Iconoclasts Reviews
Iconoclasts is a pretty fantastic game. The story is fun and interesting, the controls are tight and near perfect, the art and animation is beautiful, and many of the puzzles and traversal are both fun and challenging at the same time.
A book could be written about the numerous meandering, intermittently functional conversations that at first seem to exist solely to create needless drama, but quickly pivot to take on a confessional tone. It’s ironic for a game that pushes oppressive-religion themes so vigorously to eventually devolve into what appears to be a self-pitying writer vicariously self-flagellating using their stand-ins, denying anyone real closure or redemption because everyone is written to be deserving of punishment. At the end of the day, though, it just makes me tired. This game is draining in all the wrong ways.
There is an abundance of pixel-art platformers on the market today, many of them indistinguishable from one another, but Sandberg's game stands out.
While most Metroidvanias find themselves struggling with their pace, Iconoclasts never lets up. It's one of the best of its kind and definitely needs to be played.
Iconoclasts is a wonderful mix of platormer and puzzle game with great graphics and an exciting story.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Iconoclasts is a gorgeous pixel art metroidvania with some great ideas. Action, platform and puzzles are fun. And the narrative and characters are really compelling. A total success.
Review in French | Read full review
Iconoclasts is yet another proof of how independent software is taking up an increasingly important part of the gaming market. Made with an almost palpable devotion, Sandberg's game manages to stand out for its unexpectedly mature narrative and superb level design. A few too cryptic puzzles and the massive amount of text could frighten users looking for a "pure" metroidvania. This doesn't affect the personality of Iconoclasts, which reveals itself to be a truly, great game.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Iconoclasts has some shortcomings, such as a few overextended stages in the middle of the story and a very high difficulty in some parts. But an interesting story, puzzles, accessible skills and bosses leave just an incredible amount of the most positive emotions.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Iconoclasts plays well, looks great, and has some strong level design, but the unexpected highlight is a narrative that examines topics like religion and environmentalism in a well-realized world with real consequences
Iconoclasts is an amazingly well-done game that never settles down for more than a minute, effortlessly switching from one challenge to another and never letting the player get too caught up on an area.
Iconoclasts' combination of clever Metroid-inspired design and lush art offers more than enough incentive to stick with it, even when the ambitious plot doesn't always connect. This is a strange, complex game that – refreshingly – doesn't play quite like any other work in the genre. Iconoclasts offers a welcome reminder that they don't all have to play the same way.
Iconoclasts is a different type of metroidvania, favouring environmental puzzles, exploration and story over combat and variety, wrapping everything up in a gorgeous 16 bit pixel art: we cannot avoid recommending it if you're in for an ingenious ride.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Joakim ‘konjak’ Sandberg’s Iconoclasts is a one person show that’s a decade in the making. And it pays off so incredibly well in ways you wouldn’t expect. It has its frustrations with certain boss battles, but those can be easily looked over when looking at the larger picture. The game released at a time where in our current climate in the games industry and as a people where Robin is what we all want, and need to be. Iconoclasts is a game that defies expectations and norms, and has been worth that wait.
You’ll likely achieve at least 12 hours of gameplay on your first-time, and shorter when replaying. The game will score you depending on how many “tweaks” were created, and how many treasures were found. For perfectionists, expect to put in some extra time for that 100%.Iconoclasts is a terrific game that utilizes the 16-bit style wonderfully. The music and gameplay heightens the value. While the story may become confusing at times, and problem-solving boss fights can take time, it doesn’t distract from how much excitement this game has. This is worth purchasing for your digital library and deserves your attention.
All in all, I was truly impressed with Iconoclasts. I spent 11 hours playing through the game, and that’s without even finishing all the side quests or finding all the deviously hidden chests. It’s not often an indie game comes out of nowhere to surprise me, but that’s just what it managed to do, proving itself a new indie gem. If you have a PS4, Vita or Steam account, go buy it. It’s easily the best indie I’ve played so far in 2018, and one I highly recommend.
Pretty good game! The gameplay mechanics are slick, the enemy and boss variety is excellent, and the story is just crazy. However, the difficulty, tweak variety, and controls could use a little work.
Iconoclasts is a worthy puzzle platformer unlike anything you’ll have experienced before — a true labour of love.
Iconoclasts was conceived for more than seven years and that shows the affection and details that we will see throughout this narrative adventure with touches of metroidvania.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Iconoclasts is a well-made game which reflects the love that has been poured into it so clearly. The game is full of excellent dialogues, deep combat system and scenes that take your breath away.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Iconoclasts is a near-constant delight, offering story that can be charming or silly or insightful, combat that is involved, puzzles that challenge the mind, and a feeling of endless excitement and adventure.