Soldiers of Fortune

About

Soldiers of Fortune, also known as Chaos Engine in the EU, is a historical shooter game with stunning pretty visuals and a wonderful soundtrack. It supports 2-players in multi-player and co-op modes, as well as single-player, with six characters to choose from, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. The game features 16 levels set in an open-air environment with bridges and rivers, offering a challenging and exciting gaming experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 150 reviews

graphics10 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game retains its classic charm and gameplay, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the original Amiga version.
The addition of online co-op play enhances the experience, allowing players to enjoy the game with friends.
The graphics and music are still impressive, capturing the unique steampunk aesthetic and atmosphere of the original.

The port suffers from performance issues, including lag and freezing, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
Many players find the difficulty level to be excessively punishing, making it frustrating for newcomers and casual gamers.
The lack of modern conveniences, such as a save system and improved controls, makes the game feel dated and less accessible.

graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The graphics of the game are a mix of nostalgia and disappointment, with many praising the classic pixel art and steampunk aesthetics reminiscent of the Amiga era, while others criticize the lack of significant enhancements in the remastered version. Some players appreciate the option to toggle between original and smoothed graphics, though the latter often detracts from the experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as charmingly retro, but may not appeal to those accustomed to modern graphical standards.
- “This game was one of the best the Amiga had to offer, and the pixel graphics are still very nice.”
- “Classic 80's two-player fun, frantic screen game with gorgeous graphics fresh from the era of the Amiga.”
- “Superb steampunk graphics, awesome techno soundtrack.”
- “I know this is a 'remastered' version of a 20-year-old game, but I was expecting some improvements in regards to graphics, and was left sorely disappointed there as well.”
- “Saying the game is a remaster is implying the graphics have been redrawn at a higher resolution, but this simply isn't true in this case.”
- “The supposed graphical filters that they include just make things look worse.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
18%
14%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. The soundtrack is described as a standout feature, blending steampunk aesthetics with energetic techno elements that resonate well with players. Overall, the music is considered a key highlight, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “Its your standard early 90s top down fair, but the quality of the game, from the gameplay, the graphics and the music was really top notch.”
- “I thought the music was fantastic, very steampunk and in some parts intimidating, the gameplay was enjoyable and simple to understand, the characters were clever and well designed and the worlds were also very well designed.”
- “Superb steampunk graphics, awesome techno soundtrack.”
- “My only issue is that it is not the original sound effects and soundtrack, but the effects from the original Amiga vs Sega/SNES are not the same.”
- “This is very much its own unique product in terms of setting and character, with a sort of techno soundtrack that gets the blood pumping and makes you want to shoot things.”
- “Sega Genesis music when?”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
45%
23%
The gameplay of this early 90s top-down shooter is characterized by its nostalgic charm, featuring solid mechanics, enjoyable co-op options, and a well-designed character system that enhances the experience. While some players noted clunky controls and a lack of significant graphical improvements in the HD version, the game's fast-paced action and depth remain appealing, especially for fans of the original. Overall, it offers a blend of classic gameplay with minor enhancements, though it may feel simplistic compared to modern titles.
- “Some of the best gameplay I have seen on the console, the all-important option for co-op, and computer AI.”
- “It's got rock solid mechanics, amazing pixel art, music you will always remember, and a progress system with quite a lot of depth for its age.”
- “It’s in the bonding of gameplay, multiple characters, and branching paths that make the Chaos Engine stand up so well today.”
- “I was not impressed with the controls, firing, or gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is honestly kinda boring when compared to other top-down shooters with often better controls, even from the same era, but as an Amiga title it may be interesting to people like me who've never played many Amiga games.”
- “The developers, riding their infinite nostalgia boners, more or less remade the game so that it plays a lot like a video game made in 1993 with all the bad practices of co-op gameplay brought back down from the attic, such as my AI partner stealing all the health pickups I needed to not die.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The story of the game, set in a steampunk universe, revolves around a mission to destroy a chaotic engine, providing a straightforward yet engaging narrative. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the challenging campaign, which is best enjoyed with a second player. Overall, the story serves as a solid backdrop for the game's difficult gameplay.
- “Great characters and story.”
- “With a fairly simple storyline of steampunk gone wrong, it's a great distraction and all the more fun with a second player.”
- “The story is easy to understand and plays well through the campaign.”
- “It's such a difficult game that I never made it to world 3; well, maybe another story if I was allowed to play a little longer as a kid :)”
- “The perk of being able to use a controller with full 360 degrees is a nice upgrade, but don't bother with this unless it is your mission in life to beat old hard games or you have a buddy who will sit down and play with you.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game offers moderate replayability through six distinct characters with unique special powers, enhancing the experience. While it maintains a solid balance of action and strategy, the overall replay value is considered limited despite the diversity of characters.
- “After twenty years, The Chaos Engine remains a smart shoot-'em-up, with an excellent balance of out-and-out action and more tactical leveling-up and pathfinding that adds replay value.”
- “Six different characters and different special powers (unlocked later) give this game some replayability.”
- “Six different characters and different special powers (unlocked later) give this game some replayability, but not too much.”
- “The diverse characters add a lot of replayability.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes, lag, and sound glitches, which hinder gameplay and make certain achievements unattainable. Overall, players report a frustrating experience due to these technical problems.
- “Sounds are sometimes a bit buggy; I encountered lags here and there. The game freezes up frequently, which makes some achievements unobtainable.”
- “It's filled with sound glitches, and the graphics look worse than they did back then.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the online multiplayer experience is notably lacking, with users reporting significant performance issues. Overall, the game's optimization is considered subpar.
- “Online multiplayer is poorly optimized.”
- “But it's hardly optimized.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the reviews highlight appreciation for the game's visual elements and music, they do not provide specific insights into character development, suggesting that this aspect may not have been a focal point for players.