Into the Radius 2
- July 24, 2024
- CM Games
- 8h median play time
Into the Radius 2 is a haunting VR shooting experience that can be played solo or with up to four players. The game features meticulously crafted firearms with unique handling and customization options, and it emphasizes weapon maintenance for full effectiveness. Immerse yourself in this eerie world and confront the dangers of the Radius alone or with a team.
Reviews
- The game has stunning graphics and improved visuals compared to the first installment.
- The new enemy AI is more challenging and engaging, making combat feel more dynamic.
- The addition of co-op gameplay adds a fun element to the experience, allowing players to explore together.
- The game is riddled with bugs and performance issues, especially in co-op mode, making it frustrating to play.
- Many features from the first game are missing, such as weapon maintenance and a more immersive looting system.
- The difficulty spikes significantly, with enemies having near-perfect accuracy and overwhelming numbers.
- story412 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Into the Radius 2" is currently underdeveloped, with many players noting a lack of meaningful narrative and repetitive mission structures primarily focused on fetch quests. While some express hope for future updates to enhance the storyline and mission variety, the game is criticized for feeling bare-bones and lacking the depth found in its predecessor. Overall, players are eager for more substantial story content and improved mission diversity as the game progresses through early access.
“I'm very glad the devs decided on a sequel and I'm excited to see where they go with the story and lore of the franchise!”
“This game is amazing, just as good as the first one even in early access, I’m a huge fan of the lore so I cannot wait to see how they end up implementing it and continuing the story in the game.”
“I hope to convince my friends to get this one day and play with them to really feel out the multiplayer, but those losers are not into story games, or anything non-competitive shooter-esque.”
“Not really worth the money as it is; it is a lacking game with content and any meaningful story that gives you very little motivation to play it due to it taking 10-15 mind-numbing missions to get to the next priority mission, and a lot of the missions are the same ones over and over again.”
“The game is very far from being finished, as it is full of bugs, multiplayer only works when it wants to, and it's (even with a Ryzen 7 7700X and an RX 7900 XTX Nitro+ on a Quest 2) a very laggy experience.”
“There is no story at all right now.”
- graphics239 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals and significant improvements over the previous installment, with many players noting the enhanced textures, lighting, and overall aesthetic. However, some users have reported performance issues, particularly with frame rates dropping even on lower settings, indicating a need for further optimization. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, the game's performance can be inconsistent, especially on less powerful hardware.
“The graphics make a world of difference.”
“The graphics have gotten a huge upgrade and not just in quality but art style.”
“Graphically the game looks amazing.”
“Good game needs a lot of optimization; lags with a 3070 and almost minimum graphics.”
“I set my graphics so low it looked like a standalone game on medium graphics settings and I still got less than 5 fps.”
“The game looks okay graphics-wise, and that's not saying much.”
- gameplay235 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Into the Radius 2" has received mixed feedback, with many players appreciating the immersive mechanics, improved graphics, and satisfying gunplay compared to its predecessor. However, several users have noted significant bugs, missing features from the first game, and a lack of depth in the current early access version, leading to frustrations with gameplay mechanics and co-op functionality. Overall, while the core gameplay loop shows promise and is engaging, many recommend waiting for further updates and refinements before fully committing to the game.
“The gameplay is intense and satisfying, but the experience is occasionally marred by some frustrating bugs and quirks.”
“Satisfying gameplay: managing resources, navigating the world, and taking on enemies feels rewarding.”
“The gameplay loop of filling your backpack, coming back, managing your base (it's a lot more fun than it sounds in VR).”
“Most of the controls don't work and the mechanics are janky as hell.”
“The game is good but it lacks a lot from the first game; some of the mechanics in the first game aren't even in this game and there are also a lot of bugs. Don't buy until full release when everything is fixed.”
“The gameplay loop still relies on fetch quests, but it does work well with the micromanaging inventory that I do genuinely enjoy about these games.”
- stability218 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, particularly in multiplayer mode, which is described as "extremely buggy" and often unplayable due to issues like desynchronization and game-breaking glitches. While single-player experiences tend to be more stable, players still encounter various bugs and performance issues, leading many to recommend waiting for further updates before fully engaging with the game. Overall, the game is recognized as a promising title, but its current state is marred by numerous technical problems typical of early access releases.
“I thoroughly enjoyed playing through what's currently here; it's not bug-free, but I haven't encountered any game-breaking glitches.”
“Luckily, the game runs great on my 7900 XT.”
“It's definitely early access, as I've run into a few random bugs; overall, it's been a smooth and mostly bug-free experience though.”
“The multiplayer is super buggy and your partner mainly just teleports around instead of actually walking, but the singleplayer works really well for the most part and I haven't encountered any issues so far.”
“Incredibly buggy, invincible enemies, items turning invisible, this is not worth the 40 euros.. I get it's early access but this feels like an alpha test... would refund if I still could.”
“The current release is quite buggy and barebones, but there is a constant stream of feedback for the devs. They clearly have big plans here, and I can't wait to see this game through its development.”
- optimization176 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and crashes, even on high-end hardware. While some users report improvements after adjusting settings, the overall consensus is that the game is currently unplayable for many, particularly on lower-end systems. Players recommend waiting for further updates and optimizations before purchasing, as the game is still in early access and has potential for improvement.
“But after turning the graphics to medium, experimental optimizations on, and resolution up, the game runs fine now and actually looks really good.”
“Not all PCs are built equally, but I'm running with a 1660 Ti graphics card and the game runs smooth as butter with medium graphics, and the loading screen time is around 7 or 8 seconds, so performance seems to be really good in this game.”
“Surprisingly well optimized for an early access game.”
“Optimization is pretty bad - I had quite a few lags often.”
“The performance is disgustingly poor.”
“But the sheer amount of performance issues I have with this game just makes it downright unplayable.”
- atmosphere73 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Into the Radius 2" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its immersive and eerie qualities, while others feel it lacks the depth and tension of the original game. Many appreciate the improved graphics and attention to detail, but there are concerns about the shift towards a lighter, less oppressive atmosphere, which some fans of the first game find disappointing. Overall, while the game shows promise for future atmospheric enhancements, it currently feels like a departure from the haunting ambiance that defined its predecessor.
“Into the Radius 2 is an atmospheric, immersive, and challenging game that pulls you into a mysterious and eerie world.”
“Immersive world: the surreal, desolate environment keeps you on edge, and the attention to detail in the atmosphere is top-notch.”
“The atmosphere and the early tech of all the screens just immerses you so much; it's done amazing.”
“Too buggy and unpolished, plus they changed the atmosphere a bit; it's less 'forgotten' in a sense and lacks lore right now.”
“The new, lighter base, cleaner atmosphere, and the more human-like enemies are a negative for me.”
“The atmosphere is so gone thanks to pop-ups, no environmental storytelling, awful UI, constant menus, and just a certain fakeness that's hard to describe.”
- humor32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its numerous bugs and glitches, which players find both frustrating and amusing. Many reviews highlight moments of unexpected hilarity, such as characters behaving oddly or items interacting in ridiculous ways, contributing to a fun multiplayer experience despite the technical issues. Overall, while the game has its share of jank, players appreciate the comedic value it brings, making for memorable and laugh-inducing gameplay sessions.
“I died shortly after while having a laughing fit and threw up. 10/10 would Carl Wheezer again.”
“Some of the bugs are hilarious, like when his character's legs would slowly go straight out in front of him and twist up while he was running.”
“Being able to steal my buddy's gun mid-fight is hilarious.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 87 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the challenge, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of missions and the tedious inventory management. The lack of variety in weapons and the high costs associated with upgrades contribute to a sense of prolonged grinding, making the gameplay feel more laborious than enjoyable. Overall, while there are fun elements, the grind can detract from the overall experience, leading to a desire for improvements in future updates.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Game is fun and has a solid idea and fundamentals, but be prepared to be tossed around like a ragdoll for seemingly no reason all of the time. If a developer reads this, I would highly suggest toning down the sound projectiles and allowing for more open world exploration. The rinse and repeat of following this path just a little further every mission becomes tedious quickly.”
“Most notably, there is a distinct lack of two-handed rifles between security levels 2 and 3, while the two or three that are already unlocked are so expensive that I feel a need to either wait another level to buy anything at all or spend an hour grinding cash afterward.”
“Reloading magazines is annoying and tedious; it's realistic but unfun to deal with.”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while the shop music is praised as top-tier, many players feel that the overall ambiance is lacking compared to the original game, particularly in terms of creepiness and variety. Some users noted improvements in ambient sounds and background music transitions, but others expressed a desire for more eerie and atmospheric elements to enhance the horror experience. Overall, the music and voice acting are seen as areas needing significant improvement to match the game's potential.
“The music in the shop is 10/10 top tier.”
“Generally the audio seemed so much improved to me, the ambient noise and the background music really impressed me in how it lightly faded out when entering or leaving buildings, or when an enemy got close.”
“One night while playing, I was drinking and doing impressions, and friends came in and made a whole song out of it. I went into the forest listening to this fluster cluck of a song while doing a Carl Wheezer impression talking about how the enemies cannot kill me for I have the power of Jimmy's mom.”
“However, much of the ambience is missing; the isolation is there, but the safe house music is gone. The mimic has horrible voice lines, the mimic death voice is disappointing, and the sounds the anomalies make really aren't as eerie as in the first game, furthering the lack of ambience.”
“The music and voice acting in this game lack the same level of creepiness as those found in 'itr1.' The original game featured a variety of chilling voices, such as 'who are you' and 'no...,' as well as horrifying noises within the factory setting.”
“The music, on the other hand, needs some work; they should lean more into ambient long droning sounds and wind/alien world-like ambiance.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is currently limited due to its early access state, with players expressing frustration over bugs and a lack of engaging content. While there are enjoyable elements in both single-player and multiplayer modes, many users recommend waiting for further updates before diving in, as the experience may improve significantly by mid-2025. Additionally, the absence of replayable tutorials detracts from the overall experience.
“The game offers a lot of replayability with both single player and multiplayer modes, providing a variety of experiences.”
“I appreciate the updates that keep improving the game, making it more enjoyable to return to.”
“The developers are committed to enhancing the game, which makes me excited to replay it in the future.”
“The lack of replayability for tutorials or guides is wildly annoying too, and I had to resort to just trying button combos to turn my laser module on (which I finally figured out, in no part at all to the game).”
“Will come back after the game is in a more playable state.”
“Both the single player and multiplayer are playable, although the multiplayer has many more bugs.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of "Into the Radius 2" is viewed positively, as players appreciate the developers' commitment to improving the game through updates and community feedback, contrasting it with many other early access titles that feel like cash grabs. However, concerns arise regarding misleading advertising about multiplayer capabilities, which detracts from the overall experience.
“Co-op is unplayable, despite being one of the main advertising points, and the game is missing a ton compared to the first game right now.”
“I personally think this is one of the best early access games I've seen in a while, simply because it seems (to me) that the developers care about the game and are working on improving it, and it's not just a lazy cash grab with no game there like a lot of early access titles recently.”
“In a landscape of games riddled with horrific indie launches, meta cash grabs, and dead games and studios, my metric for a game's mettle is always whether or not they prove that they can consistently improve the game's experience with updates, and Into the Radius 2 has consistently proven that they can not only achieve this, but listen to community feedback, and make not just improvement, but leaps and bounds.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional response to the game's mechanics, highlighting moments of frustration and heartbreak, particularly when facing challenges like losing gear due to collision issues. The struggle with climbing and navigating the environment can lead to feelings of inadequacy, suggesting that the game's design impacts players' emotional experiences significantly.
“Devs, please put something up there... it was a heartbreaking moment for me.”
“The climbing, trying to get into that window sill for 10 minutes kind of made me feel like less of a man.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is enhanced by the initial selection of weapons, which encourages players to creatively envision tactical scenarios rather than merely focusing on economic aspects like earning supply credits and security clearances. This approach adds depth to character progression and strategic gameplay.
“The starting set of weapons piques one's interest in dreaming up environments and situations that make the selection of weapons highly tactically relevant, not just economically relevant as part of character development and earning supply credits and security clearances in this game.”
“The starting set of weapons does pique one's interest when it comes to dreaming up environments and situations that may make the selection of weapons highly tactically relevant, and not just economically relevant as a part of character development and earning supply credits and security clearances in this game.”