Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter Preview
Rats get a bad rap. Ok, some of it is understandable. There’s the whole Black Death incident. But that wasn’t the rats’ fault, it was the parasites that lived on the rats. In reality, Norway rats — the species most often found in cities and as pets — are wicked smart, clean, and resourceful. And, if you are to believe the game Tails of Iron and its sequel, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter, they can cast spells and use a wide range of weapons, too. As I thought when I played the original Tails of Iron, any game with rat heroes is ok by me. I’ve had the opportunity to spend some time with Tails 2, and whatever else it is, it’s a tribute to rat-dom.
Ok, all that joking and rat praise aside, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is developer Odd Bug Studios’ follow-up to their 2021 action RPG Tails of Iron. Like the first game, Whiskers of Winter is a 2D action game obviously and proudly influenced by FromSoftware’s games, The Witcher, Monster Hunter, Salt and Sanctuary, and books like The Song of Ice and Fire. The first game introduced a singular art style and some pretty challenging Souls-like combat. Whiskers of Winter carries those things forward.
Another Tail of Heroism
Like the original game, Tails of Iron 2 is about a young rat assuming the mantle of responsibility from his father. In the sequel its young hero is Arlo He inherits the title of Warden of the Wastes from his father after an attack by the Night Wing bats. The game begins in and around Winter’s Edge, the snowy northern enclave of the rat kingdom. Arlo journeys out in an ever-widening circle that includes a large number of different regions and environments.
Even in the preview slice of the 16-hour game, Arlo fights a diverse and often terrifying range of enemies. Most of them are monstrous or supernaturally equipped versions of real-world creatures. You know, bats, porcupines, snakes, and more, all equipped with deadly attacks. In the tutorial prologue, for example, Arlo and his father fight a trio of young porcupines and their mother. This early battle teaches the young hero some basic offensive and defensive melee mechanics.
As with all proper Soulslikes, Whiskers of Winter is focused on combat,t and Souls veterans will feel right at home. Dodges, rolling, parries, and stamina management work just as they should and feel great. This was true of the first game, but the sequel greatly expands and deepens nearly all the systems.
Surviving by a Whisker
The first Tails of Iron had strong, engaging combat mechanics but Whiskers of Winter leans even more heavily into its Soulslike and action RPG influences. There are boss Beast Hunts reminiscent of Monster Hunter. Maybe the most exciting new feature is the introduction of elemental spellcasting. The ancient rat gods are helping Arlo and his fellow rats defeat the Night Wings by giving them fire, ice, poison, and electric spells. Melee weapons remain at the heart of Arlo’s arsenal.
As in the first game, crafting and upgrading stronger armor, weapons, and now, magic plays a major part in the game. Aside from that, base building and adding new NPCs to the home base has been expanded. Arlo has a grappling hook. This new addition adds a fun new traversal mechanic.
Tails of Iron was a very challenging Soulslike. Recognizing that not every player wants a happily masochistic experience, Whiskers of Winter adds a difficulty slider, making its excellent gameplay more accessible to casual action RPG fans.
Tail as Old as Time
Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter brings back the standout aesthetics of the first game. The art style could be best described as medieval woodcuts come to life. It really looks unlike any other game in the genre. While there is no voiced dialogue, there is a narrative voice-over. It’s provided by veteran voice actor Doug Cockle, of The Witcher and Baldur’s Gate 3 fame (just to mention a few credits). The largely acoustic score by Francesco Ameglio adds a tuneful, timeless element to the game.
The number of 2D Soulslikes released each year is impressively large. That doesn’t mean all the games are impressive, but Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter certainly is. With an appealing art style, rich narrative, and even greater mechanical depth, Whiskers of Winter seemingly improves on its predecessor in every way. I can’t wait to play through the entire game when it releases on January 28, 2025.
Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.
