AngerForce: Reloaded is a vertical shooter in an 1800s setting that never existed — one filled with deadly robot insurgents who have set out to overthrow and destroy human society.
Heavily inspired by classic 90s shooters, Screambox Studio’s AngerForce: Reloaded catapults players into the midst of a robot uprising. Its alternative-history setting saw imperialism and industrialisation take form in very different ways to our own, but now the robots built to help out humanity have turned their focus to emancipation.
It’s not our place, as players, to really weigh in on this. Instead you set off as one (or two, should you play co-op) of four fighter pilots to stop the uprising and put down the machines behind the movement.
I was lucky enough to sit down with the game when it was showcased at the PC Gamer Weekender earlier this year. The booth was unmanned when I swept by, so it took me a while to get used to the controls, however I managed two or three runs as different characters and really enjoyed playing a vertical shooter with a more purist attitude to the genre. Sweeping movements were swift, and although enemy distribution did get quite heavy, missiles were big enough that nothing felt hidden or imbalanced.
There are some modern conveniences added in: Characters each have their normal fire mode, two special abilities and a screen-clearing bomb attack. There’s also a system to randomise abilities for those seeking a bit more variety, however you can also customise your own loadout, should you wish.
It also has — and I think this is a fantastic idea — an online replay system which lets people share their gameplay with those interested.
In addition to this, there’s a light RPG system which allows you to upgrade certain statistics on your character between missions. This, combined with weapon variety, gives plenty of options when it comes to choosing how to play, especially if playing in two-player co-operative.
AngerForce: Reloaded is available now on PC and Mac via Steam.
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