Wrath: Aeon of Ruin

King Quake is alive, and WRATH: Aeon of Ruin is here to prove it to us. Kudos to KillPixel, which has been able to create very maze-like maps full of secret rooms, hordes of enemies who rely not only on numerical superiority but also have an intelligence that guides them to encircle us and catch us from behind, and a range of weapons that really give the impression of doing harm. The only drawback is a certain sluggishness in the controls, especially in using the dash in the air to jump a little farther. Be aware that this is a very difficult game, and advancing will be a challenge, but isn't that exactly what boomer shooters are supposed to be?

Almost every single one of the so-called "boomer shooters" tends to focus almost entirely on fast, high-octane action. WRATH: Aeon of Ruin fools you by thinking it's the same as them but it isn't. Oh, sure, it has plenty combat to satiate your need for killing evil things with cool weapons, but you are also meant to soak into its strong dark fantasy atmosphere, and spend hours exploring its beautiful, vast realms. While it has its flaws, with chief among them its needlessly large maps, it's safe to call this trip back to the magic of the past a modern classic of the genre.

While Wrath: Aeon of Ruin might give off the impression that it’s just another boomer shooter in a market already well-past saturation, it manages to forge its own identity by being a throwback to classics of the genre with a flair of its own. And of course, the incredible level design and gunplay go a long way in making the game incredibly fun. The only real downside is that, for its wild settings and visuals, the weapons never really break the mold of classic shooter archetypes.

Despite some rough edges that risk making it unsuitable for newcomers to the genre, WRATH: Aeon of Ruin is among the best boomer shooters around today, especially if you love open levels and exploration.

WRATH: Aeon of Ruin is a great spiritual successor to Quake, using the game’s engine to deliver a modern take on the mechanics. Though the map design can feel claustrophobic, the game is fun and has interesting takes on weapons, enemies, and other core boomer-shooter mechanics with minimal bugs.

WRATH: Aeon of Ruin is part of an already long line of modern first-person shooters that target players' nostalgia for the genre’s classics. The engine is built on Quake tech and both the levels, and the enemies are designed to trigger a nostalgia response. It’s unlikely that fans of more modern FPS experiences will be interested. The big combat moments are tense and get the adrenaline flowing, especially when players remember how long it’s been since they used a soul tether. Unfortunately, WRATH: Aeon of Ruin has too many corridors and relies too much on enemies who teleport in to turn into the classic that it wants to be.

WRATH: Aeon of Ruin is a very fun time, but it's not for everyone. You’ll find expansive levels and worthy challenges to conquer for those willing and ready to face what it offers.

Despite being stuck in development hell for years, Wrath: Aeon of Ruin more or less achieves what it meant to and poses itself as a history course for the FPS genre by taking the older gamers to the past and bringing the past to the newer gamers.

WRATH: Aeon of Ruin channels the original Quake and fills its levels with interesting guns and gross enemies. Combat feels great - especially the shotgun - and there's a lot of content to sink your teeth into, though it feels a little formulaic by the end. The limited save system is quite the misstep, but doesn't detract from the fun too much.

Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is still an incredibly solid start for KillPixel, and after a few patches it will surely flourish even more.

Retro FPS builds on nostalgia and pure action, but could have offered more variability. Still, it's not a bad choice.

If you approach Wrath: Aeon of Ruin with no expectations beyond a violent way to kill a few hours, then there is fun to be had.