Tails of Iron 2 Preview: Winter Whiskers
Rats have a bad reputation. Ok, some of this is understandable. There's the whole Black Death incident. But that was not the fault of the rats, but of the parasites that lived in the rats. In reality, Norway rats (the species most commonly found in cities and as pets) are tremendously intelligent, clean, and resourceful. And, if you are to believe the game Tails of Iron and its sequel, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter, they can also cast spells and use a wide range of weapons. As I thought when I played the original Tails of Iron, any game with rat heroes is fine by me. I had the chance to spend some time with Tails 2 and whatever it is, it's a tribute to the world of rats.
Ok, all that jokes and praise aside, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is developer Odd Bug Studios' follow-up to its 2021 action RPG Tails of Iron. Like the first game, Whiskers of Winter is a 2D action game obviously and proudly influenced by FromSoftware games The Witcher, Monster Hunter, Salt and Sanctuary and books like The Song of Ice and Fire. The first game introduced a unique art style and some pretty challenging Souls-like combat. Whiskers of Winter carries those things forward.
Another line of heroism
Like the original game, Tails of Iron 2 is about a young rat who takes responsibility for his father. In the sequel his young hero is Arlo. He inherits the title of Guardian of the Wastes from his father after an attack by the Night Wing bats. The game begins in and around Winter's Edge, the snowy northern enclave of the rat kingdom. Arlo travels in an ever-widening circle that includes a host of different regions and environments.
Even in the 16-hour game preview, Arlo fights a diverse and often terrifying range of enemies. Most of them are monstrous or supernaturally equipped versions of real-world creatures. You know, bats, porcupines, snakes and more, all equipped with deadly attacks. In the tutorial's prologue, for example, Arlo and his father fight a trio of young porcupines and their mother. This first battle teaches the young hero some basic offensive and defensive melee mechanics.
As with all proper Soulslikes, Whiskers of Winter focuses on combat and Souls veterans will feel right at home. Dodge, roll, parry, and stamina management all work as they should and feel great. This was true of the first game, but the sequel greatly expands and deepens almost every system.
Survive by a mustache
The first Tails of Iron had strong and engaging combat mechanics, but Whiskers of Winter leans even more towards its Soulslike and action RPG influences. There are Beast Hunts bosses that are reminiscent of Monster Hunter. Perhaps the most interesting new feature is the introduction of elemental spellcasting. The ancient rat gods are helping Arlo and his fellow rats defeat the Night Wings by giving them fire, ice, poison, and electrical spells. Melee weapons remain the core of Arlo's arsenal.
As in the first game, creating and upgrading stronger armor and weapons, and now magic plays an important role in the game. Aside from that, base building and adding new NPCs to the base of operations have been expanded. Arlo has a grappling hook. This new addition adds a fun new traversal mechanic.
Tails of Iron was a very challenging Soulslike. Recognizing that not all players want a blissfully masochistic experience, Whiskers of Winter adds a difficulty slider, making its excellent gameplay more accessible to casual action RPG fans.
Tail as old as time
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter brings back the standout aesthetics of the first game. The artistic style could best be described as medieval wood engravings come to life. It really isn't like any other game in the genre. Although there is no sound dialogue, there is a narrative voice-over. It's provided by veteran voice actor Doug Cockle, famous for The Witcher and Baldur's Gate 3 (just to name a few credits). Francesco Ameglio's largely acoustic score adds a melodious and timeless element to the game.
The number of 2D Soulslikes released each year is impressively large. That's not to say that every game is impressive, but Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter certainly is. With a compelling art style, rich narrative, and even greater mechanical depth, Whiskers of Winter seemingly improves on its predecessor in every way. I can't wait to play the full game when it releases on January 28, 2025.
Thanks for keeping it locked to COGconnected.
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