PixelJunk Monsters 2
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PixelJunk Monsters 2 Media
Critic Reviews for PixelJunk Monsters 2
A classic tower defence game gets a makeover, and a welcome touch of physics.
PixelJunk Monsters 2 is a lot of fun either because of or despite its simplicity, though trying to collect all the rainbow fragments to progress to new areas can get frustrating as obtaining those requires perfection.
Charming, addictive but sometimes ruthlessly unforgiving, PixelJunk Monsters 2 has made the transition into 3D almost unscathed. While there is a sense of ‘if it isn't broken, don't fix it' in some instances, it's still a gorgeous, lovingly-crafted and action-packed tower defence game that despite a few annoyances, will delight, entertain and challenge in equal measure.
I still think there's fun to be had in PixelJunk Monsters 2, and I won't be surprised if Q-Games cleans up some of the minor frustrations. But unless the studio goes out of its way to expand and experiment with new content, I don't see this having much of a legacy. As it stands, it's an okay-at-best tower defense title that treads familiar ground. Coming off the original, that's a huge downgrade.
Pixeljunk Monsters 2 is a very solid entry in the tower defence genre. The little things it has changed make for some really interesting choices when it comes to tower placement and co-op play makes it much more replayable. Graphically the game is stunning in it's own way and will keep you invested in the tree-destroying, tower-building, funky-dancing gameplay as you progress through the increasingly tricky levels until the end. It suffers from the same issues prevalent in any TD game but is a solid entry nevertheless.
Pixeljunk Monsters 2 does the original great justice by lifting the core experience and spreading it across a big, bright, three-dimensional playing field. But if feels like a typical tower defense game from the 2007-08 boom.
After waiting all these years, it's absolutely wonderful to see PixelJunk Monsters back once more, but the more I played it, I couldn't help but feel a looming sense of disappointment at the lack of content and new ideas. It's a game I hoped to love but walked away only liking, and that's a shame for what is a follow up to my favorite tower defense game of all time.
