Velocity 2X Reviews
Fast, furious and a ton of fun, Velocity 2X represents the absolute pinnacle of the shoot 'em-up genre.
Futurlabs have nailed two genres here with retro side-scrolling shoot em' ups and platforming thrown together to fantastic effect. Play the game at speed and you'll struggle to find a slicker experience on your PS4.
My qualms with the game's identity and lack of overt motivation likely signals a desire for more than what an arcade like title is meant to offer. Still, 'Velocity 2X' is impressive in its devotion to its namesake, and even more so in the advances it makes past the original title. Adding the sidescrolling segments was a risky idea that paid off, not because of sheer luck, but because the developer knew exactly how to accomplish that same feeling of speed and urgency on foot as in the void violent space. Not competency, but real talent in level design, highlights 'Velocity 2X' as a pristine example of the common "teach them, test them, then move on" theory of progression, all at a lightning-fast paced sure to go unmatched until the next of the series.
In my reviews I like to tell gamers out there my personal favorite way to play games. For Velocity 2X I definitely would turn any sound system up as loud as it can comfortably go and let the game's music take you on a journey just as far as the game itself will take you.
Velocity 2X is an excellent digital title that delivers more than just a little substance for its modest price. While certain aspects could do with some slight refinements, i.e. some iffy controls and repetitive stages, the title as a whole is leagues better than most titles that claim to be as innovative as Velocity.
Velocity 2X takes two classic genres and mashes them up into one almost seamless, retro-flavoured whole. It's a thinking person's shoot-em-up that doesn't stint on arcade thrills, showing how you can not only remake the old masters, but re-engineer them into something ingenious and new.
Velocity 2X is a stellar 2D shooter that blends all sorts of different mechanics in a successful manner. Throw in the gorgeous visuals, the smooth framerate, and the imaginative design, and you have a winner. Sure, the controls take some getting used to and getting high scores requires dedication, but that doesn't weigh the game down all that much.
Velocity 2X is the type of game that's extremely difficult to put down once you start. There's little if anything to complain about. Velocity 2X hits the old school game play feel just right, the graphics are stylish and the sound track fits perfectly
Velocity's emphasis on speed and item collection gives it an incredibly exhilarating feel.
Velocity 2X is a great 2D action game that will reward any gamer that's up for the challenge.
Velocity 2X offers unique, fast paced gameplay with solid controls and clever level design. An arbitrary experience gate may halt your end-game progress, but you'll at least enjoy the ride up until that point.
Flows confidently between shooter, puzzler and platformer, never runs out of ideas, and challenges both your mind and your reflexes. Oh, and it looks and sounds gorgeous.
By turns breathless, brilliant and fist-chewingly demanding, Velocity 2X might allow its tempo to drop too often, but it approaches excellence often enough to recommend - you might just fall in love.
Velocity 2X is an awesome example of how shoot 'em up and platformer can share a coexistence. For people who find the typical shooter a bit dry and impersonal, the platforming sequences help to instill a sense of character and narrative that is refreshing for the genre. And for platformer veterans, the ability to jump into space adds a new dimension to a genre that often struggles to innovate. The result is a game that offers the best of both worlds while hiding some of their weaknesses.
Velocity 2X may be four-years-old at this point, but that doesn’t mean that the gameplay has passed its sell-by date. There’s a certain addictive quality to this ultra-fast reaction-based puzzle blaster that can risk making you feel useless at first until something in your brain finally clicks into beast mode. During the time that I spent with the game my fingers slipped, my brain momentarily lapsed, I swore a lot and blamed my age. However, once I did finally submit to the cockpit’s demands, it didn’t take long until I felt like a Jedi on a joyride.
Velocity 2X then remains an absolutely unmissable experience. The control issues may initially throw off the seasoned player, and you’ll have to adjust rather dramatically, even with a single button change it’s crazy the affect it has on your knowledge of the game. That being said, it’s still utterly, utterly brilliant.
In an age where indie titles are becoming increasingly more reliant on procedural generation to do all the heavy lifting, it can be immensely satisfying to play a game that is tailor made for one specific experience. Velocity 2X excels in this regard, offering up an immaculately designed, endlessly replayable arcade experience that shows just how engaging twitch gameplay can be. We would give Velocity 2X a high recommendation, especially to anybody who's looking for a great pick up and play arcade game for their Switch; this is one you definitely don't want to miss out on.
There are moments that can frustrate you if you are careless, but Velocity 2X also rewards the players who stick around. After hours upon hours just toying around with levels, I felt like an absolute boss nailing down every obstacle to a tee. Even now, I find myself experimenting and having a fantastic time doing so.
It feels really, really good playing Velocity 2X, whether you fly the teleporting spaceship, or run with the teleporting heroine - and all the while a pretty catchy set of tunes bop along. On the… not so bright side, though, the action can get a tad repetitive, and, somehow, this heavy focus on speed-running sort of damages what seems like the groundwork for a much more meatier experience.
On the whole there’s a lot of game here, and since both genres are well-represented it’s almost like a double bargain. The impressive thing is how well it all blends together with neither style clearly shining over the other and both genres being well-represented. The action is quick, smart, and often intense, making Velocity 2X memorable even in the wave of indies hitting the system every week. If you’re a self-respecting fan of action, it’s well worth checking out.