Voxel Boomer: Arkos 2
First person magic mayhem
‣ Arkos 2
From: RetroSouls
Platforms: PC
Release: To Be Announced
Steam Page • Demo Video
First-person shooter games are dominated by sci-fi, horror or warfare. Finding a magic-themed shooter is a rare treat, even though the genre’s early days included much-loved games like Heretic and Hexen. Fortunately, indie developers are filling this void with some great sorcery action, and Arkon 2 is an entertaining take on the sub-genre. Save the world as the wizard Arkon, exploring levels and killing cultists before they get to you. Use a variety of sceptres—essentially the equivalent of FPS guns—and tear through the bad guys in this throwback to boomer shooters.
Whereas the first Arkon game was very much a 2.5D shooter with retro pixel graphics, Arkon 2 upgrades to a new 3D voxel engine. Your magic attacks don’t just eliminate enemies—you can also destroy some decor, smashing windows, grates, and particular walls to access new areas. Yet its heart, Arkon 2 is a tribute to its Nineties ancestors. The demo offers three levels from the game with several weapons and enemy types. It’s a high-speed blast that mixes boomer shooter design with a fun, even cartoonish, voxel world. No release date has been announced, so wishlist it for updates.
Explore The Game with Youtube Chapters:
📽 00:16 E01M01: An FPS throwback
📽 00:31 Destroy that pillar: Voxels are brittle
📽 02:33 A new weapon: Wield the Sceptre of Twinlight
📽 03:15 They can fly!: These cultists are unreal
📽 05:38 Enter the temple: Stage 2, here we go
📽 06:11 A secret!: Just one wall away
📽 07:36 Stuck?: Break your way out
📽 10:16 More firepower: Meet the Rising Phoenix
📽 11:17 It's getting bloody: Some voxel splatter
📽 12:07 Level 3 awaits: Get your feet wet
📽 13:00 Slimy guardians: A new monster!
📽 14:53 Pit of doom: Those spikes are pointy
📽 16:38 What's this sceptre do?: The Ethernal Sonata
📽 18:12 Telefrag: Always a classic
AIIG's Take: We fondly remember Heretic and Hexen, which Arkos 2 taps for its feel and presentation. But there was no way they could make a game like this 25 years ago: Arkos 2 has a stunning voxel engine, a significant upgrade from the first game (you can also try its demo on Steam) that adds more dimension to the levels with elevation and detailed touches. It also amplifies one of Arkos’ gimmicks: destroy the decor and certain barriers, shattering them into dozens of blocks.
Some people might find the camera movement and field of view a bit too much: thankfully, the developers included settings to tweak those and other gameplay effects. Arkos 2’s movement and action are very satisfying, as are the weapons: a range of sceptres with effects such as faster firing rates, fireballs, and teleportation. We’d have liked to see more enemy types in the demo, and the three demo levels’ art style becomes a bit repetitive. But overall, this is a nice fast-paced shooter that blends new ideas with old-school charm. And since it’s the second game, we’re convinced Arkos 2’s final release will be a very polished and satisfying experience.
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