Songs from the Iron Sea
- September 22, 2022
- Bazaar Games
Get on SteamImmerse yourself in a contrasted emotional journey with delicate visuals! Songs from the Iron Sea is a poetic platformer set in a whimsical aquatic universe. Guided by a kind entity, embody a creature lost in a metal nightmare and escape the foreman's gaze to regain your freedom.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics, a charming atmosphere, and smooth controls, making it a delightful underwater adventure.
- It's a short but memorable experience, with engaging gameplay that includes collectibles and achievements, perfect for a quick play session.
- The game is free to play, offering high-quality content that rivals some paid games, making it an excellent value.
- The game is very short, with a playtime of around 30 minutes, which may leave some players wanting more.
- There are performance issues and optimization problems, particularly with framerate stability during certain sections.
- The lack of save options means players must complete the game in one sitting, which can be frustrating if they need to take a break.
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, featuring smooth mechanics and straightforward puzzles that enhance the overall experience. Players can interact with magnetic boxes for various purposes, adding a layer of strategy, though some UI issues may detract from the experience without significantly impacting gameplay. Overall, it offers a charming and enjoyable experience.
“It's a short, charming deep dive with smooth mechanics and straightforward puzzles.”
“The gameplay is simple and should be easy enough for everyone.”
“Some points lost on the UI, because half the menu is outside the viewport and there are no resolution options to fix that, but fortunately it didn't hamper my gameplay.”
“Another mechanic of this game is picking up magnetic boxes and dropping them on switches or using them as moving cover.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning beauty and immersive atmosphere, contributing to a relaxing experience. Reviewers highlight the excellent visual design and audio, making it a highly recommended title for those seeking a visually appealing game.
“The graphics, atmosphere, audio, and overall design are fantastic.”
“Totally recommended, the visuals and audio are astonishing. The game is so beautiful and relaxing, and the controls feel great.”
“Chill little game with beautiful graphics.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its fantastic graphics, immersive audio, and overall design that contribute to a captivating experience.
“The graphics, atmosphere, audio, and overall design are fantastic.”
“It has a really good atmosphere.”
“Quite atmospheric.”
- story3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's visual storytelling and engaging narrative are highly praised, offering an engrossing experience. However, players may be disappointed to find that exiting the game mid-story results in losing progress, as it restarts from the beginning upon return.
“The movement and controls are top-notch, and the visual story is very interesting.”
“Loved the engrossing and light narrative and storytelling.”
“But if you decide to exit in the middle of the story and then return to the game, you will be disappointed, as the game will start from the very beginning.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game suffers from performance issues, particularly in the final segments, leading to unstable framerates. Additionally, players have noted that controls can be problematic until certain adjustments are made.
“The controls were a bit funky until I disconnected the second controller, and during the last part, there are some serious performance issues, but otherwise nothing seriously wrong with it.”
“The only downsides are how short it is, and it would need some optimization to keep the framerate stable.”
“The controls were a bit funky until I disconnected the second controller, and during the last part, there are some serious performance issues.”
- music2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game is integral to the experience, with players collecting songs that enhance the narrative and gameplay. The soundtrack, particularly the songs from "The Iron Sea," has been noted for its emotional impact, contributing to a transformative experience for players. Overall, the music is a standout feature that resonates deeply with the game's themes.
“The music in this game is captivating and really enhances the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, making every moment feel more immersive.”
“Each song adds a unique layer to the atmosphere, drawing players deeper into the game's world.”
“The music in this game is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the gameplay has potential, the soundtrack feels uninspired and fails to enhance the experience.”
“The sound design is disappointing; the music doesn't match the game's atmosphere and often feels out of place.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is perceived as somewhat misleading, as it implies a deeper, more meaningful journey filled with poignant moments and humor, which may not be fully realized in the gameplay experience.
“The title is slightly misleading as it suggests a long and storied adventure fraught with touching moments and perhaps a few jokes about mackerel.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its surreal and unexpected moments, such as the juxtaposition of stealth gameplay with the absurdity of singing an aria while evading detection. This blend of whimsical elements adds a unique comedic touch, enhancing the overall experience despite not being a central focus.
“This is not important in the slightest as it more or less just acts as an interact button for picking up the bits of poetry littering the sea floor, as though all the poets of the world have developed a grudge against the throats of sea turtles. It adds a bit of surreal humor when you’re in the middle of a stealth section and start belting out an aria while dashing from cover to cover like you’re Solid Snake as played by Pavarotti.”
