Ironlights
- April 9, 2020
- E McNeill
Ironlights is a VR dueling game with skillful, physics-based melee combat, available for multiplayer and single-player. The unique combat system features dynamic swordplay with weapons shattering on impact, requiring players to parry, block, and strategize their attacks. Choose your weapon from a variety of options, each with its own unique weight and physics, and test your skills in online cross-platform multiplayer battles or the single-player campaign.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and satisfying combat system that combines strategy with fun, making each fight feel different.
- The multiplayer experience is lively, with quick matchmaking and a variety of classes that encourage different play styles.
- The game has good replayability, with a campaign mode and the ability to customize characters, providing a lot of content for players.
- The game suffers from balance issues, with certain classes being overpowered and leading to frustrating experiences in multiplayer.
- There are significant problems with player population, making it difficult to find matches at times, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The mechanics can feel clunky, particularly the weapon 'reload' system and the slow-motion combat, which some players find detracts from the action.
- gameplay39 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its solid mechanics, enjoyable combat, and excellent optimization, making it easy to pick up yet challenging to master. However, some players express frustration with balance issues, particularly regarding weapon mechanics and the reliance on exploiting certain game mechanics to succeed. Overall, while the game offers a fun and competitive experience, it also has areas that could benefit from refinement to enhance the multiplayer experience.
“Optimization is excellent, gameplay is fun, the community is nice, and you find matches even in the middle of the night on workdays because it is cross-play with the Oculus Store.”
“In summary, a competitive skill-based VR class-based dueling game with solid mechanics and incredibly satisfying combat.”
“The gameplay itself is very solid and intuitive, and the weapons feel good to handle.”
“Game is more about abusing the balance mechanics of each weapon rather than your own skill and athleticism.”
“But an imbalanced weapon set and poorly implemented combat mechanics leads to either a boring or frustrating experience.”
“The primary mechanic behind this game is not fun.”
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide specific insights into the game's story, focusing instead on multiplayer experiences and gameplay mechanics. Players highlight the game's suitability for parties and the ability to play across different VR systems, but there is no mention of a narrative or single-player content.
“This game is awesome for parties if you have multiple VR setups or your friend has an Oculus Quest or Quest 2 that they can bring over!”
“To give an example of the above situation being put into use, I bought this game on Steam and my Oculus Quest 2 for a New Year's party I was having with a bunch of friends and we were able to take turns fighting each other in this game all night!”
“I have a ton of hours on the game on my Quest and I haven't even touched the single-player yet.”
“I have a ton of hours on the game on my Quest and I haven't even touched the singleplayer yet.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game are praised for their quality, particularly in the Valve Index headset, with impressive sky visuals and smooth performance even on lower settings. However, some users feel the game is overpriced relative to its graphical fidelity and gameplay, noting minor issues like the appearance of the hands.
“You can tell so much work was put into this game. The sky looks great no matter what setting you choose; the graphics are amazing. The only complaint I have is that the hands look a bit funky.”
“The graphics look very good in the Valve Index headset, and everything worked very well.”
“I know it takes a lot of effort to make games, but compared to other games, this one is overpriced for its graphics and gameplay.”
“I'm actually underspec for the headset I use, being the Oculus Rift S, and at low graphics, I can play this game without a single drop in frames.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its excellent performance, allowing for smooth gameplay and quick matchmaking, even during off-peak hours, thanks to cross-play compatibility with the Oculus Store. Users report no issues with online performance, particularly in campaign and private match modes.
“Optimization is excellent, gameplay is fun, the community is nice, and you find matches even in the middle of the night on workdays because it is cross-play with the Oculus Store.”
“I've only tried out the campaign mode and a couple of private matches, and I had no problem with the game's online performance.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and absurd elements, with players finding it amusing and entertaining, even in the face of personal challenges. It is recommended for those seeking a fun, carefree experience filled with comedic moments.
“Lmao, the funny color sword makes me go weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”
“If this game was claiming to be an arcade just for the shits and giggles, I would recommend it because it's funny.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the game to have strong replayability, noting that it is very fun and satisfying to play multiple times.
“Very fun, really satisfying, great replayability.”
“The game offers endless possibilities, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and diverse character choices, I find myself coming back for more.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has been reported as buggy, indicating significant stability issues that may affect gameplay experience.
“The game is incredibly buggy, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I encountered numerous stability issues that caused frequent crashes.”
“The constant glitches and bugs really detract from the overall experience.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its energizing and motivating qualities, effectively enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“The music is incredibly energizing and really pumps you up.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
“I love how the music sets the mood and keeps me engaged throughout the game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unenjoyable, particularly after the initial hours of gameplay.
“Frankly, this game is just tedious and not fun after the first couple of hours.”
“The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“I found myself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over, which made the experience dull.”