PixelJunk Monsters 2 Reviews
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.
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.
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 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.
PixelJunk Monsters 2 is a brave sequel that attempts to fix something that isn't broken, and has ended up taking away more than it adds.
It's a seriously beautiful-looking game, and Q-Games has found ingenious ways to make the translation to 3D work for, and not against, the gameplay. And it achieves all this without losing the heart and soul of the original.
Tower defence games may have lost their popularity somewhat in recent years but PixelJunk Monsters 2 shows why it exploded in the first place. It is insanely addictive and just the right level of challenging, although certain folk may find the frustrating elements a little too much to enjoy. Some will find achieving every perfect rating compulsive, while others will find it wholly off-putting. Regardless of the difficulty level, the one thing that really lets it down, though, is the pace during the stages. Occasionally, between waves, it really drags and nothing happens, and there's no way to fast-forward or speed up, leaving huge gaps where it's too tempting to put the game to one side and do something else. If you are making your audience want to do something else, what's keeping them playing?
This is still a challenging tower defense game that has managed the transition to 3D rather well, but the developers have decided to stick with the original formula and the lack of gameplay innovations makes it a less exciting sequel.
Even if you can master that side of it, it's a relentless game that doesn't know when to halt. Some patterns can absolutely destroy you without proper notice, forcing you to play over and perfect certain levels. While that side can be little irritating now and again, it can't be denied the amount of effort Q-Games put in.
PixelJunk Monsters 2 is a ton of fun, and a very addictive tower defense release. We liked the colorful and vibrant graphics which are very easy on the eye. We liked the difficulty settings since it allows players of all skill levels to enjoy the game, which is great since this is a game that definitively needs to be in your to-buy list if you're a fan of tower defense games. Happy trophy hunting!
If you're sick of tower defence games, give this one a go, because it'll restore your faith in the genre.
I've had a lot of fun playing PixelJunk Monsters 2, and I definitely liked the new art style and more frantic gameplay.
PixelJunk Monsters 2 is a decent follow-up to the classic tower defense game.
Pixel Junk Monsters 2 will please those who enjoyed the first part. Despite its few novelties regarding enemies and towers, it has others that are to be thanked. With a very well measured learning curve and difficulty, it is a very recommended approach for those who want to get into the genre. Besides, it has something that makes it different from the other tower defense titles and that I have not been able to find in any other title of the genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
PixelJunk Monsters 2 is a masterpiece, it looks amazing, it plays buttery smooth, and the core mechanics are solid. If you just aim to 'finish' the game and play through all 15 levels, then you're looking at about five hours, but if you aim to achieve a 100% completion on all 15 levels at each of the three difficulties, then expect over 20 hours easily. The length, in combination with the low price and the brilliant, and cheap, DLC which has been announced basically makes this the easiest game to recommend which I have played to date. Fans of tower defence games need this title within their library and are only letting themselves down if they don't grab it.