Fursan al-Aqsa: The Knights of the Al-Aqsa Mosque

About

"Fursan al-Aqsa: The Knights of the Al-Aqsa Mosque" is a third-person action game that lets players assume the role of Ahmad al-Falastini, a Palestinian student seeking revenge against Israeli soldiers who tortured him, killed his family, and destroyed his home. The game offers missions across Palestine with various objectives, epic battles, and powerful weapons. It aims to provide a Palestinian perspective on the conflict, challenging the stereotype of Arabs as terrorists.

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Fursan al-Aqsa: The Knights of the Al-Aqsa Mosque screenshot

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 240 reviews

story15 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique perspective, allowing players to engage in a narrative that challenges traditional military shooter tropes.
Gameplay features like bullet time and a variety of weapons create a fun and engaging experience reminiscent of classic shooters.
Despite being a one-man project, the game showcases impressive creativity and ambition, with entertaining cutscenes and a compelling storyline.

The game suffers from technical issues, including clunky controls, unresponsive AI, and a lack of checkpoints, making it frustratingly difficult at times.
Some players find the objectives unclear and the level design can lead to tedious backtracking, detracting from the overall experience.
The audio design, including repetitive sound effects and music, can become grating, impacting immersion during gameplay.

story
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
72%
5%
The story of the game is praised for its beauty and depth, following Ahmad, an unjustly imprisoned med student seeking revenge against the IDF after his family's tragic death. While the narrative is described as vibrant and revolutionary, it also features absurd and humorous elements, such as a pet megalodon and over-the-top missions, which contribute to a unique gameplay experience. Despite some criticisms regarding mission difficulty and mechanics, players appreciate the engaging plot and the opportunity to explore complex objectives within a politically relevant context.
- “This is seriously the most beautiful, well put together story ever.”
- “It stays vibrant, fresh, and revolutionizes the art of storytelling and filmmaking while making a strong statement on what it means to be human.”
- “Superb storytelling, brilliant gunplay, interesting and complex mission objectives, and more!”
- “The plot is threadbare, tongue-in-cheek, and deliberately ridiculous, with elements such as Ahmad having a pet megalodon and a 'tactical genius' character who decides the best way to destroy the control room of a missile base is to blow himself up with a bomb vest in front of the console instead of, you know, just placing the explosives in the room and getting out.”
- “Although I wish the dev would put Ahmad's backstory video in the first mission instead, as players would only know the basics of his backstory from the Steam page.”
- “The overall plot is nice, but the game is extremely hard, not for casual players; the AI is too good, and there is no difficulty scale.”
gameplay
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
9%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the tight controls, new mechanics like wall running and stealth kills, and the engaging bullet time feature that enhances the shooting experience. However, some players find the difficulty level challenging due to limited health pickups and the reliance on headshots, which can feel frustrating. Overall, while the game offers a fun and retro shooter experience, it may require patience and adaptation to fully enjoy its mechanics.
- “Controls are much tighter in the remake than in the classic, and there are a few new mechanics introduced like wall running, super headshots, and stealth kills.”
- “At first glance, you might assume this game is a pure meme simulator, but make no mistake, there's actually a full game here with 10 complete campaign missions (plus a few extras) featuring complex objectives and enjoyable retro-arcade shooter style gameplay.”
- “The controls take a bit to get used to, especially if you try to play the game with a gamepad, but once you get the hang of it, it plays like a mix of Max Payne and GoldenEye on the Nintendo 64. The bullet time mechanic spices up the gameplay, making it easier and more enjoyable.”
- “From a gameplay perspective, however, this is a very difficult game to recommend.”
- “Health pickups are few and far between and do not regenerate much health, and the majority rely on headshots (difficult to do because sometimes it will look like you got a headshot but no health regen) or knife kills, which are impossible because there is no stealth mechanic in the game - AI will do a 180 as soon as you turn a corner and almost instantly kill you.”
- “The controls take a bit to get used to, especially if you try to play the game with a gamepad, but once you get the hang of it, it plays like a mix of Max Payne and GoldenEye on the Nintendo 64. The bullet time mechanic spices up the gameplay, though it feels like you depend on it too much to do damage and survive.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its emotional depth and unique cultural influences, while others find it repetitive and not fitting for an action game. Many appreciate the soundtrack's quality and the positive cause it supports, but there are concerns about its looping nature and the context in which it plays, particularly during critical moments like character deaths. Overall, the music is seen as a standout feature, though opinions vary on its appropriateness and execution.
- “The flavor, music, and everything can be heard, tasted, seen, and felt from a screen.”
- “The graphics, the animation, the music, so much thought was put into it.”
- “Also, the soundtrack is so good that I leave the game running just so I can keep listening to this beautiful music arrangement.”
- “Very based game very accurate, but I don't like that music is in it, especially when you die and he says the shahada and a song comes.”
- “It's not the kind of music you expect in an action game (maybe it's a cultural thing?) and they are certainly not the kind you want to hear on a loop.”
- “The music is catchy, and something you don't really hear often in games, but I feel like the loops are really short and the songs can get repetitive too quick especially if you fail the same missions over and over.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a profound and transcendent experience that evokes deep feelings, often leading players to tears. Many reviewers highlight specific moments that are particularly heart-touching, emphasizing the game's ability to convey a touching narrative about struggle and resilience. Overall, it is seen as a powerful journey that resonates on a deeply human level, though some lament that such an experience may not be accessible to all.
- “It is a tragedy that this, it can't be called a film, but a transcendent emotional experience, will be inaccessible for most.”
- “That part truly made me shed a tear.”
- “This is a very profound and emotional journey of the human heart and soul.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of silly moments and classic b-movie vibes, with some players finding the cutscenes particularly amusing. While comparisons to David Cage highlight a lack of comedic finesse, the game still manages to evoke laughter through its unique missions and quirky elements. Overall, it appeals to fans of retro gaming who appreciate humor intertwined with action.
- “Funny silly game, hints of Max Payne and GoldenEye.”
- “The cutscene at the beginning of the level is also quite funny and manages to make me laugh.”
- “If you are an old-school gamer looking for classic fun with b-movie humor vibes, this game is worth a try.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
29%
29%
The graphics of the game have received praise for their thoughtful design and animation, contributing to an immersive experience. While the updated version in early access showcases improved visuals and smoother gameplay, some players noted initial aiming issues and a certain clunkiness that may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, though opinions on their execution vary.
- “The graphics, the animation, the music—so much thought was put into it.”
- “So much great graphic design, so much suspense, so much greatness in this one game.”
- “The 'remake' is an early access of an updated version with much better graphics and smoother gameplay, currently offering two missions.”
- “The graphics will be a bit wonky for aiming at first, but just follow the crosshair.”
- “Overall, I recommend it for people willing to give it a chance; the clunkiness of the gameplay and graphics was charming for me, but other people would not find it charming.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight an exceptional level of performance, likening it to a legendary display, though the context of "bacon" suggests a humorous or metaphorical interpretation rather than a direct commentary on optimization. Overall, the optimization aspect appears to be positively received, though the specific details are unclear.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find that while some objectives are clearly marked, the search for others, such as batteries, can significantly slow down gameplay, leading to a frustrating grinding experience.
- “While certain items like the rocket systems are marked with objective markers, finding other objectives like batteries brings the game to a grinding halt.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding for resources makes the gameplay feel tedious and unengaging.”
- “Grinding for levels and items feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's stability has been criticized for being buggy, particularly in the demo version, which has led some players to express concerns despite their willingness to support the game's cause.
- “I played the demo version of this game, and while it was very buggy, I still decided to buy it to support a righteous cause.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
- “I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted gameplay and made it frustrating to progress.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users noting that the presence of ads can be distracting, particularly in third-person view, while others feel that the impact on gameplay is minimal. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to be a minor concern compared to other gameplay elements.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
Reviewers praise the game's atmosphere as exceptional, highlighting its immersive qualities that surpass those of any other title released in the past three years. The combination of movement and shooting mechanics contributes significantly to this captivating environment.
- “The movement, the shooting, and the atmosphere dwarf any game that has been released in the last 3 years.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- “Despite the potential, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The game's atmosphere is bland and forgettable, leaving no lasting impression.”