Iron Oath is an interesting blend of some games I hold very dear. It mixes elements from Fire Emblem with Divinity Original Sin and Darkest Dungeon. Sounds good, right? Let’s dive in to find out more.
Time to venture into a realm of valiant warriors and formidable mages, where the one tasked with overseeing everyone’s payroll is none other than you. The Iron Oath presents a tactical mercenary company management game, a genre in dire need of a definitive entry, and this game steps up to claim that title. Navigating past its initial difficulty reveals a profound gaming experience filled with unexpected delights, making The Iron Oath one of the finest entries I have played in the management genre.
Story
In the first age, humanity was young and vulnerable. Then came the Gods, who shared their wisdom and knowledge. The Gods shielded humanity from the threat of the Blighted, and they grew into prosperity. However, as time passed, so too did the Gods. A great being of darkness replaced them, bringing only death and disease to the land. Those afflicted by its blight lost their minds, their bodies, and their souls as they slowly became abominations of the flesh and outcasts to society. Yet, in the wake of this tragedy, heroes began to emerge, taking up the mantle left vacant by the gods. They defended the realm with their lives for centuries, but eventually, they would fade. So humanity endures, waiting for new heroes to rise up that can perhaps end the suffering that has plagued them for so long.
A fragile peace now exists between the factions of the world. Every few decades, the dragon(whose exact origins remain a mystery) ventures out from its slumber within the Void, returning to the realm and inflicting its sickness upon the people. Those afflicted are known as the Blighted, and they slowly transform into aggressive abominations who are often shunned, excommunicated, or killed.
Iron Oath is set in a world where the people believe that the dragon is about to return. The game’s main storyline is optional and you may choose to ignore it and let the events unfold on their own. The game combines tactical and tycoon elements, and games like Jagged Alliance have set the standard for these types of games. If you prefer games with medieval warriors, Battle Brothers has been a popular choice for a while. The Iron Oath, on the other hand, offers a more fantastical setting with a unique aesthetic style. Both games, including The Iron Oath, require you to undertake multifaceted responsibilities. The game’s simple yet compelling narrative revolves around betrayal and revenge, unfolding consistently on a map that, while not vast, compensates with personality. Each region possesses a distinct atmosphere, with battles against demons and the undead dominating your journey, occasionally interspersed with human foes.
Gameplay
Tactical battles take place on a hex grid, where your mercenaries take on roles of fantasy RPG classes such as hunters, valkyries, bards, and thunder mages. What distinguishes The Iron Oath is its use of fantastical elements, featuring gigantic evil dragons and a variety of mages at every inn. Luckily I was well acquainted with the Fire Emblem series one finds on the Nintendo consoles, so the broad range of characters, roles, or otherworldly characters aren’t strange to me and I applaud them for being added to a game like Iron Oath. It takes off the rough serious (medieval) edge a lot of these types of games have. Jagged Alliance does the same with the stereotypical mercs they give you to command.
As you level up your mercenaries and manage their equipment, you may find that customization options are limited. However, this subtly nudges you towards the charm of randomly generated characters who are full of personality. These characters have dynamic personality stats that are influenced by your decisions as their leader, evolving through the hardships of their mercenary journey. The real essence of the game lies in creating mercenaries that resemble your friends, adding emotional weight to their fate. A lot of the buffs and debuffs (and system) reminded me of how Darkest Dungeon pushes you to make choices that will haunt you if you make a wrong one.
Graphics & Challenges
Upon launching the game, you’ll be greeted with pixel graphics – which instantly reminded me of Kairosoft, but with a more serious tone. And yes, I can hear you think, but aren’t most indie Kickstarter games filled with pixel graphics? Yes, they are, but The Iron Oath manages to captivate the player with its unique character designs. Unlike the squat aesthetics of Super Nintendo graphics, the characters in The Iron Oath are long and slender. Initially, the sound design may seem uncertain, but it gradually becomes a sonic companion to the pixelated visuals. Familiar clicks and beeps resonate in the menu while clangs and battle cries echo in combat. The music, reminiscent of a decent PS2 RPG soundtrack, may seem ordinary on paper, but you may find yourself humming the battle theme in the shower, attesting to the subtle allure of the audio design.
A recurrent theme in The Iron Oath is the player’s tendency to underestimate the game at every turn. However, initial skepticism wanes as the game evolves, possibly due to the refined game balance. Campaigns present formidable challenges, with each loss serving as a learning opportunity. Even in its weakest moments, The Iron Oath maintains its competence, prompting introspection on the player’s adaptability and skill improvement. So, yes, there is a learning curve (and it’s a big one), but the game rewards you for putting the time and effort into mastering its mechanics.
Conclusion
The Iron Oath is a game that surpassed my expectations and has become a constant companion. Despite having played and reviewed many exceptional games, The Iron Oath still feels like an unexplored realm, promising new discoveries and lessons. It’s proudly installed on my Steamdeck, and I don’t see any other game taking its place as the top merc management game anytime soon; even though it’s not fully optimized yet for the Steamdeck control scheme.
