Wizards & Warriors was a curious game. Even as a child I recognized its faults almost immediately. It featured some of the most intense platforming at the time but everything surrounding it was a hot mess. Yet in spite of its flaws I still really liked it. That being said I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone other than nostalgic fans. But where the original could be excused for being the first of its kind Ironsword can’t fall back on that. It uses the same format as its predecessor yet somehow ends up being more obtuse and punishing in its design. This game made me angry back in 1989 and it still does in 2017.
I’m sure most of us remember Ironsword for one reason: Fabio. The international super model posed as Kuros on the game’s box art and as silly as it sounds added an air of legitimacy to the game. Growing up Ironsword seemed to be the game everyone owned but no one liked. I can see why as it is frustrating as hell. Kudos to the strong marketing for making everyone rush out and buy it though.
It’s been a few years and Kuros is still useless as a knight. You can flail about with your sword but the chances of actually hitting an enemy are slim. Even worse, you start the game with a small knife and have to find larger weapons. It’s no exaggeration to say that most of the time killing enemies are a happy accident. But he can climb a platform with the best of them although the controls are a bit sloppy.
One aspect of Wizards & Warriors that does not return is the massive inventory of items. While some like the Cape of Darkness were useless they did add some depth. In its place are magic spells that produce varying effects. It’s not a good substitute as most the spells are worthless and you don’t even know what they do. There’s also a bunch of weapons and armor that slightly protect you but you’ll be hard pressed to see the difference.
Ironsword follows a similar format to the first game with a few twists. In each level is an animal spirit that requires a specific item before the will let you pass. In the second half you’ll need to find a specific spell in order to beat Malkil in his elemental form. The maps for each half of the levels are gigantic and easy to get lost in. There are plenty of hidden rooms with treasure, food, and other items to find in the strangest locations. If you love platforming this would be your dream game if not for some glaring issues.
The developers were certainly ambitious in trying to create an expansive adventure. But the game is a bit too obtuse for its own good. Some of the important quest items are hidden too well in my opinion. In the forest you need to use the waterspout spell in order to reach the golden frog needed to progress. If I hadn’t randomly used it in the wrong spot I would never have known the frog was in that corner of the map. In the second half the spell needed to beat the water elemental is hidden behind a false wall. There is an enemy who floats through it, signaling you can walk through it. The problem is they aren’t always there. This one in particular stumped me for days.
The game is relentlessly difficult from its opening moments. Kuros is assaulted by enemies from all sides and they never stop spawning. God, sometimes they’ll spawn right underneath you! It’s random how much damage they seem to inflict too; the smallest fairy can seemingly chop ¾ of your life bar in a single hit. Meanwhile larger demons die if you look in their direction. There is a reason you can’t move more than a few feet without running into food as you’ll need it. The first game suffered from the same problems but you at least had a ranged weapon to help out. No such luck here. If the game had that at least it would be playable. I haven’t even mentioned the ridiculous final encounter, which will probably make you punch a wall….
It’s a damn shame the game is frustrating as the better production values are wasted on content most won’t see. Although Ironsword is shorter than its predecessor there is greater visual variety overall. Each element domain has a unique look for both its halves and their own individual enemies. There is much more detail in the artwork as well. The true stars however are the improved animation and soundtrack. The animation was a step above most titles in that period and generally excellent. Combined with the excellent soundtrack and it’s a damn shame the game isn’t better.
In Closing
For as much as I’ve detailed the game’s faults I still kind of like Ironsword. But that doesn’t mean its worth playing. You’ll have to overlook far too many flaws in Ironsword to appreciate its good points. At that point you might as well play a different game.
