Garrison: Archangel

My first real session with Garrison: Archangel lasted longer than I expected, mostly because I spent the first half of it in the Garage instead of actually fighting anyone. That is not a complaint. The part-by-part mech builder here splits your Archangel into head, arms, torso, legs, and internal modules, each slot affecting your weight, armor, and mobility values independently. You pick weapon slots for right hand, left hand, and back hardpoints, which means a dual-ranged gunship loadout is just as viable as a Dominus Sword hybrid that charges its railgun mode through melee hits. The build variety is genuinely surprising for a game this size, and working out whether a heavier frame survives long enough to justify the reduced boost economy is the kind of puzzle that keeps you in menus. Combat is faster than the visuals imply. The Boost gauge is the core resource: it fuels your dashes, dodges, flight, and repositioning, and if you drain it to zero your mech hits Overload and becomes a stationary target while it recharges. Managing boost spend versus aggression is the whole game on a mechanical level. There is also a Stability system that acts as a stagger meter. Take enough concentrated damage and your Archangel destabilizes briefly, granting temporary i-frames but giving the opponent breathing room to reset. Both systems create a rhythm that rewards patience and punishes reckless button-mashing, which is more than you get from most arena fighters at this price tier. Mode variety is reasonable for an indie release. Arcade, Survival, Horde, and Missions mode are all present, with Missions dropping you into the Baja Secunda conflict as a mercenary pilot, letting you align with or against different factions, earn money, and unlock parts. The four-player couch split-screen is a legitimate selling point for a game night, and Steam Remote Play means you do not need four copies to run it online with friends. Pure online PvP against strangers is where things get thin. The player pool is small, and the community-driven development means the game leans heavily on Discord for organized matches. If you are planning to grind a ranked ladder solo at peak hours, recalibrate those expectations. Controller is the intended input here, and the game plays noticeably better with one. Keyboard and mouse work, but the camera lock-on system was clearly designed around analog sticks. The tutorial covers the basics but does not go deep enough on weight management or the finer points of build-type matchups between Ranged, Hybrid, and Melee archetypes. Expect a community guide session before things click fully. Steam reviews sit at 82% positive across a modest review count, which feels accurate. This is not a game that competes with a AAA mecha title, but it fills a gap that AAA has mostly ignored on PC.

Fred · Scout Team

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