Android is not bereft of games spanning almost all genres thinkable, and some unthinkable ones. Perhaps, there might even be too much for comfort. Some of them have their origins right here on the mobile platform but others hearken back from the days when Facebook was the name of the game, quite literally. League of Angels – Fire Raiders is one of those one hit wonders on the social network that is now trying its hand at a smartphone version. But does it have the right ingredients to bring that success to mobile as well? Read on to find out.
The Plot
The name is pretty much a dead giveaway to the premise of this entire game. There are heroes, and there are angels. The game opens with the typical predicament of a princess that seems to always be the villain’s target. The princess escapes, with the help of a somewhat narcissistic Rose Knight, and then the roles get switched somewhat. The princess, who was earlier being protected by heroes and angels, now rallies you (and your heroes) to rescue the angels, and, of course, beat the bad guys. Or guy. The hunted becomes the hunter.
A rather flimsy plot, but, hey, plots are rarely the raison d’être of these kinds of games anyway.
The Gameplay
So yes, there are heroes and there are angels and, at the risk of being sued, you gotta catch ’em all. In order to achieve your goals, you have to summon (collect) various heroes, clothe them (really equip them), level up their skills, and “evolve” them. But more than that, you also have to collect the rarer and more powerful angels. What’s the difference between the two? It all plays out in each battle.
At the start of each dungeon, you get to choose up to six heroes who will fight on your behalf in that round. You can arrange the heroes in two rows, usually putting sturdier ones in the front, with more frail but more devastating minions at the back. Then at the very back, you have on slot for an angel. This angel is basically like a super-powered hero, with at least 2 skills to manually activate.
As to user interaction, it’s all just tap, tap, and tap. Heroes and angels have this activity meter that fills up depending on that particular hero’s (or heroine’s) abilities. Once full, you can tap on that particular hero’s (or heroine’s) portrait to activate a special skill (which you get to level up, of course). Once spent, the gauge will fill up again over time.
And therein lies a small element of strategic thinking. Each dungeon is composed of waves of attack before facing the final “boss” of that level. So while you can activate your heroes’ or even angels’ skill any time the meter fills up, doing so might put you at a disadvantage in a later wave when you might need that extra damage more. It’s a very subtle mechanic that isn’t exactly groundbreaking in the grander scheme of things, but it at least keeps the game from descending into complete and utter monotony.
The Graphics and The Sounds
The game’s Facebook roots its made more evident in the presentation of League of Angels – Fire Raiders. Given the technical limitations of browser-based game, you won’t have too much in the way of graphics sophistication. Everything is in 2D, in a bit of a cartoonish style, with the heads disproportionately larger (anime fans would call this the SD or “super deformed” style). The heroes are not exactly unique looking, just variations of your usual tropes of high fantasy classes and creatures like armor-clad knights, archer elves, and wizards with pointy hats. The colors are vibrant and lively, though, which might appeal at least to younger players.
As for the music, there isn’t anything particularly catchy or memorable in the game, which is both good and bad. Good, it doesn’t get in the way of the gaming and doesn’t distract you unnecessarily. Bad, because, well, you won’t exactly remember it. The game’s music transitions from a mellow, almost sleepy background tune outside battle to a more upbeat tempo when the action starts. Quite surprisingly, and we mean that in a good way, there is a bit of voice acting involved beyond the simple grunts and shouts, but even these are particularly limited to a character’s “catchphrase”.
The Verdict
League of Angels – Fire Raiders is an attempt to build on the legacy of a somewhat popular Facebook game, in the hopes of raking in users, and maybe even cash, from the mobile crowd. Sadly, the game isn’t the only one of its kind on Android. Despite a few interesting game mechanics (the angels, an element of strategy, and timing skills wisely), it does have a hard time standing out from the crowd. Fans of the original game might flock to this mobile port, but those seeking out new experiences might very well pass by without noticing it.
League of Angels – Fire Raiders is available for free, but is, as always the case, riddled with in-app purchases.
