NS2: Combat

A solid and highly enjoyable title, Natural Selection 2: Combat is recommended to fans of Half-Life and competitive multiplayer shooters.

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"NS2: Combat is a sci-fi, team-based, multiplayer shooter with a focus on competitive gameplay. Players can choose from several alien and marine races, each with unique abilities and strengths. The game features class-based mechanics, tactical gameplay, and various game modes, including objective-based and kill-based matches."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online

Reviews

46%

Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews

gameplay3 positive mentions

monetization1 negative mentions

The game features visually stunning lighting and solid gameplay mechanics that still hold up well today.
It offers a unique asymmetrical multiplayer experience with dynamic gameplay elements, such as XP gathering and instant upgrades.
Many players find the game fun and engaging, especially when played with friends, and appreciate the fast-paced action.

The player base is virtually non-existent, making it difficult to find matches or enjoy multiplayer gameplay.
The game is criticized for being a standalone version of a previously free mod, leading to feelings of being a cash grab.
Many players report issues with matchmaking, server availability, and overall balance, resulting in frustrating gameplay experiences.

gameplay
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fast-paced combat and solid core mechanics, while others criticize the matchmaking system and restrictions on upgrades that disrupt the flow and balance. New players often struggle against experienced opponents, and the removal of certain features from the original game has led to feelings of unbalance and frustration. Overall, while the game offers visually stunning elements and creative freedom, it suffers from issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “Though the combat servers on NS2 render this game somewhat irrelevant now, it's still visually stunning lighting and solid gameplay.”
- “But the core mechanics, the balance, the 'combat' if you will, are excellent.”
- “Fast-paced combat, fluid gameplay, perfect balance; these things make this game a blast.”
- “They placed a number of restrictions on buying upgrades and abilities that are downright stupid, ruin the flow of the gameplay, or make it more frustrating.”
- “New players are pitted against experienced players and there are no mechanics to help new players win.”
- “Matchmaking works awfully and gameplay is castrated compared to the original game.”
optimization
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally viewed positively, with players noting improved performance and quicker loading times in the standalone version compared to previous builds. The separation from the original game allows for greater creative freedom and the removal of unused systems, enhancing overall gameplay experience. New players may find the optimized settings beneficial, as personal performance is less critical in this format.
- “There are some advantages to it being a standalone, chief among them being more creative freedom for mechanics and content, as well as increased performance due to being able to cut out a lot of the unused systems from the engine.”
- “Ns2 combat should have optimized your settings to allow the game's loading times to be a bit quicker.”
- “Ns2 offers mindless combat and nice performance compared to ns2 (build 269)!”
- “A new player would actually have an easier time in standard NS2, as personal performance doesn't matter as much.”
- “NS2 Combat should have optimized your settings to allow the game's loading times to be a bit quicker.”
- “There are some advantages to it being a standalone, too, chief among them being more creative freedom for mechanics and content, as well as increased performance due to being able to cut out a lot of the unused systems from the engine.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, capitalizing on a previously free mod for NS2, while also disrupting the original mod's functionality and neglecting necessary updates.
- “It's a blatant cash grab, monetizing a previously free mod for NS2, with the forced breakage of the natural NS2 mod and a refusal to update it to fix the issues coinciding with the release of this game.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, prioritizing profit over player experience and community support.”
- “I can't believe they turned a free mod into a pay-to-play scheme, completely disregarding the loyal fanbase that supported it.”