“Iconoclasts” was a game released on Jan. 23, 2018. The game is for Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.
A 2D action platformer, the game was developed by Joakim “Konjak” Sandberg and published by Bifrost Entertainment. The game itself takes inspiration from games in the “Metroid” and “Castlevania” series (also called Metroidvania), as elements of the gameplay involve a concoction of fighting, exploration and solving puzzles regarding the environment using the protagonist’s tools.
The game went almost a full decade before officially being released. It had been in development since 2010, totaling around eight years. Previously, the project went under the name “Ivory Springs” prior to coming out with the final title.
Officially, the announcement of “Iconoclasts” came in 2011. The engine used to create the game is Classic Construct and the soundtrack was released on Feb. 1, 2018.
Gameplay involves collecting and tweaking gear to improve speed, power and other such aspects. Multiple recurring characters can join Robin’s party and assist in some of the over 20 boss fights within the game.
“Iconoclasts” takes place in a dystopian world where a religious figure presides over a majority of the planet. This sinister authority figure that overthrew the old government is known as One Concern and is ruled by a being only known as Mother.
Robin, the main protagonist, is a mechanic that has not been registered officially with the government. Her illegally performing mechanic duties kicks off the plot, as she is arrested before escaping prison with new allies in order to bring down the corrupt religious order.
While fleeing, Robin befriends an Isi named Mina, who is apart of a group that practices a conflicting religion. Due to this, One Concern and the Isi are at war with each other due to this along with fighting over ivory.
Ivory, a white liquid that apparently exists within all matter on the planet, is known as a holy substance. While it powers machines, it also can grant superhuman abilities to a select amount of people through fusion with their blood.
Using ivory like this has severe consequences if not entirely successful, such as mutating the person that underwent the fusion and possibly destroying their minds or bodies. If it goes better, people will either end up with a set of superhuman powers and, if they turn out the best, will have the telekinetic ability to control all matter with ivory.
Robin, however, finds out a terrifying truth of her world: that ivory supplies have been dwindling heavily due to excessive exploitation by both One Concern and the Isi. The planet’s structure has been destabilized because of this, leading to frequent earthquakes that have come to signal the death of the planet as a whole.
“Iconoclasts” has received favorable reviews since release. GameSpot claims it will “shock and surprise you” while Destructoid refers to it as “a hallmark of excellence.”
Rob Kershaw of Jump, Dash, Roll gives the game a solid eight out of ten and cited the boss fights, character development, and puzzles as highlights while he points out the clarity of the overall storyline could have been polished further.
Erika Brandenburg
Arts and Entertainment Editor