Angels of Death
- December 18, 2016
- Vaka Game Magazine
- 7h median play time
"Angels of Death" is a psychological horror/adventure game where players control Zack, a serial killer, and Rachel, a mysteriously cloaked girl, as they explore an eerie building filled with dangerous beings. The game features a unique story with dark themes, challenging puzzles, and decision-making elements. With its distinctive art style and suspenseful atmosphere, "Angels of Death" immerses players in a haunting world of survival and mystery.
Reviews
- Engaging and emotional storyline that keeps players invested.
- Well-developed characters with unique personalities and growth throughout the game.
- Atmospheric music that enhances the overall experience.
- Gameplay can feel linear and lacks challenging puzzles.
- Some dialogue is repetitive and contains minor translation errors.
- The game may not appeal to those looking for traditional horror elements or jump scares.
- story871 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Angels of Death" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and unique character dynamics, particularly the relationship between Rachel and Zack. Many players find the narrative compelling, filled with unexpected twists and dark themes, while some note that it can be convoluted or overly reliant on dialogue. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate story-driven experiences, despite its simplistic gameplay mechanics.
“The story is so good!!!”
“The characters and the story of this game are fantastic, and its puzzles are challenging enough to be fun!”
“The story is dark and deep, but it doesn't go into that cringeworthy fake depth that gets old quick.”
“The story is confusing, and it feels wrong overall.”
“I played through it, sure, but that is because I was hoping the story would get better and less convoluted.”
“The game has some good moments like that puzzle room in Catherine's floor and I liked parts of Ray's backstory, but the religious elements completely ruined a story that had nothing going for it in the first place.”
- music182 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its stunning quality and ability to enhance the emotional depth of the story, with many reviewers highlighting its atmospheric and fitting nature across various scenes. The soundtrack is described as beautiful, captivating, and diverse, effectively complementing the gameplay and narrative, although some noted occasional looping issues. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, significantly contributing to the game's immersive experience.
“The music and the art were well done, to the point that I was drawn in and captivated even more to the story than when I first read the manga.”
“The soundtrack is amazing, and is very recognizable to me.”
“The music captures you into the scene and makes you feel like you are very much involved directly in the story.”
“That never happens, and with the bizarre usage of almost uplifting music in the final scene, a scene where Zack comes to fulfill his promise to kill Ray, it almost feels as if I'm supposed to view this as a good ending?”
“The music tells me I should be happy, that something great is happening, but the actual events on screen are that the one character I wanted to see grow to be a better person is grinning ear to ear over the fact that a psychopath has Peter Pan-ed into her window to fulfill her dream of death.”
“The soundtrack, however, was not very well balanced throughout the entire game; so it was rare for me to find a track I really enjoyed, or find it to be awfully unfitting (for the appropriate theme or timing).”
- gameplay147 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Angels of Death" is generally described as simplistic and linear, often taking a backseat to the game's strong narrative and character development. While some players appreciate the minimalistic mechanics and easy puzzles, many express disappointment in the lack of engaging gameplay elements, noting that it feels more like an interactive story than a traditional game. Overall, the experience is recommended for those who prioritize story over gameplay, as the latter is often seen as underwhelming.
“The gameplay is really good, but what I would like to have is more resolutions!”
“The gameplay is fun, the music is good, but the story is contrived.”
“I enjoyed every single second during gameplay and always can't wait to explore each chapter.”
“The gameplay issues die down around episode two and I don't remember any past then.”
“There is almost no gameplay, with the only real sections where there could be challenge being one puzzle and a maze.”
“The gameplay isn't interesting, so the appeal of the game comes from the story and the characters in it, but I just didn't like any of the characters very much and the story wasn't that engaging.”
- graphics84 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and somewhat outdated, typical of RPG Maker titles, yet they effectively convey the game's eerie atmosphere and charm. Many players appreciate the unique art style and pixel graphics, which enhance the storytelling experience, despite some noting that the visuals may not appeal to everyone. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are considered fitting for the game's narrative and contribute positively to the overall enjoyment.
“The graphics are also good and suit the narrative/atmosphere well.”
“The retro pixel art style is very effective at conveying the creepy tone, although simple.”
“The artwork is amazing, the overall graphic style is pretty, the story is one I absolutely love and also fairly unique, and the music is just beautiful.”
“Now that I think about it, it's probably because this game never got 'remastered' like Ib and Mad Father, so the graphics are naturally a bit outdated.”
“Graphics is not the point too; this is 2022 and the graphics seem very old, but maybe it makes the game feel more familiar?”
“The game is locked at a minuscule resolution, with gritty pixel graphics.”
- emotional71 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly praised, with many players expressing that it made them cry and feel deeply connected to the characters, particularly the relationship between Rachel and Zack. Reviewers highlight the unique and touching storyline, which combines heartwarming moments with darker themes, creating a powerful emotional rollercoaster that resonates long after playing. Overall, the game is described as a must-play for those seeking a compelling and emotionally charged narrative.
“The story was very moving to me; I remember feeling invested in those characters, and I really like how they made their relationships particularly unique and touching despite the very morbid nature of their intentions.”
“An amazing and beautiful story that is both heartwarming and a tearjerker.”
“The storyline is amazing, and you really get an emotional connection to the characters.”
- character development41 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with many reviewers noting that character interactions and growth feel organic and well-paced. Players appreciate the unique and memorable character designs, which complement the intricate backstories and relationships that unfold throughout the narrative. Overall, the game successfully engages players with its compelling character arcs, making it a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
“The character development is just awesome, and the elements the creators used to reveal more about the characters and their past never felt forced.”
“My favorite part is probably the character development especially since the changes they go through are slow and not so sudden or out of character.”
“The two protagonists are unique and have a relationship that seems real as it builds up over time instead of being instantly there; even the antagonists are unique, but where the game shines is character development, especially with the protagonists.”
“Character development after cosmotheory went out the window?”
“You might get frustrated with a character's lack of personality for a while, but the character development further on keeps you from wanting to drop it for sure.”
“I do feel like the ending wasn't as satisfying since the entire game and the character development was centered around this oath but ended up...”
- atmosphere34 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, combining beautiful graphics, a haunting soundtrack, and well-developed characters to create a compelling psychological horror experience. Reviewers note that the game effectively builds tension without relying on jump scares, instead focusing on a creepy ambiance that enhances the narrative. Overall, the atmosphere is described as powerful and integral to the game's emotional impact, making it a standout feature.
“The setting and atmosphere of Angels of Death are fantastic.”
“The ambience and atmosphere are perfect and live up to the genre of psychological horror.”
“The music fits really well with the atmosphere of each floor.”
“The horror aspects are fairly light, but the general atmosphere on different levels is powerful.”
“There weren't any jump scares that I recall, but the atmosphere was creepy, and the plot was absolutely a horror/thriller mix.”
“In terms of horror, the game doesn't use jump scares and overall isn't that scary, but its atmosphere is more where the horror is focused.”
- humor30 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding the dialogue witty and the characters, particularly Zack, to be both funny and charming. Despite its horror elements, the game balances dark humor with lighthearted moments, creating an engaging narrative that keeps players entertained. Overall, the comedic aspects contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience.
“It's a funny lil' horror story with goofy protagonists.”
“This game was funny 10/10 would laugh again.”
“It gives dark humor, yet a bit of heart-warming feels as you go through the story to the game.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to repetitive dialogue and minigames that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the unique features that break up the monotony, many still feel that certain gameplay elements, like chase scenes, exacerbate the tedium.
“However, it has many unique features, so it is not tedious.”
“I found it tedious and frustrating.”
“It got really tedious clicking through the dialogue in every cutscene which would appear one after the other.”
“I love the small puzzles, but overall, some of the gameplay in the game, or 'minigames' as I would like to refer to them, are a bit tedious.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability, primarily limited to achieving missed accomplishments, and players generally feel that a single playthrough suffices. While some may find value in replaying the entire game, the predictable ending and lack of additional content diminish the incentive to revisit it.
“There is little to no replay value, aside from getting any achievements you might have missed, which shouldn't be too many.”
“Overall, just play once and there is no replay value, but still, it was okay. It's kind of unfair because it is a Japanese RPG game, so it had a chance to be in a Whitefox anime adaptation. The ending is a bit expected and not very satisfying.”
“There is no replay value unless you like to replay the whole game.”