Ion Fury

Ion Fury is a high-energy, action-packed retro ride with great gameplay, level design, visuals and audio. It's a reminder that great old-school design is forever.

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Ion Fury is a fast-paced, old-school first-person shooter set in a cyberpunk world. Play as Shelly "Bombshell" Harrison, a hard-nosed detective, as you take down Dr. Hana Toshiro and her nefarious organization. With a wide array of weapons and enemies, Ion Fury delivers a pulse-pounding, nostalgic experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,124 reviews

gameplay218 positive mentions

grinding31 negative mentions

Incredible level design with a lot of detail and secrets to discover.
Satisfying gunplay with a variety of weapons that feel impactful.
A fun and nostalgic experience that captures the essence of classic '90s shooters.

Some levels can feel repetitive and overly long, especially in the latter half of the game.
Enemy variety is somewhat lacking, leading to encounters feeling stale over time.
The final boss fight is underwhelming and can feel tedious compared to the rest of the game.

gameplay
541 mentions
40 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Ion Fury* is a nostalgic homage to classic first-person shooters, featuring fast-paced, run-and-gun mechanics that are both engaging and satisfying. Players appreciate the intricate level design filled with secrets and clever enemy placements, although some criticize the enemy variety and repetitive gameplay elements. Overall, the game successfully blends retro aesthetics with modern mechanics, delivering a polished experience that resonates well with fans of the genre.
- “Each stage is filled with cleverly placed enemies, traps, and environmental puzzles that keep gameplay dynamic and engaging.”
- “The gameplay feels great, and the maps are well-designed, packed with secrets and easter eggs.”
- “It captures the essence of classic FPS gameplay with its fast-paced action, intricate level designs, and satisfying gunplay while still managing to feel modern at the same time.”
- “Unfortunately, this game stays old school to the point its gameplay feels dated in the same way many 90s games do now.”
- “The gameplay quickly becomes repetitive and boring.”
- “Ion Fury nails the level design but chokes on the gameplay.”
music
502 mentions
54 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in "Ion Fury" has received widespread acclaim for its energetic, synth-heavy soundtrack that enhances the game's fast-paced action and retro atmosphere. Composed by Jarkko Rotsten, the soundtrack is noted for its nostalgic 90s vibe, with many players praising its ability to immerse them in the gameplay experience. While some found the music repetitive or less fitting in certain contexts, the overall consensus highlights it as a standout feature that complements the game's design and enhances player engagement.
- “The game's soundtrack is a standout feature, featuring original compositions by Andrew Hulshult and Lee Jackson.”
- “The music enhances the atmosphere and immerses players in the action, making every encounter feel exhilarating.”
- “The soundtrack is particularly awesome, thumping synthwave beats with an unreal vibe to them.”
- “The music is a bit forgettable and I admit that I turned it somewhat down around halfway through the game.”
- “Here we get what I can only describe as 'stock music'; you could easily put this into any first-gen PlayStation 1 game like Wipeout or Tunnel B1 and it would be the same, nobody would notice a difference because it sounds so replaceable and uncreative.”
- “The soundtrack is boring, monotonous, and forgettable.”
graphics
467 mentions
49 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Ion Fury" have been widely praised for their impressive retro aesthetic, effectively utilizing the build engine to create vibrant, detailed environments reminiscent of classic 90s shooters. While some players appreciate the nostalgic pixel art and cyberpunk influences, others find the visuals dated and lacking in variety. Overall, the game successfully balances modern gameplay mechanics with a charmingly retro visual style, making it a standout title for fans of the genre.
- “One of the most striking aspects of Ion Fury is its art style.”
- “The game employs a beautifully crafted retro aesthetic, utilizing a 2.5D engine that harkens back to classics like Duke Nukem 3D and Shadow Warrior.”
- “The visuals were very impressive for a build-engine game, with a lot of extraneous detailing and pretty colored lighting effects.”
- “Because the graphics are what most players would consider to be dated these days, Ion Fury is not for everyone.”
- “The art style is rather ugly in my opinion; the world feels like a big blob of generally quite bland colors that aren't very satisfying to look at.”
- “The graphics are bad, not in a charming retro way, just bad.”
story
234 mentions
19 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story in "Ion Fury" is generally considered minimal and straightforward, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. Players engage in a classic retro FPS experience, battling against a mad scientist and his cybernetic minions, with the narrative often described as generic and lacking depth. While some appreciate the nostalgic, action-driven approach, many feel that the story could benefit from more character development and a richer narrative context.
- “The story is quite interesting, although it doesn't explain much.”
- “As with most of these throwback shooters, the story is mostly a framework, but the banter and barb-trading between Shelly and the villainous Heskal as you blast your way through his cult army is amusing enough, as are most of Shelly's deliberately dated references and quips.”
- “The story is simple: Shelly Harrison is caught in a firestorm when Dr. Jadus Heskal, a transhumanist cult leader, unleashes his army of cybernetically enhanced soldiers on the city of Neo D.C.”
- “The plot is practically nonexistent (and what is there is as generic as it gets) and I found myself just blasting through the levels for the sake of getting through the game rather than feeling genuine interest in the world or characters.”
- “The story is where this game falls a bit flat.”
- “The actual story and characters are painfully generic.”
humor
179 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of nostalgic references and juvenile one-liners, often drawing comparisons to classic titles like Duke Nukem 3D. While some players appreciate the campy, irreverent tone and find the humor entertaining, others criticize it as outdated or lacking in originality, with many jokes feeling forced or unfunny. Overall, the humor is subjective, appealing primarily to fans of retro shooters, but may not resonate with all players.
- “Ion Fury also excels in its nostalgic references and humor.”
- “The game has a good sense of humor and is packed with references.”
- “It's funny and campy and an absolute joy to play!”
- “She can't go a single room without making a profoundly unfunny one-liner or a ham-fisted reference, making the experience all around cringy.”
- “Prepare to spout off dozens of extremely grating and unfunny one-liners until the player discovers the 'silent protagonist' option in settings.”
- “If they want to have an unfunny joke in their game, fine... but making a joke out of a sexuality in its entirety reeks of immaturity.”
optimization
115 mentions
18 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly during intense scenes or boss fights. While some users report smooth gameplay on modern hardware, others struggle with frame drops, stuttering, and inconsistent performance, suggesting that the game may not be well-optimized for all systems. Recent updates have addressed some of these concerns, but many still recommend further improvements for a more stable experience.
- “It's impressive how they push the old engine to this limit but also cause performance issues that thankfully have been patched a while ago.”
- “The game runs smoothly on virtually any hardware and I had no issues running it under Debian GNU/Linux and Windows.”
- “This game is packed, it's optimized as hell, and the gameplay is so tightly designed this game has earned its rightful spot among the greats.”
- “The biggest problem with the game by far is the performance.”
- “There is no getting around the fact that this game is extremely poorly optimized, which showcases in the fact that it will run worse when you are outside and it's seemingly trying to display buildings on a system that doesn't have any kind of distance rendering.”
- “The only negative is that the performance can be god awful when it comes to consistency; I've never seen a game that stuttered and screen-teared this much even with a ridiculously high fps.”
atmosphere
69 mentions
52 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, combining a grungy cyberpunk aesthetic with a vibrant soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed level design and the charming, retro-inspired visuals reminiscent of classic titles like Duke Nukem 3D. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is engaging, it can occasionally feel inconsistent or lacking in depth compared to other iconic shooters.
- “The dripping wet neo-noir atmosphere paints a grim picture for our protagonist, Shelly 'Bombshell' Harrison.”
- “The atmosphere helps keep you engaged.”
- “The atmosphere oozes out of every orifice this game possesses, delivered to your eyes and mind in high-definition, in a way only the heavily modified build engine can manage.”
- “Talking about atmosphere: there is none in this game.”
- “This game is mediocre: 90% of level design is dull (with some bright moments), enemies are dull (except some of them), there is no plot or atmosphere.”
- “Despite the cyberpunk aesthetic, the game lacks atmosphere and that spark of creativity.”
grinding
33 mentions
3 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly during boss fights and certain level designs that feel repetitive and uninspired. While some enjoy the exploration and weapon experimentation, many express frustration with the length and pacing of the game, leading to a sense of monotony in gameplay. Despite the fun elements, the overall experience can become a slog, especially in later stages.
- “Difficulty is spot on; on the second hardest difficulty, you are really incentivized to explore in order to stock up on more armor, health, and ammo. It's not tedious or frustrating to find side areas and hidden items.”
- “The end result was a lot of very tedious wandering through unpopulated maps.”
- “Unfortunately it's hamstrung by poor and tedious gameplay.”
- “The technological gadgets like headshots and physics are sure nice, but that doesn't make up for the most uninspired, tedious and chore-like level, enemy and boss design I've seen in a while.”
stability
32 mentions
28 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
72 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and freezes, particularly during gameplay. While some users experienced no significant issues and praised its performance on Linux, others noted frustrating glitches that affected gameplay, such as buggy enemy behavior and save system problems. Overall, the game appears to be enjoyable but marred by stability concerns that detract from the experience.
- “The game runs great on Linux.”
- “It's non-stop fun, very well made, and runs great.”
- “Very enjoyable, runs great, and very approachable.”
- “I'm usually quite loyal to occasional freezes and crashes, but with Ion Fury, I encountered them too often. Every 2-3 hours, I would get either a 10-second freeze or just a straight crash.”
- “Very fun gameplay, but very buggy.”
- “If I were you, the reader, I would either steer clear of the game or wait until the full version is released (if that ever even happens) before you make your judgment because right now it's a poorly optimized, buggy, and incomplete mess, and it may stay that way forever.”
replayability
25 mentions
44 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its combination of linear and open-ended areas, numerous secrets, and various difficulty levels that encourage multiple playthroughs. Players appreciate the extensive campaign length and additional modes, which further enhance replay value. While some reviews note limited replayability for certain players, the abundance of challenges and collectibles keeps many engaged for repeated sessions.
- “The combination of linear and open-ended areas ensures that players can approach challenges in various ways, adding to the game's replayability.”
- “The campaign is long; it is one of the longest old-school FPSs I've seen, and the replayability is total, being possible to replay the full campaign or to start at any specific chapter.”
- “Copious amounts of secrets and challenges allow for great replayability.”
- “Not much replayability, but one full playthrough is still 4+ hours.”
- “The replayability for the big 3 is once in every 2 years for me.”
- “There's quite a lot of secrets so there's a lot of replay value, quite a few achievements too, it would be good if it had multiplayer though, also the framerate can drop sometimes and the mouse feels really weird so it's kind of hard to aim but aside from that it's a solid game worth buying.”
emotional
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its nostalgic elements and wholesome moments that evoke feelings of joy and childhood memories. The beautiful visuals and level design contribute to this emotional experience, although some players felt let down by the abrupt ending, which diminished the overall impact. Overall, the game successfully captures a heartwarming throwback to the 90s gaming era, making it a memorable experience for many.
- “Playing through the first level made me feel like I was a kid again.”
- “The visuals and level architecture are beautiful - without spoiling anything, some levels almost made me cry from joy in this regard.”
- “This preview campaign at least is a heartwarming throwback to the good old days in the nineties, when secrets were plenty and health non-regenerating.”
monetization
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and other common cash-grab tactics, which many players find refreshing in a gaming landscape saturated with such practices. Reviewers appreciate the focus on gameplay and substance over monetization schemes, highlighting that the game feels like a genuine homage to classic titles rather than a cheap indie cash grab. Overall, the lack of intrusive monetization elements has positively impacted players' enjoyment and restored their faith in gaming.
- “In an era where every game has constant hand-holding mechanics, tool tips, crafting mechanics shoved into everything, and microtransactions everywhere, this game is just what I needed to restore my faith in gaming.”
- “I feel this game needs to be successful so more developers will realize that it's not all about the 'realistic' graphics (graphics in this game are gorgeous) and microtransactions, but about the gameplay and substance. This is a major callback done right, and I just hope we will see more classics return in this engine.”
- “No microtransactions, no skins, no lootboxes, no grind.”
- “Not to talk about the sickness called microtransactions.”
- “In the end, it feels like a cheap cash grab from people who didn't grow up with what they are trying to sell.”
- “Also: no god damn microtransactions or eye-soring in-your-face reminders for season passes.”
character development
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has been criticized for being unremarkable, with many characters, including the protagonist Shelly, lacking depth and memorable traits. Reviewers express a desire for more engaging dialogue and backstory, suggesting that the game could benefit from a stronger narrative foundation. Overall, while the game captures the essence of classic first-person shooters, it falls short in delivering compelling character arcs.
- “Some real character development; I'm not asking for The Last of Us, but have Shelly comment more about the environment or her mission in general—anything that isn't a one-liner.”
- “This is a fantastic throwback to FPS games of old where there was only character development and little to no story.”
- “I really think this could have a great story with better character development and an actual intro.”
- “Sadly unremarkable character design, as most enemies are humanoids with similar silhouettes.”
- “My only complaint is the lack of character development, which ultimately keeps Shelly from being as memorable as the likes of Duke Nukem or Lo Wang.”
- “Some real character development would be appreciated; I'm not asking for 'The Last of Us,' but having Shelly comment more about the environment or her mission in general—anything that isn't a one-liner—would enhance the experience.”