What is the ideal level of “clunk” in a mech-shooter? Iron Rebellion has me thinking about this question. Iron Rebellion has a lot of it. As I write these impressions I have come to the conclusion there’s an optimal amount. You’ll soon question the purpose of wearing heavy metal war pants. What is it? :
Fast-paced 4v4 multiplayer mech shooter.
Platforms
, (Played on Quest 3)
Release Date: Out NowQuestDeveloperSteam: Black Beach Studio
Price: $24.99
It’s a tricky balance to get right, not least because we all have our preferences on what a mech game should be. Others prefer to be confined inside a bipedal tank’s cockpit, with more dials and gauges than the Boeing 747, complete with Space Shuttle on the roof. Iron Rebellion screen shot taken by UploadVR for Quest 3If you haven’t guessed yet, it is more like the first. You are playing as a pilot of a vehicle. The left stick is used for moving and the right one for adjusting weapons. You can use diegetic controls and levers to do everything else. This includes using abilities, equipment and picking up repair kits and ammo. Basically, there’s just the right amount of VR faff to convince you that you are indeed an ace combat jockey strutting about the battlefield in the ultimate sci-fi combat trousers.
‘Just the right amount’ actually sums up Iron Rebellion pretty well. Iron Rebellion is not particularly innovative or new, but it’s well-balanced and finely tuned. There are light, medium and heavy mechs, as you would expect, but unlike some games, they all have very distinct roles on the battlefield. You can also change your weaponry and gear every time your character is defeated. The game is fast-paced and offers a wide variety of maps and modes. Team deathmatch and Conquest are the most popular. You could say that Black Beach Studio made the most of a small amount. It’s a good game, but could use a bit more flesh on the metal bones. Iron Rebellion, which hasn’t been in development for as long, looks like a lightweight compared to . Both games are very similar in terms of pace and controls, but with its rusting sandblasted hulks, Vox Machinae has more of a visual identity where Iron Rebellion sports a more generic look in comparison.
Thankfully, Iron Rebellion has an immediacy and poise that the more established game lacks. Iron Rebellion is a great game, but it lacks a solo element.