Review of Agent Fall for PlayStation 5

Agent Fall, developed by eastasiasoft and Pufferfish Digital, invites players into a nostalgic, retro-inspired side-scrolling 2D shooter experience on the PlayStation 5. In our review, we’ll delve into what makes this game tick.

The premise of Agent Fall is straightforward yet intriguing. Unusual activities have been reported at a clandestine military base nestled in the desert, and it’s your mission to figure out what’s happening before things spiral out of control. You have the option to play as one of four different agents, each equipped with a license to kill, as you attempt to breach the secrets of the base.

Agent Fall offers varying levels of difficulty, catering to different types of players. You can customize your challenge level with options like Recruit, Veteran, or Insane. The Recruit level is relatively forgiving, providing you with extra HP and reducing the strength of bosses and enemies. Opting for Veteran ensures a balanced, challenging experience. However, Insane mode is aptly named—it ramps up the difficulty by reducing your HP to one and increasing the enemies’ resilience, all while enforcing permadeath that prevents second chances.

Your character choice among Johnson, Smith, Bianchi, and Diaz sets the stage for a short tutorial, introducing you to the game’s controls. Maneuver your character using the left analog stick or D-Pad, jump with the X button, and unleash a hail of bullets using the Square button. To deploy grenades, which arch as they travel, press the Circle button—mastering this can mean the difference between blowing up enemies or inadvertently harming yourself.

One interesting aspect is the game’s arsenal. While your main firearm has infinite ammo, additional weapons collected during your mission have limitations but pack more punch. From shotguns and machine guns to a flamethrower, bazooka, plasma gun, and even a mini gun, each weapon can turn the tide, especially if used wisely. Resources like extra grenades and bulletproof vests, which act as secondary health bars, provide added layers of strategy during gameplay.

Now, for the trophy hunters, Agent Fall includes a full list of trophies, culminating in a coveted Platinum. Since it’s a Cross-Buy title, purchasing it for the PlayStation 5 also gives you access to the PlayStation 4 version, each having separate trophy lists. The trophies are divided into 2 Bronze, 16 Silver, and 6 Gold for each version, offering double the journey for dedicated players.

Agent Fall, priced attractively at $5.99, revives a classic gaming style with its 2D side-scrolling shooter format on Sony’s platform. You get to unravel mysteries at a secret desert base, all while navigating the challenges and perks of different difficulty settings. The dual trophy list available for both PS4 and PS5 sweetens the deal for completists.

For this review, a PlayStation 5 copy was provided by eastasiasoft.