Waves 2: Notorious
- November 15, 2015
- SquidInABox
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Get on itch.io StoreEngage in fast-paced action packed neon combat as you hack into Corporate Networks, Steal their Secrets and crash their servers. Set in a neon Cyberpunk vision of Cyberspace it's your reflexes against the relentless assault of Bugs, Viruses and AI's in this Twin Stick Shooter.
PC
Windows
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- Waves 2 is a significant evolution from the original, offering more depth, complexity, and customization, making it a must-play for twin-stick shooter fans.
- The game features fast-paced, addictive gameplay with a variety of modes, including a challenging GRID mode that enhances replayability.
- The developer has shown dedication to improving the game over time, responding to community feedback and continuously adding content.
- The game is still in early access and suffers from issues such as a confusing tutorial, complex systems, and a lack of clarity in the progression mechanics.
- Some players have reported technical problems, including crashes and inability to launch the game, which detracts from the overall experience.
- The music has been criticized for being repetitive and not as memorable as the original, impacting the immersive experience of gameplay.
- music32 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its upbeat and dancey soundtrack, enhancing the gameplay experience. However, some players find the music repetitive and lacking in memorability, with calls for more variety and the ability to add custom tracks. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated, there are notable requests for improvement in track selection.
“Long story short - put on some electronic music, and get lost in shooter hell for an hour or two.”
“The music alone makes this game worth double the value!”
“This has to be one of my top favorite indie games on Steam and on my computer (which is saying a lot since I have a lot of huge hype and retro games); the soundtrack and new abilities (like the lightning arc and tri-beam upgrades) leave me stunned.”
“The fine music keeps on playing but the mouse pointer does not move anymore and I have to shut down the game using the Windows Task Manager.”
“There is one music track - turn the music off in the options for now.”
“- same terrible song over and over (worse than all songs from the original)”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Waves 2 is praised for its depth and frantic pace, building on its predecessor with new mechanics and character options that enhance player strategy and loadout customization. While the core mechanics remain similar, the introduction of larger, more complex maps and a second character adds variety and unpredictability, though some players note that the tutorial could better explain the game's systems. Overall, the gameplay is considered phenomenal, making it a great choice for parties despite some minor issues with complexity and enemy variety.
“Even though the basic game still involves the same thing, the ship options have a surprisingly large impact on gameplay.”
“Waves 2 features many of the same mechanics, but includes a second 'character' that has different weapons/skills and the levels are large, symmetrical shapes that are less predictable to navigate because the camera covers less of the map and because there are pillars (circular walls) that force you to move around them and enemies to move differently.”
“It's deeper than your normal 'survive' gameplay, without the commitment of a full campaign.”
“Alot of new features yet gameplay is only slightly affected because a lot of alpha restraints are holding this game back.”
“There were only a few enemy types, a gun, a bomb, slow motion, and a few game mechanics.”
“The game mechanics are about the same but with additions, e.g. collecting data to unlock upgrades, and the tutorial doesn't (yet?) explain everything.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and chippy aesthetic, reminiscent of Geometry Wars, with beautiful visuals that enhance the gameplay experience. Reviewers appreciate the game's optimization and the variety of graphics options available, making it suitable for parties due to its simplicity and engaging style. However, some note that the updated graphics can be overly shiny.
“Awesome visuals.”
“Another nice thing rare in this genre is that the game engine is great and has several graphics options.”
“Right now, this game is great as its predecessor 'Waves' with highly optimized graphics & grid mode is very challenging.”
“It's got the visuals of Geometry Wars (because let's face it, that's what we're comparing against).”
“The updated graphics are very shiny!”
“Right now, this game is great as its predecessor 'Waves' with highly optimized graphics, but the grid mode is very challenging.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Waves² is praised for its significant improvements in optimization compared to its predecessor, offering highly optimized graphics and smooth performance even on systems that meet only the minimum requirements. Players report that the game runs well at high settings, enhancing the overall enjoyment and challenge.
“My system meets its minimum requirements and the game runs smoothly at epic (I believe it's ultra) settings.”
“Performance is great and I can finally enjoy.”
“Right now, this game is great as its predecessor 'Waves' with highly optimized graphics, and grid mode is very challenging.”
“Waves² scratched a big itch I didn't know I had with the original, which was the lack of optimization and strategy.”
“Right now, this game is great as its predecessor 'Waves' with highly optimized graphics, but the grid mode is very challenging.”
“Waves² scratched a big itch I didn't know I had with the original, which was the lack of optimization and strategy.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story aspect of Waves 2 is primarily conveyed through its new grid mode, which functions as the campaign. This mode enhances the narrative experience, making it feel more cohesive and engaging for players.
“It made it seem more like a story.”
“[b]waves 2 has a new grid mode which I suppose is the campaign/story mode of this game.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks depth.”
“Character development is minimal, making it hard to connect with anyone.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to engage the player.”
