Iron Sky: Invasion

About

Iron Sky: Invasion is a single player real-time strategy game with fantasy, historical and science fiction themes. It was developed by Reality Pump and was released on December 13, 2012. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Iron Sky: Invasion" is a single-player Historic Real Time Strategy game with excellent game mechanics and stunning visuals, set during the movie's main conflict. As a pilot of a prototype spaceship, defend Earth from the Nazis' space armada in thrilling dogfights, with good music and humor to boot. The ultimate goal is to protect humanity from falling under the Nazi yoke.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 528 reviews

story18 positive mentions

stability7 negative mentions

The game features decent graphics and a unique setting with space Nazis, which adds a humorous twist.
The gameplay includes engaging dogfights and a simple upgrade system that allows for some strategic choices.
The live-action cutscenes, while cheesy, provide a fun and campy experience that aligns with the tone of the movie.

The controls are poorly designed, making it difficult to aim and maneuver effectively, especially with mouse and keyboard.
The game suffers from repetitive missions and a lack of depth, leading to a monotonous gameplay experience.
Many players report bugs, including issues with achievements not unlocking and crashes during gameplay.

story
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
70%
14%
The game's story is a mix of satire and absurdity, often described as entertaining yet shallow, with many players noting its reliance on campy humor and over-the-top scenarios reminiscent of the original film. While some appreciate the comedic elements and the integration of live-action cutscenes, others criticize the plot for being disjointed, repetitive, and lacking depth, leading to a generally mixed reception regarding its narrative quality. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative experience, with many players finding it enjoyable in a lighthearted, nonsensical way.
- “The story is fun in a MST3K kind of way, so entertaining that I had to head out to Netflix to watch the movie it was based on.”
- “This game is simply outstanding for its size, as the missions are huge, with Nazi UFOs zipping about while getting hit by multi-national teams of satellites-turned-gunships, whilst guarding a much larger (space) zeppelin which is in turn towing a friggin gigantic asteroid.”
- “The tone of black comedy and 'just run with it' silliness from the movie is preserved, from the mission briefings with Madame President totally-not-Sarah-Palin, to the political shenanigans of the various national representatives, to the over-the-top voice acting from the various pilots in the fleet.”
- “The 'story line' is as terrible and has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.”
- “The acted cut scenes are terribly acted, the plot makes no coherent sense, and the main character you play as is so annoying I just hope he dies in agonizing pain in the end.”
- “I couldn't find any tutorials or controls, I didn't know what my missions were, the story line (if you could call it that) was obviously written by a two and a half year old blind child eating glue while he's doing it.”
gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
51%
15%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of familiar mechanics and some innovative twists, providing a satisfying loop for players who enjoy casual space combat. However, many reviews highlight its repetitiveness, limited enemy variety, and lack of depth, leading to a somewhat short and unremarkable experience. While some players appreciate the humor and simplicity, others find the gameplay dull and marred by technical issues, suggesting it may be best enjoyed on sale rather than at full price.
- “Satisfying gameplay loop.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it has this mix of familiar elements and small twists that keep things from feeling stale.”
- “If you’re looking for something that balances comfort with challenge, familiar mechanics with fresh touches, and a world that’s just fun to be in, then I genuinely think this one is worth giving a shot.”
- “With 4 hours of gameplay on record, I was hoping for it to get better at some point.”
- “But there is no plot, boring game design, too repetitive gameplay.”
- “Gameplay becomes repetitive fairly quickly, though sometimes you have to defend or capture something, but most of the time you have to blast enemies.”
graphics
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
45%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the aesthetic, which blends elements of dieselpunk and space themes, and noting that the visuals are generally well-designed and appealing. However, some critiques point to the graphics feeling dated, reminiscent of titles from 2012-2013, and mention limited settings for performance adjustments. Overall, while the graphics are considered decent and enjoyable, they may not stand out as extraordinary in the current gaming landscape.
- “The graphics are beautiful, the controls are extremely easy to master, and the cutscenes have a definite Command & Conquer: Red Alert sort of overacting.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly good, the voice acting is horribly bad in a hilarious way, and the game is just plain fun.”
- “The graphics are well designed, the soundtrack is pretty cool and the cutscenes are decent, sure.”
- “Graphics: 6/10”
- “Funny how one of the negative reviews cites how the graphics are subpar 2012/2013 graphics.”
- “The gameplay is fine and so are the graphics but everything else is just unbearable.”
humor
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is a mix of dark, cheesy, and wacky elements, often drawing on the comedic style of the original movie, which some players found entertaining and engaging. While many appreciated the funny cutscenes and voice acting, opinions were divided, with some finding the humor hit-or-miss and the gameplay lacking depth. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, albeit flawed, experience that can be enjoyed for its comedic moments, especially if purchased at a discount.
- “There is a ton of wacky humor from the original movie actors that adds atmosphere to the game.”
- “The gameplay and humor had me gripped from the get-go, and the reasons behind some of the side missions had me laughing and asking myself 'why me?'”
- “It's not elite dangerous, it's not deep, but it is hilarious, over the top, and pure fun.”
- “What you have here is an expensive game engine with only passable gameplay interrupted by professional actors telling not funny jokes.”
- “It's dull and unfunny, and the game's plot is lifeless as well.”
- “The acting is horrible, and they are not funny.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
53%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its dramatic and intriguing qualities, while others find it repetitive and cringy. Many appreciate the incorporation of a soundtrack from the movie, which adds to the atmosphere, but some feel it doesn't fit the gameplay context. Overall, the soundtrack is noted as a highlight amidst criticisms of the game's controls and mechanics.
- “Great game and beautiful music.”
- “The graphics are well designed, the soundtrack is pretty cool and the cutscenes are decent, sure.”
- “All in all, I was pleased with the recreation of the atmosphere of the movie (music, characters, space combats).”
- “The music is so unbelievably cringy and unbearably annoying.”
- “The most annoying gameplay music and controls are screwed up.”
- “Terrible game with terrible acting and the worst music I've heard in a game in a long time.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
The game's stability is notably inconsistent, with users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and issues with achievements, particularly during critical missions and when exiting the game. While some players experience smooth performance, others face significant technical problems, including installation glitches and lag during mission briefings. Overall, the game may require patience and troubleshooting to enjoy fully.
- “Runs great on my machine; I just wish they would install joystick controls. It would make it a little easier to control the ship. Other than that, check out the demo and see for yourself.”
- “The biggest problems include crashes while trying to quit, leaderboard options that don't stop looking for a non-existent leaderboard and seemingly crash the game that way, and buggy achievements.”
- “Took a lot of troubleshooting to get past the glitches on installation.”
- “Some set pieces are very buggy and clunky, especially the last mission.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag; while it successfully captures the wacky humor and essence of the original movie, some players find the space environment lacking in variety and depth. The inclusion of cheesy dialogue during webcam conversations detracts from the overall experience, though the solid space combat and open-world elements contribute positively to the atmosphere. Overall, fans of the movie may appreciate the nostalgic elements, but others might find the atmosphere inconsistent.
- “The first thing I noticed is the atmosphere.”
- “There is a ton of wacky humor from the original movie actors that adds atmosphere to the game.”
- “All in all, I was pleased with the recreation of the atmosphere of the movie (music, characters, space combats).”
- “The atmosphere in space really has no variety at all and feels really dull and empty.”
- “Also the storyline is... there aren't any words for it really... the webcam conversations you have with the president and so forth are extremely cheesy and don't fit the atmosphere of the game at all.”
- “Well made solid space combat sim with a bit of an open world atmosphere.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting sluggish performance and a slippery camera that detracts from the experience. While the game supports 4K graphics and offers some visual tweaks, it lacks adjustable performance settings, making it challenging for users with lower-end hardware. Additionally, the controls are primarily optimized for controllers, which may not cater well to all players.
- “Performance has been mostly fine.”
- “Gameplay is tolerable and there's support for 4K graphics and a few performance/visual tweaks to bring the game up to minimum standard for PC.”
- “The game's control setup is optimized for a 360 controller, or any controller that is XInput-compatible such as the Logitech F310.”
- “I get that it's a space game, so of course the controls are supposed to feel floaty, but good lord, the slippery camera and sluggish performance make everything so much worse than it needs to be.”
- “- No adjustable performance settings - not a big deal if you have an average rig, but there is no way to perhaps lower the graphics in order to play the game on your Haswell tablet - ironic considering this game is also a mobile game.”
- “Gameplay is tolerable, and there's support for 4K graphics and a few performance/visual tweaks to bring the game up to minimum standard for PC.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The game features no microtransactions, which users find refreshing and satisfying, contributing to a cohesive experience that aligns with the game's vision.
- “There are no microtransactions, which makes the experience much more enjoyable.”
- “I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions to progress.”
- “The absence of microtransactions allows for a fair and balanced gameplay experience.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a surprisingly emotional experience in the game, particularly highlighted by the overwhelming scale of an asteroid that evokes feelings of insignificance. Additionally, the poignant rendition of the American anthem at the home base adds a layer of beauty and sadness, enhancing the overall emotional impact of the gameplay.
- “When a mission told me there was a 3-mile-wide asteroid, I expected it to be just a slightly larger version of the normal ones, but instead, they genuinely made me feel tiny next to the thing.”
- “I've been playing this game for a few hours now, and I'm finding it an oddly emotional experience.”
- “The emotional part comes in with the strikingly beautiful and sad rendition of the American anthem that plays when you visit your home base.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Character development is noted through the inclusion of ship upgrades and the ability to change vessel types, allowing players to personalize their experience and enhance their gameplay.
- “There's even a bit of character development in the form of ship upgrades and the option to change the type of vessel.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in the characters; they felt one-dimensional and unrelatable.”
- “The choices you make don't seem to impact character growth, making the development feel pointless.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, primarily due to its simplistic mechanics and basic AI, which fail to provide a compelling reason to replay. While some players note that the game offers a decent amount of content for a short experience, the reliance on broken achievements and minimal resource management detracts from its overall replay value.
- “For a short game, it has a good amount of replayability.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to repetitive combat and uninteresting side missions, although the humorous dialogue provides some relief. Additionally, skipping videos is advised to avoid frustrating loops that can force players to restart chapters.
- “The combat can become tedious as it involves a lot of rinse-and-repeat style sorties, and the side missions aren't particularly interesting. However, the dialogue and the pilots' comments are amusing enough that you can classify this game as more of a comedy than a space flight sim.”
- “Remember to skip every video in the game; watching them may put you in a loop where you have no choice but to go back to the start of a chapter to avoid losing the objective, which is tedious at best.”