Angels Fall First

About

Angels Fall First is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Strangely Interactive Ltd and was released on October 1, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

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…

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,392 reviews

gameplay133 positive mentions

optimization31 negative mentions

Nails the old school Battlefield feel with large scale combined arms warfare.
Offers a unique blend of infantry, vehicle, and space combat with customizable loadouts.
Bots provide a fun and challenging experience even with a low player count.

Multiplayer is mostly dead, leading to a lack of human players.
UI is cluttered and can be confusing for new players, with no tutorial available.
Performance issues and outdated graphics due to being built on Unreal Engine 3.

gameplay
432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The gameplay of this game is a blend of classic FPS mechanics and large-scale battles, reminiscent of titles like Star Wars Battlefront and Battlefield, featuring both ground and space combat. While many players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay options, including ship boarding and customization, there are concerns about outdated mechanics, a steep learning curve, and a lack of player base, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite its rough edges and technical issues, the core gameplay is often described as fun and engaging, with potential for improvement as the game continues to develop.
- “The gameplay is absolutely fantastic.”
- “Very fun gameplay, loved the gunplay and ship combat.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay did not correspond to what the trailer would have led me to believe; it's completely messed up, the shittiest, most basic Unity shooter I've ever seen.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive.”
- “The first time I played this game, I was treated to dead multiplayer servers and clunky gameplay, so I refunded it and moved on.”
graphics
295 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
52%
15%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are somewhat dated, reflecting the game's origins in Unreal Engine 3. While some appreciate the art direction and find the visuals adequate for gameplay, others criticize the optimization issues and performance, particularly during large battles. Overall, the graphics are considered decent but not on par with modern AAA titles, and while they may not detract significantly from the experience, they do show signs of age.
- “Angels Fall First has lots of personality, and I dare say even though its graphical engine has one or two generations wide gap between its contemporary peers, the art direction is still one of the best I have seen in this kind of sci-fi combined arms game.”
- “The graphics are great, even though this game took it to be fun before having 'high definition graphics' *cough battlefield cough cough* I cannot praise the fun I have had offline enough; this is practically everything I wanted in a newer Battlefront minus the connected space to ground battlefield and galactic conquest.”
- “The graphics are nice, both on land and in space, and the gameplay is just great.”
- “Sadly, the game has poor optimization, the graphics are very drab, and the player base is dead.”
- “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.”
- “I usually don't care about graphics in games, but I honestly despise how this game looks; it's seriously its biggest issue.”
optimization
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
66%
21%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, particularly during space battles and with high player counts. While some commend the developers for ongoing updates and improvements, others express frustration over frame drops and stuttering, even on modern hardware. Overall, while the game shows potential, it requires substantial optimization to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “The graphics and performance are also pretty polished for an indie game.”
- “This speaks volumes of the developers' level of optimization and quality of the team that develops this.”
- “The game itself is amazing, but the Unreal Engine 3 is a complete mess and has serious optimization issues for newer hardware.”
- “It performs pretty badly for its visuals due to some questionable optimization choices, especially in space battles.”
- “Sadly, the game has poor optimization, the graphics are very drab, and the player base is dead.”
- “I want to love this game but it's just so badly optimized; my PC is by no means weak yet the frame drops on ground maps are making it unplayable for me.”
story
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
77%
6%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and clarity, with many players expressing a desire for a dedicated campaign or narrative-driven mode to enhance the experience. While some enjoy the mission briefings and the potential for engaging backstories, others feel that the current gameplay lacks a cohesive narrative, leaving players unsure of their objectives and the significance of their actions. Overall, the consensus is that while the gameplay mechanics are solid, the absence of a compelling story detracts from the overall experience.
- “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.”
- “You start in a large briefing chamber with some sweet holograms and a bunch of bored soldiers watching a description of mission objectives (you can always skip this part, but it still takes a minute for the mission to load).”
- “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.”
- “This game has over 20 maps, but I gotta pay money to get a quest that takes me 2 hours to complete?! With the lack of any progression or a story, I feel like there's really no real reason to play it other than 'just because I bought it so I want to get my money out of it.'”
- “Very fun game, reminds me of Battlefront 2, please add a story. No story... absolutely no idea what you're fighting for or why it's important; factions are just introduced fighting and you go in and shoot... this isn't like other shooters like COD or Battlefield, which at least can pretend to be based off of real life... this is another world, another galaxy, with no lore at all... you just shoot things.”
stability
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
3%
91%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting a range of bugs and glitches, particularly with AI behavior and graphical issues. While some users experienced smooth gameplay with minimal interruptions, others faced frequent crashes and lag, especially in multiplayer modes. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant polishing to enhance stability and user experience.
- “No glitches or crashes, very polished.”
- “Making our own server was simple, virtually no glitches were encountered, and although the Unreal 3 engine isn't state of the art, the mechanics of the game are more than enough to provide a very immersive experience.”
- “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.”
- “The game is a buggy and laggy mess even on my rig which is more than enough to run an Unreal Engine 3 game.”
- “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.”
monetization
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
29%
65%
The monetization model of "Angels Fall First" is highly praised, as it features a one-time purchase with no microtransactions, DLC costs, or monthly fees, which stands in stark contrast to many AAA titles. Reviewers express frustration over the game's lack of advertising, attributing its small player base to insufficient promotion rather than the quality of the game itself. Overall, players appreciate the developers' commitment to a fair pricing model and hope that increased visibility will attract more players.
- “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.”
- “Unfortunately, multiplayer FPS games is a hard market to get into with basically zero advertising.”
- “First, this game has had no advertising yet.”
- “Because the developers are not putting much into advertising, there are barely any people on the official servers.”
music
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
38%
10%
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 liken it to classic sci-fi soundtracks, noting its rousing and epic nature, while others mention issues with volume levels affecting gameplay. However, a few players have expressed disappointment with inconsistencies in the music's performance and have called for improvements in sound design overall.
- “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.”
atmosphere
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and intense experience, evoking feelings of being a space warrior amidst large-scale battles. Players appreciate the combination of sci-fi elements, detailed environments, and the sense of teamwork, which collectively enhance the overall gameplay experience. Despite some technical issues, the game's atmosphere successfully captures the essence of classic battlefield scenarios, making players feel deeply engaged in the conflict.
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is fun, the teamwork is pretty good, 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).”
- “Going to keep this short: it's classic Battlefront 2 formula but improved, expanded upon, larger maps, and using generic sci-fi atmosphere and fluff instead of Star Wars.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
25%
56%
Overall, reviews indicate that grinding in the game is minimal, with many players appreciating the fair progression system that avoids traditional grind mechanics like XP farming and unlockables. While some find the initial gameplay enjoyable, it can become tedious over time, particularly due to confusing menus and objectives. The game is praised for allowing players to jump in and play without the burden of extensive grinding, reminiscent of classic titles like Battlefront and Battlefield.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “No grinding for unlocks, zero microtransactions, and a dedicated dev team.”
- “No grinding, ranking up happens naturally while playing.”
- “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.”
- “Territory maps have a tendency to be more open, while incursion maps have a tendency to build two frontlines grinding against one another.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
Overall, the game is praised for its exceptional replayability, driven by a dynamic battlefield, customizable game modes, and a variety of roles to explore. Players appreciate the engaging maps and the potential for endless fun, although some suggest that expanding the game modes and tweaking certain mechanics could further enhance replay value. Despite minor connectivity issues, many consider it a standout title with more replayability than some AAA games.
- “I truly believe that a changing and variable battlefield makes for strong replayability.”
- “It's a great game with a huge amount of gameplay and replayability.”
- “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.”
- “Game is now a lot more playable, the only main issue is trying to play over LAN since it either won't let me host or won't let them connect to my game.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its immersive experience that evokes feelings of heartbreak and adrenaline during intense combat scenarios. The game's unique environments and tactical elements contribute to a sense of authenticity, making players feel as though they are genuinely part of a military operation. Overall, the emotional impact of the game is a standout feature, surpassing that of other titles in the genre.
- “Then the crashes came... it's heartbreaking honestly, because I can see the opportunity!”
- “Never has a game like this made me feel like I'm truly in close-quarters combat fighting within a space station or battleship.”
- “Even the new Battlefront, which is admittedly much more accessible, still can't meet the level of emotional havoc and panicked adrenaline surge that this game invokes in me.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 hilarity, allowing for entertaining solo matches, while the intentionally poor voice prompts contribute to the overall comedic experience.
- “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.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Character development in the game is hindered by a lack of visual distinction between allies and enemies, making it difficult for players to identify friend from foe. While the character and vehicle designs are praised for their quality and customization options, the overall aesthetic is criticized for being overly drab and lacking in color.
- “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 can feel a bit single-tone; the entire game feels drab with very little color.”
- “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.”