Description: Angle Vox is a 2D platformer type game for Android which, instead of focusing on a mix of fancy visuals and difficult gameplay, goes straight for the jugular with incredibly challenging gameplay. There is a little story to the game, with the Angle Vox being stolen by the red shapes, the Angle Vox is what brings balance to the 2D world, and it’s your job to get it back. From a gameplay perspective, there are three sets of levels that task the player as playing as a Triangle, a Square or a Circle. Each group of levels has different challenges and styles, but the main theme throughout is to avoid the evil red shapes in order to get to the next level.
How it Works: In order to combat the red shapes and take back the Angle Vox, you’ll need to download the game from the Play Store. After that, you’ll be warned that the game contains flashing imagery, something that should be taken notice of, and something we’d like other games to include.
After the warning, you’re ready to play and yes, the music is pretty awesome.
You’re then given an intro into the game and then the choice of three shapes to play as, each of them has their own set of missions to play through and unique challenges. Here, I’ve chosen to start playing as a Circle, and right away I was taken aback by how difficult the game really is.
The controls are fairly simply and thankfully, there are no surprises here when it comes to movement. No matter which shape you’re controlling, they all move the same way, with the same speed which is nice. All you need to is to avoid the red shapes, this is fairly difficult however, but with strategy and timing the game isn’t crippling in any way.
The triangle levels were my favorite, as they seemed a little easier for me to pickup, perhaps only because I am so used to charging through platformers.
Opinion: Angle Vox is one of those games that just ends up being a lot of fun, despite the fact that it’s also incredibly challenging. There’s a real retro and arcade feel to Angle Vox that’s hard to ignore, if you’re looking for a game that cuts out all the fanciness and focuses on gameplay, then Angle Vox won’t disappoint. It looks cool and the music is a really nice touch, bringing even more digital cool to the overall look and feel of the game. It plays well, offers a genuine challenge and isn’t too difficult to grasp its controls. All of these add up to make Angle Vox one of the most challenging and refreshing games I’ve played in a good while.
Ratings
- Speed (4/5) – Angle Vox ran fine on a number of devices and I enjoyed the pacing as well.
- Features (4/5) – It’s packed with cool and challenging gameplay that will offer hardcore gamers an indie retreat from easy games designed “for everyone”.
- Theme (4/5) – It might not be chock full of high-resolution 3D textures, but it does look good and the retro appeal works well with the digital music that’s really catchy.
- Overall (4/5) – A solid game that shouldn’t be overlooked, Angle Vox is definitely difficult, but it’s not cripplingly so and hardcore gamers will enjoy the challenge.
Pros
- Digital look and feel is all nice and retro.
- Focuses on good gameplay above all else.
- Very, very difficult which should give players a genuine challenge for once.
- Catchy music helps livens up the levels.
Cons
- Free demo version would be nice to see.
- Might be too difficult for some gamers.
Conclusion: If you’re in the mood for a real arcade classic, then Angle Vox is something worth your time. It’s packed full of cool gameplay and there’s no need to spend oodles of time learning an awkward control scheme. It is pretty difficult, but this all adds to the game’s charm and while I wish that there was some sort of easier game mode, learning to get up to the level the game asks of you is a lot of fun in and of itself. A fun game that’s well worth your time, Angle Vox is a classic throwback to when games were difficult and put together with a focus on how it plays, rather than how it looks.