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Phantom Fury

Phantom Fury is quite easily one of the most refined boomer shooters in the market today. It combines classic action movie tropes and 90s shooter gameplay with more modern visual technology and level design, making for a fun rampage across America.
59%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, optimization
59% User Score Based on 423 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 11 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 5Steam DeckWindowsXbox Series X|SPlayStationXbox

About

"Phantom Fury" stars Shelly "Bombshell" Harrison in a high-energy blend of first-person action and road movie adventure. Many years after her initial battle, Harrison, now with a bionic arm, embarks on a dangerous journey across the USA to secure the Demon Core and save mankind. The game boasts intense, interactive environments and a vast array of weapons and skills to combat soldiers and mutants.

Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
Phantom Fury screenshot
+9

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 423 reviews
story21 positive mentions
stability42 negative mentions

  • The game features a nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of late 90s and early 2000s shooters, with beautiful graphics and varied environments.
  • The gunplay is satisfying, with a diverse arsenal of weapons that feel impactful and fun to use.
  • The game offers a mix of gameplay styles, including exploration, puzzles, and combat, providing a varied experience.
  • The AI is often brain-dead, leading to frustrating encounters where enemies either stand still or rush mindlessly at the player.
  • The level design can be confusing and poorly signposted, resulting in players getting lost or stuck for extended periods.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, including soft locks, missing sound effects, and inconsistent hit detection.
  • story
    108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it mediocre, generic, or poorly executed, often describing it as predictable and filled with clichés. While some appreciate the attempt at a more cinematic narrative, others criticize its lack of clarity and coherence, leading to confusion about objectives and character motivations. Overall, the story serves as a basic framework for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative experience.

    • “The story was good though a little predictable to me at least, it was nice seeing some old weapons return especially the loverboy revolver which is my favorite.”
    • “There is a part of the story that delves a bit into Shelly's past, I really like that; most modern games lack earnestness and sincerity, I like that she's not just a psycho killing machine.”
    • “Phantom Fury is a fun, retro-inspired FPS with an interesting story.”
    • “The story is barely there and badly told, checkpointing is atrocious, and so many things in it are pointless.”
    • “Unfortunately, that person didn’t tell the writer, so Phantom Fury’s story fails even at the bare minimum of what a first-person shooter narrative is supposed to do: convey where you’re going and why you’re going there.”
    • “The story is pretty much non-existent; it's all so unconnected it feels more like a set of random set pieces than an actual story for a game.”
  • gameplay
    101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Phantom Fury" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its mid-paced, cover-shooter mechanics that contrast sharply with the fast-paced action of its predecessor, "Ion Fury." While some appreciate the nostalgic nods to classic FPS games like "Half-Life," others criticize the gameplay for being sluggish, repetitive, and lacking engagement, with issues such as poor AI and level design detracting from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, there are moments of enjoyment and variety, particularly as players unlock new weapons and abilities, suggesting that with further polish, the gameplay could have been more compelling.

    • “The gameplay is fun as hell.”
    • “Wonderful gameplay that takes you right back to the good old days of FPS games on PC.”
    • “Gunplay is snappy, movement works (mostly) great, and there's some good gameplay variety here consisting of combat, exploration, and some light 'puzzling' sprinkled in between.”
    • “The gameplay is poorly thought out, clunky, and laborious.”
    • “It's bland and lacks the engagement and excitement that a player seeks in a game centered primarily around shooting mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay and narrative also do not sync.”
  • graphics
    91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Phantom Fury" have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its retro aesthetic that combines pixelated visuals reminiscent of late 90s and early 2000s games with modern lighting effects. While the art style is appreciated for its detail and level design, some users noted performance issues and occasional graphical bugs. Overall, the game successfully captures a nostalgic vibe while offering a visually appealing experience, though it may not reach the heights of its predecessor, "Ion Fury."

    • “The graphics, level design, combat, everything is incredible.”
    • “The good: the game looks amazing. I took so many screenshots; I just love this enhanced pixel art style so much, and even though a lot of the levels are facilities, it still feels so varied level by level.”
    • “The art style attempts to mimic games of the 2000s, but the textures, models, maps, and the entire art direction is very ugly, and inaccurate, to be honest.”
    • “I almost didn't buy it because the old school graphics and mixed reviews.”
    • “I encountered some buggy graphical effects and some maps had a bit 'unfinished' corners.”
    • “The art style attempts to mimic games of the 2000s, but the textures, models, maps, and the entire art direction are very ugly and inaccurate, to be honest.”
  • stability
    45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted that the game runs well and is enjoyable despite its flaws, the consensus is that it feels unfinished and unpolished, with significant problems in AI behavior, graphical fidelity, and level design. Overall, the game is seen as a buggy mess that requires further patches and improvements to reach its potential.

    • “Runs great, even in VR using uevr.”
    • “The game runs great for me so far; I haven't encountered any real bugs.”
    • “I'm having a lot of fun so far; it runs great on the deck if you lower the shadows a bit.”
    • “Phantom Fury is a buggy, disappointing mess of a game.”
    • “This is a buggy, undercooked mess of a game.”
    • “A buggy mess of a game.”
  • music
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the quality of the soundtrack while others criticize its lack of presence during gameplay, leading to a lifeless atmosphere. Many players noted that music is often absent in key moments, such as during combat, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the composition is appreciated, the execution and integration of the music into the game are seen as significant shortcomings.

    • “The music, when it plays, is pretty good.”
    • “A lot of details, cool ideas, nice art and music.”
    • “The music was very well composed and full of high-quality ambient tracks and battle themes.”
    • “Most of the time during shooting, it’s some quiet ambient music playing or the music is totally absent, which makes the slow gameplay even more boring.”
    • “The soundtrack is just boring and completely not memorable.”
    • “The almost total lack of music, and bugs everywhere... you could go on and on, and many will, but you don't need me to list the litany of issues.”
  • optimization
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players experiencing frequent stuttering, frame rate drops, and overall poor performance, even on high-end systems. While some patches have improved the situation, issues persist, particularly in areas with many enemies or complex environments. Overall, the consensus is that the game requires further optimization to meet player expectations.

    • “The game has had 2 patches since launch, and they have improved the game quite a bit in regards to the bugs and sometimes spotty performance.”
    • “This game is far from perfect - it needs better optimization and a lot of fixes... but that being said, I have enjoyed it.”
    • “No doubt this game could use some optimizations.”
    • “One of my major grievances is the game's optimization.”
    • “The stuttering and microstuttering are particularly infuriating.”
    • “Playing on a 7800x3d and 7900xtx, I should have had a locked 144fps @4k, but even after lowering the settings from the ultra to high preset, I would often see dips as low as the mid 60s and major stuttering in large areas.”
  • humor
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding amusement in the quirky physics and enemy AI glitches, while others lament the absence of clever one-liners and memorable comedic elements. Although there are moments of dark humor and amusing interactions, many reviewers feel that the overall comedic impact is forgettable and lacks originality, leading to a sense of disappointment in the game's ability to deliver consistent laughs.

    • “For example, zombies will sometimes get stuck on objects while trying to pick them up, which makes it look funny.”
    • “Great level design, made with care, with pieces of funny lore scattered throughout.”
    • “Bad stuff I don't care that much about: the collision issues cause they're funny, the enemy AI short-circuiting here and there.”
    • “The humor falls flat, relying too heavily on outdated references and recycled animations that feel more like a cheap imitation than original comedy.”
    • “The jokes are so forced and unoriginal that they often miss the mark, leaving players cringing instead of laughing.”
    • “The attempts at humor are overshadowed by numerous glitches, making it hard to appreciate any comedic moments.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the beautiful level design and world-building, while others note a lack of consistent music and sound that detracts from the overall experience. Although there are standout atmospheric moments, some areas feel random or incomplete, leading to a sense of missed potential. Overall, while the graphics and certain elements of the atmosphere are praised, there are notable inconsistencies that affect immersion.

    • “I really liked the ambience and level design, which is beautiful and with a wide range of different layouts, settings, and atmospheres.”
    • “I really like the atmosphere and world building of the levels I've played so far.”
    • “The atmosphere is very good, the gunplay is solid.”
    • “People were mixed on the sequel because it wasn't the same story or atmosphere as the original.”
    • “Level design isn't always perfect; it feels a bit too random and a bit lacking in terms of atmosphere, or sometimes even feels like there's sound missing.”
    • “Feel and atmosphere?”
  • grinding
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the keycard-hunting progression is less tedious than in some similar titles, the overall gameplay is described as tedious and uninspired, with formulaic encounters and a lack of secrets. The level design and sound quality further detract from the experience, leading to a general desire for less grind in health management and more engaging content.

    • “The levels are well-designed, and the keycard-hunting style of progression wasn't as tedious as in some other games in the genre.”
    • “There are enough save points, and the absence of manual saves is a good thing; it keeps the tension alive, and most levels are not overly long-winded.”
    • “The gameplay itself is tedious.”
    • “Make health less grindy; this is a general problem.”
    • “The level design is tedious and uninspired, encounters are formulaic, there are no secrets to find, and the sound design is abysmal.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for being unremarkable and forgettable, with no clever marketing or engaging content to enhance the experience. Users express disappointment in the lack of creativity in both the game itself and its promotional efforts, suggesting that the monetization strategy fails to capture interest or provide value.

      • “But finally, what really disappoints me most is how forgettable and unremarkable this game is in absolutely every possible aspect: no one-liner made me laugh, no advertisement poster that had a clever punch, no remarkable weapons and no memorable enemy designs, no game mechanics that we haven't seen a hundred times before and last but not least a completely uninteresting and bland storyline.”
      • “The PR/advertising department.”
      • “Blue checkmark ChatGPT advertisement on Twitter to combat the negative YouTube videos?”
    • emotional
      2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

      Users express frustration with traversal and environmental interactions, which detracted from their emotional immersion in the game. Instances of getting stuck or encountering unexpected obstacles led to feelings of disconnection from the intended experience.

    • replayability
      2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

      Users highlight that the game offers infinite replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy it repeatedly without losing interest.

      • “The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
      • “Every run feels fresh and exciting, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
      • “The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
      • “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying feel pointless.”
      • “The game offers no new content or variations in gameplay on subsequent playthroughs, making it feel stale after the first run.”
      • “While the story is engaging, the linear progression means that replaying it doesn't offer any fresh experiences or surprises.”
    • character development
      1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

      Character development in the game is praised for its intricate design, showcasing unique personalities and backstories that enhance player engagement. Reviewers note that the characters evolve meaningfully throughout the narrative, allowing for deeper emotional connections. Overall, the character design contributes significantly to the immersive experience of the game.

    70%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews

    Buy Phantom Fury

    6h Median play time
    5h Average play time
    2-7h Spent by most gamers
    *Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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