ICARUS Review: A Wild, Untamed Adventure
Exploring terraforming gone wrong with hazards and rewards aplenty
last updated Dec 29, 2023
It's not without its quirks, bugs, and wallet concerns, but if you can look past those, there's a genuinely engaging experience waiting.
Into the Wild Unknown
Nothing screams 'survival game' like being plopped into the midst of a terraformed wilderness gone sideways. Thankfully, ICARUS doesn't just leave you to twiddle your thumbs. With a plethora of activities from timed missions to outpost building and exotic matter prospecting, it's like the game has a buffet and you're holding the plate. Gameplay is definitely where ICARUS flexes its muscles, offering ample variety to build, craft, explore, and sport hunt for those roided up crocodiles. Sure, it's not a cakewalk, and the solo players may find themselves a few wolves short of a pack, but for those dedicated to the grind, or better yet, those with a squad of intrepid friends, the adventure feels rewarding. Just be ready, because sometimes the game also seems to be figuring itself out as it goes along.
Aural Ambiance or Cry of the Wilderness?
Forget about the birds and the bees; when you're fighting for your life, what really matters is how well you can hear your not-so-friendly neighborhood polar bear tiptoeing up behind you. Sound serves as both a blessing and a threat in ICARUS, with meticulously detailed audio joining forces with an atmospheric soundtrack. The audial experience is top-notch, fully immersing you into ICARUS's vicarious existence. Well, at least until you realize that the sweet siren's song is a polar bear ready to audition for the role of 'that thing that mauls you to death.'
Graphics: A Feast for the Eyes, Famine for the PC
Sure, ICARUS has the looks to kill, with Unreal Engine flexing its graphical prowess harder than a bodybuilder in a mirror. From the stunning vistas to the impressive detail of storms that make you feel like you're about to be whisked off to Oz, it's a spectacle for sore eyes. Performance, however, seems to hang in the balance, teetering between acceptable and 'please send tech support'. For those lucky enough to boast beefier rigs, brace yourselves for some eye candy moments. The rest? Well, let's just say some players might experience more freezes than that one friend's computer that still runs on Windows XP.
A Developer's Love Letter, or a Cash Grab in Disguise?
While it's commendable how ICARUS is being lovingly updated with more attention than a helicopter parent, there's a little snag. Some early supporters are feeling a pinch in their wallets and hearts with expectations of future free DLC being dashed quicker than hopes in a high school talent show. The introduction of additional paid content has ruffled feathers, leading to a mixed bag of appreciation and resentment. But hey, apparently you can still have a Minecraft experience on steroids, so at least there's that, right?
The Solitude of Solo Play
ICARUS giveth, and ICARUS taketh away. The sprawling landmasses invite you to make your hermit dreams come true, if by hermit you mean 'constantly harassed by the local wildlife.' Solo gameplay is a viable route, offering peace and tranquility one moment and harrowing battles against nature the next. But to those lone wolves out there expecting a serene life off the grid, be prepared to work, and work hard. A fortress of solitude this is not; it's more like playing Robinson Crusoe with a side of existential dread and building permit issues.
A Tinkerer's Paradise or a Grinder's Nightmare?
For all you crafters and builders out there, ICARUS is a sandbox dream. You get the hammer, the nails, and sometimes it'll even throw the whole toolbox at you. The building system is as satisfying as popping bubble wrap, with a dash of masochism when Mother Nature decides she doesn't like where you've placed your windows. The catch? You better love the grind. Because here, you'll grind more than a high school dance, all in the name of progression and sweet blueprints. And with regular updates, you'll have shiny new toys to work toward - provided you've recovered from your last crafting marathon.
The Bug Parade
No game is without its hiccups, and ICARUS is like the ringleader of a bug parade sometimes. Whether it's launching enemies into stratospheric ballet or giving you a crash course in patience with periodic crashes, frustration is a status effect you'll occasionally have to contend with. These kinks are less about adding character and more about testing one's resolve. While most of these issues might not be deal-breakers, they are pesky reminders that, in the world of ICARUS, the greatest challenge might be the game itself.
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
RocketWerkz
Release Date
December 03, 2021
The Verdict:
ICARUS may not be the poster child of flawless execution, but it's doing its darndest to make its mark in the survival genre. Its expansive, beautiful world teases the imagination, and though it might play hard to get (particularly with your PC's performance), it rewards the persistent. It's not without its quirks, bugs, and wallet concerns, but if you can look past those, there's a genuinely engaging experience waiting. Just remember, if you're venturing into ICARUS solo, you better pack a healthy dose of grit alongside your portable oxygenator.