Indie games often take inspiration from AAA titles to impart a nuanced take on a particular genre, or to create something new entirely. This is what Shanghai TiGames Network Technology Limited has decided to do with their new title FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch. The game combines elements the Metroid and Castlevania franchises (the Metroidvania genre), and creates their version of the action platformer.
Players take control of Rayton, an anthropomorphic rabbit who returns from war to find that his friend has been captured, and that there's a full-fledged resistance against the Machine Legion. The game does have some difficult platforming elements, in addition to the action-packed gameplay. Here are a few mistakes every player needs to avoid when diving in.
10 Not Keeping An Eye On The Map
Torch City's structure can be quite confusing, and can often resemble a maze that players have to spend hours navigating through. This can sometimes make it difficult for the player to stay engaged, especially when they are going around in circles.
The handy map provided to the player at the beginning of the game, as a challenge to chart out every nook and corner of Torch City, can be a useful tool for players to keep track of their movement. With such a huge city to explore, players would do well to keep one eye on the map while they traverse the perils of Torch City.
9 Forgetting About Difficulty Spikes
FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch does not have a difficulty meter. The player cannot adjust the difficulty settings, like many games in the same genre. In fact, this can lull the players into a false sense of security. They explore the in-game world thinking that this is a relatively easy game to play.
This couldn't be farther from the truth. FIST: Forged in Shadow Torch tends to have certain difficulty spikes that can seriously impede the player's progress if they are not paying attention. There's a healthy balance between fair gameplay and crushing difficulty.
8 Not Experimenting With Skills
There are a lot of customization options available in FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch, especially when it comes to skills. Players can craft Rayton according to their unique playstyles. The All Fur Society has accessed Legion Terminals, giving anthropomorphic beings such as Rayton a chance to reinvent themselves through mechanical skills.
These skills vary quite a bit in nature, and players would do well to equip a few of them and try to create new combos that can be used in battle. For the more Advanced Skills, players will have to shell out Extra Data Disks. However, it's worth it, as experimentation can offer players a fighting chance in difficult battles.
7 Not Saving Money
FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch differs from its spiritual predecessors in a few ways. For example, after enemies are defeated, they drop money instead of experience points. Money can be used for getting multiple upgrades, especially for new move sets. However, no flashy moves can save players if they are low on health.
That's why it's best to go immediately for health upgrades if the player has enough money. Money is a rare commodity in the game, and has to be treated as such, so don't spend too freely.
6 Not Experimenting With Weapons
Although Rayton is provided a powerful mechanical Fist to fight his foes, there are other weapons available to try as well. These include the Drill and Whip, developed by the game's antagonists, the Legion. Players can and should try to find these weapons and master all the move sets or combos they can find.
This is an important aspect of the game, as there will be some enemies with whom players will have to find a different approach to defeat. Although all enemies can be defeated with just the Fist, the Drill or the Whip might be a better and faster option to certain ones.
5 Not Exploring Torch City
Torch City has a lot to offer, as players can find hidden items to increase their XP, money, or health. It would be a mistake to focus only on the action sequences, the platforming challenges, and the main storyline.
Players can find grates all throughout the city that lead to different areas or items, and can smash through these grates with a normal fist attack. Although the game does show this at the early stages, these grates are easy to miss as players traverse through the city. Moreover, there are hordes of money to be found in hidden locations, which can be used for upgrading Rayton quickly.
4 Forgetting Weapon Usage Outside of Combat
FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch offers multiple ways for using weapons, apart from just combat. Once the players unlock weapons such as the Drill and the Whip, they will be able to explore different areas as well. Mechanical doors and metal plates can be found throughout Torch City, and offer the possibility of more loot. These can only be opened with different weapons such as the mechanical Fist, or the Drill.
Players should come back to these areas once they have the relevant weapons, as it can lead them to more treasures. Players should also experiment to find more uses for the weapons; for example, the Drill can also be used for exploration underwater, as it acts as a propeller.
3 Not Learning Parrying
As offensive as players can get with Rayton, sometimes the difficulty spikes will force players to defend more than they attack. Players have to find the "Parry" power that is hidden in Torch City as soon as possible. This will help navigate the dangers present in both exploration and combat.
Learning how to parry will be crucial to melee combat, as a successful parry will leave enemies exposed to more attacks. Moreover, the "Parry" power can also deflect bullets. If players can't find the power just yet, they can also find the "Shock Baton" to simulate the "Parry" power.
2 Not Customizing Rayton
Players can complete the entire game with Rayton's default skin. However, it would be a mistake for players to not seek out the different looks that their character can support. There are more customizable options here than can help players make Rayton feel more unique to their respective playthroughs.
Players can find Urso the mechanic in Torch City, and bring him movie posters that they've collected throughout their adventures. Urso will give Rayton a unique look after he receives the posters. This is an aesthetic change, but does a lot to make the game feel more unique.
1 Not Taking Notes
The map in FIST: Forged In Shadow Torch is useful enough to mark basic items, such as unopened chests and loot that the player does not pick up. However, Torch City often acts as a labyrinth, in which it's quite easy for players to lose their way and not find a chest that they had seen earlier.
The only way to manage this is to take personal notes and keep tabs on where potentially important loot can be found. Once players acquire the necessary tools to access the loot, these notes will help them track back and find that all-important item.