Developer: WONDERBOY BOBI
Publisher: PQube
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch (2), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Tested on: Switch 2
Aggelos II – Review
Back in 2018, one of our fellow reviewers took a look at Aggelos, a retro-inspired cross between an RPG and a platformer. Eight years later, Aggelos is back, in full-fledged Metroidvania form. We’ll admit that we’re going into the series blind with the sequel, and that the key art has “we have Kid Icarus at home” vibes, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised by games we knew nothing about before. Without further ado, let’s take the plunge into Aggelos II.
Story
We’re not familiar with the story of the first Aggelos game ourselves, but fortunately, that wasn’t an issue. Aggelos II’s narrative isn’t exactly a Shakespearean tragedy, and simply follows a classic good-versus-evil premise instead. The game starts with the Kingdom of Lumen besieged by a monstrous army, prompting our hero, the angel Aggelos, to intervene. Things go south when our hero is struck by a bolt of dark energy, stripping him of his angelic powers, wings, and equipment. In order to defeat the forces of evil, Aggelos must now set out weaponless and reclaim his lost arsenal, abilities and wings. Given that the game’s main gimmick hinges on a narrative twist, we’re going to apologise for the following spoiler: one of the opposing commanders imbues Aggelos with the power of darkness to try and control him. Our hero’s angelic nature prevents total corruption though, resulting in him having one foot in one world and one in the other, and leaving him capable of switching between a demonic form and his true self. While we won’t give away anything else, chances are that you’ll be able to predict every story beat anyway.
Graphics
Taking inspiration from classics like Wonder Boy (there’s a hint in the developer’s name) and Mega Man, Aggelos II uses a retro 16-bit pixel art style. The visuals are colorful, fetching, and nostalgic. Sprites are detailed and varied, with a good mix of enemy designs. Bosses in particular stand out. The game also brilliantly distinguishes between the ‘real’ world and the demonic realm, with distinct themes and hazards between them. The retro visuals aren’t very demanding and the game ran smooth as butter on our Switch 2.
Sound
The retro 90s aesthetic isn’t just limited to the visuals, and sound design takes a similar nostalgic approach. There is no voice acting or ambient audio present, with the bulk of the soundscape consisting of music. The chiptune tracks effectively hammer home the game’s old-school atmosphere. Sound effects are functional, but nothing really stands out about them.
Gameplay
A fast-paced but straightforward 2D Metroidvania, Aggelos II focuses on exploration, platforming and combat. As the titular angel, you explore a densely populated map, with new areas opening up as you acquire new gear and spells. Returning to previously visited areas allows you to unlock secrets, collectibles, and alternate routes. The game’s core gimmick allows you to instantly toggle between Aggelos’ angel and demon forms. As an angel, you can absorb purple enemy projectiles with sword strikes and use potions to heal yourself. As a demon, your sword will instead absorb red projectiles and potions will provide buffs to your speed and damage output. Most importantly, your demon form allows entry into parallel dark realm rifts, where you can explore a mirrored, hostile second map.
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Combat utilises Aggelos’ arm bracelet for long-range energy blasts, similar to Mega Man’s arm blaster, and a sword for melee. This is supplemented with a variety of unlockable spells that you obtain mainly through exploring. Aggelos’ abilities can also be upgraded through a variety of means, including hidden shrines, collectible Divine Tears and merchants. Navigating the world through unlockable means of traversal includes Metroidvania classics like a grappling hook. While our hero does unlock the power of flight early on in the game, the execution leaves a lot to be desired, as you can only fly horizontally. This feels very counterintuitive, and is best seen as a different way of jumping across gaps rather than what you’d expect from a flying mechanic. It’s not the only thing that is counterintuitive here, with the game’s control scheme becoming increasingly and overly complex as new abilities accumulate. It’s easy to accidentally waste a spell by a misclick when you’re simply trying to move forward. The game’s map UI also leaves a lot to be desired, as it lacks a zoom feature and clear signposting.
Interestingly enough, Aggelos II actually becomes less difficult over time. The early stages are genuinely challenging, but as you obtain more health containers and armour, things become much more manageable. Death carries no penalty either. If you meet your untimely demise, you’ll retain everything you’ve collected and simply retrace your steps from the last checkpoint you reached, and the game is very generous with these. That’s not to say that Aggelos II is an outright walk in the park. Boss fights in particular are chaotic bullet hell encounters, though given how forgiving the game is elsewhere, it’s easy to jump right back in upon being defeated. Should Aggelos II’s standard gameplay be too easy, then a hard mode offers a more difficult challenge. This additional mode helps with justifying the game’s €19.99 price tag, as the game is relatively short, clocking in at 10-ish hours. With multiple endings available, it does have some replay value, but ultimately the RRP is a bit steep for what you’re getting here.
Conclusion
A solid but unremarkable Metroidvania, the main thing holding Aggelos II back is its counterintuitive and convoluted control scheme, at least on Switch 2. Your mileage may definitely vary here, as the controls may be much more forgiving on PC. The game’s central gimmick of switching between two worlds is interesting, but doesn’t do enough to lift Aggelos II above the Metroidvania crowd (though that may just be because our hero is only capable of horizontal flight instead of going upwards).
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