Fenix Furia , also known as Fenix Rage on PC, had a long and troubled past leading up to its release on Xbox One and PS4. Now that the dust has settled, how does the console adaptation fare? It’s incredibly frustrating, but that’s kind of the point.
Fenix Furia is a 2D platformer and only requires two buttons along with the movement stick: a jump and a dash. Players can jump infinitely, but can only dash sideways. These mechanics combine to make several interesting level designs, including ones where you basically have to fly across a map, or are required to dash through breakable blocks to escape a monster chasing after you.
It’s one of those “rage games,” alongside the likes of Super Meat Boy and the Dark Souls franchise. What I’m getting at here is, be prepared to die in Fenix Furia. A lot. The good news here at least is respawning and starting a level over again happens so fast, you’ll sometimes die and come back a second time before realizing you’ve respawned.
There are four unlockable worlds, each with 20 levels. That may not sound like much, but you’ll be spending longer than you think on many of them. Once a level is completed, when you’ve managed to get Fenix to the portal on to the next one, a screen shows your time, the fastest time currently for your game and how many times you died to complete the level. Seeing my times grow to be double or even triple the game’s default fast times wasn’t surprising, but seeing triple digit deaths on some levels certainly was.
Despite each level taking longer than anticipated, and my near constant death rate, I still managed to work my way through the levels at a steady pace. Each level presented unique challenges, but once you figure out a good path to take, completing a level is just a matter of time. For those who are stuck, look to the white birds sitting around each level. They can help point you in the right direction.
Overall, there are over 200 levels of Fenix Furia for gamers to tackle. Some of the hardest levels from Fenix Rage have been retuned to make them a bit more fair, and the randomized elements have been removed. This means Fenix Furia is now all about the skill of the player; no more getting cheated into a restart. That being said, now every death is on you and your abilities.
New to the PS4 and Xbox One versions is a versus mode, allowing players to go head-to-head against a friend. Even better, this mode supports local play, so if you have a friend in the room, expect some epic races and heated competition.
For only $14.99, Fenix Furia offers plenty to enjoy. If you are a gamer with a short temper, you may want to pass on this one. You are going to die while playing, and you will die often. For those looking to challenge themselves with some incredibly difficult platforming, be sure to jump on Fenix Furia.
So what do you think? Are you interested in trying out Fenix Furia for yourself? Have you already played on PC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
