L.S.S II

L.S.S II is a first-person arcade shooter set in a contemporary post-apocalyptic world. Players engage in fast-paced, direct-control gameplay, navigating through a desolate landscape while battling various threats. The game emphasizes survival and action, offering an intense and immersive experience as players fight to stay alive in a harsh, unforgiving environment.

L.S.S II: Review

Introduction

In an era dominated by blockbuster franchises and photorealistic open worlds, L.S.S II (2021) stands as a defiant love letter to the arcade shooters of yesteryear. Developed by indie studio FossettGaming, this frenetic first-person wave shooter builds on the foundation of its 2018 predecessor, L.S.S, with refined mechanics, chaotic co-op action, and a relentless pace that demands precision and adaptability. This review dissects L.S.S II’s place in the modern shooter landscape, examining how its stripped-down design philosophy and post-apocalyptic aesthetic carve out a niche in an oversaturated genre.

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Development History & Context

Studio Vision & Constraints
FossettGaming, a small indie team known for its focus on tight, action-driven experiences, sought to expand the scope of L.S.S while retaining its arcade soul. Released on March 12, 2021, L.S.S II emerged during a transitional period for gaming, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of AAA live-service titles. With a budget and team size dwarfed by contemporaries, FossettGaming prioritized scalability over spectacle, leveraging Unreal Engine 4 to create a responsive, performance-friendly shooter optimized for both solo and cooperative play.

Technological & Market Landscape
At launch, L.S.S II competed against behemoths like Call of Duty: Warzone and Destiny 2, but its $2.99 price point and minimalist design catered to players craving immediacy. The game’s focus on wave-based survival tapped into a resurgence of retro-inspired shooters (Ultrakill, Roboquest), though its lack of narrative depth and procedural systems limited its mainstream appeal.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

A Barebones Apocalypse
L.S.S II’s lore is skeletal: players battle endless hordes of undead across four global locations, scavenging cash to upgrade weapons and perks. While the original L.S.S established a vague “post-outbreak” setting, the sequel adds little beyond environmental storytelling—crumbling cityscapes, abandoned military bunkers—to contextualize its carnage. Dialogue is nonexistent, and characters are faceless avatars, reducing the experience to pure mechanical urgency.

Themes of Survival & Excess
Thematically, the game mirrors the nihilistic excess of 1980s action cinema. Its unrelenting enemy waves and over-the-top arsenal (including a “brick launcher”) parody the genre’s obsession with escalation. The absence of stakes beyond high scores underscores a deliberate rejection of modern gaming’s narrative pretensions, favoring raw adrenaline over emotional weight.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Loop: Chaos Refined
L.S.S II’s gameplay revolves around surviving waves of enemies while earning cash to purchase weapons and perks. The loop is straightforward but satisfying:
– Combat: Gunplay is punchy, with exaggerated hit reactions and a diverse arsenal (pistols, SMGs, LMGs, melee tools). Enemy variety includes zombies, mutated beasts, and boss-like “Elites” that demand strategic prioritization.
– Progression: Temporary perks like “Double Damage” and “Speedy Hands” incentivize aggressive play, though their short duration reinforces the game’s arcade ethos.
– Co-op: Up to four players can tackle waves together, with shared scoreboards fostering competition amid camaraderie.

Innovations & Flaws
The inclusion of maps from L.S.S (2018) nods to series fans but highlights the sequel’s modest scope. While the randomized perk system adds replayability, the lack of persistent progression or skill trees may deter longevity-driven players. UI elements are functional but dated, with cluttered menus betraying the game’s indie roots.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Aesthetic Functionality
L.S.S II’s visual design prioritizes readability over artistry. Environments—ranging from fog-drenched forests to derelict urban centers—are serviceable but lack detail, with textures and lighting leaning into a stylized, low-poly aesthetic. Enemy designs skew grotesque yet generic, echoing Left 4 Dead’s zombie tropes without fresh twists.

Sound Design: Frenetic Ambiance
The soundtrack thrives on discordance: screeching undead, thunderous gunfire, and a pulsating synth-score heighten tension. Weapon sounds lack nuance (every SMG feels identical), but the cacophony suits the game’s chaotic pacing.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical & Commercial Performance
With a Steam rating of 82% (“Very Positive”) from 17 reviews at launch, L.S.S II resonated with niche audiences praising its “no-nonsense action” and budget-friendly price. However, its commercial impact was muted, selling just 320 copies (SteamDB) against modest expectations.

Industry Influence
While not a trailblazer, L.S.S II exemplifies the viability of hyper-focused indie shooters in an era of bloated AAA titles. Its success—modest but passionate—inspired FossettGaming to expand the series, with rumors of a third entry leveraging community feedback.

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Conclusion

L.S.S II is neither revolutionary nor refined, but its unapologetic embrace of arcade sensibilities fills a void in the shooter market. For players seeking a distilled, high-octane experience—or a nostalgic callback to Serious Sam’s glory days—it delivers in spades. Yet its lack of innovation and narrative depth confine it to cult status. In the pantheon of indie shooters, L.S.S II is a brisk, brutal diversion—a testament to the enduring appeal of simplicity in an increasingly complex medium.

Final Verdict:
A flawed but fervent ode to arcade mayhem, L.S.S II is best enjoyed in short bursts with friends. Its place in history may be minor, but its heart is undeniable.