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Assault Heroes 2 Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

Assault Heroes 2 Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

The Second Time Around

It seems like it was only yesterday that Microsoft announced the Xbox 360’s Live Arcade download service. As an early example of great original games on the service, Assault Heroes surprised many people with its excellent right-stick shooting gameplay. Many players immediately fell in love with this game’s nonstop action and crossed their fingers for a sequel. Thankfully, Assault Heroes 2 (AH2) is finally here and has made some notable improvements this time around.

Assault Heroes 2 screenshot

AH2 begins much the same way the first did: a paragraph of text, perhaps written on a cocktail napkin the night before, scrolls onto an otherwise empty screen. This small chunk of text is actually the only attempt at a storyline that is present in the entire game. The basic gist of the paragraph is the enemy you defeated in the first AH wasn’t the real problem. Instead, he was only the pawn of your new adversary in AH2. Fortunately, fast-paced arcade action is the main focus of the series and not the incredibly underwhelming storyline.

In a game where precision is key, it is nice to have accurate and responsive controls. You will easily be able to maneuver adequately and fire accurately, both on foot and in any of the game’s many vehicles. The Jeep is back and is an excellent example of how speed and firearms should be mixed. As you drive around the numerous levels in the game, you will feel that you truly are in complete control of your fate. It is entirely possible to avoid taking fatal damage if you are constantly moving and firing wisely. Switching between your four weapons is also a breeze, allowing you to choose the weapon that best suites your situation. The new ice gun will make short work of helicopters; the flak cannon puts a stop to larger vehicles; the flame thrower quickly incinerates infantry units; and the mini-gun will work on just about anything.

Assault Heroes 2 screenshot

AH2 also includes some other unique vehicles of destruction. Unfortunately, these other options do little to make you want to abandon the incredibly versatile Jeep. Instead of just allowing the player to choose an enemy vehicle to hijack, the game carefully places specific vehicles that you take for a spin. The attack helicopter is fun but incredibly weak; the armored tank is powerful but difficult to maneuver; and the mechanical walker feels similarly sluggish while in motion. Another major issue with these vehicles is the fact that you don’t get to use all of your weapons while operating them. You are limited to just a standard mini-gun with an added turret in the armored tank, which further makes leaving your Jeep seem pointless. These vehicles do add some variety to the gameplay, but are easily ignored because of these unnecessary drawbacks.

Most of the game is the same top-down, vehicle-based action fans have come to expect. AH2 does include some segments that force players to exit their Jeep and progress on foot. Because you now have the ability to roll away from otherwise unavoidable damage and switch between any of your four core weapons at any point, getting out of your Jeep is no longer the kiss of death it once was. However, more caution is always required while playing on foot, since you will still maneuver much slower and are incredibly more vulnerable to your enemies’ attacks. Being on foot certainly isn’t ideal by any means, but it is definitely a lot more manageable this time around thanks to these incredibly useful improvements.

Assault Heroes 2 screenshot

Unfortunately, even though the game gets its top-down action working perfectly, AH2 will occasionally throw you a curveball. A few times throughout AH2 you will be forced to abandon all that you know and play some behind-the-ship segments that are just plain awful. You can rarely see what is in front of you, the controls feel awkward, and all of the precision that you are used to is noticeably absent. This makes every second you spend playing one of these levels painful and irritating. Fortunately, even though these levels are incredibly frustrating, they are few and far between.

Assault Heroes 2 screenshot

AH2 is also noticeably longer than its predecessor, giving you thirty levels of frantic shooting joy. Inevitably, you will complete all of these levels and long for more action. Thankfully, AH2 allows for online and offline co-op play for up to two players. Included are Co-op Campaign and Co-op Zone Battle modes, with the only difference between the two being that Zone Battles are just smaller segments from the game’s campaign mode. Unfortunately, the multiplayer options here are quite limited. With only a few more options AH2 really could have been a much deeper experience, making it almost a guaranteed purchase for fans of the genre.

AH2 is still one of the best stick-shooters currently available on the Xbox Live Arcade. It takes everything that worked in the first game and makes numerous improvements that help to advance the series. There are some minor problems that keep this game from perfection, but all in all it succeeds at being an excellent follow up to an already great title. With a lengthy ten-hour single player experience, as well as the option for some co-op action, AH2 seems like an amazing bargain at only ten dollars. If you are a fan of the genre or are just looking for an excellent arcade experience, you honestly can’t go wrong.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.0 Graphics
The visuals are notably improved over the original with nice touches like burning trees and tons of destructible objects becoming the icing on the AH2 cake. 3.8 Control
Everything controls well and feels as it should except for the horrific behind-the-ship levels that are incredibly clumsy and unnecessary. 3.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
AH2 does a decent job in the sound department, and the turkey calling enemies are back in full force. 3.6 Play Value
While much longer than the original, limited multiplayer options really hinder the replayability of this title. 3.7 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Enhanced Multiplayer Co-op – Quickly activate improved cooperative weapons to rain destruction on hordes of bazooka soldiers, kamikaze bombers, and more.
  • Hi-jackable Enemy Units – Steal the attack helicopter, armored tank, or mechanical walker from the enemy base for surprise attacks.
  • More Powerful Weaponry – Utilize a superior arsenal of weapons including the newly designed sub-zero ice cannon, homing missiles, rocket launcher, and upgraded firearms from the original.
  • Frantic On-Foot Action – Survive on-foot warfare while equipped with all your weapons in expansive underground areas.
  • Monstrous Bosses – Face-off against challenging mechanoid beasts before they destroy you.
  • New Diverse and Interactive Environments – Blast through the Snowy Mountains, Rainforest, and Outer Space with extensive destructible terrain from burning trees to shattering buildings.
  • Screen Resolution: Up to 720p (Standard HDTV, Widescreen).

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