Official Score
Overall - 70%
70%
Accel’s flight mechanics hit all the right notes for an arcade title, but it proves to be far too short for the long term. Those looking for a brief respite between longer titles can have fun here, but don’t be surprised if you’re done sooner rather than later.
Aerodynamics meets arcade action with the release of Objectif 3D’s new title Accel. Featuring a number of tricky maneuvers, should players jump into the cockpit of this high-flying flyer?
Accel Review
To set the stage of Accel, a brief story has been thrown in before the title screen. Told via some generic flavor text, Accel tells of the “All-Out War,” a stalemate, and the cyber world of ACCEL. This text is gone as quickly as it appears, and the story is never revisited throughout the title, so it is an element that is simply there and nothing more.
Rather, the gameplay of Accel is the meat and potatoes of it all. Players take control of a large spacecraft, one that is always in perpetual motion. As players fly through the skies, they must hit a number of green collectibles that dot the landscape. Hit the collectibles, and the store increases – pretty straightforward arcade rules. To incentivize players, a multiplier that goes up to 10x has also been included – a nice touch.
However, these types of games live and die by their controls. Thankfully, the controls here work as they should. Players fly through the skies with a control scheme akin to Star Fox 64, but there’s a twist – players can change their orientation. With the press of one of the triggers, players can change the trajectory of their ship to a completely 360 view. This is an interesting element, as it is used to navigate tricky corridors and go through specific collectibles for additional points. There is no acceleration, braking, or firing mechanics, so making the most of this orientation can mean the difference between a high score and a low one.
The three levels (and tutorial) stage manage to stand out quite a bit. Though the title is a short one (we were able to complete everything in around 20 minutes), the levels will take players through asteroid belts, neon-drenched cities, industrial tunnels, and other zones. Each stage lasts a matter of minutes, though each selection manages to make an impact throughout. Its solid synth beats also help bring this game to life.
Complete each level, and a tally of the player’s time, data collected, axe data collected, incomplete axe data collected, and collisions will be displayed. A letter grade is also included, which is factored into both its leaderboards and unlocking additional levels. It’s nothing revolutionary, but it is still welcome nonetheless.
Unfortunately, Accel does not feature much replayability. Players can utilize alternate ships that differ cosmetically and put their scores on an offline leaderboard, but there is little else to keep people coming back in the long term.
Accel’s flight mechanics hit all the right notes for an arcade title, but it proves to be far too short for the long term. Those looking for a brief respite between longer titles can have fun here, but don’t be surprised if you’re done sooner rather than later.
