Iconoclasts: Marvelous Mechanics

If I had to name the most overlooked video game gem of the last decade, it would be Iconoclasts. I don’t blame anyone for not noticing this game- it came out in 2018, which was already full of quality indie titles such as Dead Cells and Celeste, not to mention AAA titles like God of War, Spider-Man, and Monster Hunter: World. In any other year, Iconoclasts could have been a headline title.

I’m also someone who missed the game in its release year. I instead found it a year later, during a crazed hunt for quality metroidvania titles- and while it was my favourite find, I’d hesitate to call it a metroidvania.

Iconoclasts is best described as a narrative-driven, puzzle action platformer with metroidvania elements. Which is a mouthful. So instead we’ll call it a platformer with a good story and some backtracking.

Developed by Joakim Sandberg, the game first began development in 2010, taking eight years to develop- and that time was well spent.

Gameplay has you using two tools- your stun gun and your wrench. You get various upgrades and modifications as you progress, opening up new opportunities for puzzles. While you do need to backtrack if you want to upgrade yourself fully, no mechanic is stretched too thin- by the time one element becomes second nature, you’re ready to learn the next.

Boss fights love to combine gunplay with puzzle solving, and this is when Iconoclasts is at its best. Using your wrench to zip around the arena, open up the enemy’s weak spot, and fire in a grenade launcher shot is always satisfying.

Some boss fights prefer to test your puzzle solving more than your combat ability.

Iconoclasts has the player take the role of Robin, a mostly mute mechanic. The world government is run by a religious authority struggling to ration out dwindling supplies of the energy source “ivory”. Only licensed mechanics can handle ivory. While not licenced to be a mechanic, Robin still helps her town out with repairs. Unfortunately, she is found out in the opening act, imprisoned while her brother’s home is hit by an orbital strike in an act of penance.

The plot goes through several turns and dramatic events, and is a joy to unfold. At times you can forget you’re playing a 10-hour platformer instead of a 30-hour RPG. And despite that, it never fumbles, able to carry this heavy narrative with its head held high.

Despite rarely speaking, Robin makes for a great protagonist. She’s emotive in cutscenes, and outside of them has some hilarious dialogue options to choose. Even in bleak moments, you get the impression she’s remaining positive, and so it’s no wonder a ragtag group forms around her.

First is Mina, a sassy shotgun-wielding pirate. She initially seems quite simple, but has layers as the story proceeds. Next is Royal, a member of the religious authority with a huge hero complex, who believes helping you is the best course action to saving the world. And eventually you’re joined by your brother Elro, who survived the attack at the start of the game. He’s much sourer than before, set on revenge and keeping you safe.

It’s hard not to fall in love with the cast throughout your adventure.

The villains have a cast of characters, but the highlights are Agent Black and General Chrome. The former is stern and serious, suffering constant headaches and the irritation of everyone else, and the latter is a shirtless cowboy who spouts self-made philosophy.

Beyond being a colourful cast, the strength of Iconoclasts' characters is how human everyone is. They’re all very flawed, and most of them are broken inside, some on the outside too. Your friends lean on you too heavily, the villains are sympathetic, and when the darkest hour of the story arrives, everyone is resigned to their fate- except for you, Robin.

The game’s soundtrack is on Spotify, and is another strength of Iconoclasts. The score accompanies the story perfectly, with distinct themes fitting of characters, such as Preacher, a cowboy tune for General Chrome. It also matches the frantic nature of the game’s boss fights, such as Machines, played during several of the fights against, well, machines. It handles its variety well, and I think the reason I remember Iconoclasts so fondly is because of the music that matched so many scenes- it really completes the experience.

If you’re looking for a platformer to sink your teeth into, want to follow an engaging narrative involving themes of theology, or even want to rock out to a great soundtrack, I cannot recommend Iconoclast more. It’s the sleeper hit of the last five years, and I imagine with time it will become a cult classic.

Iconoclasts is available for £17.49 through Steam, Nintendo, GOG and Xbox.