Angeline Era

Genre: Action-RPG / 3D Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

Angeline Era, released in 2025 on PC and ported in 2026 to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, is an odd sort of game that defies explanation, but I’ll try. This is a mostly Top-Down Action-RPG, though there are side-scrolling sections, with levels segmented into sections much like a classic Zelda game, with a fair amount of 3D Platforming within each level section, with an overworld map that feels a bit reminiscent of games like Zelda II: Adventure of Link, and with “bumpslash” combat seemingly inspired by the early games in the Ys series.

The unique gameplay takes some getting used to, but this is made much more difficult due to a localization that is absolute garbage, one of the worst localizations I’ve seen on Nintendo Switch, and it makes it very difficult to understand anything that’s going on. As best I can discern, players take the role of a warrior named Tets Kinoshta, who has been contacted by angels to collect objects called “Bicones” (gemlike objects shaped like two cones grafted to each other on the flat side), which are needed to unlock access to their mothership, which contains their memories. And if your response to all of that is “…what?”, then you’re pretty much where I was playing this game, and that’s without the absurd “Engrish” you have to parse through. It’s often odd in ways that are amusing in a Teed Wollsey-ish way (“Who’s this now? A guy?”), but more frequently it’s just bewildering.

While the localization of Angeline Era is frustrating, the rest of the presentation is quite charming. This game’s visuals make use of simple 3D visuals in a retro style that’s evocative of PlayStation-era games, with chunky characters and simple scenery. And while it’s technically unimpressive, the nostalgia it taps into is palpable. This is joined by a synthesized soundtrack that’s not just good, but that is unusual in ways that makes it interesting and makes the entire game somewhat surreal. This is exemplified by the ethereal title theme Angeline Era, but also includes Unyielding Loyal Duo: Vs. Dulla & Han, and A Sudajii’s Shade, Noon Sky Drifting By (World Map), to point to a few examples.

The gameplay in Angeline Era is interesting, and I don’t think I’ve played anything quite like it. I mentioned multiple games above that this game borrows elements from or reminds me of, but I wouldn’t say the majority of the game hews too close to any of them.

Players control Tets, who can jump, double-jump, and occasionally interact with an object, but at least at first that’s it. Attacking enemies simply requires you to bump into them, but only from the side – if they touch you from above or underneath, or while they’re doing something dangerous like extending spikes, then you take damage from them.

I feel it’s important to note that while I see many compare this to combat in the first few Ys games, the use of jumps and double-jumps gives it a new dimension, because it’s not just a “who can bump who first” contest, it’s more of a test of timing, positioning, movement, and proper use of jumping. It makes for some fairly unique gameplay that has an interesting strategic component, even if it can seem a bit loose and sloppy at times when multitudes of enemies are dogpiling on you.

While the level design of dungeons feels in some ways like a classic Zelda game, you don’t really get the same sort of puzzles or “find the special weapon and then use it on the boss” structure. Instead, it’s a bit more like a series of rooms where each room will have a different configuration of enemies and hazards, and sometimes this will require you to think differently about how you approach fighting those enemies, with some creative combinations and problems caused by those that you need to solve. You do slowly get access to other weapons and abilities, with the biggest early one being the gun, which curiously only fires “up” (North), which can mix with certain enemy types to make for clever fights.

Outside of dungeons, players gradually gain access to a widening map as they clear dungeons and open up new pathways, returning to a central town to buy healing items and make use of a bed to lock in upgrades. The way the world opens up gives players a fair amount of freedom to explore its somewhat labyrinthine layout, especially when it’s not clear where to go next – players can only gain access to dungeons by holding down a button to test a tile area that looks out-of-place. This would be frustrating, but it doesn’t take too long, and usually if a spot leads to a dungeon, it stands out, and vice versa.

My main complaints I’ve mostly already covered – namely the terrible localization leading to unnecessary confusion and the somewhat loose combat mechanics. However, I would add to this that the standard difficulty seems a tad high for my tastes, though you can opt to go with an easier difficulty if you prefer.

Overall, I think the terrible localization and the confusion it causes, along with the general weirdness surrounding this game, all make for an experience that absolutely will not appeal to everyone. But this game is really unique and creative, and has enough good qualities that I think players who are patient enough to work through its rough edges will find it well worth picking up.

tl;dr – Angeline Era is a game that combines Action-RPG and 3D Platformer with visuals that evoke the original PlayStation era, and gameplay that combines numerous games while still largely being its own thing. The “bumpslash gameplay is implemented in a unique and creative way, and there are a lot of really original touches, though this game is undermined by a horrible localization and unclear instructions. Overall, this game’s creativity and good design win out over its flaws, though this won’t be a game for everyone.

Grade: B

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