Fury Unleashed Preview

Fury Unleashed by Awesome Games Studio is an expeditiously paced shooter and action game with a comic book setting that keeps players absorbed. The game is currently in preview mode with a projected release date in early 2020, so it is a work in progress. It will be available on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. However, that did not take away from the great experience I had playing the game. The preview is at a point that the lingering caveats are simply understandable. It is easy to have confidence these flaws will be fixed by game release.

The dynamic of gameplay is a simple narrative: the protagonist has lost their abilities and they travel through comics to retrieve them, battling evil, Nazis, and other enemies. A mini tutorial gives users clear instruction and opportunity to familiarize and get comfortable with the controls. Since I tested on PC, I wondered how it would translate to other platforms, as several keyboard keys and all aspects of the mouse were incorporated into movement and using the weapons.

Jumping right into the first comic, I was greeted with the challenge of navigating a jungle suffused with undead. The action was continuous, as I was free to dice, slice, blow up, and shoot at all angles. You must constantly stay on the move, as fire flies from the undead and other obstacles built into the map. I was constantly having to use the dash feature to maneuver between gaps with razor wheels above and below. The unique combo system during combat allowed my powers to increase exponentially, especially when faced with a barrage of enemies. The health bar was generous, as you can incur a lot of damage and still complete a level with relative ease.

The guns are what keep you moving in combat. You must shoot your way through most obstacles in the comic book. Along the way, you are collecting ink from struck down opponents. The ink is the most treasured resource you have, as it allows you to lastingly elevate your capabilities and restore your hero. The ink is a continuous collection process. Even if you need to respawn, most of your collected ink stays with you.

What really drew me into each comic was the music and sound effects. I was immediately immersed in the rhythmic gameplay with the sound on full blast, which created a dramatic effect that allowed me to get deep into the quest. It was a nice element that made the tasks feel more daunting, yet almost cheering me on at the same time. I wasn’t in love with the sound effects overall though particularly when reloading weapons or picking up ink. If I were rating this game, it would not change its point value, just something I noticed. I imagine these sound loops will be fine-tuned by release time.

Overall, there is a market for Fury Unleashed and should be an instant hit for fans of retro shooter games. The randomized levels keep you in suspense, never knowing what the next screen will present and the consistent melee keeps you wanting to push forward. This game has real potential to be a big seller and should be on all 2020 watch lists.