Alien Shooter 2: The Legend

Alien Shooter 2: The Legend is a sci-fi action RPG that combines arcade combat with deep character progression, plunging players into a desperate battle against swarming monsters emerging from the MAGMA corporation’s secret base. Featuring familiar allies like General Baker and Kate Lia, the game offers extensive campaign and multiplayer modes, hundreds of weapons to customize, drones, implants, and offline play, all set in a futuristic world where humanity’s survival hinges on uncovering the origins of the alien threat.

Alien Shooter 2: The Legend: Review

Introduction

Alien Shooter 2: The Legend is a game that stands at the crossroads of nostalgia and modern gaming sensibilities. As a sequel to the beloved Alien Shooter series, it promises to deliver a blend of arcade action and RPG elements, set against the backdrop of a sci-fi horror landscape. This review will dissect the game’s development history, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, world-building, and its reception and legacy. By the end, we’ll determine whether this game is a worthy successor to its predecessors or a missed opportunity.

Development History & Context

Developed by Sigma Team, Alien Shooter 2: The Legend was released on July 27, 2018, for Android, with subsequent releases on iPhone, iPad, and Windows. The game is a follow-up to the original Alien Shooter, which debuted in 2003, and it builds upon the series’ legacy of isometric shooters with RPG elements.

The development team, led by Michael Murashov, included a mix of experienced and new talent, with key contributors like Vadim Fedotov, Pavel Sysolyatin, and Vitaly Maltsev handling programming, and Michael Zakharov and Petr Akulov focusing on game design and level design. The art team, including Alexey Tarmashev and Alexander Shushkov, aimed to create a visually appealing game that would appeal to both new and returning players.

The gaming landscape in 2018 was dominated by the rise of mobile gaming and the resurgence of retro-inspired titles. Sigma Team sought to capitalize on this trend by porting the game to mobile platforms while also offering a PC version. However, the game’s development was constrained by the need to maintain the series’ core mechanics while introducing new features to attract modern audiences.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Alien Shooter 2: The Legend picks up where the original left off, with humanity facing an existential threat from an alien invasion. The story follows an unnamed elite soldier as they join the resistance to combat the alien forces. The narrative is driven by a series of missions that uncover the mysteries behind the alien invasion and the role of the MAGMA corporation.

The game’s characters include familiar faces like General Baker, engineer Nicholas, and professor Kate Lia, who add depth to the story. The dialogue, while serviceable, is often marred by mediocre English translations, which detracts from the overall immersion. The themes of survival, resistance, and the ethical dilemmas of scientific experimentation are explored, but the execution is somewhat shallow compared to other games in the genre.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

The gameplay of Alien Shooter 2: The Legend is a mix of isometric shooting and RPG elements. Players control a soldier equipped with a variety of weapons, armor, and drones, which can be upgraded and customized. The game features a deep inventory management system, allowing players to scavenge, craft, and purchase equipment.

Combat is the primary focus, with players engaging in battles against hordes of aliens. The aiming system is mouse-controlled, with accuracy decreasing as the distance to the target increases. The game also features vehicles, which are incredibly powerful but prone to glitches.

The RPG elements include a gear-based progression system, where players collect and upgrade equipment of varying rarities. However, this system is criticized for being inferior to the progression system in previous games like Alien Shooter 2: Reloaded. The game also features a limited number of active skills, which are not particularly useful.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The game’s setting is a futuristic, sci-fi landscape filled with alien creatures and human resistance bases. The art direction is a mix of retro and modern aesthetics, with pixelated textures and detailed environments. The sound design is functional but unremarkable, with repetitive music and sound effects that fail to create a truly immersive atmosphere.

Reception & Legacy

Alien Shooter 2: The Legend received mixed reviews upon release. Critics praised the game’s variety of equipment and the high number of missions, but criticized its repetitive gameplay, mediocre graphics, and poor English translations. The game’s reputation has evolved over time, with some players appreciating its nostalgic appeal, while others view it as a disappointing sequel.

The game’s influence on subsequent titles is limited, as it failed to set new trends or innovate significantly within the genre. However, it remains a notable entry in the Alien Shooter series, which has a dedicated fanbase.

Conclusion

Alien Shooter 2: The Legend is a game that straddles the line between nostalgia and modernity. While it offers a substantial amount of content and a deep inventory management system, its repetitive missions, mediocre graphics, and poor translations hold it back. The game’s legacy is that of a missed opportunity—a sequel that could have done more to innovate and appeal to a broader audience. For fans of the series, it may hold some appeal, but for newcomers, it is likely to be a disappointing experience. Ultimately, Alien Shooter 2: The Legend is a game that is best appreciated as a curiosity rather than a must-play title.