Orthopox: Crypto! Why isn't the human telling them about the glorious weapons of the Furon Empire? If we have this opportunity to inform the populace about their impending subjugation, we may as well scare them into putting up less resistance.
Crypto: I thought you didn't want me talking to the monkeys? Never mind. Hey! Apeman! Tell them about the weapons we are going to use to crush your puny human cities!
Right, weapons! Crypto has access to the might of the Furon arsenal, but before he can use them, he has to recover Data Cores from the destroyed mother ship that will allow him to repair his weaponry. From then on, switching weapons is simple. Crypto's basic equipment can be enhanced by collecting Furotech cells and using them to upgrade weapons, shields, his jetpack and the saucer. Once you have a few upgrades to the Zap-o-Matic for example, you can start chaining victims together and wiping out humans more efficiently. Most of the weapons are ones we have seen before in the first game. However, there are some new additions, such as the meteor strike, that are worth investigation, even if it's just for the undeniable joy of watching several tons of space rock fall on your attackers.
You'll be needing all of the enhanced alien weaponry you can get your hands upon, because this game is quite involved. Apart from the missions that make up the main story, there are side quests like activating landing sites by appeasing an ancient Furon god or collecting alien artifacts to enhance your abilities still further. The missions and side quests are presented in a GTA-like sandbox way, i.e. you walk up to the person or place that signifies the start of the mission, talk for a while, and then go on your merry way blasting, possessing and razing to the ground as the demands of the mission entail.
Obviously, the game is not without some minor drawbacks. It's not possible for mere Earth technology to accurately simulate mighty Furon adventures after all.
Crypto: Good catch, meatsack! I may let you live for a while longer. Tell them about their crummy technology.
Yes, of course. For example, the camera has an annoying habit of showing you exactly what you don't want to see. This can be especially frustrating in the saucer when attempting to abduct humans, the camera can become almost stuck to the ground if you fly too low. This means you can't see the buildings you are trying to fly around. Another issue is that of pop-up, or at least fogging-up. The environment does not suffer this flaw; vehicles do, however. Several missions involve you tracking down human vehicles in the saucer and even though you can see the ground or airspace where they are, you can't see the vehicles themselves until you are really quite close.
These minor quibbles aside, Destroy All Humans! 2 is an engaging and humorous game that you will want to keep playing. Those of you who played the first game will appreciate the enhancements made in this release, and anybody who missed the original will not be left out since each new feature is explained as it is encountered. This approach removes the 'training level' aspect of some games and lets you get straight into the action. There is also the prospect of two player action with a second Furon able to join Crypto's land-based missions for double the carnage in a split-screen style.
Crypto: Sounds good! I may have to try this 'game' for myself. I wonder if I can fit a games console into the saucer?
Orthopox: Crypto! Stop babbling to those evolutionally-challenged ape-descendants and get back to work! Glorious empires don't just restore themselves, you know! Chop chop, you've got to go and see what the KGB are up to in this scum-infested rat-hole of a city. And repair your saucer while you're at it. I've a feeling you'll be needing its weaponry later.
Crypto: See what I mean about the bossing around? Being dead hasn't managed to slow him down any! Oh well, I suppose I'd better get back out there and destroy some more humans. Now, where did I put my disintegrator?
SPOnG Score: B+
Destroy All Humans! 2 is sure to do as well as its illustrious predecessor, if not better. It's just a shame that an otherwise excellent game is let down by the camera system and draw distance for vehicles. Nonetheless, THQ have another top of the charts hit on their hands. SPOnG, for one, welcomes our new Furon overlords.
