Recent reviews by Higgue

This is why you don't mess with the science team.

This is only a sequel to NMRiH by name, as nothing in this game is an improvement or innovation on what the original Source mod was able to achieve years ago.

Looking past that and to the actual state of the game on release and I wonder how this was internally considered a releasable product. The game is BARELY functional. Even after the recent patch it plays just as poorly as before, if not maybe a little worse.

To sell this game at the quality it is, with the amount of content it has for $30 USD is beyond unacceptable in my eyes. I'm sure given enough time for the game to actually be complete, NMRiH 2 could stand out as a unique and enjoyable game despite having separate design ideas from the original. However, given the state of the game at launch and the community's general reception to its release, I don't think this is going to happen anytime soon.

Save your money. Wait a year or two and see if the game goes anywhere.

Okay... now its the PAYDAY but 3.

You know why.

A short, fun little campaign with a great gameplay twist. Puzzles were a bit on the easy side once I wrapped my head around the mechanics, but they were all really fun to figure out.

The recent shield nerfs go way too far. Siege's shield gameplay was one of a kind and was something I truly had fun with. I can't say that anymore.

Half-Life doing what Half-Life does, innovating and setting new standards.
VR needed Half-Life, as did the fans. 12 Years was worth it.

12/10

It's a great feature, but making a $3 DLC for just COLORS is not okay. This should be free.
If they made the pack have patterns/materials for guns, and special fading colors or something it would be okay.

It's Door Kickers meets SWAT 4 meets Hotline Miami, and it's really fun. If it would consistently work.

-Gameplay is as satisfying and clean as it is in Hotline Miami, but with more things at your disposal to finish the level. The AI partner is pretty clunky to control at times and can quickly become a confusing mess. Enemy AI can sometimes be so hyper-aware and quite janky that you'll have your fair-share of deaths behind walls and instantaneous headshots. Playing with a CO-OP partner is a whole heap of fun. (when it works)

-The story is pretty basic, cheesy and cliche. Yet I'm pretty sure that's the whole vibe they're going for so... I guess that means it's good? I personally didn't care at all for the story, as the only thing that really drew me in was the amazing art that accompanied it.

-Level design was very hit and miss, and sometimes I found myself getting stuck behind open doors and furniture that looked like they had more than enough clearance to get through. There wasn't really any level balance around certain gameplay elements or playstyles, making a lot of the levels feel very linear and not having very much replayability.
-The developers state a Level Editor is coming soon, and based off of the rather short and simple campaign, the game really needs it.
-Also, the main menu/equipment screen(s) are quite nasty and don't fit the style of the game very well.

TL;DR
Tons of crashes, horrible desync for Online CO-OP and AI acting incredibly jank on occasions. Story is basic, cliche and cheesy. Gameplay is very satisfying and rewarding. Overall a good game, but it has so many flaws that draw away from that.

I really want to like this game, but in it's current state I just cannot recommend this to anyone.
3.5/10

-The gunplay and melee feel weighty and smooth.
Only complaints being: there's not enough weapons in both the melee and firearms pool, and that some of the melee weapons don't even get used in regular play.

-The physics system is incredibly satisfying in VR, albeit a little buggy at times.
Pretty much everything in the game having this level of interaction available to it, makes for very natural feeling encounters, both in and out of combat.

-The freeclimbing system is so much fun and allows for some very creative ways to traverse the level and solve puzzles, although lifting yourself up onto a ledge could do with some improved input. (the climbing system feels like it goes under-utilized in the mid to late sections of the game)

-The story falls a bit short. It's interesting, but doesn't gel too much with the gameplay or universe. With how little we get from the story, it feels as if they're leaving room for expansions. (which would be amazing)

Some things I'd hope for in the future, is any form of Level Editor and Workshop Support. This game would heavily benefit from user-made content. (weapons, levels, enemies, ect.) Plus extra content in any form will help the longevity of the game. Because whilst the story and main levels are fun and all, they can only be fun so many times in a row.

TLDR
Very fun game. Physics and freeclimbing allow for big-brain puzzle solving and exploration of levels. Story is okay, could've been better.


9.4/10