While the Iron's Hot
by Bontemps Games, Humble Games
The Developer Says...
Reforge a blacksmith’s village on an isle of the land’s finest artisans! Step into the boots of an expert smith for a crafty adventure filled with mystery and charm. Explore the land of Ellian, and prove that a hammer, anvil, and your wits can overcome any challenge.
Keywords
Players Like...
❤ Crafting and Smithing Mechanics
Players take on the role of a skilled blacksmith tasked with reviving a village's legacy. At the heart of the experience is gathering resources, smelting ore into ingots, and crafting a variety of metal items through a satisfying mini-game system. The crafting process involves several steps - smelting ore into ingots, then using an anvil and other tools to shape the ingots into specific components. These components must then be precisely arranged on a 3x3 grid to create the final product. Reviewers have noted that while the crafting can feel repetitive at times, especially for higher-tier items, the overall loop remains engaging and rewarding. The incorporation of mini-games for activities like hammering and grinding adds a layer of interactivity that keeps the crafting process feeling fresh.
❤ Exploration and Puzzle Solving
As players venture out, they encounter a variety of puzzles and challenges that must be overcome using their smithing skills and creativity. Reviewers have praised the game's puzzle design, which ranges from environmental puzzles that block off new areas to more abstract logic-based challenges. Solving these puzzles not only progresses the story but also rewards players with new resources, blueprints, and upgrades for their village. Players are able to traverse the island on a cart pulled by an ox, which adds a sense of adventure as they uncover new locations, characters, and quests.
❤ Village Upgrades and Progression
Players are able to rebuild and upgrade the abandoned blacksmith's village of Stal. This village-building mechanic allows players to invest in various facilities and structures that in turn unlock new crafting recipes, resources, and even NPCs to interact with. Reviewers have noted that the village upgrade system, while not overly complex, provides a tangible sense of progression and accomplishment. However, some reviewers have expressed a desire for more depth or impact in the village upgrades, as certain additions may feel less impactful than others.
