Alien Shooter 2 Reloaded

As far as top-down shooters go, Alien Shooter 2: Reloaded is one of those games that simply does everything right. A game that improves on every aspect of its predecessor, this alien-killing affair delivers more of the same bombastic action and intense trigger play that players of the first entry loved so much.

Of course, it's not enough to simply slap a "2" at the end of the title to call your game a sequel, and this one proves it. With lots of improvements to the core gameplay, a revamped visual style, and a fully voiced campaign, Alien Shooter 2: Reloaded is an intense, action-packed sequel that anyone should try – even before the original.

Hordes of Fun

In this twin-stick shooter, players take control of a lone survivor amidst a massive alien invasion. Armed to the teeth and ready to kick some extraterrestrial butt, your character embarks on a carnage that spans 17 intense missions.

The developers of the game promise that up to 100 enemies can appear on screen at once, and I can attest to that. Every screen is a test of your reflexes, as you try to manage the hordes of enemies that come at you from every direction. It's pure, unadulterated shooting fun, and it's easy to see why the game has such a wide appeal with fans of twin-stick shooters like Enter the Gungeon.

It's also great that there's more enemy variety compared to the first entry – a common complaint of veterans of the series.

Light RPG Mechanics

Something I didn't expect to see in a game like Alien Shooter 2 is that it includes some light RPG elements that help you customize your character's skills and abilities. It might be a bit barebones when it comes to skill trees – and what they do – but it's a nice touch nonetheless.

Picking up new guns also offers some interesting new approaches to the same levels. With different stats and speeds, choosing the right tool for the job can be instrumental in this game, so be sure to pick the weapons that go well with your character's skills.

These different abilities can also lead to a lot more variety when beginning new games, which should be a nice change of pace for veterans of the first game. It's still not as deep as something like The Binding of Isaac, but it's getting there, for sure.

Superb Presentation

The visuals have seen an impressive leap over the previous entry: enemy mobs now look even more imposing thanks to the added level of detail of every unit. The terrain is also beautifully rendered, with environmental objects like blades of grass being the most impressive out of the bunch.

Graphics aren't the only thing that improves the game's presentation: every NPC you come across is now fully voiced. The briefings before each mission also feature some solid voice acting.

It all helps to deliver an experience that feels more in line with a game than a bigger budget than this, and it goes a long way to sell the overall mood of the game.

Pros

• Great 2D visuals
• Solid voice acting
• Revamped RPG mechanics and controls

Cons

• Can be a bit difficult to run on newer PCs
• Some gameplay aspects can feel a bit repetitive