Hell hath no fury
I have blasted through Duke Nukem 3D so many times since it was released back in 1996. The intricate levels and fast-paced game play really just felt good to play. Ion Fury shares a lot of DNA with Duke’s original adventure, and for good reason. It is developed by the same developers at 3D realms and uses the same engine for a retro-inspired shooter that takes me back over 20 years. It is now available on consoles and it still feels great, but it comes with a few caveats that make it a cautious purchase right out of the gate.
While the game is from 3D Realms it actually is led by a team of Build Engine modders who have dubbed themselves Voidpoint. Players assume the role of Shelley “Bombshell” Harrison, and she acts and feels a lot like everyone’s favorite bubble gum chewer. Her goal is to take down Dr. Heskel with her arsenal of weapons across a futuristic Washington D.C. Yes it is cheesy and harkens back to the glory days of PC FPS games, but it is a joy to play.
MSRP: $24.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4, Switch, PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
The shooting feels wonderful. Enemies can be taken down in one shot and the swiss army style of weapons gives Shelley plenty of ways to dispose of her foes. The controls will feel familiar, with quick weapon switches and a focus on frenetic-paced action. I was constantly moving and switching weapons, taking down enemies with ease. The world is full of intractable objects and things to explore. Every level is packed with secrets and the game even warns players before they leave one area how many are left. It is a classic game with a modern touch, and I adore it.
The problem with the console versions are apparent right out of the gate. For starters, the game does not offer inverted controls. This was a huge issue for me as that is how I play. I was able to change it at the system level, but that should be an option for every game with camera control these days.
Performance is also all over the place. For a game built on a 25-year old engine, it really works my Xbox One X. It was never running at a consistent frame rate when I was playing. It seems to really put work into the engine to run great at any one time. The levels are massive so it is possibly a loading issue of having it all in memory, but it is annoying none the less. I really expect a shooter to run at a constant 60fps, but whenit can’t even hit that for more than a few seconds, it really drags down the experience. I hope a patch is incoming as otherwise everything about this game is fantastic.
Ion Fury is a wonderful throwback to classic FPS games I grew up with. It hits all the right notes with its design, weapons, and pacing. I wish the technical issues were ironed out before launch, but if you go in knowing those caveats and the possibility of being fixed in the future, a good time can be had. Ion Fury was great and beefy experience that fans of Duke, Blood, and Shadow Warrior can happily put in their collection right next to those gems.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
