Iron Soldier

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This game is truly unstoppable!
by Gregory D. George

October 9, 2001

One of the Jaguar's true crowning achievements, Iron Soldier continues to be one of the best games around. Similar console games such as Metal Head for the 32X and Crazy Ivan for the Playstation have been released for other systems, but only Iron Soldier was enduring enough to spawn two sequels. Iron Soldier II was released to critical acclaim on the Jaguar CD and Iron Soldier 3 was released on both the Nuon system and Playstation game console. Today's review, however, is for the original Iron Soldier. The one that started it all.

The graphics of Iron Soldier are much more colorful than games such as Cybermorph. The frame rate and animation is very smooth making it a joy to watch. Turning is fluid and fast, and it's fun to watch all of the polygons "bob" up and down as you walk. The explosions are spectacular and lifelike, but the smoke and fire can get pixilated if you're too close. Also, there is a tiny bit of slowdown when you destroy a building, but it's hardly even noticeable.

One major problem of this original game is that about 90% of the buildings are just plain boxes with absolutely no texture mapping at all. Some of them do have borders (corners) and windows, but it's just not enough. Some of the polygons are shaded like in Cybermorph which gives the impression of more detail. In addition, the mapping on buildings and enemies don't often appear until you get close enough to them.

Warfare type sound effects are pretty much all the same, and they are decent enough in Iron Soldier. There are a few FX that seem to have been left out such as the helicopters trademark 'thump-thump-thump" of the rotors. Yes friends, these "stealth" helicopters don't make a sound except when they fire at you! (Or is this a result of just having the music turned on?) Some voice effects might have been nice to inform you of incoming 'copters or low energy, but I fear that might have caused too many Skylar flashbacks.

The music very nice and a change from most Jaguar games. The fact that there actually is some in-game music is cause for joy. There are 7 or so different tracks and I have often hummed them to myself during my day. They aren't as spectacular as T2K's, but they're good enough.

The control can be a bit tricky, but once you get used to it, it's actually pretty easy. Although sometimes you'll want to stop at a particular place, and you'll forget which button to press. So you end up overshooting your target spot. "Stop darn it!" It's important to be quick in the later missions because those helis will come from everywhere. Mastery of the controls is a must. Especially when you need to hide behind a building and take out a fixed gun emplacement. Weapon selection is made 10 times easier because of the keypad. (I wonder how the weapon select is on the PSX with no keypad? ;-) )

Iron Soldier's gameplay is very addictive. Each of the 16 missions has a different objective. Some, you must destroy something, (building, ship, bridge, enemy mech etc.) defending yourself from attack. Others, you may be required to protect something. (Building, convoy, etc...) Many new weapons are found inside of buildings. Which means you have to pound the buildings until you find it. Some weapons are given to you though, which makes it easier. Imagine having to pound 100 buildings until you find that weapon?

The AI is superb. I laugh while chasing the tanks who are trying NOT to get stomped! It's almost as if there's a REAL tank crew in there fearing for their lives. The helis are also a pain... They don't just come right at you like the Aliens of AvP, but keep moving around attempting to get behind you.

Iron Soldier is a very fun game. The graphics are good, but could have been better (ie MORE texture-mapping.) Sound is okay and the music is good. The most important part of any game isn't it's graphics or sounds... Rather the addictiveness & playability. And Iron Soldier definitely has those in spades. If you don't have a copy of this game, what are you waiting for?

Gameplay Notes

• This must be what it's like to be "King Kong." Pounding on buildings with your fists, getting attacked from the sky, stomping on tanks and houses... You start to feel invincible in that thing. "Come and get me, punks!"
• There are many different "back-drops" in the game. Such as mountains, clouds or other buildings off in the distance. It's kinda funny how the backdrop buildings (that are WAY off in the distance) can have MORE detail than the ones right next to you!
• Houses are bigger than trees. Stepping on some trees will slow you down. But stepping on a house will not. Shouldn't houses slow you down too?