A vast improvement over its predecessor, 'Retro Evolved 2 is everything the original game should have been.
For anyone who did not have the opportunity to play the original, GW was a twin-stick shooter that placed the player in control of a spaceship that could move along a two-dimensional plane within a pre-determined area. As enemy ships spawned onto the playing field in the form of brightly-coloured geometric shapes, the player had to destroy as many enemies as possible before they finally (and inevitably) ran out of lives. That was the premise of the previous game.
GE:RE2 has gone further than the original. It has taken that bold step that was needed to raise GW from 'above average' to 'good'. But do not assume for one second that the sequel is a 'good' game. Put simply, GW:RE2 is an excellent game.
A significant factor contributing to the monotonous nature of GW:RE was its lack of additional gameplay modes beyond the classic 'survival' mode of play. GW:RE2 rectifies this, and in doing so elevates itself that much higher above its predecessor. While the original game type is still available under the title of 'Evolved', five new modes have also been introduced. Players of the original game should feel familiar with 'Deadline', which challenges the player to score as many points as possible within three minutes, whilst having an unlimited supply of lives at their disposal. 'Sequence' on the other hands thrusts the player into a series of 'levels' filled with different types of enemies, with the goal being to clear the final level, using only three lives. 'Waves' presents the player with a somewhat different gameplay scenario by pitting them up against a new type of adversary that spawns in rows of seven-fifteen ships before charging across the screen in formation. 'King' turns the tables on the player by requiring them to enter a ring placed randomly in the game world before enabling them to fire at their pursuers. And finally 'Pacifism' turns the hunter into the hunted by eliminating the player's ability to fire completely, leaving them with no option but to fly through numerous gates in order to trigger explosions that will eradicate the enemy ships following them. These additional game types all add much greater variety to the game than what was found in the first title.
GW's gameplay is not the only thing that has received an overhaul. Visually GW:RE2 is a masterpiece. The sheer intensity and scale of the lighting effects are truly without equal. Explosions erupt throughout the entire playing field as an overwhelming array of neon colours flood the screen and turn one's TV set into a makeshift disco ball (albeit a flat one). As if this were not enough, each game type also has its own BGM track. The tracks themselves go hand-in-hand with the visual effects and lend themselves to create a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience.
Vastly improved over GW:RE, the sequel offers up the experience that should have been present in the first game. Although GW:RE2 is still missing any traces of a multiplayer component, the overall experience remains intact, and the end result is a game that surpasses its predecessor in almost every way. GE:RE2 is; without a doubt; a must-have for twin-stick shooter fans.