Chromosome Evil 2

About

Chromosome Evil 2 is a single player role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by 16bitnights and was released on February 15, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

StoryAn ancient Lovecraftian evil has returned to earth unleashing a deadly flesh organism upon humanity.One by one the the governments and the infrastructures of humans fell.In the Aftermath of these events, you are part of what's left of the army and it is up to you to ensure the survival of the human species. Management GameplayAs a commander, you will take control of a military convoy where…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 111 reviews

story10 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The game features a good core design with engaging mechanics that fans of XCOM will appreciate.
It offers a unique blend of tactical gameplay, resource management, and RPG elements, providing a rewarding experience as players grow their squad.
The developers are responsive to community feedback and have shown commitment to improving the game, making it a promising title for the future.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with character movement and inventory management, which can hinder gameplay.
There is a significant lack of variety in enemies and missions, leading to repetitive gameplay experiences.
The treatment of female characters in the game is problematic, as they are unable to carry certain equipment, limiting their effectiveness in missions.

story
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
85%
3%
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring a compelling narrative that intertwines research, exploration, and RPG mechanics, although some players find it simplistic and repetitive. While the initial missions are engaging, the transition between missions can be frustrating, often leaving players unprepared for challenges due to inflexible configurations. Additionally, issues such as limited enemy variety and resource management detract from the overall experience, with some players expressing concerns about character balance and mission design.
- “A very good story and well implemented battle and management mechanics.”
- “Research, exploration, story missions, RPG mechanics, it's all there and well tied together.”
- “The maps, while 16-bit, are lovingly put together and tell a story of a sudden catastrophe, of pain, and fear, and doom, and of courage to keep going in the face of terror.”
- “The main issue, for me, is the transition from mission to mission.”
- “Story and epilogue were a bit of a letdown.”
- “Same simple, stereotypical story.”
gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
69%
7%
The gameplay is praised for its well-implemented mechanics, combining survival, resource management, and tactical elements, which create an engaging experience despite some rough edges and complexity issues. While the core gameplay loop is solid and offers a variety of missions, players note that certain mechanics, such as inventory management and equipping items, could benefit from simplification and optimization. Overall, the game provides a substantial amount of content for its price, appealing to fans of strategy and tactical RPGs, though it does have some bugs and repetitiveness that detract from the experience.
- “A very good story and well implemented battle and management mechanics.”
- “Research, exploration, story missions, RPG mechanics, it's all there and well tied together.”
- “The core gameplay loop is solid & not too repetitive, plenty of weapons, items, armor and attachments for loading out your squad, allowing for variation in playstyles without there being a 'meta', like 'use this weapon or you won't win'.”
- “However, after having played several hours, and having restarted the game several times in order to improve my decisions during the gameplay, I can say that the overall experience is very cumbersome, not fluid at all, and could be polished a lot.”
- “They wanted to expand everything, make all aspects of the game bigger and more complex, and they ended up making a game with mechanics that could be much more simple, implemented in an overly complex way and with very little optimization.”
- “The gameplay is awful.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
28%
27%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming 16-bit pixel art style that effectively captures the essence of classic horror films and creates a fitting post-apocalyptic atmosphere. While the visuals are appealing and accessible for both low-end and high-end PCs, some players noted challenges in navigating the map due to unclear boundaries. Overall, the graphics successfully enhance the gameplay experience, evoking nostalgia while standing on their own merit.
- “You can tell the game has taken inspiration from so many famous horror movies with its 16-bit graphics. Obscure easter eggs are scattered everywhere, reminding you of the horror and setting the game's seemingly hopeless tone. Time and time again, you will overcome, or you will be crushed—and have a great time doing it.”
- “Like I said about the first installment, this game harkens back to the good old days before games had to make your computer overheat with stunning visuals. The game stands on the merit of its own gameplay and atmosphere, and Chromosome Evil 2 does that impressively.”
- “The art style is very appealing, and I find it easy to read the game and figure out where I am going or what to do.”
- “I don't know if it's on purpose, but it's hard to know at first what the boundaries of a given map are, so sometimes I was left wondering, 'Am I supposed to go up/down/right/left?' If there was another tone of dark or a 'graphical fog,' it would help to quickly assess 'Am I on a big map or a small map?'”
- “The visuals are the same as always in this kind of game, like Hotline Miami style, but the gameplay is very far from that game.”
- “So far, the old school top view graphics are reminiscent of RTS games, where reaction time matters.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and poorly designed, with many expressing frustration over the cumbersome party management and resource gathering systems. The slow progression and lengthy research times contribute to a sense of monotony, making it difficult to unlock meaningful upgrades or enjoy replayability. Overall, while the game has potential, the grinding elements detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “It's very tedious and a really bad design.”
- “The party management is very tedious, leading to a lot of going back and forth between panels and interfaces to do simple things like switching weapons.”
- “The resource grinding gets annoying over time, as the resource grid you travel to often won't have anything useful, and you end up with materials that can't be used until mid-late game.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The atmosphere of "Chromosome Evil 2" is widely praised for its nostalgic charm, effectively blending tactical gameplay with a Lovecraftian horror theme. Reviewers appreciate the game's ability to create a unique and immersive experience without relying on high-end visuals, highlighting its engaging ambiance and varied tactical options that enhance replayability. Overall, the game's atmosphere is seen as a standout feature that elevates the overall experience.
- “Fantastic tactical game with great atmosphere and a lot of different tactics making each play-through different.”
- “Unique approach to RTS, survival, and strategy, combined with a good atmosphere and theme based around Lovecraftian horror.”
- “I love the Lovecraftian atmosphere of the game, which makes it a great fun.”
- “Like I said about the first installment, this game harkens me back to the good old days before games had to make your computer overheat with stunning visuals. The game had to stand on the merit of its own gameplay and atmosphere, and Chromosome Evil 2 does that impressively.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, players express a desire for greater variety in the game's music, particularly noting the repetitiveness of the combat theme. While some appreciate the improved soundtracks and ambiance compared to previous titles, others feel that the lack of diverse music options detracts from the overall experience.
- “I enjoy both the gameplay and soundtrack for this game, and the gameplay itself, even though there are some pretty obvious and sometimes game-breaking bugs, and the gameplay can get repetitive at times.”
- “I would like to see more music variety in the game, and maybe a detailed options menu.”
- “What mattered to me was the lack of music... the same combat theme over and over and over.”
- “This game also has better soundtracks and better ambiance (unlike the previous games), which is a big improvement for me.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches affecting gameplay, such as ammo problems and character speed inconsistencies. Additionally, players report overwhelming zombie spawn rates and a confusing upgrade system, indicating a need for optimization and fixes.
- “Unfortunately, the game is insanely buggy.”
- “There are bugs and various glitches here and there.”
- “There are glitches with the ammo, and the characters seem to move through it much faster than in the demo. Additionally, the zombies spawn at an overwhelming amount and rate, which can become unstoppable early on in the game. The upgrade system is also very weird and might need a lot of optimization; research has a huge bug where there is no such thing as environment research, which is required to progress.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express frustration with the game's monetization strategy, noting that the developer prioritizes advertising a new title over addressing existing bugs, which undermines player trust and satisfaction.
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
- “I can't believe how many ads pop up during gameplay; it completely ruins the immersion.”
- “It seems like every feature in the game is locked behind a paywall, making it frustrating for free-to-play users.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally resonant, evoking nostalgia for the creativity and simplicity of old flash games, despite some technical issues like the zoom controls leading to a black screen. This connection to past gaming experiences enhances the overall emotional impact.
- “This game made me feel like I was playing old flash games where everyone just made their own game for others to enjoy.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left a lasting impact on me.”
- “I found myself deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players express mixed feelings about the game's replayability; while some find it enjoyable and filled with content, others criticize it for tedious missions, a slow tutorial, and frustrating resource management that detracts from the overall experience. The difficulty in maintaining essential resources, like gasoline, further diminishes the desire to replay the game for many users.
- “The game itself offers a lot of fun and a ton of replayability.”
- “I put too much effort into my save to even want to start over, and the replayability is pretty poor with a slow, boring tutorial. All the missions for unlocking the convoys are tedious, not to mention the extra long last mission that I literally looted and completed everything on, just for it to end in a game over immediately after because I don't have 1000 units of gasoline. It's ridiculous because you barely find any gas in the game, and when you do, it's in tiny amounts. Exceeding 200 units of gas in the early game and maintaining it is very hard to do because it takes way too much gas to get anywhere.”
- “This game frustrates me, so just beware of the annoying issues before you buy. The replayability is not very enjoyable because the convoy missions are just plain not fun at all.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for its overly complex mechanics and numerous glitches, particularly with ammo and character speed, which differ significantly from the demo. Players have also noted issues with overwhelming zombie spawn rates and a confusing upgrade system, indicating a need for substantial improvements in optimization.
- “After replaying the game a few times, I find it very enjoyable, but there are glitches with the ammo, and the characters seem to move through it much faster than in the demo. Additionally, the zombies spawn at an overwhelming amount and rate, which can become unstoppable early on. The upgrade system is also quite strange and could benefit from a lot of optimization; for instance, there is a significant bug with the research system, as there is no option for environmental research, which is necessary for further upgrades.”
- “They wanted to expand everything, make all aspects of the game bigger and more complex, and they ended up making a game with mechanics that could be much simpler, implemented in an overly complex way and with very little optimization.”
- “After replaying the game a few times, I do find it very enjoyable, but there are glitches with the ammo, and the characters seem to move through it much faster than in the demo. Additionally, the zombies spawn in overwhelming amounts and at a rate that sometimes becomes unstoppable early on in the game. The upgrade system is very weird and kind of goofy; it might need a lot of optimization. In my opinion, research has a huge bug—there is no such thing as environment research, which is required to unlock more.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is enriched by assigning specific roles to characters, such as healer or instructor, which not only deepens gameplay but also influences combat dynamics and the evolution of each character.
- “Assigning roles to characters, such as healer or instructor, enhances the depth of the gameplay, impacting combat and character development.”