Alien Breed 2: Assault
- September 22, 2010
- Team17 Digital Ltd
- 7h median play time
"Alien Breed 2: Assault" is a sci-fi survival horror game set in a space vessel overrun by alien invaders. As a space marine, players must navigate through the ship, battle aliens, and complete objectives to progress. The game features improved graphics and new gameplay elements compared to its predecessor, including a new melee system and more destructible environments. Co-op play is also available, allowing players to team up and fight the alien threat together.
Reviews
- The game has a solid atmosphere and graphics that are well done for its time.
- The gameplay can be enjoyable, especially in co-op mode with friends.
- The story continues from the first game, providing some engaging moments.
- The game suffers from repetitive gameplay and excessive backtracking.
- Camera angles can be frustrating, making it difficult to aim and navigate.
- Many players experienced bugs and glitches that hindered progress.
- story162 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in this game series is generally viewed as predictable and clichéd, often lacking depth and coherence, with many players noting its linearity and repetitiveness. While some appreciate the comic cutscenes and character interactions, the overall narrative is criticized for being unengaging and filled with typical sci-fi tropes. Additionally, technical issues and bugs detract from the experience, leaving players frustrated with the execution of the story.
“The story picks up where the first game left off.”
“The best part is still the storyline, with your cyborg friend and the great evil guy.”
“This game continues the thrilling story from Alien Breed: Impact in which you play a gritty space marine with a tragic past.”
“The story is predictable, samey, and very linear.”
“The story is almost non-existent except for unvoiced narration that you can't really pay attention to due to aliens attacking you during these narrative points, so they're kind of useless.”
“The story is bland and cliche, and the gameplay consists of running from waypoint to waypoint blasting the same five or six aliens over and over and over.”
- gameplay94 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game series is characterized by repetitive mechanics, linear level design, and a lack of innovation, leading to a mixed reception among players. While some appreciate the nostalgic twin-stick shooter experience and atmospheric elements, many criticize the monotonous objectives, limited enemy variety, and clunky controls that detract from overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, the game can still provide a few hours of fun, particularly for fans of the genre, though it often feels derivative and uninspired.
“During the first half, it's okay to save up ammo through 'tactical back-paddling while shooting the pistol'; it adds to the tension and thus it enriches the gameplay.”
“Good attention to detail, enjoyable gameplay, and good story development.”
“Gameplay addictive and solid.”
“Damage sponging a boss with limited feedback and allowing him to do literal explosive gobs of damage in a game that at that point worked very hard to whittle the player character's health down was not worth the actual headache this game causes.”
“The gameplay is repetitive and it's the sort of thing you'll want to put down for a while between sessions so it doesn't get stale.”
“The missions become repetitive quickly and the small number of alien variations leads to fairly stale gameplay.”
- graphics66 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the retro pixelated style and overall aesthetic appeal, while others criticize the dark, repetitive environments and lack of variety. Many players noted that the visuals are decent for a game from 2010, with some appreciating the use of the Unreal Engine, but the constant screenshake and bland color palette detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics are considered serviceable and occasionally impressive, they often fall short of elevating the gameplay.
“Now, let's talk about the cutting-edge graphics; Alien Breed 2: Assault effortlessly brings back the glorious era of pixelated visuals, giving you an authentic retro experience that will surely make your eyes nostalgic for the good old days.”
“The graphics are quite well done with a nice sound pack.”
“The graphics look really good; you can see that the developers took the time to make the levels with a significant amount of detail.”
“The visuals are awful and the constant screenshake (that you can't turn off) doesn't help.”
“The only thing that kills the visuals is the constant 'shaky cam' that's implemented to give this 'intensity'.”
“Its graphics are very bland and dark; I suggest you turn off post-process effects, it makes the game much more vibrant and without bloom and all the other issues.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its solid and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective use of sound effects, visuals, and environmental design to create a creepy and engaging sci-fi horror experience. However, some players noted inconsistencies, such as a lack of in-game voice-overs and repetitive tasks that detracted from the overall atmosphere. Despite these criticisms, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal.
“Alien Breed 2 is an entertaining, atmospheric, survival isometric shooter where you have to face armies of aliens alone.”
“The environments are grungy and atmospheric, and the monster designs are pretty cool and varied.”
“The music and sound effects fit perfectly in the whole atmosphere of the game; the cries of the aliens are also really good.”
“At the last chapter, the game overuses an annoying laughter, without spoiling too much, which only serves to destroy the game's horror atmosphere.”
“Like Alien Breed: Impact, Assault is a simple, isometric shooter that loses atmosphere faster than a hull breach.”
“What has been lost in the updating, however, is the character and look of the originals; this new Alien Breed is rather dull looking, and most importantly is lacking atmosphere.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, with many expressing frustration over the excessive backtracking and monotonous tasks required to progress. The lack of meaningful rewards, coupled with a high number of similar enemies, contributes to a sense of boredom and regret, leading some to prefer a shorter, more engaging experience over the drawn-out gameplay. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant detractor from the game's enjoyment.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is real, but the sense of progression makes every hour spent feel worthwhile.”
“I love how grinding not only improves my character but also deepens my understanding of the game mechanics.”
“Probably to pad the game out, but I would have much preferred a 2-hour game that's lots of fun, over a 10-hour tedious game that I regret playing.”
“When I said tedious in reference to this game, I meant the fact you spend 90% of your time going back and forth flipping levers and looking for switches.”
“A tedious slog through repetitive environments.”
- music9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric fit and immersive quality, while others criticize it for feeling generic or reminiscent of stock sound effects. The sound effects, including alien cries, contribute positively to the overall experience, although issues with volume levels have been noted. Overall, while the music enhances the game's ambiance, it lacks originality and could benefit from more variety.
“The music and sounds are excellent, though I wish the conversations in the game could have had voiceovers too instead of just the cutscenes.”
“The constant alien screeches, which sometimes sound scarily human, along with the ominous background music, make for an immersive experience.”
“The music and sound effects fit perfectly into the whole atmosphere of the game; the cries of the aliens are also really good.”
“The sound effects all feel like stock sound effects, and so does the one song with a violin; I'm fairly certain I've heard it before somewhere else.”
“I have to turn my volume way up when playing this game, which is a big problem because I am not going to remember to turn it back down when I'm done playing. So the next thing I do, like play music or play another much better game, blows my ears off.”
“The music is a fit for the game.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with some users noting the inclusion of a survivor mode and multiplayer options that offer minimal additional value. While there are a few modes to explore, many reviewers feel that the game lacks significant incentive to replay, often recommending it for a single playthrough only.
“And finally there's the new survivor mode which I played just once but otherwise extends replayability by just that much.”
“Some multiplayer modes in there as well as some single-player replayability (wave mode, etc).”
“Replayability: survival mode has 3 maps to try and finish with a leaderboard.”
“A decent over the top shooter but I don't see much replayability.”
“I recommend this to be played once but the replay value is just not there.”
“Beware: low replayability.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by touching moments between the protagonist, Conrad, and his robotic companion, Mia, which resonate deeply with some players. However, the overall narrative is criticized for being dull and unengaging, leading to mixed feelings about the emotional investment in the story. Additionally, the intense visual effects can create a disorienting experience, detracting from the emotional engagement for some players.
“The storyline has some touching moments between Conrad (protagonist) and his robotic lady, Mia.”
“I cried.”
“The first boss battle and where I quit; the screen is shaking and nearly constantly shaking in a way that actually made me feel disoriented in real life.”
“On the other hand, I’m not even that mad since it's the same thing as the first Alien Breed, only with new cutscenes that will progress a boring story you won't care about anyway.”
“You need to do the same things as you do in Alien Breed: impact, you do it again and again, and spend nearly an hour on each level. It's so boring—boring story and boring gameplay.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some users reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in campaign execution and during specific gameplay scenarios. However, others have experienced no performance issues, indicating that stability may vary between players. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, the engaging gameplay and story can still captivate players despite these flaws.
“A buggy, clunky, unoptimized game which somehow pulls me into its gameplay and story despite its repetitiveness.”
“Sometimes works buggy against eggs in later parts.”
“Small glitches that you can get stuck in walls.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many finding it funny and enjoyable, particularly in the second part, which improves upon the first. However, some players noted that the repetitive nature of the jokes and constant explosions can become annoying over time. Overall, the comedic elements, including interactions with quirky aliens, contribute positively to the experience.
“Funny all the same.”
“The second part did not disappoint at all; in fact, it went in a better direction, but still had many 'funny problems.'”
“Running and finding your way in a wreck is easy, thanks to the radar; everywhere explodes with the same effect constantly, and you're shooting some funny aliens.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting no performance issues or glitches, while others criticize it for running significantly slower than its predecessor.
“No performance issues or glitches on my side.”
“Optimization is rubbish... this game runs much more slowly than the first one.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in "Alien Breed 2: Assault" is largely criticized for being uninspired, with players feeling that the focus on repetitive gameplay overshadows any meaningful growth or depth in the characters.
“Alien Breed 2: Assault is excellent when it comes to providing an unforgettable experience of repetitive alien slaying, but the character development is uninspired.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for failing to create a compelling survival horror experience, leading players to view it merely as a distraction rather than an engaging or immersive experience.