Archangel: Hellfire
- August 2, 2017
- Skydance Interactive
- 4h median play time
While I wished for a few more interesting unique set pieces or boss fights, Archangel is still a fun rail shooter that did a great job making me feel like I really was stomping around in a giant anime robot.
"Archangel: Hellfire" is a virtual reality game that allows players to pilot a giant mech in futuristic combat. The game features both a single-player campaign and multiplayer modes, where players can battle it out in intense, fast-paced aerial combat. Customize your mech with various weapons and abilities to fit your playstyle and dominate the skies.
Reviews
- The game offers a strong sense of scale and immersion, making players feel like they are truly piloting a giant mech.
- The graphics and production values are high, with good voice acting and an engaging storyline that adds depth to the gameplay.
- The multiplayer aspect has potential for fun, with intuitive controls and the ability to customize mechs, making it enjoyable for fans of mech games.
- The game is primarily an on-rails shooter, limiting player movement and making gameplay feel repetitive and restrictive.
- Finding multiplayer matches can be frustrating due to a lack of active players, leading to long wait times and unplayable experiences.
- There are numerous technical issues, including crashes, controller misalignment, and bugs that hinder the overall experience.
- story52 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its engaging narrative, high-quality voice acting, and immersive graphics, while others criticize it as generic and predictable. Many agree that the story adds depth to the gameplay, particularly in a VR setting, but some find it overly simplistic or repetitive. Overall, while the story enhances the experience for some, it may not be compelling enough to hold the interest of all players.
“The voice acting is pretty good and there is a story attached to the gameplay. I know having a real story isn't something everyone cares about, especially in a fun VR game, but I am someone who needs a story to stay invested in a game.”
“The story is great and completely immerses you in the gameplay.”
“This game has great graphics, voice acting, story, and gameplay.”
“The downside is that there's a fairly large amount of story you have to sit through each time.”
“Just another rail shooter that thinks it can make up in graphics and storytelling what it lacks in gameplay dynamics.”
“The introduction was well done up until the story starts, but it's not good enough to where you care about any of the characters.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their high quality and immersive experience, particularly in VR, where players feel a strong sense of presence while riding in a mech. While many reviews highlight the stunning visuals and atmospheric environments, some note that certain aspects, like the detail in cityscapes and the graphical fidelity of specific effects, could be improved. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it enjoyable for casual players and VR enthusiasts alike.
“The graphics are fantastic and so far I'm really enjoying the storyline and was impressed by the dialog.”
“Gorgeous graphics and a lot of fun.”
“The sense of scale is just perfection, the quality of the graphics is superb and there is an actually interesting story.”
“Just another rail shooter that thinks it can make up in graphics and storytelling what it lacks in gameplay dynamics.”
“The intro is like 10 minutes long and you can't skip over the cheesy voice acting and cookie-cutter graphics.”
“The graphics for your guns and missile explosion effects feel 20 years old!”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of intuitive mechanics and engaging storytelling, with a focus on both cooperative and competitive elements. While some players appreciate the smooth controls and immersive experience, others criticize the slow-paced, on-rails design, finding it less engaging compared to other shooters. Overall, the game offers a solid experience with decent graphics and voice acting, though opinions vary on its replayability and depth.
“I was shocked at how intuitive and smooth the gameplay is, definitely not your average VR shooter; it will take seconds to join in and have fun, but skill and time to master.”
“Fantastic gameplay and wonderful experience.”
“The story is great and completely immerses you in the gameplay.”
“Tutorial is 100% text and no gameplay outside of, well, 2 day wait in queue and then straight into PvP.”
“Nice graphics, but really boring gameplay.”
“It's bad not only because it's on-rails; I've played a lot of on-rail/wave shooters and they are much better than this. Just the gameplay itself is totally not immersive and boring.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive VR experience, featuring high-quality visuals and sound that enhance the futuristic setting. Players appreciate the engaging storyline and the realistic mech controls, contributing to a thrilling, action-packed ambiance. Overall, it delivers an awesome and atmospheric experience, perfect for fans of high-octane arcade action.
“If you're in the mood for a high-octane arcade experience with immersive atmosphere and some action-movie-level drama, give this a shot.”
“It's got it all: you're riding in a mech, takes place in the future, cool storyline and narrative, high-quality visuals and sound, great tracking in VR, so atmospheric in VR mode, mech arm controls feel so realistic, and... did I mention you're riding in a mech???”
“Atmosphere - awesome”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the protagonist, driven by his personal loss and the anticipation of a heroic response. The game features several impactful scenes that resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impression despite technical issues in the multiplayer mode.
“In such a short period of time, I was emotionally invested in the character you play as, not just because of his personal loss, but because I expected his response would be more heroic and morally driven.”
“Has a few surprisingly emotional scenes too that will stick with me for a while.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing dissatisfaction over spending $30 on a product that feels exploitative and lacking in genuine value. Many reviewers strongly advise against purchasing it.
“Do not buy this cash grab.”
“Tl;dr - not happy to spend $30 on a product that is clearly designed to be a cash grab on the mech genre because no one else has produced anything yet.”
“This is a cash grab; do not buy.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users have reported significant stability issues, including glitches and VR problems, particularly during the second mission, which may necessitate a computer restart.
“Reading some of the other reviews, I noticed people complaining about glitches and VR issues.”
“In addition, game glitches on the second mission require a computer restart.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be challenging and enjoyable, noting that while it may be short, it offers significant replayability, making it worth revisiting.
“A challenging and fun game, albeit a bit short, but with a lot of replayability.”
“For me, the replay value is high.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music, sound effects, and voice acting in the game are highly praised, contributing to an immersive experience reminiscent of mainstream action movies. Players appreciate the engaging soundtrack that complements the casual gameplay, enhancing the overall enjoyment without requiring deep concentration.
“The music, sounds, and voice acting are excellent.”
“If you enjoy casual games where you can shoot around, appreciate the graphics and music, and feel like you're in a mainstream action movie, then this is it.”
Critic Reviews
Archangel Review - Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Anime Robot
While I wished for a few more interesting unique set pieces or boss fights, Archangel is still a fun rail shooter that did a great job making me feel like I really was stomping around in a giant anime robot.
70%Archangel Review
There’s a lot of potential with Archangel, but when so much potential is unrealized, then the end product loses its luster. Archangel is exactly that, starting off with a bang and tapering off too quickly to maintain its level of initial intrigue.
40%