Gameplay is simple in Sanctum 2: the gamer must defend cores from incoming enemies by constructing weaponry towers to protect them. But like a lot of tower defense titles, gamers don't just sit idly by, viewing their towers' success or failure against incoming wave after wave of alien enemies in many bizarre forms (an overwhelming number of them resemble insects and bugs). While the towers are doing their part, gamers can go into first-person mode to jump directly into the war zone and unleash FPS fury.
While there is a "story", told through comic-book-panel screens, it is just a background for the gameplay. The four soldiers are sent to protect the cores on the human colony planet, LOEK III, from an invasion of alien attackers. There's a little more narrative than that, but not much. But what Sanctum 2 lacks in narrative, it makes up for with its tower defense strategy and increased FPS involvement.
Sanctum 2 follows up the first title with more FPS elements by expanding the roster of soldiers. One soldier's weakness is another's forte, so choosing the correct solider for each level is important. Each one has their own unique skill set. The one returning solider is Skye Autumn.
She is the jack-of-all-trades, an assault rifle her weapon of choice, and also the most agile of the four. Her younger sister, Sweet Autumn, shows that small packages pack big weapons with the Rex Launcher giving her an explosive attack against larger enemies. SiMo is the android sniper. And finally Haigen Hawkins, who is the close-combat specialist with his shotgun. For the most part, gamers will almost completely ignore Hawkins, as selecting him in most levels induces a high level of stress with too much close-and-personal combat, very difficult against stronger enemies. The other three all have viable methods for successfully defeating enemies with their gunnery.Although it is entertaining to take to the levels in FPS mode, the real strategy of Sanctum 2 is setting up an effective tower defense. The first strategic tactic is always try and block as many paths toward the core as possible. By filtering enemies through one path, it gives the towers the chance to prove their protective mettle. Setting up a gauntlet of towers usually will be the most sound strategy. Although there is a large array of towers, the best option almost always is to set up a gauntlet of cannons and let them blast every enemy within firing range.
There are also stronger towers, including lightning, gatling, rocket and Sanctum 2 universe towers such as the Kairos, ACP and Violator. Many of the more powerful towers come with a serious trade-off for their immense firepower: slow reloading. And slow reloads means that enemies, especially the more powerful and faster ones, get a chance to sneak by during reload and attack the core. So while not as strong as its counterparts, the cannon is steady and sure, and when upgraded still packs a huge wallop. One frustration with Sanctum 2, though, is no matter how sound the strategy of your tower placement, nothing is more defeating than to clear every wave of a level, reach the final boss, and find out too late that you've picked the wrong soldier/tower combination, left to helplessly watch as the core is destroyed.
Graphically, Sanctum 2 is average, with huge diverse levels, but rather uninspired detail to the many different shapes and sizes of aliens. Some are slimy slugs that are rapid fast, others look like bulbous-headed battering rams, others are hulked-out monstrosities, another an apparent giant grasshopper, and others that are floating, flying aliens that reminded me of the old Sega Saturn game, Panzer Dragoon. Sanctum 2's Perks can be extremely helpful. Sending out an electric shock at close enemies and being able to inflict damage by jumping on enemies are two of the more useful. There is online play, too, seemingly tacked-on. It requires all players to have headset communication engaged, because otherwise it is just a chaotic free-for-all.
By successfully marrying a solid strategic tower defense with a good first-person shooter aspect, Sanctum 2 is a good choice for either those looking for a good tower defender with more action ‑ or a FPS with more strategic defense aspects.
‑ Lee Cieniawa
The Good:
‑ Badass weapons make for some highly satisfying monster kills and explosions
‑ The infusion of first-person shooter gameplay is most satisfying on levels with two cores to protect
The Bad:
‑ Might have the perfect strategy all figured out to get through every wave, but then have the very last boss come and destroy your core because you had the wrong character selected
‑ Despite providing a multitude of tower defending weaponry, best strategy almost always is to line up a gauntlet of cannons and upgrade them
Score: 8.0 / 10
