I’m always on the lookout for a good mech-based fighting game. Perfecting the lumbering brilliance of a mech with the unbelievably stylish design of the 80s has proven difficult for many developers. But for
OTA IMON Studios it seems to be no problem. The way Wolfstride impresses with suave confidence is awe-inspiring. This might just be the most stylishly brilliant mech game I’ve ever played.
“This is clearly a project filled with an intense amount of passion. Everything included in the demo is evidence of that.”
Wolfstride’s world and characters are unbelievably stylish. From the individual character designs of your pit crew to the mechs themselves, it feels as if so much care and attention has gone into Wolfstride’s uniquely brilliant visual aesthetic. The level of detail gone into each character portrait, animation and mech design allow for an incredible amount of world-building and connection to be made with the Wolfstride universe.
The colourful cast of characters you meet is incredibly likeable. This is not only thanks to their detailed portraits and unique designs but because of the hilarious and at times over the top writing. It’s clear that decades of phenomenal anime have inspired the overall aesthetic and narrative design. But that doesn’t stop Wolfstride from feeling entirely unique. This is clearly a project filled with an intense amount of passion. Everything included in the demo is evidence of that.
“Wolfstride’s incredible music score and sound effects help amplify the stakes and scale of each combat encounter.”
One fear I had as I played was that the turn-based gameplay wouldn’t successfully capture the epic scale of a mech fight. Fortunately, Wolfstride immediately put my qualms to rest. There are a ton of moves to choose from, each with its own stunning corresponding animation which all feel suitably weighty. The back and forth gameplay allows for the fights to feel scrappy and deadly. It’s also excellent to see the damage have visual consequences too, with each part of the mech’s body getting more and more damaged the longer the battle goes on.
Wolfstride’s incredible music score and sound effects help amplify the stakes and scale of each combat encounter. Watching as a giant mech slam their fists into another’s face is immensely enjoyable. It helps too that there’s an upbeat rock soundtrack accompanying the epic action. Additionally, the sprite work for the hub-world exploration is also phenomenal and helps solidify the game’s overall aesthetic.
“Wolfstride is an incredibly addictive title that is well worth keeping your eye on.”
Playing Wolfstride just feels genuinely incredible, whether it’s because of the beautifully detailed visuals, the fantastically stylish UI or incredibly well-paced and refined turn-based combat. This is certainly not a game that prioritises style over substance, as while it is possibly one of the most stylish titles outside of the Persona franchise, its gameplay is solid enough to back it all up. This is an incredibly addictive title that is well worth keeping your eye on.
Be sure to head on over to Wolfstride’s Steam store page to try the demo out for yourself. You can also wishlist it on Steam to be notified of any future updates.