Project Warlock II

About

Project Warlock II is a single player arcade shooter game with horror and fantasy themes. It was developed by Retrovibe Games and was released on June 9, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Project Warlock II" is a boomer-shooter game that takes you through various dimensions filled with deadly monsters. As a warlock, you have access to a wide range of weapons and spells to aid you in your battles. The game features fast-paced action, puzzle-solving, and exploration, providing an immersive and exhilarating experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+15

Skip User Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 753 reviews

gameplay63 positive mentions

story10 negative mentions

Fast-paced and fluid gameplay with satisfying gunplay and movement.
Variety of weapons and spells, allowing for different playstyles and strategies.
Improved level design with more verticality and exploration compared to the first game.

Numerous bugs and performance issues, including soft locks and audio glitches.
Inconsistent enemy AI and placement, often leading to frustrating encounters.
Chapter 3 feels rushed and lacks the polish and depth of the previous chapters.

gameplay
170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The gameplay of Project Warlock II is characterized by its fast-paced, fluid mechanics and a variety of weapons and abilities that encourage dynamic combat. While many players appreciate the nostalgic throwback to classic shooters with its intense action and RPG elements, some criticize the game's design choices, such as the overwhelming number of mechanics and performance issues that can detract from the experience. Overall, the core gameplay loop is engaging and enjoyable, though it may require further refinement to address balance and technical concerns.
- “Project Warlock II is a ferocious and unapologetically fast-paced shooter that continues the throwback sensibilities of its predecessor while expanding its gameplay formula in bold, often chaotic ways.”
- “The gameplay is the main draw and, when it works, is fun.”
- “The fast run and gun gameplay is where Project Warlock II really shines, where you're mulching down a horde of monsters with akimbo auto shotguns and quick swapping between weapons to combat different enemies.”
- “There are bugs everywhere, affecting the gameplay: mapping, weapons, power-ups, geometry… everything is broken to an extent.”
- “This game is just plain boring, has tons of bad design choices, glitches both visual and gameplay damaging (enemies too big to fit in doors but clip through in awkward ways allowing them to hit you, or float around and are 99% in a wall but can shoot at you through it), it's easy for the most part even on the hardest mode once you get the broken weapon that each character has (bad design) but that first level or two suck complete ass because your starting weapons are so pathetic.”
- “Every time I look back at this absolute clusterfuck of a game, they've managed to add even more to the confusing, overwhelming blur of mechanics, enemies, perks, upgrades, and UI navigation.”
music
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric and energetic qualities that enhance the gameplay, while others criticize it for being repetitive or poorly balanced with sound effects. Many players note that while certain tracks are memorable and fitting, others feel lackluster or glitchy, leading to inconsistent audio experiences. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant aspect of the game, though it may not reach the heights of its predecessor.
- “The aesthetic is somewhere between Doom, Hexen, and a comic book fever dream, and the thumping metal soundtrack drives the pace forward with relentless energy.”
- “The music is also not as good as in the first game and the weapons and upgrades feel a bit lackluster.”
- “Fast, smooth movement, weapons have flavor and crunch, the soundtrack is nothing but bangers, and the little differences between the characters offers simple yet excellent playstyle variety.”
- “The music is the worst offender, being the most mild strange sounding garbage I've ever heard in a shooter.”
- “The music was as if there was no music at all - none of it was memorable except for the music from the main menu, where there is a riff similar to a Megadeth track called 'Trust'.”
- “The soundtrack / music is controversial and inconsistent, but at least serviceable now - it ranges from highly annoying, too short loops to actual bangers.”
graphics
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique blend of 2D sprites and 3D models that create a visually distinct aesthetic reminiscent of classic shooters. While some players appreciate the retro charm and vibrant art style, others criticize the muddled visuals and performance issues, particularly in larger maps where frame rates drop significantly. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a highlight for their creativity, though they may require further polish and optimization.
- “The art style is an interesting, unique blend of 2D sprite and 3D models, making it stand out visually from most of its peers.”
- “The graphics strike the perfect balance too: sharp and modern, yet with that chunky retro charm that makes you feel right back in the 90s.”
- “Project Warlock 2 has awesome comic book style graphics that look incredible, with bold, black lines outlining the amazing action, and is backed by an epic soundtrack that drives you forward, towards more delicious slaughter!”
- “Aesthetics wise, a full 3D environment with pixelated graphics that do not resemble any classic game just feels a bit weird, and it clashes with the animation details.”
- “One of the missions dropped in frames to an absurd degree the further I moved into it, and e1m11 was absolutely unplayable, since everything was moving at 1 frame per 5 seconds right at the start of the stage, even with the graphics at the lowest settings.”
- “The graphics are pretty but muddled and eye-grating, and the codex/bestiary just scream 'please pad this out, I don't want to make more game.'”
story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
79%
11%
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it underdeveloped and lacking coherence, often feeling disconnected from the gameplay. While some appreciate the brief character backstories and narrative attempts, others criticize the abrupt endings and minimal storytelling, leading to an overall sense of dissatisfaction. Despite these shortcomings, some players still enjoy the game for its solid gameplay mechanics, suggesting that the story is not the primary draw for most.
- “Since both games are taking place within the same universe, Project Warlock 2 tries to expand its existing setting and story throughout the game with each character's backstory, mission, and unique level design philosophy.”
- “The small snippets of story were quite enjoyable and did not get in the way of gameplay at all, compared to some other modern games which have half a feature film's worth of cutscenes before you get to click a button.”
- “What little story there was, was well written.”
- “The game suddenly ends after killing an alien queen, and none of the story really goes anywhere and none of it feels connected.”
- “The game's narrative is also minimal, mostly told through brief dialogue snippets or environmental cues, and while the lack of a heavy story won't bother many fans of the genre, it does mean there's little emotional grounding to the action.”
- “The story is seemingly nonexistent as far as I can tell, with each character giving a sentence intro at the start of their story and then another sentence outro, which leaves nothing to my understanding of what is happening with the story overall, who these characters even are, or why they are doing what they do.”
optimization
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
68%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, lag, and frame drops, particularly in demanding levels. While some updates have improved stability, the game still struggles on lower-end hardware, leading to a frustrating experience for many. Despite these challenges, players have noted that the gameplay remains enjoyable, though the optimization shortcomings detract from the overall experience.
- “Performance and stability have improved a fair bit since the beta.”
- “Updates are relatively frequent, with many focusing on optimization and polish.”
- “Project Warlock II is a violent orchestra of retro first-person shooter maniacal mayhem flowing with feng shui perfected optimization in its bloodletting euphoria where every smooth move and every shot fired is as invigorating as playing 1990's Doom and Hexen in all their true retro excellence!”
- “Performance is not up to expectations.”
- “Maybe one day there will be a performance overhaul patch, but as it is now, unless you have a high-end rig, you'll likely not be able to fully enjoy this game, and that's a shame.”
- “But it's a shame that optimization is so bad that the game starts to drop below 30 fps once the player hits a big map like e1m4 even at lowest settings, which is definitely unexpected for a game with retro graphics like this.”
stability
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
2%
94%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting various bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including crashes, frame drops, and navigation problems. While some players note improvements from the previous installment, many express frustration over the game's current state, particularly in episode 3, which is described as a "buggy mess." Overall, while there is potential and ongoing updates, the game is still plagued by technical hiccups that detract from the experience.
- “I bought this game when it came out of early access, thinking I'd get access to three fully fleshed campaigns and a relatively bug-free experience.”
- “Runs great and I only remember maybe one crash the entire time.”
- “There are also bugs and technical hiccups, including occasional crashes or animation glitches, that can break immersion.”
- “Overall it's great but episode 3 is a buggy mess and I can't even finish the last boss fight because it keeps tanking frames, then I fall through the floor, and don't teleport back and I just reload and try again.”
- “This game is such a buggy mess it makes me want to rip my eyes out ”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The game offers significant replayability through the ability to use different characters in various chapters, each with unique weapons and playstyles, as well as diverse upgrade paths. Players can revisit completed levels with new strategies and explore missed secrets, enhancing the overall experience. While some critiques mention a decline in the core gameplay, the variety of content and combat mechanics still provide ample incentive for multiple playthroughs.
- “After you beat the game, you can then use any character in any chapter, so there's some replay value there, as well as the different stats, powers, and weapon upgrades you might want to try that you didn't pick last time.”
- “Palmer, Urd, and Kirsten each come with their own arsenal of weapons, unique spell loadouts, and playstyle philosophies, offering plenty of incentive for replayability.”
- “It was a short, very polished, and replayable game with a good variety of content.”
- “I think they focused on giving a lot of replayability, but the core of the game suffers for it.”
- “The abilities are also set up in a way that should encourage replay value, but it is also littered with ammo generating mechanics which lead to a problem later on in the game.”
- “You get replayability from doing the chapters with the other characters and altering your playstyle with different upgrade paths.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of dry wit and slapstick, with loading screen prompts that may appeal to younger audiences and clever interactions that showcase the developers' enjoyment of their creation. Players find the absurdity of certain scenarios, like a character being shot at while making nonsensical demands, amusing, while the gameplay mechanics, such as using weapons in unexpected ways, add to the comedic experience. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss, with some moments landing well and others feeling less impactful.
- “The first chapter is tight, interesting, and develops the formula from the first game into something sleeker and faster paced, all with a dry humor that shows just how much fun the devs are having in this world they created.”
- “Each advanced form in turn has unlockable secondary fire (hint, try Palmer's mortar for his 6, use the alt fire while in akimbo, it's hilarious).”
- “The first thing I noticed and found pretty funny is that if you jump on a barrel or explosive barrel, they just shrink or fall under the map.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag; while some players praise the immersive music and art direction that evoke nostalgia for classic shooters, others criticize the lack of memorable map design and character. Despite some strong atmospheric elements, there are concerns about wasted potential and inconsistencies, particularly with the soundtrack detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a decent atmosphere that appeals to fans of retro-style shooters, but it falls short in certain areas.
- “The music is very atmospheric and each level sucks you in, making you feel like you are really there.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is great, and so is the art direction.”
- “The game atmosphere feels like a love letter to Quake!”
- “The atmosphere overall feels weaker here, leaving a sense of wasted potential.”
- “At the top of all that is an atmosphere ruined by a goofy soundtrack.”
- “It might be adding to the grim atmosphere, but it reduces the overall quality of the graphical experience for me at least.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
16%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the achievement farming and find it satisfying, others feel that certain elements, like secret hunting and resource scavenging, can become tedious and frustrating, especially with issues like character balance and collision mechanics. Overall, the grind can detract from the enjoyment for some players, particularly when it leads to softlocks or overwhelming challenges.
- “It took a little bit of time to get used to, but it's not tedious and is actually satisfying.”
- “I think PW1 was similar, but it is a shame for people who find secret hunting tedious - and I'll circle back to that later.”
- “And having to scrounge the map for any ammo left in previous zones can be very tedious.”
- “Where I almost got to the E2 ending in one run on release, it has now become so tedious that I cannot get through the first mission without either a softlock or an impotent character that takes ridiculous amounts of damage, whether warranted or not (manbears and spiders need their godlike collision properties reworked badly).”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of nostalgia and disappointment regarding the emotional aspect of the game. While some feel a childlike joy reminiscent of Christmas, others note that the minimal narrative and emotional grounding leave much to be desired, particularly when technical issues detract from the overall experience.
- “It made me feel like a kid on Christmas Day.”
- “The game’s narrative is also minimal, mostly told through brief dialogue snippets or environmental cues, and while the lack of a heavy story won’t bother many fans of the genre, it does mean there’s little emotional grounding to the action.”
- “I know it's in early access, but some of the bugs are just heartbreaking.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization in "boomer shooters" varies significantly, with many titles offering quality gameplay, while others are criticized as cash grabs that prioritize profit over player experience.
- “I am playing a lot of these 'boomer shooters' and I admit, most are good, some are okay, and a few are downright just cash grabs.”
- “The monetization in this game feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players appreciate the personalized feel of character development, expressing a desire for ongoing enhancements to stats and perks to further enrich the experience.
- “She feels like a character designed with me in mind.”
- “Hopefully they will continue to add onto the character development as far as the stats and perks go and such.”