F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch is a dieselpunk-style action adventure featuring an anthropomorphic bunny wielding a huge, weaponized metal fist.

Supposing there was a beautiful, peaceful world, inhabited only by animals. What would happen if it were invaded by a race of machine-like creatures? Amidst the backdrop of the inevitable conflict that would erupt and consume the planet, we pictured the emergence of a lone warrior, a hero. 

Meet Rayton. A battle veteran who has spent the last six years in hiding after his city was lost. Yet when his friend is kidnapped by the Machine Legion, this silent yet determined fighter heads back out into the world on a desperate rescue mission. In F.I.S.T., flesh and blood will clash with metal, idealism will war with realism and faiths will be tested. 

Exploration is a key gameplay mechanic of the genre. Yet unlike open world titles, an exploration platformer’s areas are usually multiple interconnected ‘rooms,’ the sudden change to the look and feel of your surroundings can be jarring. It erodes cohesion. 

Every district is distinct yet feels part of a larger whole. As you explore, subtle yet increasing alterations in the background and level design makes the transitions between each region feel wholly natural. Torch City will feel even more convincing when you factor in a lack of loading between areas.

Once F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch, the current free game on the Epic Games Store, has run its course, it will be up to a yet-to-be-revealed mystery game, which will be gratis starting December 27 until December 28, 2022.

Each has its own unique features and combo chains. The fist is a good all-rounder with the easiest combo strings of the three. The drill is slower to deploy but deals out the most damage. In direct contrast, the whip isn’t as powerful but is lightning quick and also boasts the furthest attack range. Yet you will need to become adept at using all three to survive your travels through the dense cityscape.

And what’s great weaponry without some challenging villains to test them out on? F.I.S.T: Forged In Shadow Torch features a devilishly diverse bunch of baddies that would challenge you with dozens of enemy types – normal grunts, stronger elites and tough bosses. Each has a unique appearance and a distinct combat pattern. The Machine Legion will not fall easily. 

Dieselpunk might not be as well-known as cyberpunk or steampunk, but its style is just as fantastical and fascinating, interweaving oriental-style architecture into the diesel-powered designs, inspired by industrial technology as well as military weapons of the interwar period. 

Powering all this is the Unreal Engine 4. Using the engine’s physically based rendering with extremely detailed textures has perfectly captured the aesthetic. Though the gameplay is 2D, the world of F.I.S.T. has been rendered in beautiful 3D, with background details enriching every location and making the city feel alive.