Isbarah (PC) Review

First things first, and what might be already quite apparent above - Isbarah is hard, really hard. That is on the easiest difficulty of normal, never mind the two tougher modes. Thankfully, it never feels like a tacked on challenge, nor does the game itself intentionally try to frustrate. The three game mechanics to assist in surviving the rain of bullets involve a dash movement using the right mouse button, a time slowing ability using left-shift, and, finally, the ability to form a temporary platform to either block projectiles for a time or to assist in jumping.

Three useful skills bound to smart key selections, as well as a visibly defined hit-box that floats around Iria, all come together to present a very efficient and comfortable to play experience that certainly helps to alleviate any potential frustration. There might be some initial head scratching at the lack of controller support, but it honestly plays very well using keyboard and mouse.

If there is one disappointment, it is that the mechanics literally always stay the same, with nothing thrown in to keep people on their toes, like changing the size of the spell radius, for instance. Stay in the giant circle until the spell is finished and then strike. Indeed the enemy attacks are programmed so replaying the levels over and over and learning the attack patterns is enough, although, granted, easier said than done. That said, however, the later bosses do throw in a few different elements to spice up their attacks.

The story is certainly quite imaginative in its premise. It is interesting that the protagonist Iria is a powerful female character who can mix it with all the most powerful monsters, although somewhat disappointing that she is still mainly governed by the age-old trope of the controlling father. Before each boss, there is a brief comic-strip-style cut-scene and conversation but it isn't exactly extensive and it is a story that could have been fleshed out a good deal more.

Special mention has to go to the soundtrack, which is an endless exhilarating heavy rock/metal guitar riff that really keeps the blood pumping and complements the technicolour extravaganza of bullets coming from all angles of the screen. The graphics don't let it down either, with a real contrasting mix between dark, desolate, hellish landscapes filled with reds and oranges, to the inside of deep caves and strange twisted forests with vivid green added to the colourful enemy spells. Actually, the heroine Iria is quite plain and boring in her character design compared to everything else that is rather over the top.