
System: PC*, PS3, Xbox 360 | ![]() |
Dev: Coffee Stain Studios | |
Pub: Reverb Entertainment, Coffee Stain Studios | |
Release: May 15, 2013 | |
Players: 1 (up to 4 online) | |
Screen Resolution: 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p | Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes |
Now, the multiplayer runs smoothly, though there are some inherent limitations. It probably works best with two players who know each other; trying to formulate a strategy between strangers, or among more than two people, is likely to become frustrating. It’s nice to have extra guns around in FPS mode, but tower defense just isn’t a collaborative endeavor.
The story here is minimal -- on the loading screen before each level there's a brief comic explaining why, once again, you have to defend a glowing orb against multiple waves of attackers. This isn't a plot that will win any awards -- it's just a series of excuses to kill aliens -- but it's hard to complain when a video-game story wastes so little of your time. I, for one, wish more developers would keep their plots confined to loading screens.
The graphics, controls, and sounds are well polished. This is a $15 downloadable game, so don't expect photorealism, but the scenery looks good and the enemies are nicely detailed. The FPS controls are exactly what you're used to, and the tower-defense controls are user-friendly -- just aim where you want your tower to go and press a button. The game also features electronic music that never gets grating, subdued sound effects in the mold of Halo, and some occasional voice-acted outbursts from your character.
Simply put, Sanctum 2 is an incredibly clever, incredibly fun game. Setting up your towers is intellectually challenging, and mowing down enemies is a wonderful blend of mindless excitement and strategy. It's great to have all these elements together in one game.
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By Robert VerBruggen Contributing Writer Date: May 28, 2013 |
Game Features: