They’re based on the dev team’s pet rats, and instead of having characters speak, Odd Bug wanted to reduce potential accessibility issues and have them communicate through pictures. Every rat has a distinct personality without ever even speaking, and that’s intentional in more ways than one. Odd Bug crammed so much detail in every environment, even the sewers, to say nothing of Tails of Iron’s character design. Tails of Iron’s visual storytelling is one of its strongest points. It’s in front of you, in the king’s grand audience chamber, the quiet and orderly servants cleaning the castle - then, later, in the dead rats hanging from the rafters and the ferocity of the frogs’ ransacking. You don’t have to hunt for lore scraps to understand the rats’ kingdom, its opulence, or the hatred frogs bear for it. That’s in keeping with some of its inspirations, but Odd Bug surpasses its sources in many ways. Tails of Iron reveals itself not just through the main narrative but from the relationships between characters and kingdoms and even the world design. Tails of Iron is that, and a surprisingly brutal one at times - frog lovers, beware - but it’s also a story with heart.Įven if another voice or only text told of Redgi’s journey, the world Odd Bug has created is a fascinating one on its own. Despite how recognizable his voice is for anyone familiar with The Witcher, this is more than just a nice fantasy cameo.Ĭockle immediately sets a strong tone for Tails of Iron, imbuing it with warmth and even gentle humor at times that elevates it from being just another dark fantasy. Doug Cockle, Geralt of Rivia’s voice in The Witcher games, helps Redgi’s tale unfold.

Tails of Iron assaults the senses as soon as it begins, but you’ll likely notice one thing in particular before all others: the narrator. Tails of Iron Review: The Rat King Cometh While there’s plenty of room for expansion and improvement in future Tails games, Tails of Iron is a bold and captivating fantasy with one of the most absorbing combat systems around. It’s equal parts Redwall, Wind in the Willows, and Dark Souls, an unlikely combination that Odd Bug weaves together in such a way that seems entirely natural. So begins Tails of Iron, an animal odyssey from Odd Bug Studios, a tiger of a different stripe.

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