Action Commando 2

Action Commando 2 is extremely rushed. I wouldn't mind "more of the same" if there was at least some attempt to make it seem like the next chapter... but there isn't. The only area that looks different is, deceptively enough, the start so you're lead to believe that at least the aesthetics are different. But no such luck. Very soon we're back to the same old underground corridors that look exactly like in the previous game. Oh you like that cool background with asteroids and space ships? Well, better take a good look because that's the only time you'll see it! It gets so bad that the final level literally reuses areas from Town of Machine and our big payoff for finishing the game is... Nothing! I mean it, there's not even a text at the end. You just press a button and that's it, credits roll. Not to mention it's even shorter than AC1. This game costs almost nothing and yet I still feel ripped off. I guess if you get it in a bundle with Town of Machine and Action Commando 1 you might a...

This is more of a Neutral case than a real recommend. While this game generally falls short of expectations, it is still enjoyable, the gameplay is solid, the game itself is stable. I still had fun. Yet, read on and weigh whether it will be worth it for you. Let's start with the negative to balance out that this is a Recommend review. - Very short. I beat it on normal in about 2.25 hours, and that's with some messing around wasting time. The first game took me about 3.5. (Note: I was already used to the gameplay having played Town of Machine ((the superior of the three)), so the time difference between the Action Commando games was not due to getting more used to the style). - The already minimal story seems to be entirely abandoned soon after the halfway point and there is no conclusion at the end, just cut to the choice of NG+ or return to menu. - This one is just personal preference: on the last level, no indication that the last save you reach will leave no chance of going back an...

So, this review is meant to encompass both AC games as a whole. In AC1, we already got some changes - along with the notion of the game itself being a sequel to Town of Machine. The Inventory's been done away with, in favor of just having every weapon to be obtained automatically assigned to a specified hotkey spot (still miss being able to assign the shotgun to Hotkey 2). Also, we get the "Dash" ability right from the start of the game; but, in AC2, we don't have as many (not an issue IMO, since I barely use it). Another change I enjoyed was how the start forces you to actually use the melee weapon, before you actually get your first gun. Honestly, I think that's a nice call, since it forces you to learn how to actually use it, instead of letting it gather dust in your "inventory" - and it makes for an incentive to learn how to deflect the projectiles back at the enemy (LOVED this feature, because it's such an "eye for an eye" treatment for the enemies that use the tracking projecti...

You should definitely play the first one, as this continues the story. It's not a massive improvement over the original, but it's not any worse either. If you like the first one you will like this. If you haven't bought the first one go do that now.