see enemies and other elements through the bullets and the background graphics.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users criticize the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and uninspired, labeling it as a negative feature that detracts from the overall experience and contributes to the perception of the game as a cash grab.
“A boring, ugly, uninspired mobile cash grab made worse by grinding.”
