So I Tried: Angel at Dusk

Each edition of So I Tried… I will try a game that I have never played before. Will I find something new to love? Will I find something new to despise? I'll take a full half hour, no matter how bad it gets or how badly I do, to see if this is the game for me. This time I went for Angel at Dusk, that looks like a classic top-down shooter with updated visuals.

What I thought it was

I figured that Angel at Dusk would play like all the other shoot ‘em ups that I had challenged in the past. Based on the trailer for the game, it looked like I was in for a trippy experience, as the visuals in this title were totally different from anything I had played; they were creepy and quite disturbing.

What it actually is

Angel at Dusk plays a lot like other games in the genre, but it does do a few things differently. The game doesn’t punish you for colliding with an enemy, so you don’t lose health, but if you are hit by enemy bullets, you can be destroyed. Your ship (Angel) has two different modes of fire: your basic rapid-fire shot and a heavy shot that can be charged; each has its advantages. You may assume that the charged shot is stronger and does more damage against regular enemies, yes. But if you are challenging a boss, they won’t be hurt by the heavy weapon; instead, you will need to use your regular weapon to destroy them. The charge shot is more defence, working well to push the curtains of enemy bullets so you do not get hit.

The game rewards you for getting up close to the enemy's attack. Using your basic rapid-fire shot will earn you hearts that will replenish your stamina (health). If you hang out at the bottom of the screen and try to attack from a distance, you will miss out on the health that you need to survive the onslaught of enemies and bullets coming your way.

Will I keep playing

Angel at Dusk is an interesting yet weird shoot ‘em up title that will appeal to fans interested in this type of grotesque art style. There is a classic mode that plays like a never-ending run where you are constantly upgrading your ship, though with the enemy scaling along with you and always getting stronger, it never feels like you are getting anywhere. The other mode is an Arcade mode where you get new ships as you progress to add variety to the title, but it doesn’t entice me to come back for more. Maybe I will play it around Halloween because of the creepy visuals, but there are other shoot ‘em ups out there that I would rather play.