Killing Floor 2 (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): November 18, 2016
- Release Date (EU): November 18, 2016
- Publisher: Tripwire Interactive
- Developer: Tripwire Interactive
- Genres: First-person shooter
- Also For: PlayStation 4
Game Features:
Somewhere, Sometime, Somehow
So you've somehow ended up in a post-apocalyptic-ish world, there are weird menacing creatures abound and you're equipped with guns and blades. Slay them all and survive, right?
This is the premise of Killing Floor 2. Yeah, there's no real introduction to the world you are in, although there seems to be a story behind it all...
Turns out there's an actual story to the game. I've found it on the official website but nowhere in the game:
In KILLING FLOOR 2, players descend into continental Europe after it has been overrun by horrific, murderous clones called Zeds that were created by the corporation Horzine. The Zed outbreak caused by Horzine Biotech’s failed experiments has quickly spread with unstoppable momentum, paralyzing the European Union. Only a month ago, the first Zed outbreak from the original KILLING FLOOR ripped through London; now the specimen clones are everywhere. Civilization is in disarray, communication networks have failed, governments have collapsed, and military forces have been systematically eradicated. The people of Europe are now focused on self-preservation, the lucky few who survived having gone into hiding.
But not all have given up hope; a motley group of civilians, soldiers, and mercenaries have banded together to fight the outbreaks from privately funded bases across Europe. When a specimen clone outbreak is detected, the players are sent into Zed-laden hot zones to exterminate all threats using whatever means necessary. Welcome to the Killing Floor.
The website also gives more details about the game's perks (classes),characters and the creatures you're pitted against.
But Killing Floor 2 isn't about all that. It's to the point and wants you to get that it's just about kicking ass in blood and gore in first-person. And it gets you there, right from the start.
Killing it
To kick ass, Killing Floor 2 has got you covered to kick plenty. You have a vast range of choices of everything.
You get 12 different maps from around Europe to keep you away from boredom, around 40 different weapons that you can conveniently upgrade in-game between waves, 10 perks (classes) to choose from, 11 different Zeds (the fancy name given to the game's zombies and also how some people pronounce "Z") to blast and 8 different customizable characters from a reverend to a Rockabilly fangirl (the website shows more, so they'll probably be added later). They can be further customized via in-game purchases, collected items and you can trade with other players too (PC only). There's also a crafting system that allows you to craft unused weapons and cosmetic items into new ones.
And for PC gamers, Killing Floor 2's steam community create and provide new maps, new wearable cosmetic items and new weapon skins via the Steam Workshop.
For now, the game features the following modes: Basic Training to get you acquainted with the game's control, Play Solo Offline and Online Matchmaking. The latter is the main component and has two further modes; Survival and VS Survival.
In Survival, up to 6 players engage hordes of AI-controlled Zeds across multiple waves until they reach the boss, or die trying. At the end of the waves, the players face either one of the game's two bosses; Dr Hans Volter or The Patriarch. Facing them can be rather challenging and players can be wiped out within seconds if not careful enough, hence calling for team work.
The other major mode available, VS Survival, pitches Zed players against Zed-slaughtering players in a 6v6 PvP gameplay. If you join the Zed team, you’ll get to be any of 11 playable Zeds in third person (not in first person). You'll respawn into another one once you die and control increasingly stronger ones and even The Patriarch himself! Although an interesting idea to have you control the other side, I couldn't help but feel the difference in strength between Zeds and humans. Sure, Zeds outnumber their opponents but they are mostly weak individually. However, if you manage to get your squad to team up, then you could deal substantial damage if you corner your adversaries individually. It's a more tactical approach that doesn't suit every player in this fast-paced blood bath.
Obviously you'll need and want to level up your perks in order to take on the hordes of Zeds and also survive on the harder difficulties. Leveling up the perks is one of the most challenging features of the game. Each perk has 25 levels, with two abilities to choose from on every fifth level. The first fifteen levels go by relatively quickly, but reaching the cap will take a considerably long time. The initial levels don't really differentiate between the classes but as from the tenth level, you'll notice your role shaping up.
Aesthetically, the game provides highly detailed environments, weapons and characters. Moreover, you get to paint the walls with the blood and guts of the Zeds you annihilate which lingers after each wave as a reminder to the Zed with who they are messing with. Nice!
Floor it!
Faced with 2016 titles like Overwatch and Doom 4, Killing Floor 2 fares very well as an FPS game. However, at the time of writing only 2 online modes and and two bosses exist. This might feel repetitive for some while facing off the same opponents. Nevertheless, its high customizability, fan base and official support promise to give the game a long lifetime.
Verdict
- Impressive aesthetics
- Highly customizable
- Interesting VS Survival mode
- Only two online modes available at the moment
- Repetitive creatures and only two different bosses
- Relative lack of game's background information
