Phantom Fury feels like a blast from the past, taking us back to the awesome shooters of the 90s like Doom and Quake. It's all about that old-school look with pixel art that makes you feel like you're playing on an old console. But even though it's old-school, it still has a modern twist that makes it fun for new players, too.

Phantom Fury delivers speed, challenge, and non-stop action, catering to both seasoned gamers and newcomers alike. It's a thrilling homage to the golden era of '90s gaming. But does it truly meet the high expectations of FPS enthusiasts? Let's check out the Phantom Fury's review to find out.

More About the Phantom

Phantom Fury drops you into a world torn apart by conflict. You'll battle through spooky hotels and deserted facilities to take down Dr. Hesal's loyalists. Inspired by classic shooters like Half-Life and Sin, the game combines nostalgic vibes with updated gameplay. 

With upgraded weapons and interactive environments, you'll need to think fast. On top of that, you must adapt to survive the intense action and unravel the mysteries of the post-war landscape.

However, the game doesn't offer much in terms of a storyline. The game prioritizes gameplay over narrative, so players shouldn't expect a deep or engaging plot. Instead, they'll immerse themselves in action-packed levels and intense combat scenarios without much context or story to drive their actions. 

While some players may appreciate the focus on gameplay mechanics, others may find the lack of a compelling storyline to be a significant drawback. Overall, if you're looking for a game with a rich narrative experience, Phantom Fury may not be the best choice.

Weapon Upgrade

Weapon upgrades are crucial to the gameplay experience in Phantom Fury. Players can acquire various upgrades throughout the game, each enhancing their combat abilities and providing new tactical options. These upgrades include several features, including recharging punch attacks, lock-on headshots for pistols, and dual-wielding SMGs that ignite enemies. 

However, despite the potential benefits of these upgrades, the game suffers from numerous bugs that diminish its overall enjoyment. One significant issue arises from the random deletion of weapon upgrades. In the game, you may find that your hard-earned upgrades disappear without warning after progressing through several levels. 

This sudden loss of enhancements undermines player progression and can lead to frustration and confusion. Additionally, attempts to recover lost upgrades by reloading old save files are often unsuccessful, leaving players with few options for recourse.

Another problem arises from the inconsistent functionality of alt-fire modes for weapons. Players may encounter situations where these modes fail to work as intended or become unavailable. In the worst scenario, it can happen even after acquiring the corresponding upgrades. 

This inconsistency disrupts combat flow and diminishes the reliability of certain gameplay mechanics. Ultimately. It creates frustration during critical combat encounters. You wouldn't want that to interfere with your gameplay, would you?

Furthermore, the presence of bugs significantly impacts the overall gameplay experience in Phantom Fury. It may feel a little boring and frustrating when the upgrades are unexpectedly erased due to technical issues. 

Hopefully, the developers will sort it out soon. Addressing these technical issues is essential to improving the overall quality of Phantom Fury. The devs must ensure players can fully engage with the game’s mechanics and features. 

Furious Bugs

Let's address the elephant in the room: technical issues plague many newly released video games. Nevertheless, Phantom Fury seems to have an overwhelming abundance of them. Despite offering an appealing premise with its fast-paced first-person shooter gameplay, the overall experience is filled with numerous technical issues and bugs.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the game is the frequent disappearance of weapon upgrades. These can occur randomly after progressing through several levels. Consequently, this disrupts the player's progress and undermines the sense of customization that weapon upgrades are intended to provide. 

In addition to the weapon-related issues, Phantom Fury also grapples with inconsistent AI behavior and environmental glitches. Smooth movements are key to enjoyable gameplay. Conversely, in Phantom Fury, enemies often display unstable behaviors or fail to respond appropriately during combat. As a result, it may feel more frustrating than challenging.

Environmental glitches highly disrupt the general gameplay. Such bugs include launching unintentionally by geometry or falling through the map in the recently released game Phantom Fury. Such issues not only break immersion but also force players to restart from earlier checkpoints. Eventually, it interrupts the gaming experience. In gaming, nothing is more irritating than having to backtrack to your last checkpoint due to technical hiccups. 

Ultimately, until these issues are addressed through patches or updates, players may need to approach Phantom Fury with caution. It's essential to manage expectations and avoid building up too much anticipation. Because, let's face it, there's a chance of disappointment otherwise.

Unclear Progression

Phantom Fury suffers from an unclear progression system that undermines the player's experience. Instead of offering clear objectives and a structured path forward, the game often leaves players feeling lost and uncertain about what to do next. This ambiguity can lead to aimless wandering as players struggle to figure out how to advance through the game.

A key issue with progression in Phantom Fury is the lack of player guidance. Similarly, levels are often designed like mazes, with multiple pathways and hidden areas that can easily confuse and disorient players. Without a clear map or objective markers, players may find themselves getting stuck in dead ends, resulting in a sense of stagnation.

Additionally, the game's puzzles and challenges sometimes lack clear instructions or hints. Essentially, this makes it difficult for players to know what actions to take to progress. This lack of clarity can lead to prolonged periods of trial and error as players attempt to decipher the game's logic and mechanics. 

The Good

Despite its technical shortcomings, Phantom Fury does have some redeeming qualities that offer glimpses of enjoyable gameplay experiences. One highlight is the diverse combat encounters that keep players on their toes. 

Although the AI may lack sophistication, enemies exhibit unpredictable behavior, darting around the battlefield and presenting a challenge to the target. This dynamic element adds an element of intensity to engagements, requiring players to adapt their strategies and stay alert to survive the onslaught.

Additionally, the variety of combat options and weapon upgrades in the game provides players with opportunities for creative and satisfying gameplay moments. From recharging punch attacks to dual-wielding SMGs that ignite enemies, the game offers a range of tools for dispatching enemies in style. 

Notably, each weapon and ability allows players to experiment with different playstyles and find combinations that suit their preferences. These moments of triumph amidst the chaos can be exciting and rewarding, adding depth to the otherwise flawed gameplay experience.

If you enjoy cleverly integrated puzzle elements and environmental interactions, you'll appreciate the developers' efforts. For instance, shutting down a nearly indestructible turret by destroying its fuse box or navigating a maze-like level to find explosives showcases the potential for engaging gameplay scenarios. These instances of thoughtful design highlight the developers' ability to craft compelling gameplay experiences within the confines of the game's technical limitations.

Verdict

Phantom Fury has some interesting ideas, but there are a lot of bugs and technical issues that prevent it from moving forward. Sometimes, it's fun to solve puzzles or fight enemies, but other times, the game feels frustrating because things don't work like they should. It's like the game has potential, but it's not quite there yet because of all the issues.

Phantom Fury entices players with the promise of an action-packed journey back to the glory days of 90s shooters. The game aims to capture the essence of early 3D gaming. However, beneath this dream and promise lies a game filled with issues that prevent it from realizing its full potential.

Seemingly, the devs prioritized fast-paced action over narrative depth, offering players a thrilling ride through its intense gameplay. Phantom Fury compensates with its intense combat sequences, ensuring players are constantly engaged and on the edge of their seats. While narrative enthusiasts may feel let down, those craving action-packed gameplay will find ample satisfaction in the adrenaline-fueled encounters Phantom Fury has to offer.

On the other hand, the abundance of bugs and technical glitches makes it feel like the developers were not quite ready to release the game. Or, it was not fully baked before its launch. From mysteriously disappearing weapon upgrades to navigation challenges resulting from unclear progression, these issues disrupt the flow of gameplay and detract from the overall experience.. 

As players wrestle with the game's shortcomings, it becomes increasingly difficult to overlook its failings and appreciate its charm. Ultimately, Phantom Fury falls short of delivering a polished gameplay experience that fans of the genre crave. 

For those seeking a satisfying journey into the past, this game may leave them feeling longing for the old-school days of '90s shooters without the accompanying frustrations. There's always room for improvement. However, with some fixes from Slipgate Ironworks, the game can potentially become the awesome FPS we're all hoping for.