Iron Brigade

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,242 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • humor
Iron Brigade Game Cover
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"Iron Brigade" is a thrilling tower defense shooter game that combines action-packed combat with strategic fortification building. As a member of the Iron Brigade, you must defend your base and repair your fortifications while fighting off hordes of invading robots. With a variety of weapons and customizable mechs at your disposal, the fate of humanity rests in your hands.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,242 reviews
story52 positive mentions
optimization20 negative mentions
  • Unique blend of tower defense and third-person shooter mechanics with customizable mechs.
  • Humorous storyline and engaging gameplay that keeps players entertained.
  • Supports co-op play for up to four players, enhancing the fun and strategy.
  • Multiplayer connectivity issues and disconnections can hinder the experience.
  • Game is locked at 30 FPS, which may be disappointing for some players.
  • Some players may find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in variety over time.
  • story300 mentions

    The game's story is described as a lighthearted and humorous take on a retro-futuristic setting, featuring a simple plot that blends well with the gameplay. While some players found the narrative entertaining and enjoyable, others criticized it for being shallow and lacking depth, with unskippable cutscenes detracting from the experience. Overall, the story is seen as a fun backdrop to the gameplay, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more profound narrative.

    • “Even if this game shows its age, its charm, original gameplay, and entertaining story will keep you hooked for the duration.”
    • “The story was enjoyably over-the-top, and the voice acting was great.”
    • “And best of all, it's all built around a hilarious storyline that is actually entertaining to watch as you progress through the game.”
    • “The story was terrible and I never cared for it.”
    • “Unskippable long cut-scene before every mission, no retry option (cut-scenes again) and no button to start the mission, but it starts automatically after you patiently watched the cutscene really wreck any chance for me to give a positive review.”
    • “The story is pretty sparse; you never really find out what 'the broadcast' is, or why it made one guy want to rule the world with TV monsters.”
  • gameplay176 mentions

    The gameplay of Iron Brigade is a unique blend of third-person mech shooting and tower defense mechanics, offering a challenging yet enjoyable experience that keeps players engaged. While some find the gameplay repetitive and the mechanics occasionally shallow, many appreciate the depth of customization and variety in playstyles available. Despite its dated graphics and occasional bugs, the game is praised for its charm, humor, and the fun it provides, especially in cooperative play.

    • “Even if this game shows its age, its charm, original gameplay, and entertaining story will keep you hooked for the duration.”
    • “The gameplay is challenging, albeit a bit repetitive, and across the board you can feel the passion behind this project, from the mechanics to the design.”
    • “That aside, this game is one of the most solid productions Double Fine has managed to offer; gameplay is very energetic and hectic, there's plenty of variety to build/pilot the kind of robot you want to play.”
    • “The tower defense aspect is lacking, and the gameplay for my initial 40 minutes just wasn't much fun.”
    • “The game could be great but there are a lack of important features, like difficulty settings, call fast wave, etc. It has low tower defense options and is mostly an action game. Also, it relies on co-op gameplay, but nobody plays it right now.”
    • “Unfortunately, this was at the 3.5 hours mark of gameplay and this was when things went downhill.”
  • humor100 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by Double Fine's signature sarcastic and campy style, featuring quirky dialogue, amusing character interactions, and funny enemy names. Players appreciate the blend of humor with gameplay, noting that it enhances the overall experience, although some feel it occasionally falls flat. Overall, the game is described as a fun and entertaining mix of tower defense and third-person shooter elements, with a humorous storyline that keeps players engaged.

    • “In true Double Fine tradition, the game tries to be funny.”
    • “Creative, interesting, and incredibly fun balance of a third person shooter with a tower defense, wrapped into the good sense of humor you'd expect from Double Fine.”
    • “But it's worth it for the cooperative play and the great humor throughout the story, dialogue, descriptions, even the loading screens.”
  • graphics88 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as charming and unique, featuring a cartoonish, dieselpunk aesthetic that resonates well with its gameplay and setting. While some players note that the visuals show their age and lack modern fidelity, many appreciate the art style and immersive design, considering it a strong point of the game despite occasional technical issues. Overall, the graphics may not meet contemporary standards, but they contribute positively to the game's nostalgic and quirky atmosphere.

    • “The visuals are wonderful and the explosions especially never get old.”
    • “Awesome 'pulp alternate history post-WWI' design and overall art style, crammed with attitude and goofiness.”
    • “The graphics are great, the missions are fun, replay value is huge (especially co-op) and the price is cheap and out of this world.”
    • “The plot may be cheesy, and the graphics are dated, but the gameplay is quite enjoyable in my opinion.”
    • “If you don't mind staggeringly mediocre graphics, slightly buggy controls, unskippable and repetitive cut scenes, and level design that makes it hard to get a clear picture of what is going on, then you can still have some shooty fun with this game.”
    • “Downsides: straight port from the 360 version, no graphical upgrades, and capped at 30 fps.”
  • replayability46 mentions

    The game offers high replayability, particularly through its co-op modes and survival gamemodes, despite a short campaign. Players appreciate the variety of playstyles, constant unlocks, and the fun factor, although some note that replay value may diminish after acquiring all items and completing missions. Overall, it is seen as a fun and engaging experience, especially when played with friends.

    • “Infinite replayability through survival game modes.”
    • “The graphics are great, the missions are fun, and the replay value is huge (especially co-op) and the price is cheap and out of this world.”
    • “Unique gameplay makes this game replayable countless times; the multiplayer offers ways to beat troublesome levels and learn different techniques.”
    • “Replay value is a bit low, with a progressing/leveling system and future weapons being so much stronger than old ones, but it's definitely a fun game that is only better with friends.”
    • “Those 3 1/2 problems can be kinda off-putting at times in the game, especially since there's no real replayability after you've beaten the game.”
    • “If the multiplayer worked, I believe that would make this a much more replayable game, but thanks to issues with Windows Live, that's almost impossible, and the patch Double Fine put in hasn't seemed to fix it, either.”
  • optimization38 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant stuttering, audio issues, and high memory usage, particularly in co-op modes. While some users have noted improvements after updates, the overall performance remains subpar, especially for a title released in 2012, and it lacks modern graphical settings. Despite these issues, a few players have managed to experience smoother gameplay on lower-end systems, but the consensus is that the game suffers from poor optimization and is unlikely to receive further support.

    • “It also lacks many of the options we are used to with modern titles like graphical settings, but the game runs smoothly even on my potato PC.”
    • “There are not really defined classes with optimized weapons; however, there are different trench chassis, legs, and weapons, each with their own more or less ideal combinations. However, you are rarely locked out of a weapon class.”
    • “With some optimization and more weapons/legendaries, and maybe adding some random stats drop mechanics with added effects and damage types.”
    • “It's so poorly optimized and uses so much memory that the game causes constant stuttering and audio issues, even while playing single player.”
    • “This is just unbelievably poor performance from a game that came out in 2012.”
    • “Sometimes the co-op slows down big time—whether it's because of junky net code or the game engine is not optimized, the very thing that makes this game enjoyable also hinders it.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some enjoy the variety and the fun of collecting rare items and customizing their gear, others criticize the tediousness of farming for specific resources and the reliance on random drop chances, which can lead to frustrating grinding sessions. Additionally, the need for grinding becomes more pronounced in later levels, often requiring players to repeat missions for upgrades and equipment.

    • “Some mech parts can only be collected by random drops, so collecting them all involves grinding a particular mission until you get what you're looking for (this includes getting high scores on the survival missions).”
    • “It can get a little bit grindy at times when you are looking to find the right equipment and you are rewarded with money that becomes completely pointless by the middle of the game.”
    • “One downside I came across is that the later levels will require grinding to complete.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, glitches in multiplayer, and co-op mode freezes. Players have reported crashes when attempting to exit the game and a frustrating 30fps cap in certain areas. Despite these problems, some still find enjoyment in the gameplay if they can overlook the technical shortcomings.

    • “The multiplayer has some glitches where you can be randomly disconnected from each other.”
    • “Co-op freezes every few seconds.”
    • “But it crashes and freezes my PC every time I try to quit the game.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    Players appreciate the monetization model, particularly the DLC that introduces a new campaign and additional content, enhancing the overall experience. The value added through extra unlockables and survival modes is seen as a positive aspect, complementing the game's impressive graphics.

  • music4 mentions

    The game features a pleasant, drum-driven soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, despite the absence of traditional music elements.

    • “Pleasant drum-happy soundtrack.”
    • “Pleasant drum-happy soundtrack.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of Iron Brigade is characterized by its humorous and unique storytelling set in an exaggerated, fictional World War I environment, featuring anachronistic technology. This distinctive blend creates an engaging experience that appeals to fans of third-person shooters and tower defense games.

    • “Ib is humorous with a unique story and atmosphere; I think damn near everyone who likes third-person shooters and tower defense games needs to try Iron Brigade!”
    • “The game's atmosphere is an over-the-top setting reminiscent of a fictional World War One with anachronistic technology.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users express disappointment in the emotional aspect of the game, expecting a profound and touching storyline but finding it to be a straightforward and unremarkable tower defense experience instead.

  • character development2 mentions

    The reviews highlight that character development is primarily reflected through unique and engaging character designs, which contribute to the overall depth and personality of the characters. However, there is a lack of detailed exploration of their backstories and growth throughout the game.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
2-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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