Angelfish

Angelfish (also known as Angel Fish) is a 2004–2005 top-down vertical shooter (shmup) developed and published by the small Finnish studio Fathammer Ltd. It was originally released for Windows Mobile / Pocket PC devices in 2004–2005 (with some sources listing a 2006 Windows PC version). It serves as a spiritual sequel to Fathammer’s earlier game Firehammer and is a classic vertical-scrolling shooter with hand-drawn parallax scrolling backgrounds, fast-paced action, and a sci-fi theme. The game was also released under the name Angel Fish in some regions and later appeared in compilations or re-releases.

Core Story

The Sirian armies are raiding the universe. You take control of the powerful Angel Fish starfighter and must fight through waves of enemy ships to reach and destroy the massive Sirian mothership. The story is minimal and serves mainly as setup for the action — classic “stop the alien invasion” fare with no deep narrative or cutscenes.

Gameplay and Features

Angelfish is a straightforward, fast-paced top-down vertical shooter:

• Vertical Scrolling Action: Fly upward through colorful, hand-drawn parallax environments while blasting waves of enemies and dodging projectiles.
• Power-Ups & Weapons: Collect upgrades to enhance your ship’s firepower, speed, and special abilities. The game features satisfying explosions and chain reactions when destroying clusters of foes.
• Boss Fights: Face increasingly tough enemy formations culminating in large boss encounters, including the final mothership.
• Arcade Style: High-score chasing with multiple difficulty levels and replayability focused on mastering patterns and improving runs.

The game is short and intense (typically 20–40 minutes for a full run), designed for quick pick-up-and-play sessions on portable devices. It was praised for its beautiful hand-drawn graphics, smooth performance on limited hardware, and solid shmup gameplay for its era, though some noted its brevity and high difficulty.

Platforms and Availability

• Primary Release: Windows Mobile / Pocket PC (2004–2005). A Windows PC version followed around 2006.
• Modern Access: The game is abandonware and can be downloaded from sites like MyAbandonware (Windows version). No official modern remaster or re-release on Steam, GOG, or current consoles exists. It runs on modern Windows via compatibility mode or emulators, but may require tinkering for controls and resolution. No console ports (including Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation, or Xbox) were ever made beyond the original mobile/PC releases.

Quick Note

Angelfish is a charming, overlooked mobile-era shmup from Fathammer that delivers classic vertical shooter fun with attractive hand-drawn visuals. It’s short, challenging, and perfect for fans of old-school arcade shooters or retro mobile gaming curiosities. If you enjoy fast top-down action and can handle some setup for the abandonware version, it offers a quick, nostalgic blast through space: “Pilot the Angel Fish… destroy the Sirian mothership and save the universe.”

The game is free to download from abandonware archives (e.g., MyAbandonware) and runs on modern PCs with minor tweaks. It’s a hidden gem from the early days of smartphone/portable gaming.