Part of what makes indie games so great is that they find new ways to use old ideas. For example, the indie game industry loves to turn genres established by AAA developers on their heads. The Metroidvania is one of the best examples. Although the genre was naturally founded on the backs ofMetroidandCastlevania,nowadays its best described byhighly influential indie titles such asHollow Knight.AlthoughHollow Knightis one of the definitive Metroidvanias in the genre’s current generation, it doesn’t have a monopoly on the genre. There’s another Metroidvania coming to PC and PlayStation soon, and it’s calledFIST: Forged In Shadow Torch.
The upcomingFIST: Forged in Shadow Torchis aPS5title and the work of the Shanghai based indie developer TiGames, a young studio that’s clearly full of big ideas.FISTtells the story of Rayton, an anthropomorphic rabbit and war veteran who returns to the front lines of a resistance movement against the tyrannical Machine Legion after the Legion captures his friend. Rayton leaps back into battle with the help of a large mechanical fist he wears on his back. Between combo-based combat and plenty of classic Metroidvania exploration,FISTlooks like it has a shot at being the next big game in the genre.
RELATED:PS Plus Free Games for September 2021 Will Likely Feature This PS5 Title
Core Components of FIST: Forged in Shadow Torch
InFIST,Rayton has a wide world to explore, and a lot of enemies to fight. TiGames has more weapons than Rayton’s signature Fist to offer players, though; there’s also a Drill and a Whip that he can use. Each weapon handles differently and enables different combos, meaning there’s plenty oflayers toFIST’s sidescrolling combat. Gameplay trailers show Rayton moving quickly between different combos, juggling enemies midair before taking them down. From the looks of things,FISTis designed to reward players for both using Rayton’s weapons creatively and for memorizing their favorite combos.
Platforming-based exploration is also clearlya major component ofFIST.Torch City, the setting ofFIST,is clearly a big place, and players won’t cover its full scale quickly. Just like any classic Metroidvania,FISTencourages players to jump to new heights and seek out hidden places in Torch City to advance in the game. There are also plenty of obstacles scattered around Torch City for players to evade, from ground hazards to wall-mounted turrets. Between a generous number of jumps and midair dashes, it looks likeFISTplayers won’t be short on mobility tools when they’re exploring the city.
RELATED:Sony May Be Going All-In With 2022
Aside from gameplay elements, one of the biggest things that setsFISTapart from other games coming out soon is its aesthetic. It’s set in a world full of anthropomorphic animals, but it combines this familiar device with a unique dieselpunk twist. Torch City is a highly industrial place full of looming machines and dark metal. Dieselpunk is a much less common sci-fi aesthetic than its steampunk and cyberpunk cousins, soFIST’s decision to use dieselpunk instead ofchasingCyberpunk 2077’s trendmakes the game’s look a breath of fresh air.
FIST Looks Like a Valuable PlayStation Title
Even thoughMetroiditself is returning to the game industry soonthanks toMetroid Dread,it’s far from the only game set to introduce new ideas to Metroidvanias in the near future.FIST: Forged in Shadow Torchclearly has plenty to contribute to the genre as well, from its weapon system to its dieselpunk influences. Sony must be pretty enthusiastic aboutFIST, as it appeared in a recent State of Play. Not every indie game is so lucky as to get advertised by the developer of one of its platforms. Hopefully,FISTlives up to Sony’s apparent excitement and becomes a new member of the Metroidvania genre that can rival classics likeHollow Knightand important contenders likeMetroid Dread.
FIST: Forged In Shadow Torchreleases on June 16, 2025 for PC, PS4, and PS5.
MORE:Horizon Forbidden West Delay is Going to Leave a Big Void in PlayStation’s Holiday 2021 Lineup
