You may have seen Anger Foot described as a first-person Hotline Miami — and that’s probably a good comparison to, er, kick things off.
Playing as the titular Anger Foot himself, you’ll kick and shoot your way through the superbly named Shit City in search of your beloved sneakers. It’s an unapologetically punk setting where just about everyone’s a criminal, including the top dog Crime Minister.
The game’s got a crass but well-measured sense of humour to it, and many of its funnier moments come from your own thoughtless actions. Environments are enjoyably destructible, with Anger Foot able to send objects and harmless NPCs flying.
This kind of interactivity lends to the title’s gameplay feel, which is brutish and satisfying throughout. Tight controls combine with some great ragdoll physics to create a non-stop kick-’em-up, pushing you through short, narrowly designed levels that are built to be replayed.
Much like Hotline Miami, you need to stay locked in if you’re to succeed. One lapse in concentration can lead to a swift death, but near instant retries make the whole thing incredibly moreish. It’s surprisingly easy to find yourself looping specific levels over and over again, in an attempt to complete special challenges.
Thankfully, trial and error doesn’t have too much of a negative impact on the experience. While moments of frustration do crop up due to especially sneaky enemy placements, you usually have just enough time to react to your surroundings. Still, this can be a very unforgiving release.
That said, there are a few difficulty-related options that can help you find your rhythm, along with aim assist sliders and even a no-death mode. Mastery is the name of the game here, and it’s nice that Anger Foot lets you start off at a more comfortable level, if it suits you.
All in all, Anger Foot is a bold indie that leaves a clear impression. It feels fantastic to play when you’re in the zone, and the game’s relentless aesthetic helps set it apart from the action crowd.
