Angels Fall First
- October 1, 2015
- Strangely Interactive Ltd
- 4h median play time
Angels Fall First is a first person combined-arms sci-fi wargame. From commanding the battle standing on the bridge of your flagship all the way down to frantic infantry firefights - AFF brings together all the combat you ever wanted. Featuring tactical team-oriented gameplay and offering a wide selection of weapons, tools, vehicles and spacecraft, AFF focuses on objective-based scenarios with a h…
Reviews
- The game offers a fantastic blend of space and ground combat, reminiscent of classic titles like Battlefield 2142 and Star Wars Battlefront 2.
- The customization options for weapons, vehicles, and characters are extensive, allowing players to tailor their loadouts to their preferred playstyle.
- The AI is surprisingly competent, making solo play against bots enjoyable and challenging.
- The player base is very low, making it difficult to find matches with real players, often resulting in gameplay against bots.
- The game suffers from a clunky UI and a steep learning curve, which can be overwhelming for new players.
- Despite being in early access for several years, the game has not seen significant updates or improvements, leading to concerns about its long-term viability.
- gameplay393 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is a mixed bag, with many praising its ambitious mechanics and nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic games like Star Wars Battlefront and Battlefield. While the core gameplay is engaging and offers a variety of combat styles—both ground and space—some players find it clunky and difficult to grasp due to a lack of tutorials and a crowded UI. Additionally, issues such as lag, outdated graphics, and a dwindling player base detract from the overall experience, though the game shows potential for improvement as it continues to develop.
“The gameplay is absolutely fantastic.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's the ground and space battles of the original (good) Battlefronts; the nitty-gritty mechanics, customization, and detail of Battlefield; and a little real-time tactics sprinkled in.”
“Very well thought-out, fun mechanics and gameplay, both in space fights and on the ground.”
“Low-res visuals bloat and jank the gameplay; it's disorienting and overwhelming.”
“The lag and obfuscated visuals make gameplay disorienting, making shooting hard and unreliable.”
“Honestly, I would not recommend this game as while the trailers look fun, the gameplay actually feels slow and clunky, and the gear system takes too long to set up.”
- graphics264 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its development on the Unreal Engine 3, but they are often described as adequate for gameplay, with some reviewers appreciating the art style and environmental design. While not on par with modern AAA titles, the visuals are deemed acceptable and functional, allowing for enjoyable gameplay despite occasional graphical glitches and performance issues. Overall, the graphics do not detract significantly from the gaming experience, with many players prioritizing gameplay over visual fidelity.
“The graphics are great, even though this game took it to be fun before having 'high definition graphics'.”
“The graphics look fantastic, the gunplay is crisp, and I love all the customization options.”
“The graphics are nice, the movement and 'feel' though, are excellent.”
“Honestly couldn't recommend, graphics are poor, really poor and nothing like the videos (even when on max) ui is messy and very clunky.”
“This is an ugly game with generic graphics and a predilection for bland environments, even in space the game looks boring.”
“The graphics are a bit outdated and there are some performance issues with bugs here and there but with the right community feedback and support I reckon this could turn out to be an excellent game.”
- optimization136 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a significant concern among users, with many reporting inconsistent performance, frequent frame drops, and stuttering, particularly in larger matches or complex environments. While some players have noted improvements over time and express hope for future optimizations, the reliance on outdated technology (Unreal Engine 3) and ongoing bugs hinder the experience, leading to mixed feelings about its current state. Many reviewers recommend waiting for further updates before diving in, as the game still requires substantial work to reach its full potential.
“This speaks volumes of the developers' level of optimization and quality of the team that develops this.”
“Optimization has come a long way since infant-alpha, but there are still a few hiccups to iron out.”
“Only complaint I have is even on modern hardware the performance is pretty poor, probably because of the single-core nature of the game.”
“The game itself is amazing, but the Unreal Engine 3 is a complete mess and has serious optimization issues for newer hardware.”
“However, the game is poorly optimized and suffers from severe performance issues: you may freeze for a couple of seconds before the game continues or the entire game might crash, and you'll have to restart your computer.”
- story96 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is a mixed bag, with many players expressing a desire for a more structured campaign or narrative-driven mode to enhance the experience. While some appreciate the mission briefings and the potential for engaging backstory, others find the current lack of a cohesive storyline disappointing, feeling that the gameplay is fun but lacks meaningful context. Overall, players are eager for more character development, lore, and a dedicated story mode to elevate the game's narrative depth.
“The story is fascinating, the weapons are different enough to make your choices interesting, yet the game is pretty well balanced and no weapon is overpowered.”
“Everything in the game feels grand and epic, it does a great job to make you really feel like you are waging war on the frontier of space, even in the small ground missions.”
“There is no story that you would expect from a single-player game, and there is nobody populating the servers like you would expect from a multiplayer game.”
“Now for the story: I have no idea what's going on, and I'm fairly sure nobody else does either.”
“With as little time as they devote to it so far, I'm actually pretty engaged with where they could take the story elements.”
- stability60 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users find the gameplay enjoyable despite these issues, others highlight significant performance problems, including lag and AI behavior inconsistencies. Overall, the game shows potential but requires substantial improvements to its stability and polish, especially given its early access status.
“Only issue is lack of players, but that is irrelevant as it has nothing to do with how the game runs, and it runs great.”
“Looks great and runs great for me.”
“Gameplay is fun, graphics are nice, it runs great, and there's class customization available so you can make a loadout that fits your playstyle.”
“The game is buggy, laggy, and overall broken.”
“The game in its current state is very buggy, confusing, and unpolished.”
“However, the multitudes of bugs, glitches, and just overall bad UI brings everything down.”
- monetization45 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 64 % negative mentions
The game features a straightforward monetization model with no microtransactions, monthly fees, or additional DLC costs, requiring only a one-time purchase. Players appreciate this approach, contrasting it with other titles that rely heavily on monetization strategies, and express hope that increased advertising will attract a larger player base. Overall, the developers are commended for their commitment to a fair pricing model and for focusing on delivering a quality gaming experience without the pitfalls of typical AAA monetization practices.
“No microtransactions, no monthly fees, no additional DLC costs, just one flat fee for a fantastic and fully fleshed out never-ending space war with really functional bots.”
“If you were disappointed with Star Wars Battlefront II, this game has everything that the 2005 version has and more, plus no microtransactions, and it's only $20.”
“No loot boxes, no microtransactions, ground and space battles, multi-person ships, squad play and teamwork, combined arms ground combat, tons of customization, lots of options for loadout, offline single-player bots that actually work well, and a good community with regular updates from the devs.”
“When it will be finished is also a question I'd like answered, but I'm glad to play on and continue to support the devs and tell every friend I know that has said they want this kind of experience but got soured on the monetization that gets bolted into every other game like it by a major studio, and then had their game shut down when the publisher got all the money they could wring out of the player base.”
“Above all, you should buy this to support the development team of this game; this is a labor of love and is in no way an early access cash grab. It is such a shame this lacks the publicity it wholeheartedly deserves.”
“This indie development team, Strangely Interactive Ltd, did a great job in every aspect of the game, but their advertisement team failed horribly on the promoting of the game.”
- music27 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its cinematic quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, particularly during intense moments like space battles. Some users noted that the soundtrack evokes a classic sci-fi feel reminiscent of films like "Starship Troopers," while others mentioned issues with the music's volume and occasional interruptions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its immersive atmosphere.
“The music is good if you like classic sci-fi action á la Starship Troopers.”
“Epic music is playing in the background, while you activate the alternative flight mode and let your ship 'float' into the battlefield.”
“Only played a little bit of this but this is everything I've wanted in a game, space battles are incredible, ground combat is intense & the soundtrack is always there egging you on to do more awesome stuff.”
“By default, the game has really loud music, but you won't be able to hear enemy footsteps if you have it on that loud.”
“The music is disappointing, and the instructions/directions in gameplay and tutorials are a bit confusing.”
“I really hope the developers focus on improving their sound design overall with better voice acting, sound effects, and music to really bring the game together.”
- atmosphere19 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and intense experience, reminiscent of classic sci-fi battle games. Players feel like space marines engaged in visceral warfare, with a strong sense of teamwork and customization enhancing the overall ambiance. Despite some technical issues, the game's atmosphere effectively captures the thrill of large-scale battles and the excitement of space combat.
“The gameplay is fun, the teamwork is pretty good (even for the AI, which is another thing that the devs are working hard to improve), and the massive battle atmosphere is something I adore.”
“The atmosphere is awesome because you feel like a space marine on the front lines.”
“So as cool as it might be to think of fighting space battles and then returning down through a planet's atmosphere and taking our ground vehicles... you're not going to do that in this game.”
“Sure the game has some downfalls, glitches, buggy/cheaty AI at times, but it doesn't take away the atmosphere and feelings of being a space warrior fighting for the AIA or ULA (I think I got the names right? I just tell by their awesome armor design).”
“You can't beat feeling the sense of immersion and atmosphere of being able to board a capital ship and blow it up from the inside.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 53 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate that grinding in this game varies significantly; while some players find it tedious and requiring excessive time investment, others appreciate the fair progression system that minimizes grind and avoids artificial limitations. Many highlight the absence of microtransactions and the natural ranking up that occurs through gameplay, making it feel less grindy compared to typical AAA shooters. However, some users still encounter frustrations with confusing menus and objectives that detract from the experience.
“No grinding for unlocks, zero microtransactions, and a dedicated dev team.”
“No grinding, ranking up happens naturally while playing.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Fun for the first hour, then it's just tedious.”
“But to get there involved loads of tedious and confusing menus and clicking on things that weren't clear buttons, and I never understood my objectives.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is highly praised, with players appreciating the addition of custom bots, diverse roles, and engaging maps that encourage exploration and experimentation. While the two game modes are enjoyable, some users suggest that expanding these options could further enhance replay value. The ability to tweak various gameplay elements is also seen as a potential improvement to keep the experience fresh and dynamic.
“Thankfully, the dev added custom offline game bots and even server bots, making this game's replayability insane.”
“It scratches all the itches you might have for a fun, replayable, and sandboxy sci-fi action game.”
“The replayability is off the charts in this game.”
“Having the ability to tweak gravity, score limits, AI behavior, weapon damage, and so on, would improve the replayability of this game even more.”
“These games were relatively easy to pick up yet had tremendous replay value; unfortunately, they have died off with the times.”
“I truly believe that a changing and variable battlefield makes for strong replayability.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its chaotic gameplay, where players can enjoy amusing moments like crashing into obstacles while performing stunts. The presence of highly skilled bots adds to the comedic experience, allowing for entertaining solo matches. Additionally, the intentionally poor voice prompts contribute to the overall lightheartedness and fun.
“Flying around like Starfox, doing barrel rolls and laughing my ass off as I crash into everything.”
“The bots are astoundingly good at stock level, and allow for funny matches with up to 63 of them, so you can even practice on your own and get some in-game credits to upgrade your loadout pretty soon.”
“Voice prompts are so bad it's funny.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game evokes a profound emotional experience, immersing them in intense combat scenarios that generate adrenaline and a sense of urgency. The unique map designs and tactical elements contribute to a feeling of genuine involvement in organized warfare, setting it apart from other titles in the genre.
“Even the new Battlefront, which is admittedly much more accessible, still can't meet the level of emotional havoc and panicked adrenaline surge that AFF invokes in me.”
“Throughout the game, I kept getting this sense of tactical warfare with the 3D map, commands, orders, etc. All of it made me feel like I was really fighting in an organized army.”
“Never has a game like AFF made me feel like I'm truly in close-quarters battle fighting within a space station or battleship.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is hindered by a lack of visual distinction between allies and enemies, making it difficult for players to identify friends in combat. While the character and vehicle designs are praised for their quality, they suffer from a monotonous color palette that contributes to an overall drab aesthetic. Additionally, the ability to customize loadout profiles adds a layer of depth to character progression.
“The textures, artwork, ship, vehicle, and character design are all top-notch, and I like the way that you can set up loadout profiles for both your soldier and any vehicles that you might be using, similar to the profiles in Titanfall.”
“The weapons, vehicles, and character design are also very good, although they could benefit from more color to avoid feeling drab.”
“The character design makes it hard to tell friend from foe.”
“Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any emotional connection.”