Gratuitous Space Battles 2

37%
Game Brain Score Based on 200 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
Gratuitous Space Battles 2 Game Cover
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"Gratuitous Space Battles 2" is a space fleet management and simulation game, where you can design and build your own customizable ships with a new and improved engine. Retaining the core gameplay of the original, it offers even more gratuitous explosions and beam-lasers in epic space battles. As the admiral, your task is to manage and strategize your fleet, not control individual units, in this unique and engaging sequel.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

37%
Audience ScoreBased on 200 reviews
graphics12 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game offers extensive ship customization, allowing players to design and modify their fleets in detail.
  • The graphics have been significantly improved, providing a visually appealing experience during battles.
  • The core gameplay of planning and watching battles remains engaging for fans of strategy games.
  • The game is plagued by frequent crashes, making it difficult to enjoy the experience without interruptions.
  • There is a lack of content compared to the original game, with fewer modules and races available, leading to a repetitive gameplay loop.
  • The user interface is clunky and can be frustrating to navigate, detracting from the overall experience.
  • graphics39 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals are improved and more detailed compared to the original, they can also be overly busy and detract from gameplay. Some users appreciate the enhanced graphical elements and customization options, but others criticize the art style and technical issues, such as bugs and poor scaling, which hinder the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a step up, but not enough to compensate for the game's other shortcomings.

    • “I feel like this game is a little less refined than the first game, but it has far more options and much better graphics.”
    • “The game also offers great visuals too, especially for a 2D game, and there is a lot of strategy involved when planning your attack.”
    • “I definitely am enjoying the improved graphics, design features, and toys that were added to this game.”
    • “The graphics are much worse quality than the preview images show.”
    • “None of the first game's add-on content is here; we get a few new chassis, it has spangly graphics, which while kind of neat, make it difficult to make out everything that is going on. The neat animated backgrounds are extra bad for this.”
    • “After the first hour, the 'wow' factor of the visuals had worn off.”
  • story23 mentions

    The game's story is largely criticized for being non-existent or incoherent, with players expressing disappointment over the lack of a compelling narrative or campaign to engage with. Many reviews highlight that the missions feel disconnected and lack immersion, leading to a repetitive experience that fails to inspire continued play. Overall, the absence of a meaningful storyline detracts significantly from the game's appeal, leaving players feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed.

    • “I personally would enjoy more of a serious campaign that has some story, but this game does not have that.”
    • “I snoozed through the first few missions; there's no immersion, there's no atmosphere, there's little gameplay.”
    • “You could spend hours painstakingly pouring over every little detail of what ships to use and where to place them in formation, and then it's just a few minutes of watching ships shoot at each other (that you don't control) with no larger context or purpose since there's no story or narrative elements.”
    • “The sales pitch video makes it look like it would have some sort of campaign or story drive to it... it does not.”
    • “The story periodically changes between non-existent and incoherent.”
  • gameplay20 mentions

    The gameplay of the DLC has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it shallow and repetitive compared to the original game. While some appreciate the visual customization and new mechanics, others criticize the lack of depth and balance, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, the game shows potential but suffers from bugs and a simplistic gameplay loop that may not satisfy seasoned players.

    • “There is a set amount of great game mechanics there, and a pretty extensive customization range.”
    • “There are some bugs, but there's been a lot of progress in cleaning them up, and the core gameplay is pretty awesome.”
    • “I like the changes made to gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay loop is a bit shallow and repetitive.”
    • “Beyond that, the gameplay is crap compared to the original and there is a line of never-ending bugs.”
    • “I snoozed through the first few missions; there's no immersion, there's no atmosphere, there's little gameplay.”
  • stability16 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its significant stability issues, with numerous reports of bugs, crashes, and glitches across various platforms. Players have noted that these problems detract from the overall experience, making the game feel unfinished and frustrating to play. Despite some enjoyable features, the persistent instability has led many to feel disheartened and turned off from continuing to play.

    • “A extremely buggy mess, totally turned off even attempting to play any more of it with less than an hour play time.”
    • “Broken and buggy and unfinished.”
    • “It is currently a bit buggy and crashes a lot; the game randomly crashes mid-battle, during screen transitions, and while saving.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for its unique and random elements, such as amusing ship names and engaging combat chatter, which some players find entertaining. However, there are mixed feelings, with some reviewers criticizing the game's depth and expressing disappointment over a perceived decline in humor quality. Overall, while the humor can be a highlight, it is not consistently appreciated by all players.

    • “I like the funny random ship names, I like the chatter during combat, and I enjoy the minor amount of strategy involved.”
    • “The series has such a unique sense of humor.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through its skirmish mode, although some users feel that it doesn't enhance replayability to a great extent overall.

    • “There is plenty of replayability in skirmish mode.”
    • “The game offers a variety of choices that enhance its replayability.”
    • “Each playthrough feels unique, making you want to dive back in for more.”
    • “It really doesn't add that much replayability.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to a lack of sufficient modules and content to earn, compounded by a tedious research and unlock process that lacks sorting options for desired ship types. The excessive number of clicks required to navigate between screens adds to the overall sense of tedium.

    • “Not enough modules or content to earn, and selecting modules to research and unlock is super tedious without being able to sort by the kind of ship you want to build.”
    • “There are so many forced, unneeded clicks to jump around that just moving from one screen to the one you want feels tedious.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a potential cash grab, especially in light of the previous installment's heavy reliance on DLC. Players express concern that the current game may follow a similar path, prioritizing profit over player experience.

    • “It is clearly a cash grab from the success of the first one.”
    • “The last game was DLC heavy, and I hope this doesn't end up being a cash grab.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it lacking in immersion and engagement, particularly during early missions. However, others appreciate the introduction of new mechanics that enhance the ambiance within the flagship's war room, suggesting potential for a more dynamic experience.

    • “The atmosphere inside the flagship's war room is enhanced by several new mechanics that bring a fresh feel to the hardened bunker.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you engaged.”
    • “I snoozed through the first few missions; there's no immersion, there's no atmosphere, and there's little gameplay.”
    • “There are several new mechanics that help to freshen the atmosphere inside the hardened bunker that is your flagship's war room.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Reviews suggest that a more heartfelt approach to storytelling could have fostered a stronger emotional connection with fans, ultimately benefiting the game's reception and longevity.

  • music1 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding it enjoyable while others find it annoying enough to lower the volume. Overall, the sound design is generally appreciated, but the music may not appeal to everyone.

    • “The graphics are fine, the sound is nice, although I find the music a little annoying, so I switched the volume down.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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