Metroidvanias are now a dime a dozen. There is a simple reason for this: the proven game formula of exploring, fighting and improving your own character is timelessly good and entertaining. Especially on the Nintendo Switch there are many top-class representatives of the genre. This makes it all the more important for developers to add something to their game that makes it stand out from the crowd. The Chinese developer studio TiGames has therefore come up with something special for FIST: Forged in Shadow Torch: The protagonist of the game is a tough rabbit with a mechanical fist on his back. This is not only helpful in combat, but also allows the protagonist to make their way through the dieselpunk world of FIST and explore the different corners.
With the upcoming release of the retail version of FIST, we were able to take an in-depth look at the Nintendo Switch implementation of the game at gamescom 2022. In the almost 45-minute introductory session, we explored the starting area and were able to get a first impression of the plot. The universe of FIST is all about anthropomorphic animals living together in an industrial society. This society was attacked and subdued a few years ago by an alien force, the Robot Legion. The resistance fighter and main character Rayton has withdrawn into resignation after the defeat. But when his best friend is captured by the Robot Legion, he takes the metal fist that’s left of his armor and continues the fight against the Oppressors.
After the events of the beginning, you first set out to explore the large and industrial Torch City. Although FIST relies on 3D graphics, it essentially plays like a classic 2D title. In typical Metroidvania fashion, you’ll have to navigate the nested world until you reach a point where you’ll need to unlock new abilities to continue. In our play session, Rayton controlled himself very smoothly, the movement of the tough rabbit went well. The combat confrontations were also convincing and shone with a good portion of action. A funny feature: With the mechanical arm you can not only hit, but also grab opponents and throw them through the level. Then can be very useful when you have to face several opponents at once.
I liked the fact that the expansion of skills progresses quickly right from the start. Rayton not only gains a Power Strike shortly after the start of the game, but also a useful wall jump that can be used to reach higher sections. This immediately awakened the desire to explore new passages and discover secrets while playing. According to my first impression of FIST, there are a lot of these: I was able to collect healing items or money at various points. The latter can be used to unlock new attacks apart from the improvements necessary for game progress.
I was particularly interested in the technical implementation of the game for the Nintendo Switch. FIST first appeared digitally exclusively for the PlayStation consoles and now wants to convince on Nintendo’s hybrid console. In the first hour of play, this worked surprisingly well: Although you have to accept the expected compromises in terms of resolution and level of detail, the title still makes a lot with its unique graphic style. I was able to play FIST in handheld mode on the Nintendo Switch during the event. The controls were easy to use and the game ran largely smoothly even in somewhat more complex action sequences. For a final impression of the technical quality, you will of course have to take a closer look at the performance in TV mode. Overall, I’m very optimistic about the final version of the title.