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.
The combat system is the highlight of the experience, offering players a multitude of options and strategies to take down enemies. At the core of the combat is a satisfying melee system, where the player can unleash punches, kicks, and parries. The limited moveset encourages players to creatively use the environment and scavenge for weapons, rather than relying solely on their fists. Players can wield a wide variety of melee weapons, from classic bats and pipes to more unconventional items like frying pans and trashcan lids. Each weapon has unique properties, with some being more effective against armored enemies while others excel at crowd control. The melee combat feels impactful, with each hit landing with a satisfying sense of weight and power. Gunplay also plays a role, though firearms are more scarce and ammunition is limited. When players do get their hands on a gun, they can be extremely effective at clearing out groups of enemies. However, the developers have balanced this power by making guns a precious resource, forcing players to make careful decisions about when to use them.
The highly interactive environments are a key part of what makes the combat so engaging. The game is filled with physics-enabled objects that players can use as improvised weapons or throw to distract and incapacitate enemies. This encourages experimentation and the discovery of creative solutions to each encounter. The levels themselves are designed with an emphasis on non-linearity, offering multiple routes and approaches to each objective. Players can choose to go in guns blazing, sneak past enemies, or find a balance between the two playstyles. This freedom of choice allows for a high degree of replayability, as players can tackle each level in a unique way. During combat, the game's physics-based interactions and dynamic enemy AI can lead to emergent scenarios. Players might find themselves kicking an enemy into a barrel of toxic waste, or using the environment to set up elaborate traps and deterrents. These moments of improvisation and unpredictability are where the game truly shines.
While the combat is a strong focus, the game also offers a robust stealth system. Players can crouch, hide in the shadows, and silently take out enemies from behind. The levels are designed with verticality and multiple paths in mind, allowing for stealthy approaches and alternative routes. Exploration is rewarded, as players can uncover hidden shortcuts, secrets, and valuable resources by thoroughly searching each environment. The game encourages a careful, observant playstyle, as players never know what they might find lurking in the shadows or tucked away in a back alley. The combination of stealth, exploration, and the ability to approach each encounter in multiple ways gives the experience a strong sense of player agency and replayability. Players can tailor their experience to their preferred playstyle, whether that's a high-octane action romp or a more methodical, stealthy approach.