Gaming the Pandemic - Day 2: Sanctum 2 (PC)

I've decide to attack (at least) one game from my 644 game backlog every day that the UK is in 'lock-down'.

I'm not planning on completing them, just playing them for long enough to know:A) What they're all about.B) If they're good enough to continue playing ASAP

Lock-down day two, I hit the random selection button on my spreadsheet and it has selected...

Sanctum 2 for PC

Second sequel on the bounce for which I haven't played the first instalment. I must admit to almost total indifference when this popped up in the selection box, I have genuinely no recollection of how/why I own it or what it's about.

I'm, thankfully, reassured by the fact that I don't keep games from bundles if they don't at least look interesting, so at some point in the past I would have read the blurb for this and decided to keep it based on that...

Reading the Steam store description though, I'm worried by the pronounced use of 'co-op'...

Let's see.

For the uninitiated (like I was an hour ago) this is essentially a fairly basic 'Hoard mode' FPS - I've got very limited exposure to this kind of thing so it put most in mind of exactly that gameplay mode from Gears of War, with enhanced battlement building between waves. As far as I can tell there's not much more to it than that.

There's jumping and (yay) double-jumping. Weapons are fun and everything is upgrade-able. Progression is rewarded with weapon slots and the like as you would expect, and it's all very confidently put together.

There's nothing particularly exciting or original about either the character or enemy designs but they are pretty decent and certainly do the job well enough - everything in the game has that shininess to it that is often the calling card of a lower budget project. There are comic book panel intermissions which are quite nice and the voice acting is enthusiastic if a bit cheesy - it all leads to a game it's easy feel a certain amount of underdog affection for.

All in all Sanctum 2 was a very pleasant surprise, it's clear this is not really designed to be a single player game - even in the 'Campaign' mode - but after some initial reservations I found myself having a blast and I'll definitely suggest it the next time a mate wants a co-op session.

Sanctum 2 - Recommended (if you like this kind of thing)

Previously...

Day one was the excellent Luminees 2 on PSP