Astro Duel 2 is a shooter/platformer for the Nintendo Swap. Once I say shooter/platformer, I don’t imply it merely merges these genres into one. No, Astro Duel 2 options two distinct parts: platforming and taking pictures. It’s a cool idea that usually works, regardless of a number of flaws.
I get pleasure from shooters and platformers, so a sport combining each is true up my alley. In Astro Duel 2, ranges start with a brief platforming expertise earlier than your character jumps into his or her ship. You’re immediately in house, taking down all types of alien craft. Then you definitely discover some form of portal on the sting of a constructing. Flying to this edge transports you inside the place you’ll be able to run and gun to defeat much more enemies earlier than popping again into your ship at one other doorway. This seamless transition between gameplay types makes this title straightforward to get pleasure from. It’s solely honest, then, to speak about every half of the sport individually. Let’s begin with platforming.
I’m an enormous platforming fanatic; operating and leaping are my jam. Astro Duel 2 presents a easy method to the style, with a small sprite who can run, soar, and shoot. Every part is self-contained, comprising small rooms to dodge and assault enemies. It really works nicely, with fundamental controls that make it accessible.
Having mentioned that, it’s not all the time apparent easy methods to do sure issues, like use particular weapons. It took me longer than I’d prefer to admit to appreciate that choosing up new weapons didn’t routinely change my default weapon. There’s a separate button for that, they usually have restricted use by way of ammunition. A sign of how a lot ammo is left for these particular weapons could be welcome, too.
The shooter part retains issues equally easy. On the plus facet, this creates one thing straightforward to leap into and luxuriate in. Then again, it lacks the depth to maintain gamers hooked for lengthy intervals. Flying is mostly high quality, although I discovered my ship considerably arduous to manage. It feels a bit unfastened, however perhaps that’s meant to emulate the sensation of being in house? It’s not uncontrollable by any means, it simply feels a little bit totally different from what I anticipated.
Taking pictures can be barely totally different. Slightly than being able to shoot repeatedly, you’re restricted to 3 bullets at a time. These replenish after a brief wait, however it feels barely stilted and pointless. Whereas it helps create a extra strategic method to taking pictures, I choose the fast-paced motion of a typical shooter.
Nonetheless, totally different doesn’t equal dangerous, and Astro Duel 2 presents a enjoyable expertise as soon as you realize what you’re doing. There are a number of levels to play by way of, every that includes waves of enemies. You’ll be able to take three hits earlier than dying fully, requiring you to restart at wave one.
Taking pictures enemies drops cash, and incomes sufficient will will let you open new missions. It’s a easy prospect that forces you to maintain a watch out for moolah floating round. Some repetition is important to earn sufficient for some ranges, however, fortunately, every mission is succinct sufficient that replays don’t really feel too burdensome.
You’ll be able to select from 4 pixelated avatars, even giving your chosen astro murderer a novel title. There are two modes to pick out from: missions and co-op. What’s lacking, although, is a narrative mode. The missions, although gratifying, turn out to be repetitive after a number of hours, notably with out the overarching risk of an even bigger enemy to work in the direction of.
General, Astro Duel 2 is a neat mixture of two standard genres. The straightforward setup is enjoyable, regardless of my preliminary points with the controls. It may benefit from a little bit extra selection and a few form of story mode to tie all of it collectively, however the addition of a co-op mode is welcome.