Monster Shooter 2: Back to Earth Review

Some aliens just can't leave well enough alone. First they're stealing kittens, next they're trying to destroy the Earth. Good thing there are diligent (and angry) monsters out there who aren't afraid to blast those invader jerks with all manner of ordinance! Enter Monster Shooter 2: Back to Earth, Gamelion's latest and greatest refinement of their twin-stick frag fest.

After finally retrieving his kitty, our oddly proportioned and heavily armed hero DumDum returns to Earth for some much needed rest. Unfortunately those pesky aliens have other plans. Monster Shooter 2 exemplifies the "more is better" philosophy with more aliens to slaughter, more weapons to wield, more levels to blast through, and more missions to complete. There have also been a fair number of additions to the core gameplay including all-new mission types, new bosses, a big honkin' mech suit to pilot, and a two player co-op mode.

Much of Monster Shooter 2 feels familiar, but that's not really a bad thing. It's also not just a carbon copy of the original. It looks a little better, plays a little smoother, and feels more refined all-around. Regardless it's quite a bit of chaotic and violent fun. In addition to the regular missions there are also Survival and Endless modes for whenever players are hit with an insatiable bloodlust. The co-op mode isn't exactly a game-changer, but it's a perfectly nice way to spend some time killing alien tentacle monsters and hasn't affected the balance at all for solo play. I also love how the in-game perk system that lets players choose from a number of random skills and abilities for the duration of the level has made a return.

The added environmental detail and improved visuals come at a price, however. Namely the ability to navigate through each level efficiently. With so many objects and little graphical touches all over each stage it can be difficult to tell what can and can't be walked over, under, or through. It's a little irritating when trying to track down that last bit of alien intel, and it's downright frustrating when it leads to accidentally getting trapped in a corner that doesn't actually look like a corner as the horde closes in.

Fans of the first game should absolutely consider upgrading to Monster Shooter 2: Back to Earth, and newcomers shouldn't have any trouble jumping right in without any prior experience or knowledge. It may not feel quite as important since an adorable kitty's freedom is no longer at stake, but it's every bit as much fun. Perhaps even more so.