F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch combines a connected Metroidvania game world with an action-packed combat system. In Torch City, which is controlled by machines, you play as Rayton, a former resistance fighter. He begins his search with a mechanical fist. Later, a drill, a whip and new movement abilities are added. They open up further paths through the city and expand the options in combat.

TiGames developed the single-player adventure in a side-view 2.5D perspective with a striking dieselpunk look.

F.I.S.T. was first released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on Sep 7, 2021. The Steam PC version followed in October of the same year. The Steam store lists Oct 2, 2021 as the release date, while other overviews list Oct 3. This difference in the PC date does not justify a separate platform version.

The digital version for Nintendo Switch arrived on July 12, 2022, and the native release on Xbox Series X|S on June 27, 2023. Nintendo also lists a later date for the Switch retail version. The earliest confirmed digital Switch launch is the one that counts.

The Metroidvania has native versions for PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and Xbox Series X|S. The Xbox store also lists Xbox Play Anywhere, so this version can also be used on a compatible Windows PC. An Xbox One version is not listed there. The Nintendo store lists the Switch version for handheld, tabletop and TV mode. Playing on Switch 2 does not automatically mean that a dedicated Switch 2 version has been released.

Rayton moves through a connected city with hidden rooms and shortcuts. New movement and weapon abilities open previously blocked paths. Precise jumps, puzzles and fights with machine enemies work together. In combat, Rayton switches between fist, drill and whip, which differ in reach, combo options and strength. Different enemy types and bosses call for different approaches.

On Windows, Steam lists minimum requirements of Windows 10 version 1903, an Intel Core i5-6400 or AMD FX-8320, 8 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 960 or AMD Radeon R9 280. The game needs 25 GB of free storage. Recommended are 16 GB RAM and a GTX 1060 with 6 GB of graphics memory. The store details refer to the PC version and should not be read as a performance promise for consoles.

Six years after the resistance's defeat, the rabbit Rayton lives in seclusion. When a friend is arrested, the former soldier returns to the fight against the Machine Legion with his mechanical fist. The rescue mission grows into a clash with other power groups in Torch City. The story links personal loyalty and the ongoing conflict between the animal city dwellers and their occupiers.

The mechanical fist is Rayton's signature and enables fast strike sequences. There is also a drill for powerful attacks and a whip with greater reach. The weapons are not chosen as separate character classes. Instead, they belong to the same character's arsenal. You can switch between them during a fight. This creates different ways to take on groups of enemies or single tough targets.

TiGames wanted to combine accessible controls with room for combos. Lead designer Xuedong Song explained on the PlayStation Blog that an early version almost only used one attack button. For the longer game, the team added light and heavy attacks but limited the length of input sequences. The three weapons also partly share combo patterns. This reduces the learning effort when switching weapons, without giving up distinct fighting styles.

Torch City is divided into more than a dozen distinguishable areas connected by one continuous map. Beside the direct route, secret rooms, tunnels and detours await, requiring combat, platforming sections or small puzzles. The Metroidvania principle rewards returning later with new abilities. The connection between areas matters more than a rigid sequence of individual levels.

The robot legion sends different enemy types into the field, which differ in their weapons and attack styles. Some encounters require controlling several targets, others recognizing a boss's recurring movements. Because fist, drill and whip attack at different speeds and ranges, switching weapons can make the difference. The game therefore combines classic exploration platforming with a distinctly pronounced melee combat system.

The city combines industrial plants, heavy machinery and architecture inspired by East Asian urban landscapes. In this setting, the animal inhabitants and the uniform machines feel like two opposing worlds. For the 2.5D game world, TiGames uses three-dimensional environments with detailed surfaces, even though the player character moves largely sideways. The technical foundation is Unreal Engine 4.

Steam lists German interface and German subtitles, but no German voice acting. The voiced languages listed there are English and Simplified Chinese. The Nintendo Switch version also supports German on-screen text. The exact language options should therefore be considered separately for each platform version, rather than assuming full German dubbing.

F.I.S.T. is built as a single-player experience. The game world, bosses and story are designed around Rayton's abilities. Steam lists achievements and Family Sharing as platform features. PlayStation lists one player and Remote Play. For the Xbox version, Xbox Play Anywhere is listed. These features are not indications of a co-op or multiplayer mode.

The game was developed by TiGames. The original release was closely tied to Bilibili and the PlayStation China Hero Project environment. The current Steam product page, however, lists Astrolabe Games as publisher. The changing publisher credits across different storefront versions are therefore no basis for assuming different games. Rayton's journey and the five native platform versions belong to the same game identity.