Aether & Iron Review

Aether & Iron: A sky-high Noir RPG where strategy meets storytelling.

Seismic Squirrel, the developer of Aether & Iron, is a narrative-rich tactical RPG. The game immediately grabs attention with its distinctive blend of storytelling, tactical gameplay, and a retrofuturistic world. Picture New York City, but in the 1930s, suspended high above the clouds.

Many RPGs focus too much on either story or gameplay, but Aether & Iron tries to strike a good balance by combining deep dialogue systems with a very different kind of turn-based fighting that uses vehicles rather than characters.

The game has been getting a lot of attention for its unique gameplay ever since it first appeared at events like Steam Next Fest.

Aether & Iron appear to be a musical melting pot, aiming to fuse diverse styles into a single, cohesive experience. The developers drew inspiration from classic tabletop RPGs, narrative-focused games, and tactical strategy titles when crafting this universe. Player choice and the game's underlying mechanics are deeply intertwined in this world.

The game borrows elements from story-heavy RPGs, including talent-based dice rolls, branching dialogue options, and narratives shaped by player decisions. Conversely, the combat system introduces a less common element: tactical engagements conducted entirely through customizable vehicles.

The game's allure is greatly amplified by how seamlessly it weaves its core themes—class conflict, technological progress, and social inequality—into both its gameplay and the story itself.

The mysterious anti-gravity technology called Aether powers the floating city, which is more than just a background. The environment significantly affects the characters' lives, interactions, and conflicts. The way the world is built and its features work together creates a feeling of a well-designed, unified experience, rather than a collection of separate systems.

Gia is the main character of Aether & Iron. She is a smuggler who is having a hard time making it in the lower levels of a vertically split city. In this version of New York, it's evident that there are distinct types of people. People in the upper class live in luxury, while those in the lower class face many problems.

This clear gap creates a strong sense of difference right away, which fits wonderfully with the game's dark style and main theme of class conflict.

At first, it seems like an easy chore, but it quickly becomes much more difficult. Gia is given no choice when ordered to escort a young scientist, Nelly, from the affluent upper districts to the dangerous lower city. As you might expect, things don't go as planned. Nelly's in trouble. Several factions are gunning for her, all because she's got classified research on volatile Aether technology.

This sets off a domino effect of scheming, secret agendas, and escalating peril. The narrative unfolds through a blend of exploration and dialogue. Though some games opt for third-person perspectives, this particular title primarily unfolds its narrative through 2D point-and-click scenes. Conversations change quickly and are often affected by dice rolls that are tied to a character's skills.

This means outcomes can vary widely depending on both player choice and luck. Importantly, success isn't always a given, and failing can open up new storylines instead of ending in a dead end. One of the best things about the story is how much it focuses on outcomes. Making choices early in the game might not have instant effects, but they can come back to haunt you in important ways later on.

Characters remember what you do, relationships change, and old enemies may come back with new grudges. It's almost impossible to see everything in a single run, so this gives the game a sense of continuity and encourages multiple replays.

At its core, Aether & Iron has two main gameplay types: interacting with the story and fighting tactically. Players visit different parts of the city, talk to non-player characters (NPCs), gather information, and make choices that affect the story when they're not fighting. Instead of freely roaming, you have to choose points of interest to move to. This makes exploration easier and keeps the focus on important interactions.

Character interaction is a key part of growth.

There is often more than one choice in a conversation, and some of them are locked behind skill checks. For these checks, you roll two six-sided dice and add any bonuses that come from your character's skills. The system adds a bit of uncertainty, which makes every encounter feel fresh and sometimes tense.

The character's growth is controlled by a skill system with three main groups: Brass, Hustle, and Smarts. There is a different way to solve problems in each group. Brass is more about physical and aggressive actions, Hustle is more about speed and social manipulation, and Smarts is more about planning and technical know-how. Players can spend points on these talents as their characters level up. This gives them access to new skills and makes it more likely that they will succeed in both dialogue and battle.

Over time, players not only build their characters, but also their team. Each member has their own skills and can help with tasks in different ways. Managing this team becomes an important part of the experience as a whole, especially when you add in customizing vehicles and keeping track of resources. The real thing that makes Aether & Iron stand out is their combat.

In turn-based, grid-based fights that happen on elevated roads, players don't directly control characters; instead, they control Aether-powered vehicles. These fights feel more like precise racing duels than normal RPG fights.

You can move, attack, and use skills on each vehicle by spending Action Points (AP). Moving forward costs more AP than stopping or turning around, which makes the game more realistic and requires more planning. Since weapons are directed, where you put them is very important. A shotgun might only fire to the side when it's close, while a Gatling gun might shoot backward and need to be turned to reload.

Risks in the environment are a big part of the battle. Roads can split, lanes can end, and things in the way can hurt or kill cars. Players have the option to ram their foes, potentially sending them crashing into hazards or off the track entirely.

Another interesting element is the use of civilian vehicles in battle.

These cars can be wrecked or dented, which creates "heat," a gauge of the scrutiny you're drawing. Elevated heat levels can make subsequent confrontations more difficult and change how NPCs respond, adding another layer of risk to your tactical choices. The combat system offers a welcome break from the usual RPG conventions. It's a change of pace, and a good one at that.

But it could take some time to get the hang of it, especially if you're not used to this kind of play, because it relies on where you are and where you hit. In Aether & Iron, getting better at fighting and getting better at choices is really important to making progress. You can get experience by doing missions, passing skill checks, and, of course, fighting. As players level up, they can invest points into their chosen talents, which changes how the game is played.

The way this system is set up in levels encourages individuals to focus on one thing. Investing a lot of time and money in particular skills could pay off significantly, making skill checks more accurate. But this attention may also make it harder for you to employ other skills. Because of this, players face choices that help them grow as people and show how important it is to think strategically.

Furthermore, looting benefits character evolution. Following a battle, players have the opportunity to discover items that enhance their dice rolls, speech, or vehicles. This is a great cycle: the game grows as a result of the tale and fight wins.

1930s design, art deco, and noir comics inspired Aether & Iron's unique look. It is distinct from other role-playing games (RPGs) because its graphics are hand-drawn and its locations are artistic. There is a lot of potential in the "floating city" concept. The clouds below the skyscraper districts and the layered cities above give the globe a sense of creativity and connection. By providing illustrations of significant scenes, the comic panel style complements the story.

The game's visual identity is strong because its design is consistent with its themes and universe. Sound design has a significant impact on a game's atmosphere. The cinematic atmosphere and flashbacks are complemented by strings, brass, and piano.

Technological advancements are highlighted through the use of metal percussion and mechanical beats.

While the overall sound design is quite captivating, there are moments when the music either repeats itself or isn't used to its full potential. Some songs just seem to be there in the background, not really adding to the mood. A number that changes based on what happens in the game could make it even better.

Still, the expected addition of full voice acting in the final version is a good one; it should make the experience more immersive and bring the characters to life. As it stands, Aether & Iron looks like it will be a very big and unique RPG. Its story-driven decisions, innovative vehicle combat, and dice-based decision-making make for an experience that feels both new and well thought out.

The game does a great job of creating a world that is interesting, tense, and full of choices that have real consequences. Even though its combat system isn't typical, it adds a level of strategy that rewards planning and creativity. Also, the growth systems and branching stories make it easy to play again and again.

There are still some things that could be improved, especially the variety of sounds and the general polish, but the game shows a lot of promise even as it is. Aether & Iron is a great story-driven RPG with tactical features and a unique twist that players should keep an eye on.