Carrier Command 2
- August 10, 2021
- Geometa
- 11h median play time
In "Carrier Command 2," players command a carrier and its systems to conquer an archipelago through strategy, planning, and teamwork. Meaningful decisions are key, as players must gather intel, launch attacks, and defend resources to ensure supply lines remain open. The game can be played in both non-virtual reality and virtual reality modes.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of real-time strategy and vehicle simulation, providing an immersive experience.
- Great fun when played with friends, as it encourages teamwork and strategic coordination.
- The graphics and sound design create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay.
- The game can be tedious and slow-paced, especially when managing logistics and waiting for units to travel.
- The AI can be frustratingly simplistic, leading to unchallenging gameplay in certain scenarios.
- The lack of a comprehensive tutorial and clear instructions can make it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics.
- gameplay648 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Carrier Command 2 is characterized by a mix of strategic planning and tactical execution, offering a unique blend of RTS and simulation elements. While the core mechanics are engaging and provide depth, many players find the experience repetitive and marred by clunky controls, a lack of intuitive tutorials, and significant performance issues. The game is best enjoyed in multiplayer settings, as solo play can become tedious and overwhelming, especially given the slow pacing and logistical challenges inherent in the gameplay loop.
“Gameplay in my opinion is very satisfying and for the most part pretty well paced and balanced.”
“The gameplay loop consists of gradual, calculated actions: coordinating supply lines, surveillance, probing enemy defenses, and maneuvering the ship itself across vast stretches of open water interspersed with moments of absolutely heart pounding action when you finally execute your attacks.”
“The core mechanics and gameplay of Carrier Command 2 is phenomenal.”
“There isn't very much variance to gameplay and the game feels unfinished in some aspects.”
“The gameplay loop is extremely repetitive, and it struggles to hold my attention for more than 1-2 hours at a time.”
“The game is great but overshadowed by a multitude of gameplay/balance flaws that unfortunately makes me not recommend the game to anyone with a normal work schedule.”
- graphics518 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of Carrier Command 2 are characterized by a retro, low-poly aesthetic that evokes nostalgia, appealing to players who appreciate its simplistic yet charming design. While some reviews highlight the visuals as a significant strength, others criticize them for being outdated and lacking detail, suggesting that the game's focus is more on gameplay mechanics than on high-end graphics. Overall, the visuals are seen as functional and atmospheric, enhancing the immersive experience despite performance issues and optimization concerns.
“One of the areas where Carrier Command 2 really shines is in its graphics.”
“The graphics are nice and provide a cool retro feel.”
“The graphics are beautiful for a game of its art style, and it goes the same for the lighting.”
“Even the graphics, what should be an easy slam dunk, are worse than the 20 year old versions of the game.”
“I purchased this game because I very much like the Carrier Command Gaea Mission game, and thought this one would be as good as or better than Gaea, but it's gone backwards; the graphics are 1990's or worse, the gameplay is nothing like Gaea, if you like this then you should try Gaea because this is absolute rubbish in comparison.”
“What was you thinking, this game was put together with absolutely no love at all; the laziness from the developers really shows, missing sound files, poor graphics and literally no single player replayability!”
- story248 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered minimal and lacks depth, with players primarily focused on gameplay mechanics rather than narrative engagement. While the premise involves taking control of a carrier to combat an enemy virus, many reviewers feel that the campaign is repetitive and does not provide a compelling narrative to drive player interest. Overall, the story is seen as a backdrop to the strategic gameplay rather than a central feature, with some players appreciating the absence of a convoluted plot.
“Story: there's 2 unmanned carriers on this planet, one has been taken over by a virus from the enemy faction so the player is tasked with taking charge of the other in order to stop it.”
“Incorporating futuristic and some modern elements into a storyline about redeeming yourself for the UEC, the game does it well for a dream in which you have full simulated control over amphibious drones deployed from a small carrier with a big punch.”
“All that considered, CC2 has an interesting story that isn't spoon-fed to you and leaves quite a bit to the imagination, so all in all this is a great game.”
“There's no real depth to the story or anything to drive you forward.”
“The missions can start to feel repetitive, and the campaign lacks a compelling narrative to drive player engagement.”
“The campaign is a joke, basically voiced notes telling you about a conflict and what the enemies want, but no impact or changes in the gameplay or missions whatsoever.”
- music158 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as "amazing" and "godly." While some noted that the soundtrack is relatively short, with only a few tracks, its dynamic nature and integration into gameplay were highlighted as significant strengths. Overall, the combination of sound design and music contributes to a unique and engaging experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The music is absolutely amazing.”
“When the music kicks in you feel like you're fighting a god, which makes it very satisfying to turn their ship into a coral reef.”
“The atmosphere and soundtrack are absolutely top notch.”
“Game is incredibly boring with most of your time watching waves in the ocean, the soundtrack has 5 total songs, the combat against boats is the main issue with the enemy boats being able to check your shit if they get too close while having magical abilities to dodge torpedoes, the price tag is an insult to the people who have bought it and overall it feels like a beta that should be around $20 instead of $50.”
“The music is a head bob but I ended up turning it off because the music just wails with no context to what's happening, and voice chat too.”
“The game needs at least twice as much music.”
- atmosphere86 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining minimalistic graphics, effective sound design, and dynamic environmental elements to create a rich and engaging experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of scale and tension, particularly during naval combat, while the retro aesthetic and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the overall mood. Despite some critiques regarding simplicity in design, the atmosphere remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“This is one of the best co-op games ever made, hugely atmospheric, beautiful, thoughtful, and strategic.”
“Carrier Command 2 is an outstanding game that truly immerses players in a rich and engaging atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is amazing and the slow naval combat is extremely exciting.”
“Cc2 presents itself very well, the graphics are minimal but sound design, lighting, and ambience all work together very well to give the game an atmosphere that is subdued but tense and sustained.”
“The surrealistic, undulating seascape and the weather system both add variety to the combat situations and lend atmosphere.”
“Carrier Command 2 drips with atmosphere.”
- optimization76 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players praising its smooth performance and low system requirements, while others report significant issues, particularly in VR, where frame rates can drop drastically. Recent updates have improved performance for some, but many still experience lag and stuttering, especially during prolonged sessions or in VR mode. Overall, while there are positive aspects to the game's optimization, substantial improvements are still needed to enhance the experience for all players.
“The low poly style helps with a really smooth and optimized game, but still looks beautiful nonetheless.”
“Good, saves have small sizes in MB, netcode is surprisingly effective (even with multiple carriers and up to 8 players) and I haven't noticed any serious performance issues.”
“As far as performance goes, the game runs like butter; you can run the game on a literal toaster almost - minor tick rate issues in multiplayer where inputs are delayed and everything stops moving.”
“Bought the game for VR, but VR performance is incredibly poor and virtually unplayable.”
“Performance is abysmal (14fps on an RX 6950XT in VR, 35fps in 1080p flat screen, all graphics disabled or minimum, it's unacceptable).”
“It's poorly made, half-baked, badly optimized.”
- stability76 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some users note that the performance is generally good and that many issues have workarounds, others express frustration over the game's unfinished state and lack of consistent updates. Overall, it appears that while the game has potential, it currently suffers from significant stability issues that detract from the experience.
“Runs great on Linux Arch with ALVR and Meta Quest 3.”
“If you expect easy gameplay, bug-free gameplay, and a tutorial for dummies, this might not be the game for you.”
“Really buggy, and doesn't seem to receive fixes anymore.”
“The game itself is good but I have a problem with the game that it randomly freezes and then crashes.”
“At $50 you're getting ripped off by a buggy mess with inconsistent and potentially disastrous patches.”
- grinding72 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and slow, with many players noting that travel times and micromanagement can detract from the overall experience. While some elements can be improved through mods, the core gameplay often feels like a long grind, especially in single-player mode. However, the game can be more enjoyable with friends, as cooperative play alleviates some of the tedium.
“Has just enough realism and detail to be fun and interesting but not too tedious (most of the time).”
“A bit grindy... sometimes.”
“The game can get quite tedious due to the travel-time between islands or anything interesting - which is fine if you have logistics and loadouts to manage, otherwise your best bet is to go take a dump, make a cup of tea, contemplate the mysteries of the universe and experience existential dread - and only then resume the actual fun parts of gameplay.”
“The gameplay is extremely tedious and slow; it would be nice if the dev would implement the ability to speed up the game when you're moving from island to island.”
“Singleplayer is quite tedious.”
- replayability66 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The reviews for "replayability" in the game are mixed, with many praising its high replay value due to procedural generation, immersive gameplay, and strategic depth, making it enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer experiences. However, some users criticize the game for repetitive missions and a lack of variety, suggesting that it may not sustain long-term interest for all players. Overall, while the game offers significant replay potential for certain audiences, others find it limited and lacking in content.
“Every vehicle is immersive and fun to control, there are infinite strategies and the layout of valuable construction facilities changes every game leading to an insane level of replayability.”
“Add to the fact that the battle map is randomly generated each time you start a new game (and you can save and continue old games) means that there is functionally infinite replayability.”
“The replayability is also good, with procedural generation of maps in scenarios, and the opportunity for substantial emergent gameplay, and stories you'll be telling people about for months.”
“This game has a lot of potential, and can be fun for the first couple of matches, but there really is no replayability, very little variety, a huge amount of bugginess, etc. It feels like a game that was abandoned right as it was getting somewhere.”
“There isn't enough content for replayability as you are just doing the same mission over and over.”
“I've not played this game since I got it, as there is no replayability, the exact same thing over and over and over again.”
- humor24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players find it genuinely funny, particularly in multiplayer scenarios and through unexpected mishaps, others feel it falls flat or is overly tedious. Many appreciate the comedic moments that arise from gameplay mechanics, such as accidental explosions, but some criticize the game's obtuse tutorials and pacing, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the humor seems to resonate well with certain players, while others struggle to find it appealing.
“I attempted in 9 hours to beach my carrier on an island, send a cargo ship to space, and blow up my carrier accidentally because of the funny red button.”
“Really funny game, cool gaming, and really nice mods.”
“Time for an edit now that I have played more than 2 hours and finished laughing at Micropose for most of that two hours.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is widely criticized, with users labeling it a "cash grab" that prioritizes profit over quality. Many feel that the game was released prematurely and lacks the necessary care and development, leading to disappointment despite its potential as a casual time burner.
“I enjoy this game as a time burner, but beyond that it's excessively disappointing and could be so much more if the devs actually cared and this wasn't a cash grab.”
“Stay away from this nostalgia cash grab.”
“This game was not ready to be released and in its current state, is a cash grab.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to engage players deeply, creating a sense of nostalgia and attachment that enhances the overall experience. Players find it fun and highly replayable, suggesting that the emotional connections fostered during gameplay contribute significantly to its lasting appeal.