Phantom Fury, developed by Slipgate Ironworks and published by 3D Realms, brings back protagonist Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison from Ion Fury in a new first-person shooter that mixes intense action with a road movie narrative. Following its initial release on PC, the game now makes its way to the PlayStation 5, promising a blend of nostalgia and new thrills as the game leaps forward towards a newer generation of FPS shooters. If Ion Fury was like Duke Nukem 3D, this one is more like the shooters of the year 2000.
The game’s narrative picks up a few years after Shelly’s battle against Jadus Heskel. Awakening from a coma with a new bionic arm, she is quickly thrown into a mission to secure the Demon Core, embarking on a journey that takes her across the United States. This premise sets the stage for a series of diverse and engaging environments, from the indoor setting of a hotel in Albuquerque to the streets of Chicago. The road movie aspect of the game gives it a unique flavor, making each location feel distinct and part of a larger adventure.
One of Phantom Fury’s most interesting features is its highly interactive world, especially if you compare it to the games that inspired it. The environments are full of interactive elements that make the world feel alive, as you can engage with computers, go on helicopter rides and even play arcade machines. This level of interactivity adds a layer of immersion that is wasn’t this prevalent back in the day, and it often missed in today’s shooters.
Gameplay in Phantom Fury is a thrilling mix of action and tactical combat situations. With over two dozen weapons at your disposal, including new additions such as armor-piercing shotguns and electrified foam shooters, the game offers a variety of ways to dispatch enemies. The ability to upgrade and modify these weapons further enhances the combat experience, allowing players to tailor their arsenal to their play style and try out new things. The inclusion of unlockable skills and upgrades for Shelly’s bionic arm and suit also adds a layer of depth to the gameplay, making each encounter feel like something you might approach differently the next time you play.
However, Phantom Fury is not without its drawbacks. While the game’s retro-inspired graphics and soundtrack add to its charm, some players may find the visual style a bit dated as it’s not quite as ‘retro’ as the previous game yet clearly also not up today’s standards. Additionally, we ran into a few small bugs along the way, which can detract from the overall experience. They weren’t game-breaking, but if they remain unaddressed they might be frustrating to encounter.
The enemy design in Phantom Fury is worth highlighting, as it features a mix of cyborgs, soldiers, and mutants, each with unique abilities that challenge the player in different ways. The boss battles, in particular, are a lot of fun and push players to utilize different skills and weapons to fight them. The soundtrack, which combines retro music with more intense tunes around hectic scenes, complements the game’s chaotic atmosphere nicely. Sound effects are crisp and impactful as well, enhancing the overall sensory experience of the game.
In terms of controls, Phantom Fury handles well on the PlayStation 5. The fast-paced action demands quick reflexes and precise aiming, and the game’s controls are responsive enough to meet these demands. The adaptive triggers and haptic feedback of the DualSense controller add to the immersion, making each shot and explosion feel impactful.
In conclusion, Phantom Fury successfully blends retro aesthetics with modern gameplay mechanics to deliver a solid first-person shooter experience. Its engaging narrative, diverse environments, and highly interactive world make it stand out in the crowded FPS genre. While it has its share of technical issues and it’s a little stuck between worlds/eras, the game’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses, making it a worthwhile addition to any FPS fan’s library on the PlayStation 5.
Score: 7.4/10
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