AIPD - Artificial Intelligence Police Department
- January 28, 2016
- Blazing Badger
Usually, law enforcement is a process that is conducted with the aim of pacifying the criminal without causing too much of a scene or violence.
Enter the AI arena and fight evil artificial intelligences with a variety of weapons and modifications. AIPD is a top-down coop twin-stick shooter with a visual style that is an homage to 80s neon art styles, pioneered by games like Minestorm on the Vectrex console system or feature films like TRON. Enjoy thousands of possible combinations of enemy and arena permutations that give you an unprece…
Reviews
- The game features a variety of distinct unlockable weapons and passive abilities, allowing for interesting gameplay combinations.
- The visuals and soundtrack are impressive, creating an engaging atmosphere with smooth controls.
- The game offers a fast-paced experience with chaotic fun, especially when played with friends.
- The game lacks content, with only a single arena and a short playtime that can lead to boredom after a few hours.
- There is no health regeneration or pickups, making it difficult to recover from mistakes during gameplay.
- The game can feel repetitive and lacks a compelling single-player campaign or online multiplayer options.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of classic arcade shooters like Geometry Wars, offering a manageable pace and a satisfying difficulty curve. Players appreciate the straightforward mechanics and customization options that enhance replayability, making it accessible for both solo and multiplayer sessions. While it may lack diverse game modes, the engaging encounters and enjoyable aesthetics contribute to a fun overall experience.
“The game shows a much more manageable pace and difficulty curve than many comparable titles, with arguably better visuals and gameplay.”
“A fun classic styled arcade shooter in design is similar to Geometry Wars if you like that aesthetic, the music is great, and the gameplay is simple enough for hours of enjoyment.”
“AIPD provides a solid twin-stick shooter experience, with plenty of variety thanks to the customization elements for your ship, the gameplay, or the mode.”
“Though I will say that it doesn't have as many modes of gameplay, but the difficulty settings can make up for that.”
“The gameplay is straightforward enough for players to jump into the game quickly while having a fair amount of customizing options to make each game session different.”
“Well, it feels a whole lot like a gameplay mode you'd find in Geometry Wars (which isn't a bad thing, particularly if you enjoy Geometry Wars).”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its great soundtrack and ability to enhance the overall ambiance, contributing to an enjoyable experience reminiscent of classic arcade shooters. However, while the music adds to the fun, some players feel that the limited content can lead to boredom over time.
“Great soundtrack and overall ambiance.”
“The music is great, and the gameplay is simple enough for hours of enjoyment.”
“It's pretty, has great music, and is fun to play.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are generally praised for being visually appealing and better than many similar titles, though some players feel that despite the nice visuals, the overall experience lacks enjoyment.
“The game shows a much more manageable pace and difficulty curve than many comparable titles, with arguably better visuals and gameplay.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players note limited unlocks and health pickups that hinder replay value, others highlight the diverse combinations of armaments and permutations that create a wealth of possibilities, enhancing the experience.
“On top of all of this, the many combinations between armaments and permutations make for limitless possibilities between games and greatly extend the game's replayability.”
“Limited replayability due to a lack of unlocks and no health pickups.”
“The game offers very little incentive to replay, as the content feels repetitive.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's not much reason to go back.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect appears to be limited, with users expressing frustration over restrictions on advertising their achievements and badges within the game. This suggests a lack of clear avenues for players to showcase their accomplishments or engage in promotional activities.
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by the introduction of challenging modules that heighten tension and frustration, as they impose negative modifiers that complicate gameplay and create a sense of vulnerability. Players often feel a mix of anxiety and determination as they navigate these obstacles, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, with players noting that despite the trailer suggesting a narrative, it ultimately offers only a vague premise centered around shooting luminous polygons.
“The trailer made it look like there would be some form of story attached to the game, but there is none outside a vague premise to shoot luminous polygons.”
“The narrative is incredibly shallow, offering no real depth or character development.”
“I was expecting an engaging storyline, but instead, I was met with a disjointed plot that left me confused and uninterested.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is criticized for not allowing players to recover from poor performance, resulting in a lack of excitement and missed opportunities for comebacks, which diminishes the overall gameplay experience.
“The game lacks any real ability to bring yourself back from poor performance, so it misses out on the rush of a comeback that games like Crawl do so well.”
“The optimization is severely lacking, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
“I often encounter performance issues that disrupt the flow of the game, making it hard to enjoy.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find grinding to be tedious, especially when playing solo, and note that not all weapons and gear are effective, which can further diminish the experience.
“Grinding can get tedious while playing alone; not all weapons and gear work that well.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“I found myself spending hours grinding for resources, but the rewards often felt underwhelming.”
Critic Reviews
AIPD Review (PC)
AIPD provides a solid twin-stick shooter experience, with plenty of variety thanks to the customization elements for your ship, the gameplay, or the mode. Fun in small doses in single-player and adequately chaotic when more people are involved, you can’t go wrong with this indie title.
80%AIPD Review
Usually, law enforcement is a process that is conducted with the aim of pacifying the criminal without causing too much of a scene or violence.
60%AIPD - Artificial Intelligence Police Department Review
If you're looking for an excellent neon filled twin stick shooter with awesome techno beats, you're not going to find it here and you’d be better off playing Geometry Wars or Resogun on PS4 (if you want something more original), but if you've played them all and you want more, then get this on sale as it is still a fun title.
50%