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Icarus-X: Tides of Fire

46%Game Brain Score
music
gameplay, graphics
62% User Score Based on 26 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
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About

Blast 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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Icarus-X: Tides of Fire screenshot
Icarus-X: Tides of Fire screenshot
Icarus-X: Tides of Fire screenshot
Icarus-X: Tides of Fire screenshot
Icarus-X: Tides of Fire screenshot
Icarus-X: Tides of Fire screenshot
Icarus-X: Tides of Fire screenshot
Icarus-X: Tides of Fire screenshot

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews
music4 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • 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 offers a casual mode for beginners, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.
  • The game suffers from repetitive enemy patterns and a lack of content, leading to a loss of charm before the campaign ends.
  • Visuals and audio quality are subpar, with some players finding the music dreadful and the graphics uninteresting.
  • Balancing issues and difficulty spikes can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, particularly with boss encounters.
  • gameplay
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay features a solid bullet hell loop and incorporates RPG mechanics, including a loot system with meaningful enchantments, though some bullets can be difficult to see. While the game has interesting ship customization options, it is described as somewhat standard and grind-heavy, resembling a short top-down shooter rather than a full RPG. Overall, the mechanics are enjoyable enough to warrant a recommendation despite some presentation shortcomings.

    • “It's got a fine base bullet hell gameplay loop (although sometimes some bullets can be hard to see), 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, however.”
    • “✖ 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-level top-down shooter with RPG mechanics mixed in.”
  • music
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some users finding it enjoyable while others describe it as dreadful, especially when compared to classic tracks like Matt Murphy's MIDI music for Raptor (1994). The overall audio quality is considered standard, contributing to an indie feel that detracts from the game's presentation, though players have the option to mute the music if desired.

    • “Pretty cool music”
    • “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 and it does make the presentation feel a little less than amazing.”
  • graphics
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics have been criticized for being ugly and uninteresting, with a design that can obscure important gameplay elements like enemies and bullets. While players can dim the backgrounds to improve visibility, the overall visual quality remains a significant drawback.

    • “You can dim the backgrounds though so it makes it a lot easier to see enemies and stuff through bullets and the 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 does hide 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 stuff through bullets and the background graphics.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews consistently criticize the grinding aspect of the game, labeling it as tedious and uninspired, which 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.”

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