One of the most overused backstories is that of an alien invasion. When executed correctly, this idea is enthralling, interesting and full of mystery. However, when it misses the mark, it’s tedious, boring, and an instant turnoff. After Wave: Downfall sadly lands in the latter category, and this was disappointing.
Developed by 7 Raven Studios and published by Totalconsole, this is an arcade shooter. What’s more, this moderately paced title can be enjoyed solo or with others. Moreover, it has an array of difficulty settings and a campaign and arcade option. Consequently, it should have been fun and interesting. However, it is tired, dull, and unbelievably lacklustre.
After Wave: Downfall is uninspiring and insipid.
Sadly, After Wave: Downfall did little to inspire me. Unfortunately, it’s poorly executed plot and awful gameplay are dull and insipid. Disappointingly, much of the action is mindless and requires little skill. Furthermore, the tedium is likely to bring a toddler to tears.
The plot focuses on an alien species called Deathrix. These abominations released a mysterious meteorite that caused a deadly flood. Accordingly, it is now your job to kick their asses and save mankind. Depending on the difficulty setting, you’ll take on a range of challenging foes and an increased number of stages. Once you complete your playthrough, your score is calculated, and then, unfortunately, you are free to do it again.
Mindless gameplay and pointless upgrades.
After Wave: Downfall delivers some of the most pointless action I’ve ever experienced. No matter the difficulty, you’ll simply spam the shoot button and hope for the best. However, whenever that fails, you have 3 super weapons to fall back on. Rockets, barrels, missiles, mines, and more are used to decimate your foes. Sounds cool, right? Well, it should be, but it isn’t as zero thought process is required to progress. Subsequently, this was unbelievably disappointing, and the result was a mundane experience.
Each level comprises grunts, demi-bosses, and a giant creature to cap it off. As you wipe out each of the beasts, they drop stars and energy canisters. The latter powers your special weapons and is essential when things get crazy. The stars, on the other hand, are used to rate your performance. Why does that matter? Well, the better you do, the more credits you earn. In turn, this can be invested in improving your character or unlocking new heroes. Like the core concept, the upgrades amount to very little. Subsequently, it was another example of a poorly executed mechanic in a sea of utter disappointment.
After Wave: Downfall looks dated.
Classic arcade gaming is amazing for many reasons. One key element everyone loves is the vivid colours, interesting, but repetitive backdrops, and basic sprites. Luckily, this is one area that After Wave: Downfall got right. Though its finish was dated and borderline tired, it worked well with the theme and the genre. Furthermore, I liked the animation and the variety of enemies you face.
The audio was also well executed. With classic retro sounds and a high-energy soundtrack, it adds drama and fun to the proceedings. What’s more, it is reminiscent of other classic arcade titles, while retaining some fun and original moments.
Suitable controls.
The control system was neither terrible nor was it great. With a reasonable UI and a simple approach, it was easy enough to pick up and play. However, nothing wowed me, and this left me feeling underwhelmed. Consequently, the suitable controls didn’t excite me, and the straightforward method made an easy game unfortunately a bit too simple.
The inclusion of cooperative action, and the arcade mode, was brilliant. By doing this, the developers added some much-needed depth and difficulty to their title. On top of this, it was fun to play with friends and this was a small plus point. Furthermore, if you are a completionist, this is the game for you. Why? Well, you’ll have it done and dusted in under 2 hours, without much effort.
After Wave: Downfall was disappointing.
Playing After Wave: Downfall left a bitter taste in my mouth. With only a few redeeming features, this is one of the most tedious games I’ve played. Sadly, its underwhelming gameplay repeatedly misses the mark and will disappoint you. Consequently, I can’t recommend it. However, more information can be found here! Can you save mankind and defeat the alien scum? You could, but it’ll be dull and tedious throughout.
