REVIEW – On Friday, Angry Mob Games’ game left its early access period and was released for consoles, but not much is heard about the console versions, which is strange (and sad), because you would think that a normal user would want to know what this rogue-lite metroidvania (with a multiverse to make it even more complex) would offer on PlayStation 5, for example.

1.0 out now! Take control of your parallel selves and explore dark, sci-fi worlds. Slash, smash, and shoot your way through this unique rogue-lite Metroidvania where the only way to save the multiverse is to end it.

1 Character, 2 Dimensions, 3 Versions

Our character Maya can be controlled in three different versions, and it’s a side-scrolling game in Trinity Fusion (just TF from here to the end), so you can explore different versions of the planets by collecting gameplay power-ups, eliminating enemies and, of course, rediscovering the beginning. Death, while necessary, can wipe out everything you have accumulated up to that point. On the plus side, there are different weapon types and combos for each version, and the combat is well-designed, allowing you to switch between melee and ranged attacks at any time. This requires good handling, but you won’t complain about that in Angry Mob Games’ product, despite the shaky DualSense. The gameplay is fast and atmospheric right from the start, which is why the rating will not be a round number at the end, but something more spiky.

This is helped by the fact that each round (it’s not a car race, but the definition fits…) you get different and varied abilities, which sometimes make for very good combinations (those with a more defensive strategy can even get one that gives you some extra HP per opponent), so you can get something good from the start. Well, in a chaotic sense, because there is so much going on that you can get lost a bit, but at least they don’t overdo it. Unfortunately, the boss fights make the overall picture worse, as they are much more monotonous and boring, and perhaps it is their elaboration that keeps TF from being a truly excellent product. However, if you don’t like a certain version of the boss, you can switch to another universe and try a different Maya. It’s worth it, because you can open up different starting points from playthrough to playthrough. This is important because it can also make grinding a lot easier, and you won’t give up on the game because of it. Angry Mob Games has also thought of this, which indicates a good level of elaboration (except for the bosses, which are still forgettable, and if I remember correctly, there are maybe five in total, which is not a high number, but you would expect more).

Visually unspectacular

Okay, there are some games with a direct old pixel style (like Picayune Dreams, which has an excellent soundtrack, this one has an average soundtrack and forgettable voice acting), but this one looks a bit mobile (especially the HUD during gameplay…), although the 3D models aren’t particularly ugly either. The length is also unimpressive. It can take up to three hours to discover everything, which is not very long, even though it is a game with an approach that is directly divided into shorter rounds. At least there is variety in the environments and the story is not that bad, but there is always the thought that we have seen this before.

The game is not exactly revolutionary, and as such its rating reflects that. It delivers on form, but not much more than that, and perhaps the dynamics of the combat are sometimes questionable (but not always). There are no complaints about the game’s performance on the PlayStation 5, so that’s more than nothing. The Hyper mode is also good, as it can be a great introduction to the genre for newcomers if you’ve missed, say, Returnal or Dead Cells (or many other titles…). It’s also good to be able to share character abilities, but you’ll need some credits for that.

VII.

The problem with Trinity Fusion is that it’s so mediocre that this set of characters was painstakingly created. It’s mediocre, but it’s the better kind of mediocre, so it gets a seven out of ten, but a six and a half wouldn’t be far off because of the voice acting. If you like the genre (whether you’re thinking Metroidvania or Rogue-Lite), you won’t be too disappointed. And for everyone else, it’s worth watching a YouTube video first (without commentary, of course) and making a decision based on that, because the game, which will surely be a PlayStation Plus Essential offering in due course, could either be a game you’ll really like, or one that will make your cursor move very quickly towards the X button in your browser. Angry Mob Games’ game isn’t going to revolutionize, but maybe that wasn’t the intention. That’s why, considering the studio’s approach, it turned out to be a good game.

-V-

Publisher: Angry Mob Games

Developer: Angry Mob Games

Style: 2D rogue-lite, metroidvania

Release: December 15, 2023.
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