Planet Stronghold 2
- March 31, 2020
- Winter Wolves
Get on Steam"Planet Stronghold 2" is a sci-fi VN/RPG where you play as Captain Lisa/Joshua Nelson, facing challenges such as limited resources and political instability. The game features a branching plot, non-combat skills, and the ability to romance certain characters. You can play in traditional RPG mode or switch to "Visual Novel Mode" for a story-focused experience. The fate of the colony is in your hands as you navigate tough choices and multiple alien factions.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The writing and character development have significantly improved, offering a captivating story with complex characters and meaningful choices.
- The game features a robust combat system and class customization, making battles engaging and strategic, while also allowing for exploration and various quests.
- The art style and music are well-received, enhancing the overall experience and immersion in the game's rich sci-fi world.
- Some gameplay mechanics can feel clunky, with issues like unclear UI, limited customization options, and bugs that detract from the experience.
- The combat can be grindy and frustrating, especially with enemies that can heal mid-battle, leading to prolonged encounters that may feel tedious.
- Newcomers may find it challenging to jump into the game due to its strong ties to the first installment and a lack of sufficient backstory for new players.
- story38 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story continues from the previous installment, offering a rich sci-fi world with deep characters and meaningful choices that impact the narrative. While some players found the pacing slow and lacking backstory for newcomers, many praised the engaging plot, character development, and the variety of choices leading to different outcomes. Overall, the sequel is seen as a solid continuation with a compelling storyline that enhances the gameplay experience.
“But as a visual novel, it's excellent: there is a rich sci-fi world, with interesting, original aliens, deep, compelling characters, and a complex, engaging storyline with decisions that feel meaningful and important.”
“The choices you make will lead to consequences and they will be remembered by the characters throughout the entire story—who, at times, won’t shy away from reminding you of them, including showing their displeasure, which is very realistic and adds to the experience.”
“The story is compelling and riddled with twisting branches of choices that have impact.”
“- Lacking backstory for new players.”
“- No new party characters, similar story from the first game.”
“I found the story to be slow and boring, and the graphics/artwork felt amateur; it just wasn't my cup of tea.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the aesthetic character portraits and the anime/cartoon blend art style, while others find the overall artwork to be amateurish and inferior to its predecessor. Despite these criticisms, many players appreciate the visuals as part of an engaging experience that complements the game's story and gameplay.
“The character portraits are aesthetic.”
“I like the anime/cartoon blend art style here.”
“Usually I don’t write a review without going through at least most of the game, but Planet Stronghold 2 has become an exception: interesting story, original world, nice graphics and good gameplay.”
“I may just be me, but I found the story to be slow and boring, and the graphics/artwork amateur; just not my cup of tea.”
“Clearly an inferior version of the previous Planet Stronghold, both gameplay-wise and graphically.”
- music9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback for its variety and quality, with many users noting that the soundtrack is surprisingly good for an indie title. However, some areas lack music, and while the combat theme is somewhat neutral, the overall composition enhances the game's art style and experience.
“I liked the music; there was enough variety for it to not become grating.”
“In fact, most music was surprisingly good for such an indie title.”
“On a side note, I was pleasantly surprised by the soundtrack!”
“Some areas lack any music.”
“There was only one combat music, but even that was reasonably neutral.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the reviewed titles features a mix of visual novel elements and combat mechanics that are generally enjoyable but not overly complex, providing enough engagement for at least one playthrough. While some new mechanics, like party splitting, are introduced, they may not be consistently utilized throughout the game. Overall, fans of the genre will appreciate the familiar art, characters, and humor, though some feel the sequel may not fully capture the charm of its predecessor.
“Everyone who played PS1 will recognize the art, characters, gameplay (for most parts) and the humor - though, I have to say, with Milo on board the humor spiked quite a bit.”
“Planet Stronghold 2 is a solid sequel, having a captivating story while maintaining the gameplay from their first game.”
“Another ... not quite 'issue', but 'strangeness' was that at one point there was this whole new mechanic involving splitting the party, with a whole new interface ... and it never comes up again.”
“Clearly an inferior version of the previous Planet Stronghold, both gameplay-wise and graphically.”
“The combat mechanics are decent - nothing too complex, but there's enough there to avoid boredom, for at least one play-through.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as strategically placed and effective, with standout moments from characters like Milos, who is described as both hilarious and adorable. While the overall plot leans towards seriousness, the funny combat system adds a lighthearted touch, enhancing the game's appeal.
“I can't attest to the other romance 'lock-in' scenes yet (no spoilers), but Milo was hilarious and adorable.”
“Great game, good story, and a funny combat system.”
“The plot is more serious, but the humor is strategically placed, and the characters feel more fleshed out.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts excellent replayability, with players noting the enjoyment of multiple playthroughs to unlock achievements, suggesting that engaging gameplay can be achieved without a massive budget.
“This game also has great replayability as I played it more than 10 times to get the 75 achievements.”
“I really think that giants like Bioware should learn that you don't need an unlimited amount of money to create something deep, fun, and replayable.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply impactful, describing it as a heartfelt and complex experience that evokes a wide range of feelings, including laughter and tears, while also prompting thoughtful reflection.
“The truth is, I was completely taken aback and mindblown by how heartfelt it actually was.”
“What I really got was a complex, emotional experience that provided me with ample food for thought and made me cry and laugh quite a few times.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to be unstable, with users encountering bugs, error screens, and various issues related to the user interface and statistics.
“The game is buggy, with frequent error screens and various UI and stat issues.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
“There are persistent stability issues that make it hard to enjoy the game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of Planet Stronghold II to be a significant drawback, noting that the game requires extensive leveling of characters and equipment to progress effectively, which detracts from the overall experience.
“As an RPG, Planet Stronghold II is mediocre: the combat is decent, but grindy and too dependent on having characters and equipment at the highest possible level.”
“The grinding in this game feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“I found myself spending more time grinding for levels and resources than actually enjoying the story or gameplay.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received criticism, with players expressing disappointment in the writing and the depth of character progression compared to previous installments.
“I played the first game a month ago and was disappointed with the writing and character development.”
“The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked any real growth throughout the story.”
“I expected more depth in the character arcs, but they all seemed predictable and uninspired.”
