Angry Video Game Nerd II: ASSimilation
- March 28, 2016
- FreakZone Games
- 6h median play time
Get on SteamAngry Video Game Nerd II: ASSimilation is a hilarious run-and-gun game inspired by the popular web series. Players control the Nerd as he battles through multiple levels, taking on hordes of video game-themed enemies. The game features co-op play, multiple weapons, and plenty of nods to classic gaming nostalgia.
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Reviews
- The game features improved graphics and sound, creating a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic 8-bit games.
- Gameplay mechanics have been enhanced with new power-ups and abilities, such as wall jumping and sliding, making it more engaging.
- The humor and references to the AVGN series are well-executed, providing a fun experience for fans.
- The game can be frustratingly difficult at times, with some levels feeling unfair due to enemy placements and instant-death obstacles.
- There are performance issues, including lag in certain levels, which can hinder gameplay.
- The final boss is considered underwhelming compared to the challenging nature of the rest of the game.
- music118 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising it as a standout feature that complements the gameplay and evokes a nostalgic retro feel. While some players feel the soundtrack is not as memorable as the first game's, others highlight its variety and quality, noting that it includes both new tracks and remixes from the original. Overall, the soundtrack is generally regarded as excellent, with several standout tracks that enhance the gaming experience.
“The music is top notch and the dialogue is on point with the nerd.”
“The soundtrack is once again amazing, with a mix of old and new tracks that perfectly complements the action and gameplay.”
“An excellent upgrade from the first game and adds a fantastic soundtrack that I can't get enough of!”
“The music is way worse, the sound is horrendous to the point where I would love to know who did this.”
“The only thing that has been slightly worse is the music.”
“To be honest, the music felt a little lacking.”
- gameplay80 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "AVGN Adventures 2: Assimilation" is widely regarded as a significant improvement over its predecessor, featuring enhanced mechanics such as wall jumping, power-ups, and a more fluid control system. Players appreciate the challenging yet fair level design, which incorporates a variety of nostalgic elements and references, while also offering a smoother experience with less frustrating instant deaths. Overall, the game successfully combines retro platforming with modern enhancements, making it enjoyable for both fans of the series and newcomers alike.
“The gameplay in AVGN 2 is by far the biggest improvement over the first game, and I'm glad to say that it felt much more fun to play because of it.”
“The added upgrades and gameplay mechanics are great, and keep the gameplay new and fresh!”
“This game is a marked improvement over the first one in the series due to having more stages, more fun mechanics (wall jumping, swimming, anti-gravity, and more) and it goes for a 'tough but fair' approach to level design rather than the first game's 'bullshit but beatable' idea.”
“Trying to copy other mechanics from other games is clearly fine, but if your game doesn't fine-tune enough and platforming becomes the main part, but your hitboxes are just off or your abilities just don't work how they should, maybe you should consider changing stuff.”
“Instant deaths, cheap enemies, BS gameplay mechanics, and awkward movements!”
“The wall-slide/wall-grip mechanic annoys me to hell.”
- humor80 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of nostalgic references, vulgar jokes, and clever meta-commentary, appealing primarily to fans of the AVGN series. While some players find the humor hit-or-miss and occasionally overdone, many appreciate the blend of childish and adult humor, along with the creative level design and memorable character interactions. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of the original while introducing new comedic elements, making it a fun experience for those familiar with the source material.
“So many funny jokes and references.”
“The humor is great, the gameplay is fun, challenging, and really rage-inducing at times.”
“A love letter to the old-school platformers, with hilarious comedy, secrets to unlock, and an amazing soundtrack.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the improved pixel art and vibrant visuals compared to the original, while others criticize issues like over-saturation, blurriness, and graphical glitches that can detract from the experience. Some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and detailed environments, but note that certain levels suffer from poor visibility due to excessive filters. Overall, while the graphics are generally seen as a step up, they are not without their flaws, leading to a varied reception among players.
“Angry Video Game Nerd 2 looks pretty close to how the first game looked (which looked great), but now the graphics are crisper and the environments are also really good.”
“The game offers some nice graphics and a good aesthetic that really brightens and makes the game stand out and unique.”
“The graphics and audio are stellar; colorful and lively.”
“An entire level in terrible Virtual Boy graphics?”
“Graphics are 'improved' but not as clean as the original; the haze and particle effects make things hard to see.”
“The game's graphics have a much higher setup than the last game, which will cause lag and low frame rates on anything other than top-of-the-line machines, making many stages more frustrating than challenging due to controls not registering correctly due to lag.”
- story21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story in the game is minimal and serves primarily as a backdrop for humor and gameplay, featuring a simple narrative structure with a starting cutscene, an ending, and various jokes throughout the levels. While some players appreciate the comedic elements and guest cameos, many agree that the plot is not groundbreaking and lacks depth, similar to the first game. Overall, the story is seen as a lighthearted and silly addition that doesn't detract from the gameplay experience.
“A fun, new storyline and even more guest cameos, all with the same formidable difficulty you expect from any game featuring AVGN.”
“Hard but fair and great control with a funny storyline and great gameplay.”
“You shouldn't expect a story-driven game as there's basically next to no story; it's just a starting cutscene, an ending, and a bunch of jokes that you hear in certain levels.”
“The story is just as lacking as in the first one, and the final boss feels uninspired as one stage theme is based on the movie.”
“Just like the first game, the story isn't complicated or important, and only serves as a vehicle for the nerd's adventure to have a purpose, much like in some of the AVGN episodes.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its collectible power-ups, achievements, and multiple difficulty levels, appealing to completionists and achievement hunters alike. While some players find the collectibles easy to obtain and not particularly impactful on replay value, the overall design, including numerous levels and Easter eggs, enhances the experience and encourages repeated play. The engaging soundtrack and improved gameplay mechanics further contribute to its replayability, making it a fun homage to classic platformers.
“The game offers some replay value through collectibles in every level that you need to collect for the perfect ending.”
“Overall, AVGN II: Assimilation does a great job at fine-tuning the problems of the original and creating a great, replayable, and overall fun experience.”
“Perfect game to relive the old school platformers like Ninja Gaiden, Mega Man, Mario, Ninja Turtles, etc. There are many easter eggs to discover in this game, and the achievements to collect add to the replayability.”
“Unless you care about earning most/all of the relatively short list of achievements, there isn't much else in the way of replayability.”
“And I'll admit the collectibles are not that hard to get, don't add that much replay value, and the upgrades, even when useful, could have been better implemented into the levels.”
“There is also a lot more replay value, since the letters n, e, r, and d are scattered throughout each level, which are basically the same as the Kong letters in Donkey Kong Country.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
While the game generally performs well, users report occasional performance issues, particularly during scenes with heavy action, leading to stuttering and frame drops. Overall, optimization is considered the weakest aspect of the game.
“Performance is probably the weakest link in the game for me.”
“For the most part, the game runs great, but there are a few instances where there's so much stuff on the screen that you may experience significant stuttering or frame drops.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while some parts are enjoyable and challenging, others can be excessively punishing, leading to frustration and a sense of needing to invest significant time to progress.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Most of the game is teeth-grindingly delicious; other parts are bone-snappingly punishing.”
“That challenge, of course, is how long can you stand impossible mode without grinding your patience to the limit.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally good, but players have reported occasional glitches, such as unusual hit detection and wall-sliding issues. Additionally, performance can suffer during intense moments with many on-screen elements, leading to stuttering and frame drops.
“For the most part, the game runs great, but there are a few instances where there's so much on the screen that you may experience significant stuttering or frame drops.”
“There are several glitches, including the ability to sometimes wall-slide across death blocks, and hit detection on the player can be odd. Sometimes I seem to take two hits at once despite there being a short cooldown on how often you can get hit.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which severely affected my gameplay experience.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling a sense of nostalgia and identification with the protagonist, reminiscent of their own experiences. This connection is heightened by the numerous references to beloved videos and movies, enhancing the overall engagement with the narrative. However, some players are currently frustrated due to technical issues, which may impact their emotional investment.
“The many references to the series of videos and movies made me feel like I was playing as the nerd in his prime.”
