BlastZone 2
- February 19, 2015
- Matt Edzenga
Get on Steam"BlastZone 2" is an action-packed side-scrolling shooter, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes for up to 2 players, either locally or online. The game boasts six game modes, seven ship types, and four difficulty levels, providing over a hundred ways to play. Additionally, it includes innovative gameplay mechanics and supports co-op strategies, making it a thrilling experience for players seeking a challenging and engaging shooter.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- BlastZone 2 offers a solid old-school shmup experience with engaging gameplay and a variety of ships and modes.
- The game has responsive controls and interesting level designs, making it enjoyable for both casual and veteran players.
- The developer is active in updating the game, which adds to its replayability and keeps the community engaged.
- The game suffers from balance issues, with some ships being either too weak or too powerful, leading to a frustrating experience.
- Visual clarity can be a problem, as enemies and projectiles are sometimes hard to distinguish against the background.
- There are technical issues, such as resolution bugs and clumsy hitbox mechanics, which detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as a mix of clumsiness due to slow movement and enemy mechanics that can feel overused, yet it offers a solid core experience with various modes and a manageable learning curve. While the graphics are appealing, the limited variety in enemies and weapons may detract from long-term engagement. Overall, it provides a fun, retro shooter experience that balances challenge and accessibility.
“Classical retro shooter with nice graphics and cool gameplay.”
“It's exactly what you'd expect from the price: a bit of fun and some nice visuals and gameplay.”
“A very good approach of the dev not to overload gameplay options by introducing and increasing the ships weaponry level by level, thus not such a high learning curve as some other shmups tend to have.”
“The core gameplay felt clumsy with a large ship and slow bullets.”
“Finally, we have the enemies shooting at you from out of the field of play, or flying through your plane on a different axis. I have no problem with a few uses of this mechanic, but it was possibly overused, and with some of the ships flying through, it was a little hard to tell when to be elsewhere.”
“There's only a few different types of enemies, only 3 different kinds of weapons, about 6 levels, and the different types of ships hardly add any extra gameplay.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are generally well-received, featuring nice 3D models and a retro aesthetic that appeals to fans of classic shooters. While some players note that the visuals can be minimalistic or dated, they still contribute to an enjoyable gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics complement the fun and action-packed nature of the game, despite some minor issues like a large HUD that can obstruct gameplay.
“The game is overall fun and simple, the graphics are nice with 3D models, there's a lot of action but it's not too overwhelming.”
“It features a number of different ships with different loadouts, 8 stages filled with enemy ships, interesting 3D graphics, and a few extra modes to try your hand at once you have beaten the main game.”
“Classical retro shooter with nice graphics and cool gameplay.”
“The graphics are a bit dated but have that classic PC/arcade charm.”
“Goofy polygon graphics.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story mode of the game offers an engaging experience with enjoyable sequences and boss fights, making it a worthwhile addition to the overall gameplay. Users appreciate the game's value, noting its affordability and variety of modes.
“The story mode plays as you would expect, featuring some fun sequences and exciting boss fights.”
“This game offers a long journey with a rich narrative that keeps you engaged throughout.”
“The storytelling is immersive, making you feel invested in the characters and their development.”
“The story is predictable and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is minimal, leaving the plot feeling flat and uninteresting.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and fails to create a cohesive experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact, often feeling deeply moved by pivotal moments in the game, such as realizing the stakes involved, which can lead to tears and a profound connection to the narrative.
“Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
“The story's depth made me reflect on my own life choices, leaving me emotionally shaken.”
“I felt a profound connection to the characters, as their struggles mirrored my own experiences.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to the excessive hits required to defeat enemies and frustrating encounters with certain bosses, such as a cheap "fly right into you" mechanic in level 2.
“The amount of hits they take to actually go down is a bit tedious, and there was a cheap 'fly right into you' boss ship at the end of level 2!”
“Grinding feels like an endless chore, with little reward for the time invested.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
