Redgi seems like a cute little guy. Until the Frog Clan crosses him, making him cut a gory path through their ranks throughout Tails of Iron.
Many of the game’s mouse characters look cute. Look at their tiny mouse clothes and itty bitty mouse weapons. They just look so precious. Even when the world around them seems kinda dark. And the prelude story is REALLY dark. Still, a part of my mind couldn’t get past all the cute mice I was seeing. They even talk with images and this charming little whistling sound, making everything feel innocent and light and fun even when you know it’s not going to stay that way. Things get bloody pretty fast throughout this game.
Despite the adorable looks of our mice friends, this game requires care and skill if you’re to survive its challenging fights. Enemies will cruelly stomp all over you if you don’t keep that shield up or avoid taking a hit, but Redgi can be just as barbaric right back. Things feel like they skirt a little bit into Mortal Kombat territory as you tear open wounds in your foes, literally gouging and ripping into them with your weapons. The cute characters make the goriness simultaneously more and less horrifying, with the cartoonish nature making the impact a bit lighter, but seeing it happen to such charming creatures makes it harder to watch. It’s an odd mixture, but it works.
Tails of Iron offers some harsh combat in a harsher world, but it can be very satisfying for those who like their victories to be hard-earned. And who doesn’t mind horrible things happening to cute of mouse heroes.
Tails of Iron will be made available today on Steam.
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