Door Kickers 2
- November 3, 2020
- KillHouse Games
- 19h median play time
"Door Kickers 2: Task Force North" is a tactical squad-based strategy game. Lead your team of special forces through dangerous urban environments in
Reviews
- Door Kickers 2 is a significant improvement over the original, offering enhanced graphics, more complex scenarios, and a variety of tactical options.
- The game features a robust mission generator and extensive community support through mods, providing endless replayability.
- Players appreciate the blend of strategic planning and real-time execution, making each successful mission feel rewarding.
- The AI can be frustratingly unreliable, often failing to react appropriately in combat situations, which can lead to unnecessary squad losses.
- The game has been in early access for several years with limited updates, leading to concerns about its long-term development and content expansion.
- Some players find the controls and interface clunky, making it difficult to manage multiple units effectively during missions.
- story914 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story aspect of *Door Kickers 2* is minimal, with no overarching narrative or character development; players engage in a series of tactical missions focused on eliminating threats, rescuing hostages, and completing objectives. While the game features a variety of mission types and a mission generator for replayability, many players express a desire for a more structured campaign or storyline to enhance engagement and provide context to the missions. Overall, the gameplay is centered around tactical planning and execution rather than a traditional story-driven experience.
“The operations you're doing really amount to something, helping to take back Nowheraki from insurgents, being shown in grand operations in cities/urban campaigns as you push them out of positions of power, and force them into the country where you go on more search and destroy type missions.”
“The beauty of the game is when you can pull off a flawless mission all from the first planning session and I mean flawless as no operative dies.”
“The game is a good single/coop game to play alone or with friends; it has some unique missions so far and the new update just expanded the possibilities.”
“Campaigns and doctrines are what made the first game so interesting with genuine progression and story, and with those missing I cannot recommend this game currently as it feels the devs have abandoned it.”
“There's no story to it either, just a string of seemingly pointless missions that don't really mean anything, but you're supposed to get your content by adding it yourself later when they add modding.”
“I thought that this game looked promising, but the complete lack of any story lets it down in a big way.”
- gameplay514 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay in *Door Kickers 2* is characterized by its tactical depth, allowing players to engage in careful planning and execution while adapting to dynamic situations. The game introduces a variety of mechanics, such as wall breaching and new movement options, enhancing the strategic experience while maintaining an intuitive interface. Despite being in early access, it offers a robust gameplay loop with significant replayability, supported by community-generated content and ongoing updates from the developers.
“The gameplay in *Door Kickers 2* revolves around careful planning, swift execution, and adapting to unexpected threats.”
“The tactical depth in *Door Kickers 2* shines through its variety of tools and mechanics at your disposal, such as flashbangs, breaching charges, and different movement styles (e.g., slow or dynamic).”
“The blend of real-time strategy with pause-and-plan elements creates a dynamic and rewarding gameplay experience.”
“The gameplay entirely depends on a small bit of luck while the rest depends on your tactical knowledge.”
“The gameplay is surprisingly better due to the combination of the new mechanics and smoother animations; I thought it would be impossible to drastically improve on the addicting simplicity of the first game, but this sequel proved me wrong.”
“While the game is really solid for an early access game from a bugs and gameplay experience, you do feel in some missions that you are supposed to play it a certain way but that way is not out yet.”
- graphics192 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in Door Kickers 2 have received significant praise for their vibrant, detailed 3D environments and improved animations compared to the original game. Players appreciate the game's ability to run smoothly on lower-end PCs while still delivering a visually appealing experience, with many noting the enhanced realism and dynamic effects, such as destructible environments. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay, making it engaging and visually satisfying.
“The graphics are stunningly realistic, and the gameplay is highly engaging, making it easy to lose track of time while playing.”
“The visuals are a big improvement over the original game with lots of small details, and it never gets old blowing holes through walls with an RPG or putting on a door charge and watching it blow the door down as your guys charge in to clear a room.”
“Door Kickers 2 tremendously improves on an already proven design and offers a bevy of options and vastly updated graphics and design as well as a large amount of missions and tools that give endless gameplay.”
“It made my graphic card melt very quickly.”
“Love this game but at its current state, if you have an AMD graphics card, don't bother unless you're willing to rollback your drivers; this has been ongoing since their last patch which was September 1, 2022.”
“It's completely unacceptable to have spent all that time and added new graphics and features, and not ironed out the core features from the original title until they are locked.”
- replayability157 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, largely due to its procedurally generated missions, extensive modding community, and user-created content, which provide endless variations and challenges. Players appreciate the ability to experiment with different strategies, loadouts, and tactics, further enhancing the game's longevity. While some users note occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the combination of random elements and community contributions ensures a highly engaging and replayable experience.
“With procedurally generated missions and a robust modding community, the game offers a substantial amount of replayability.”
“The variety of missions, weapons, and gadgets offers endless replayability, and the inclusion of co-op multiplayer is a fantastic addition that lets you tackle challenges with friends.”
“The mission generator and level designer are two things that I think also compound the value for the price because you are getting a literal endless replayability.”
“It has a good gameplay foundation but sadly is not very replayable because of how repetitive it gets.”
“This would help replay value as it gets quite bland after a while with no reason to replay except to 'get a fast time' or don't lose a unit on this map. There needs to be a feel for an ongoing theme rather than individual scenarios that are not tied from one to the next.”
“All in all it's a good idea, but there is a lot they need to do to justify the replay value and the price tag. Most reviews have short play times because the game has a great premise but not enough content to keep you playing for more than a couple of hours.”
- music45 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in *Door Kickers 2* is generally praised for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with a standout main menu track and a soundtrack that effectively complements the tension of missions. While many players find the music engaging and fitting for the gameplay, some note that it can be repetitive and wish for a larger variety of tracks. Overall, the sound effects and music contribute significantly to the immersive experience, although a few players have expressed dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the soundtrack.
“The background music fits the tension of the missions, but it’s the sound effects during firefights and tense standoffs that make *Door Kickers 2* feel especially engaging.”
“The soundtrack and ambience are really doing a great job, setting up the Middle Eastern theme.”
“Music is even better than expected, with a slight oriental tinge that reflects the theme; one small issue is that if you're in the menu for too long it'll stop looping, but it's early access and that's such a tiny thing to complain about.”
“The soundtrack can be a bit repetitive.”
“Also has an annoying soundtrack with a grand total of less than 5 tracks and plenty of subtle pro-US military sentiment, which is definitely a turn-off for me.”
“Music is incredibly annoying as well.”
- stability35 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a generally smooth experience with minimal glitches, while others have encountered frequent bugs and crashes, particularly in early access. Many users noted that despite occasional issues, the game runs well on various platforms, and regular updates from the developers have improved stability over time. Overall, while some glitches exist, they are often considered minor and typical for an early access title.
“Runs great on the Steam Deck so far, great battery life, low download size, countless hours of playtime.”
“Devs are updating it regularly and without pushing too fast, which leaves the game state you are playing clean and almost completely bug free.”
“Overall, a much more polished version of its predecessor; at this stage, it's worth shelling out for a very bug-free game that works well.”
“Can't say the game is bad, but it is so buggy to a point that it is disrespectful to one-player gamers.”
“It is fun to play but way too often it crashes or glitches to the point where I have to relaunch the game.”
“So many glitches and crashing for no reason.”
- grinding23 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 65 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely regarded as tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling it requires an excessive investment of time to unlock new equipment and progress through levels. While some enjoy the methodical nature of grinding, others find it frustrating and repetitive, particularly in larger maps where gameplay can drag on. Overall, the experience can vary significantly depending on individual preferences for grinding mechanics.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding to buy new equipment and weapons is very long.”
“Most of the late game devolves into 'make a tedious path through the building, spam the entire path with 'wait till clear' commands', wash, rinse, repeat.”
- humor16 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying the witty comments on items and equipment, as well as the comedic mishaps that can occur during gameplay. Many find the developers' sense of humor to be a highlight, contributing to the overall fun experience, especially in multiplayer settings. However, some players also note that the humor can lead to frustrating moments, particularly when game mechanics result in unexpected failures.
“It is also fun to read all the humorous little comments on the items and equipment about how they affect your soldiers.”
“Incredible fun and honestly the devs are funny with some of the equipment jokes.”
“The humor and style in the game is great too!”
“I expected the humor to be clever and engaging, but it often fell flat and felt forced.”
“The jokes seemed outdated and didn't resonate with the current audience.”
“While there were attempts at humor, they mostly missed the mark and detracted from the overall experience.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly on a wide range of hardware, including low-end PCs, with users reporting high frame rates and minimal crashes. Its performance is particularly commendable, allowing for enjoyable gameplay without demanding high specifications, making it accessible to a broad audience. Overall, the optimization contributes positively to the gaming experience, with only minor issues noted.
“As for the performance, it will run on absolutely anything made after 2010. I get 120fps with my 940m, although I lock it at 60fps.”
“The game clearly was made and optimized around the original Rangers faction, and it does really well.”
“The mechanics are absolutely incredible, and it runs smoothly on almost anything you can put it on.”
“Tactical performance may vary.”
“Graphics are decent yet optimized to the point that your grandmother's PC can run it fine.”
“The game clearly was made and optimized around the original Rangers faction and that it does really well.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive sound design, which includes realistic gunfire and command shouts, contributing to a tense and action-packed experience. Reviewers note the aggressive and oppressive tone, enhanced by capable enemies and detailed set designs, while the upgraded graphics and fitting music further enrich the overall ambiance. Despite concerns about the military theme potentially detracting from the unique feel of the predecessor, the game's atmosphere remains a strong point.
“Sound design is also well-executed, with the sound of gunfire, breaching, and shouts of commands creating an immersive atmosphere.”
“Much more aggressive and oppressive atmosphere since enemies are more capable and more violent compared to the first game, so if you don't have the upper hand, you lose troops, keeps it challenging.”
“The graphics are a nice upgrade from the previous game and the sound/music feels very authentic, creating a good mix between tense and action-packed atmosphere.”
“The settings add so much atmosphere.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be both a tactical and emotional challenge, appreciating its accessibility even after breaks. The desire for features that enhance emotional reassurance suggests a strong connection to the game's themes and characters.
“For someone who has been looking for a game that challenges you tactically and emotionally.”
“I play it sparingly when I have downtime, and I'm surprised by how easy it is to pick up even after weeks of not touching it.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization model is straightforward and user-friendly, as players pay a one-time purchase price with no microtransactions or additional costs, ensuring a complete gaming experience without the pitfalls of nickel-and-diming or fear of missing out (FOMO).
“You buy it, install it, and that's all there is to it; no microtransactions, nickel-and-diming, no FOMO, nothing.”
“Microtransactions are everywhere, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more just to keep up.”
“It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making the game feel incomplete.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express a desire for the game to incorporate meaningful character development and skill leveling within the career progression system, indicating that these elements are important for enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“I hope the career allows for character development and skill leveling.”