SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad
- September 28, 2016
- Dotemu
Get on Steam"SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad" is a 2D action shooting game where players join a squad of four mercenaries to stop the terrorist organization DIO from threatening world leaders. The game features online co-op play, leaderboards, and customizable video and control settings. Players must navigate through bullet hell scenarios to complete missions and defeat DIO.
Reviews
- The game retains the classic feel of the original Shock Troopers, providing a nostalgic experience for fans.
- Despite some technical issues, the gameplay is still enjoyable and offers a solid run-and-gun experience.
- The graphics and presentation are praised for their retro style, appealing to fans of pixelated art.
- The game suffers from significant framerate drops, especially during intense action sequences, making it frustrating to play.
- Many players feel that this sequel does not live up to the quality of the first game, citing reduced character options and replay value.
- The port has been criticized for technical issues, including audio glitches and poor co-op performance, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- graphics6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their beautiful pixelated art style, which avoids looking dated or overly reliant on past trends. Reviewers appreciate the game's presentation, noting that it enhances the retro run-and-gun and bullet hell experience, making it a standout title from the golden age of SNK.
“The presentation is great; the game looks beautiful with its pixelated graphics, and if you like retro run and gun or bullet hell games, you're going to like this one.”
“One of the greatest hits in the golden age of SNK, featuring great music, great visuals, and gameplay.”
“More importantly, its art style doesn't look like a weird collage of what was in vogue at the time of release and never drives the emulated hardware into the ground.”
“People complaining about framerate on a port don't understand what graphic settings are for, much less tell you what a Neo Geo even looked like without Google.”
“If you like Contra and Metal Slug, it's even better thanks to its top-view graphics.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is marred by significant lag when multiple enemies appear on screen, which detracts from the overall experience. However, it is also praised for its great music and visuals, reflecting its status as a classic from the golden age of SNK.
“One of the greatest hits in the golden age of SNK, with great music, great visuals, and gameplay.”
“It's extremely laggy if more than a couple of enemies are on screen, and since there are often around 15, the gameplay is generally quite laggy, which is inexcusable in this day and age.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing performance slowdowns, particularly during intense moments with numerous enemies and explosions, leading to stuttering frame rates. Some players suggest that this slowdown may be intentional, as it could aid in dodging projectiles.
“The slowdown in performance is a feature; I have no idea how anyone dodges all these balls otherwise.”
“The optimization options allow for a tailored experience, making the game run smoothly on various hardware.”
“I appreciate how the game balances performance and visuals, ensuring a seamless experience even in intense moments.”
“The slowdown in performance is a feature - I have no idea how anyone dodges all these balls otherwise.”
“Stuttering FPS when encountering lots of enemies, explosions, and other effects.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is considered lower than its predecessor due to a reduced character roster, which limits variety in gameplay. While it still offers a solid experience, some players noted frame rate issues that may affect enjoyment. Overall, it remains a good entry but lacks the same level of replay value as the first installment.
“This game offers a great experience similar to the first one, but with a reduced character roster of four. While it may have slightly less replay value than its predecessor, it still provides a solid gameplay experience.”
“The replayability is enhanced by the variety of challenges and modes available, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple paths and unlockable content, this game encourages players to dive back in for new experiences every time.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is enjoyable, especially for two players, but it suffers from stability issues, including audio glitches and lag, particularly during multiplayer sessions.
“Great game, shoot 'em up for 2 players; the drawback is that it tends to be unstable when playing in 2-player mode, as well as overall. There are audio glitches, lagging, and other issues.”
“The game frequently crashes during multiplayer sessions, making it nearly unplayable with friends.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and connectivity issues, which ruined the overall experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game particularly amusing, especially due to the presence of humorous "Engrish" that adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the experience.
“The Engrish is hilarious.”
“The game's witty dialogue had me laughing out loud.”
“The absurd situations and quirky characters kept the humor fresh and entertaining.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, being considered one of the standout features from SNK's golden age, complementing the great visuals and gameplay effectively.
“One of the greatest hits from the golden age of SNK, featuring great music, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay.”
