SHOCK TROOPERS 2nd Squad
- September 28, 2016
- SNK CORPORATION
"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.
- The graphics and presentation are praised for their pixelated style, appealing to retro gaming enthusiasts.
- Despite its flaws, the game is still considered fun and enjoyable, especially for those who appreciate SNK's legacy.
- The game suffers from significant framerate drops, especially during intense action scenes, 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.
- Technical issues, such as audio glitches and lack of communication from developers regarding fixes, have led to dissatisfaction among the community.
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their beautiful pixelated art style, which avoids the pitfalls of dated trends and effectively utilizes the hardware without compromising performance. Fans of retro run-and-gun or bullet hell genres will particularly appreciate the visuals, which complement the gameplay and evoke nostalgia for classic titles like Contra and Metal Slug. Overall, the presentation is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience.
“The presentation is great though, 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, 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.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is marred by significant lag when multiple enemies appear on screen, which detracts from the overall experience and is considered unacceptable for modern standards. However, it is also praised for its great music and visuals, highlighting its status as a classic from the golden age of SNK.
“One of the greatest hits in the golden age of SNK, great music, great visuals, and gameplay.”
“It's extremely laggy if more than a couple of enemies are on screen, and since there will often be around 15, the gameplay is generally quite laggy, which is inexcusable in this day and age.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing significant 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 aids in dodging projectiles, but overall, the performance issues detract from the experience.
“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.”
“Stuttering FPS when encountering lots of enemies, explosions, and other effects.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % 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 feel it lacks the same level of engagement for repeated playthroughs.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game is generally 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; drawback is that it tends to be unstable when playing 2-player, as well as overall. There are audio glitches and lagging issues.”
“The game is fun, but the stability is a major concern. I experienced frequent crashes and performance drops, especially during multiplayer sessions.”
“While the gameplay is enjoyable, the constant frame drops and connection issues make it frustrating to play, particularly in co-op mode.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game primarily stems from its amusing use of "Engrish," which adds a comedic element that resonates well with players.
“The Engrish is hilarious.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in this game is highly praised, often regarded as one of the standout features from SNK's golden age, complementing its impressive visuals and engaging gameplay.
“One of the greatest hits in the golden age of SNK, featuring great music, great visuals, and engaging gameplay.”