Natural Selection 2 is available on Steam for $24.99 for
the standard edition and $39.99 for the deluxe edition. It was released on October 30th,
2013. A review copy was provided for review purposes.
As what could be best described as a labor of love, Natural
Selection 2 is upon us. What? You didn’t play Natural Selection? Ten
years ago you might have seen this game as a Half-Life mod. It blended
first-person shooter and real-time strategy into one fairly nice package. But
Charlie Cleveland, it’s creator desired to take it further.
Natural Selection 2 is what happens when fans and
designer rally around something and bring it to fruition. Unknown Worlds
Entertainment completed NS2 recently and the love oozes out of every
pour. Six years in development and ten years since the original, Natural
Selection 2 crosses the borders (again) of two time-honored genres and
create a haven for competitive gamers, FPS and RTS alike. Pouring hard earned
funding and abundant creativity and precision, Natural Selection 2 delights
far more than it bites.
DISCLAIMER: I am no great fan of FPS competitive
multiplayer. I have poor reaction time and often become obsessed with
non-essential aspects of the game. Left 4 Dead took the fight out of me,
and I really have not gone back since a very demoralizing lesson in a
tournament years ago.
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| RTS Flavored FPS? Two scoops please. |
The Great:
The RTS Element:
Having a commander on either side truly gives significant
and genuine direction and intention to a sometimes-muddled genre(s). The
Commander controls the RTS aspect of the game for either side. Providing
upgrades and designating defensive points and construction fall into the list
of responsibilities of this team leader.
This focus on having a player be able to control the board with the aid
of real soldiers, whether human or alien, allows for an instant need to have a
task and to want to succeed. A desire to want to be a part of the team is not
only one of the greatest parts of the game, but it is necessary in survival.
Appointing tasks and being appointed tasks quickly creates
camaraderie. You want to eradicate the aliens because they want to annihilate
you. The commander sets the pace and gives you the tools you need to do this. A
good commander is the deciding factor in a given battle and either adeptly
places notices on the battlefield or gives commands over voice chat.
Earning resources either through player kills or harvesting
of resources via structures built by the commander changes the field of play
from session to session. The creativity and ability of the commander and the
RTS portion of the game can dictate how any given battle can play out.
Defending the makeshift or expanded base points creates a rhythmic cycle, and
when your team is in the rhythm you feel it. The resources start to flow,
upgrades pour over the field of battle and the other side is kept on its toes.
These things describe what seemed to be the best part of the
game, focused teamwork.
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| Battles are quick, but clever tactics can turn the tide. |
The Good:
The Community:
For the newly initiated it can be sometimes be daunting
finding matches where you can cut your teeth on the game. Fortunately Natural
Selection 2 allows matches to be tagged with “Rookie Friendly,” allowing
for the new blood to be shown the ropes by patient veterans. The game has
quirks and tactics that you simply must play to learn and in the hours (upon
hours) of playing, I seldom encountered attitude issues towards people with
varying skill levels.
A good community engenders a healthy player base and
in turn can help an indie title like Natural Selection 2 sell copies of
the game. This is good for all involved. Be the good that you want to see in Natural
Selection 2 (that’s how the saying goes, right?)
There are always folks who want to strut, and they can have
their virtual moment. I am all for some smack talk. But for the entirety smack
talking I endured in Natural Selection 2, it was also balanced by
constructive criticism and encouragement.
The Bad:
The Commander Learning Curve:
It is the deciding factor in winning. You must have a
remotely competent Commander and the only way you get better is by playing.
That may mean, that if you are a more casual player, that you will be subject
to this learning curve. Be prepared to lose some matches if you have an
inconsistent or non-communicative Commander.
Stepping into the role is intimidating. It is true resource
management, one of which is the time of others playing. You are partially
responsible as how your fellow player can enjoy their time in NS2, which
puts a player in a tough spot. The Commander is a necessary role and though
tutorials are available, it just pales to experience. Thankfully, if you
require assistance there plenty of players who are happy to give their
assistance (you will also garner unsolicited assistance, sometimes more than
you know what to do with).
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| When biting humans, the direct approach is not recommended. |
The Horrible:
The Alien Connection:
This is being nitpicky, because I believe that NS2 does
so much right with the blending of genres. But there should always be room for
improvement.
The Humans have it easy; the majority of their weapons are
ranged. The feel of blasting the enemy is familiar. The same cannot be said about
the Aliens. The personal and visceral feel of chomping and bashing your foe
lacks weight. It was obvious that damage was being dealt (damage numbers
floating above the enemy), but the contact of bite to Human leg, groin and arm
needed something tangible. The equivalence of the satisfaction of dispatching a
foe with a shotgun or grenade needs to exist for the Aliens.
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The Final Word: BUY IT!
Natural Selection 2 is just a great time all around.
It’s fun when you are winning. It’s not a terrible time when you are losing,
and the option for creative tactics are countless. If you are looking for a
break from your Call of Duties or Halo, Natural Selection 2 has
plenty new for you’re to sink your teeth into.
*Not reviewed, but worth mentioning is the Level/Game Editor
available in the Steam Workshop. It has the potential add even more value to an
already value-laden title.
Looking for someone with whom to play this and other games? Head on over to Pregamelobby!
