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Ion Fury (previously Ion Maiden) is true example of how you really don’t need to push graphics ever closer to realism to achieve something ridiculously good.

Developed by Voidpoint and 3D Realms, using the Build game engine which powered some other classics like Duke Nukem 3D, Blood and Shadow Warrior it released recently with same-day Linux support showing others how it’s done. While it’s retro in many ways, there is of course a vast amount of modern touches like improved physics and map interactions, auto-saves, being able to actually do a headshot, higher resolution support and so on.

Here’s the thing, I grew up with games like Duke and I’ve seen gaming progress from the Amiga to where we are now. There came a point, where I grew massively tired of retro-inspired flashbacks and in some ways I am still tired of it. However, Ion Fury is a very different sort of brew. The best thing about Ion Fury is that it might seem like other classics but it has a different and refreshing feel to it.

Much like the inspirations it’s fast, in your face loud and explosive and a ride that just doesn’t stop at any moment to let you get off. Rushing through it probably isn’t a great idea though, Ion Fury does reward those who do a little exploration with more health, ammo, armour and some fun little secrets.

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The trouble is, while I just mentioned not to rush, it's damn hard not to just run around blasting everything in sight.

Each weapon feels like it actually has a purpose, unlike some shooters where you just constantly look for ammo for one particular piece. Get in close with the shotgun and do some serious in your face damage for a brute that requires it, use Loverboy’s alternative fire when faced with those pesky jumping spider-faces or toss a couple of grenades when you get them to group up to create a hilarious meat grinder. I'm completely torn on what weapon is my favourite! Although the double SMG is quite satisfying, especially when it sets enemies on fire.

It honestly has some of the most satisfying run and gun action I’ve seen for a long time. Despite the retro look, the weapons really do feel amazing. There's also some fantastic music, some amusing one-liners although they don't always work and enemies that will keep you on your toes.

As far as I am concerned, the game is fantastic. It’s so ridiculously entertaining it’s crazy. For a throwback, it's close to perfection in my eyes. If you’re a fan of first-person shooters, you need this. If we can get more developers making games like this again on Linux, I will be extremely happy.

What's really missing though is multiplayer, it would have been an incredibly fun addition to the game. It's planned but they're not giving out dates on when we can expect it to arrive.

You can pick it up on GOG and Steam.


However, it’s pretty unfortunate that I have to mention this and I feel I need to so you’re fully informed: Voidpoint have been embroiled in some controversy recently, after ResetEra dug up some old statements members of their team made in Discord, plus an issue in the game itself. I was sent the statement Voidpoint made, which I will quote in full below:

"Members of Voidpoint’s Ion Fury team have made sexist and transphobic comments, and included homophobic language in Ion Fury.

We recognize these statements are insensitive, unacceptable, and counterproductive to causes of equality. We unequivocally apologize both for these comments and language as well as for any pain they have caused the gaming community, particularly women and members of the LGBTQ community. We take full responsibility for any damage that has been done to the relationships we've worked so hard to build.

Moving forward, we at Voidpoint will institute a zero-tolerance policy for this type of language and all employees and contractors will undergo mandatory sensitivity training. As part of our efforts to contribute to the work that must be done to further support these communities, we are donating $10,000 from Ion Fury's release day proceeds to The Trevor Project. We are also patching Ion Fury ASAP to remove all unacceptable language."

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Action, FPS, Review, Steam | Apps: Ion Fury
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70 comments
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Oet_ Aug 23, 2019
How come people who are offended seem less fun than people who offend?

Guess being offended is a whine after all.
DaiKaiser93 Aug 23, 2019
Quoting: scaine
Quoting: DaiKaiser93Crap, we can't have nothing nice because of a couple of oversensitive twitter fks. As someone who bought it as soon as the EA released on GOG this breaks my heart.

First of all, no-one is taking the game off the market as a result of a single dev's transphobic remarks. Jesus. Where you getting that line from? Are you enjoying the game less now, or something? Do you regret your purchase in light of the fact that one of the dev's attack trans people? Doesn't sound like it.

If you don't care about this, fine. No need to comment. Move on. Enjoy the game. Honestly, I'd like you to care somewhat, but there it is. You don't, and I only have so much energy to engage.

On the flip side, if you feel outraged about this - also fine. But please go research the remarks Terminx made. In my opinion, they're not great remarks, but they're also not quite "burn at the stake" remarks either. Trans people might feel otherwise, because those remarks are yet another example of a (reasonably) public figure making public remarks which demean their very existence. But it's one persons uninformed, poorly worded view on discord - a forum which itself encourages quick fire, throw away views, due to the fact that it's instant-messaging. Maybe there's room for this guy to develop a little bit of empathy. Maybe.

Sadly, I feel that 3D Realms' apology is meaningless. It reads as simple damage limitation around an ignorant dev incapable of acting like an adult on their own discord. Terminx hasn't apologised to my knowledge, so buying this game now, armed with the knowledge that one of the contributors made transphobic remarks? You make your own statement.

But make it your own. Don't just buy into the headlines. As a side note, as someone who has seen this behavior many times on Twitter, IRC and various forums, I'll be clear - anyone who calls this a lame "SJW" issue instantly pigeon-holes themselves, in my mind, as someone with such a juvenile worldview, such people aren't even worth debating with. I love a debate, me. But sometimes it's not a debate at all.

What breaks my heart is the fact that we can't have a game release without being dissected for the most minuscule detail that may offend someone, the fact that the developers were pretty much strong armed by the publisher, and most of all, the fact that they caved in only to lose the momentum they had built, that's the only thing this PR move gained, as most of the people who were complaining had not bought the game and still refuse to buy it.

As for the "transphobic remarks", I mean come on, they weren't transphobic, was it needed to be said? no, but it was said and the first response for people was rallying to get them fired, I mean, if you don't like a product you just don't buy it, but NO, people have this absurd idea that products must be for everyone.

Regarding the refund, I will not ask for one, the game is good and I enjoy it.

TLDR: What "breaks my heart" is the fact the vocal minority is trying to control what the rest of us enjoy, and stating otherwise is received only as "hate" and "harassment".


Last edited by DaiKaiser93 on 23 August 2019 at 2:51 pm UTC
randomgamerguy1997 Aug 23, 2019
If agree with the fact that babies can't be transgender makes me a transphobe, then I'm proud to be one. Even though I have nothing against trans people themselves, I guess believing in the truth makes me a transphobic bigot.
rustybroomhandle Aug 23, 2019
Quoting: ageres
Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoI played the DEMO and I didn't see anything controversial in the game...
SJWs can find controversy in a brick wall.

People who use "SJW" as a pejorative are the worst types of people. We need less of these in the world.
macintux Aug 23, 2019
At this point I just want to ask, why is a company responsible for the opinions or actions of an employee when that employee is NOT at work? Honestly, why is Voidpoint, 3DRealms, or anyone else BESIDES the person who made the supposedly offensive remarks being punished?
rustybroomhandle Aug 23, 2019
Quoting: GuestThe "ogay" word and "fagbag" is anti trans? is your head alright?

That was not the transphobic stuff, it was things like implying that trans people are insane.
Samsai Aug 23, 2019
Quoting: GuestThe "ogay" word and "fagbag" is anti trans? is your head alright?
I've seen this or a similar argument in a few places now and I'm choosing to believe this is due to simple ignorance and not malicious misrepresentation of the controversy. No, those two things are not necessarily anti-trans ("fagbag" probably still isn't nice though), but the whole anti-trans stuff happened on the Discord chat, not in in-game textures.

Also, please stick to attacking arguments rather than the people making them.

Edit: Oh, and as an addendum, I quite like the game itself based on the two hours I've managed to put into it thus far. Definitely looking forward to playing it more. It seems to be wrecking me plenty on the Ultra Vicera difficulty though.


Last edited by Samsai on 23 August 2019 at 3:38 pm UTC
D34VA_ Aug 23, 2019
I'm gay, and I loved all of the jokes in the game. It wasn't meant to be some deep statement, it was a joke... Game itself is great.


Last edited by D34VA_ on 26 August 2019 at 6:39 pm UTC
Samsai Aug 23, 2019
Quoting: Guestfagbag....a bag of cigarettes...huh?

Not even going to touch this level of argumentation. Card says moops.

Quoting: GuestNo, you are choosing to ignore me previous comments that i made were i said nothing said in the discord could be interpreted as being remotely "transphobic".
No comment in the screenshots was made about trans people. People are being incredibly disingenuous over this issue, implying things without outright quoting the "offensive speech".
If they actually tried to quote it they would delete the post before posting.

Okay. An article was posted on said Discord with the headline "World Head Organization Finally Stops Classifying Trans People as Mentally Ill", to which a presumed developer responded: "does it mean that trans people just choose to be trans and there's nothing in their heads? not sure if legit". This is the notable instance of speech deemed to be transphobic due to the implication that trans people are mentally ill. Source: https://imgur.com/noOF7V4

So comments were indeed made about trans people, but now we both know that and can drop this line of argumentation.
Shmerl Aug 23, 2019
I didn't finish the game yet, but I haven't seen anything like described above. The game itself is great, I especially like small interactions with the environment.
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