Angels Fall First

As a Homeworld veteran this is how I envisaged an updated version might look and feel. Still very early days for me but looking forward to the learning journey.

[b]9/10. [i]Angels Fall First[/i] is a perfect throwback sci-fi FPS for fans of Battlefield ground combat and Battlefront space combat, with the customization to put either to shame.[/b] The developers aimed to create the ultimate 2000s battle shooter with the perfect blends of combined arms ground combat, frigates-and-fighters space combat, and remarkably deep loadout customization. They nailed it. My favorite part is the space combat. Check the moments at the end for details. [b]Visuals[/b] are quite detailed and pure BF2142 (not 2042) chunky sci-fi vibes. Fake guns, spaceships shaped a little like bugs, all fun and cool. The game's [b]player base[/b] is a mix of fresh newbies and early-access veterans of up to 10 years, all of whom seem to be in the game for the fun. I have encountered many teachers and no griefers. Multiplayer is quick and easy, with an instant action button and a server browser. Some servers are all maps, some are space only, et cetera. Oh, and if you don't like them? [b]There are AI bots to fill servers at your whim.[/b] Battles are a combo of three factors: [b]setting, format, and scale.[/b] Setting can be space or ground combat. Format can be attack/defense or territory control. Scale on the ground ranges from infantry only battles to combined arms with recon vehicles, personnel carriers and infantry fighters, main battle tanks, and even small mechs. Scale in space varies between fighters only, corvettes only, carriers only, and mixed ships. Gameplay is tweaked most effectively by loadout customization. [b]Customization[/b] is a huge boon for this game. Loadouts are quite flexible, but roles are quite important on the battlefield and budgeting them properly takes practice and progress. One of my favorite aspects of this game is that pretty much any tool can be used from the get-go, but your progress levels determine your loadout budgets. Cosmetics involve camo patterns and HSV color selection, and I haven't messed with them much yet. I've spent the most of my time in this game by playing a variety of maps, focusing on combined arms both in space and on ground. My [b]three favorite moments[/b] have been as follows: - When fighting in urban streets over territory points, I took an elevated position as a sniper and supported two different objective firefights while holding my own objective against a nearby squad. I escaped via rooftop access as they took my objective. I then used a sensor grenade and my close-quarters backup SMG to support our retake effort. - When fighting over territories in mixed capital-fighter combat, I noticed that our corvette had been spawned, but was unmanned. I helmed the ship, and as I piloted the corvette toward an objective, a handful of other teammates spawned aboard and began manning or repairing our various systems, until we had ourselves a functional capital ship! We then captured and held multiple objectives against fighter and bomber pickets, and even a ship-to-ship broadside exchange. - When defending in a space battle, I manned the starboard gun of a dropship with a squad of marines in cargo. I then shot down an interceptor on our way to board an enemy capital ship, where we spread out and wrought havoc upon the enemy ship's systems, forcing them onto the defensive to allow our team to retake our defense points. I even stole a weapon out of the enemy armory when I ran out of ammo. Why are you still reading this? This game is sick. Buy it and find me on a US-AllMaps server.