Fallen Aces
" Gritty action FPS with fluid combat and unique comic art, but limited early access content "
Fallen Aces Review
Fallen Aces is widely praised for its immersive sim gameplay that combines beat-em-up, stealth, and exploration mechanics within a stylish, comic book-inspired noir setting. Players appreciate the fluid and responsive combat, allowing multiple approaches to encounters—whether stealthy or chaotic brawls. The game’s hand-drawn art style, period-appropriate soundtrack, and voice acting strongly contribute to its pulpy, gritty atmosphere, evoking classic gangster films and comics. The level design encourages experimentation and secret hunting, rewarding curiosity and creativity.
Despite currently featuring only the first episode with limited content (approximately 3-4 hours), the game feels polished and complete for what is available. The community and developers are active, with anticipation for future episodes high. Fallen Aces is regarded as a unique and charming indie gem, blending style and substance in a way that resonates deeply with fans of immersive sims and noir narratives.
Highlights
Players consistently praise the game's tight and satisfying combat mechanics, which allow for varied playstyles including stealth and direct confrontation. The art style—a gritty, comic book aesthetic—is frequently highlighted for its uniqueness and charm. The story and atmosphere immerse players in a noir world filled with humor and memorable characters. Additionally, the soundtrack and voice acting enhance the overall experience, making the game feel like a living, breathing pulp crime drama.
The level design supports multiple routes and secret areas, encouraging exploration and replayability.
Criticisms
The main criticism revolves around the game's current limited content, with only one episode available leading to a short playtime. Some players find the combat too easy and suggest improvements to enemy AI and alert systems to increase challenge and incentivize stealth. There's also a perceived lack of moral consequences or incentives for non-lethal playstyles, as enemies can be easily overwhelmed or woken up. A few mention the slow pace compared to other New Blood titles, and some desire more robust difficulty scaling and longer story depth.
Overall, these issues are tempered by the game's early access status and promising development.
Pros
- • Combat is fluid, responsive, and allows creative approaches to encounters.
- • Art style is unique, gritty, and reminiscent of classic comic books.
- • Soundtrack and voice acting perfectly complement the noir atmosphere.
- • Level design encourages exploration with multiple paths and secrets.
- • Gameplay supports both stealth and direct combat playstyles effectively.
- • Inventory and ammo management add strategic depth to encounters.
- • Strong narrative with immersive crime noir storytelling and humor.
Cons
- • Currently limited content with only the first episode available.
- • Combat can feel too easy, reducing challenge and tension.
- • Enemy AI lacks robust alert systems and consequences for noise.
- • No significant moral incentives to avoid lethal combat.
- • Some players find exploration incentives lacking on larger maps.
- • Difficulty scaling could be improved with better level design.
- • Story length is short, leaving players wanting more.
Rating Criteria
The A.C.E.S, watchful guardians of Switchblade City, are being taken down, one by one. Now it's up to one man, with two fists, to get to the bottom of it all. Fallen Aces is a crime noir FPS that plays right out of the '90s and looks like it's right outta the comics.