While Nintendo makes us sweat waiting for its exclusives are the indie developers who are shaping Switch with deep and interesting metroidvania. After Owlboy and the recent release of Hollow Knight, also Iconoclasts arrives on Switch becoming almost an obligatory purchase in this long videogame summer.
WelcomeGaming review
Iconoclast
/ i · co · no · clà · sta /
masculine and feminine noun
1. Destroyer of sacred images; follower or advocate of iconoclasm.
What does a strong concept like iconoclasm have to do with such a pixelated and colorful game? Everything, because the developer Joakim Sandberg proposes a title that goes beyond his cheerful design by focusing on deep issues and a gameplay developed in over 7 years of work. Iconoclast tears apart the real world, which has made the race for energy a saint by consuming the planet, and reassembles it in a context that is halfway between the medieval and the futuristic. A dystopia worthy of Orwell, where fear of the end of energy keeps the world in check, pushing people against each other.
In all this begins the story of Robin, a young unlicensed mechanic armed only with the wrench left by his father, and a stun gun, she is called, in spite of herself, to fix the world by tearing it to pieces. When we started playing with Iconoclast we expected the classic mad scientist who wanted to dominate the earth with his robots and instead we had to change our mind: during the adventure the plot was able to touch on delicate topics such as politics, ecology but also religion and blasphemy, an interesting choice that distances this metroidvania from the others, often unable to propose anything more than a feeble narrative trace.
Screwing colored pixels
Pixel art is the unreal engine of indie games, yet we never tire of it, especially if it is detailed and enchanting like the one proposed by Iconoclast.
The Scandinavian game designer he put his heart into every detail of the game, from the animations of the protagonist to those of the settings. Try to stop and observe every single screen, you will be immediately captivated by a lively and saturated color that enhances even more the potential of Nintendo Switch. The game, both in TV and portable mode, is always fluid and brilliant, giving, even to the sight of the most experienced player, one of the best designs of recent years. Finally, even if not at the same level as the graphics sector, the soundtrack is full of exciting tunes and sound effects that you will continue to hum even when the console is turned off.
Like Ratchet and maybe better
Those of you who have played Ratchet and Clank will remember the protagonist of the platformer Insomniac using the wrench to do anything, along with a vast arsenal of weapons to wreak havoc on enemies. There wrench is also the main weapon of the Iconoclast protagonist who will accompany her to a pistol, the Stun Gun, available from the first minutes of the game. If on Ratchet and Clank the wrench was only a part of the game in Iconoclast instead it is everything and its potential has been studied in detail by squeezing to the maximum every possibility of using the key. In fact, Sandberg's philosophy seemed to us just this, few weapons but pushed to the maximum. Each object that will enrich our arsenal is designed to take down a certain type of enemies, to be used in combo with other weapons and to complete the numerous environmental puzzles present. Overcoming mechanical barriers in time, providing electricity to old abandoned circuits, screwing in numerous knobs or levers, are just some of the tasks needed to advance along the main campaign. In this regard, we have employed around 15 hours to end the normal difficulty but by dedicating yourself to exploration or facing the title in difficult mode, you could also reach the 20 total hours.
To keep company with environmental puzzles we find moments in full platform style and fights with enemies. Hitting the latter is very simple, thanks to the automatic aiming system of the gun but if in the first place this choice can make you turn up your nose over time it will prove to be very interesting. The fact that you can automatically target an opponent does not mean that the latter is necessarily damaged. In fact, many enemies will come out unscathed from the shots of the Stun-Gun forcing you to work out some strategies to shoot them down and thus take away the security that an aiming assist system could provide.
Even if the clashes with normal enemies remain a bit subdued compared to the great work done on environmental puzzles, the real added value of the game are the boss battle. Always different and never boring, these clashes require you to use all your skills as players to discover the strategy that leads to victory every time. You will need to strong nerves, reflexes and you will also have to pay attention to every element of the scenario to face attacks that seem inevitable.
Iconoclast does not offer a character growth system but gods are still present work tables in which it is possible to upgrade one's paraphernalia as long as the required material is available. The latter can be found in the various scenarios as rewards for those who prefer exploration. Finally, again from the workbenches, the materials can be used to make gods equipable power ups (extra life, enhanced stun-gun, etc.) which, however, can be disabled by the blows inflicted by enemies. A punitive system interesting that pushes the player to give the best of himself even in the simplest clashes.
Final Comment
Unexpected, different, iconoclastic. The Metroidvania Sandberg scoffs at related titles by destroying the genre's sacred mythology and bending it according to its mechanics. Iconoclast is a ambitious game in which Sandberg, with the few means available compared to a triple A, still manages to tell a immense world, full of lore and with a plot full of twists. Another little gem to add to your Nintendo Switch collection.
