Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Angel Devoid: Face of the Enemy unfolds as a first‐person point-and-click adventure where every decision can be your last. Players assume the role of Jack Hard, a cop on the trail of the elusive Angel Devoid, and must navigate a series of static screens by clicking on interactive hot spots. Each click triggers a brief full-motion video clip that advances the story or shows the immediate consequence of your action.

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One of the game’s defining features is its relentless time pressure. Whether you’re drawing your gun in a showdown or coordinating with a robot informant, you must react quickly or face an instant game over. This mechanic extends into dialogue encounters: instead of choosing precise lines, you pick Jack’s mood—aggressive, passive, or neutral—and hope your tone fits the situation. A wrong emotional choice can be as deadly as a missed bullet.

Inventory puzzles are sparse but meaningful, forcing you to collect and combine items in order to progress. You can’t freely roam NeoCity; instead, you click exits to move from one screen to the next, punctuated by a short walk cycle animation. This design reinforces the feeling that every step matters and that danger lurks around every corner—choose the wrong doorway or click the wrong object, and the game wastes no time showing you Jack’s demise.

Graphics

For a mid-’90s release, Angel Devoid delivers surprisingly polished visuals that blend pre-rendered backgrounds with full-motion video sequences. The cityscapes of NeoCity are detailed with neon lights, towering skyscrapers, and rain-slicked streets that evoke a gritty cyberpunk atmosphere. While modern players may notice pixelation and limited color depth, the overall aesthetic remains strikingly effective.

The live-action clips featuring the actors can feel both charming and dated: low-budget production values are apparent in lighting and costume design, but the cast commits fully to their roles, selling Jack’s desperation and the enigmatic menace of Angel Devoid. Character close-ups are grainy yet memorable, giving the game a distinctive FMV charm that fans of the genre will appreciate.

Background art does the heavy lifting in setting the tone. Sleek corridors of the police precinct contrast with the dingy back alleys of nighttime NeoCity, while interior locations like bars and the museum feel lived-in thanks to props and ambient animations. Though resolution limitations are clear, the world remains immersive thanks to thoughtful color palettes and atmospheric details such as flickering neon and drifting fog.

Story

At its core, Angel Devoid: Face of the Enemy is a tale of identity, revenge, and betrayal. Jack Hard begins the game determined to capture the criminal mastermind who murdered his partner, only to wake up after a car chase accident and discover his face has been surgically altered to match Angel Devoid’s. Framed as a terrorist, Jack must clear his name before the city’s security forces execute him on sight.

The narrative unfolds through a series of timed encounters with both human and robotic characters. Conversations heighten the tension—do you intimidate the shady barmaid, or charm your way past the security droid? Each interaction reveals bits of police dossiers, criminal files, and conspiracy theories that gradually piece together a larger plot involving corrupt officials and hidden agendas.

The pacing is relentless, with no room for prolonged exploration or lateral thinking. Death is ever-present, and uncovering the truth often means replaying segments to choose the correct attitude or item. While some players may find the trial-and-error structure frustrating, it does reinforce the protagonist’s sense of urgency, as if every wrong step could seal Jack’s fate.

Overall Experience

Angel Devoid: Face of the Enemy stands out as an ambitious FMV adventure that pushes the boundaries of interactivity for its time. Its blend of cinematic video clips, timed decision-making, and puzzle elements creates a unique gameplay loop that remains engaging, especially for fans of retro titles and cyberpunk narratives.

However, the game’s punishing difficulty curve and reliance on precise click timing may test the patience of modern audiences. Instant-death scenarios require memorization of optimal paths and dialogue moods, and the static-screen navigation can feel restrictive compared to open-world or free-roaming adventures.

For collectors and enthusiasts of ’90s FMV games, Angel Devoid offers a compelling dive into a dystopian future filled with intrigue and high stakes. Its world-building, atmospheric graphics, and daring time-pressure mechanics make it a memorable—if occasionally maddening—experience that’s well worth exploring for those seeking a taste of gaming history’s more experimental side.

Retro Replay Score

5.7/10