Okay, so the title doesn't make sense, but then again... bug off. Anyways, I got SRII on release day and have been too lazy (swamped by school) to actually post a review for it. If you've played the first SR and liked it, you'll probably enjoy this one, if you hated it, then you might as well stay away. I'm going to follow the major trends here and do something all reviewers do... SRII is not GTA. Sure, it has the same sandbox concept in mind, and obviously any open world game that looks like GTA will be compared to GTA. Unlike other clones however, SR picks a direction and tries to work it, rather than following GTA on a leash, constantly smelling its ass for tips on where to go. While GTAIV went off into the grey areas of gritty realism, SRII joyfully strolled through the colourfull park of the obsence, hilarious, and over the top. Sure at the core its based around the same concepts, but in SRII you don't have to take insignificant idiots to see Katt Williams at the club or to the strippers. The diversions are much more fun.
Presentation:
The game builds on the story from the first game, so if you're one of those people (much like me) who like to squeeze the most of the story and enjoy it almost as much as the gameplay, I'd recommend playing game one. However its not too dependent. It's definitely no GTA, doesn't hold the drama value or bring the moral choice aspects into it, but its there. That much is clear. It feels more like a cheesy straight to DVD movie than anything else, but it's just there to give you explanation for why you're shooting all of these peopel and trashing this city. Basically, you used to be the king, and rather than reform and enjoy a clean life you go back to your aspirations of being Scarface wanna be with a variety of accents and body builds so you have to put a bunch of caps into a bunch of asses. It's sufficient to say that the story is shallow with a weak attempt at the "revenge" drama.
The menues are well done, they are simple to get around. The use of live music and radio stations is not new, but it does a good job. The character customization is more comical than necessary however. Being a grizzled old bastard with a female voice is just priceless (yes, I am easily amused)
Graphics:
There is really not much of a step up from the first game, as a matter or fact there is a significant amount of pop-in as well as other graphical slow down. The game doesn't revolutionize anything visually, and it basically looks almost the same as the first game. The cutscenes do not bring out the wow factor either, but rather just feel like a straight, in-game compilation more than anything else. The car damage is also somewhat questionable for next-gen level, but I guess none of that was the focus of SRII.
Sound:
The game basts a good amount of stars doing it's voice work, and they do good. I mean, anything with NPH is golden. The actors know what they are there for, and they handle their jobs well enough. The music choice is also quite solid, maybe not as good as GTAIV had, but at the same time it all fills the tone in the game, and what doesn't was obvioiusly there to satisfy the more peculiar choices of some players.
The cars and weapons sound somewhat generic and obviously there was not much emphasis on trying to mimic the real sound or anything, and that is just fine. The pedestrians and NPCs are generic and un alive, taking a way a bit from the feeling of a living city, but the major characters are well voiced and the music selection is good. The ability to listen to music when out of the car but the doors are open is a neat little touch that brings joice to killing someone while ducking behind the car ,but then again, there is iTunes.
Gameplay:
SRII is fun. It has it's core gameplay, and the missions are varied enough to keep players engaged, plus as mentioned above there aren't any stupid distractions. The game does stomp a bit on the whole freeworld experience with the Respect factor, where you need to do side-missions to open more of the main quest, but the side-missions are really fun so its okay. The diversity of the side missions is also quite amazing. You can spray excrement on the city, beat up civilians as a cop for camera, or flash people. There is much more and all of them are over the top. For some this may not be as fun because it does feel like this content is a little forced on the player who just wants to pass through the main quest and then do the side-tracking, but they are as fun as can get. (Although they are not as fun as the whole buddy system in GTA where you got to bowl, play darts, and watch rippers... goodie).
The core mechanics are all there from SR, there is nothing too difficult in this game and you can pretty much steamline through the main story fast, perhaps even without dying once. Its a simple run 'n gun game where you shouldn't place that much emphasis on hiding or cover, just run and kill people. It would have been better to have a more challening experience, but as I said it before rather than going in the GTAIV direction of grey, brown, and too hard to make out, SR just makes playing this game a big fun-filled, ninja fun.
Replay Value:
The game boasts a decent multiplayer as well as a full co-op mode for online. The length of it depends really on how many people will want to stick to SRII rather than play GeOW2, CoD4, CoD:WaW, and Left 4 Dead. And if you haven't figured it out by yourself yet, SRII will probably boast a limited multiplayer funbase. The story is fun, but it will be over all too soon, so unless you are a completionist that will kill himself trying to get through every achievement, diversion, and side-mission you may not have a long-lasting relationship with SRII.
Overall: 8.3
It does what it does good, and doesnt try to challenge the giant that is GTAIV. It's safe to say that Volition is happy with the nieche they carved with SRI, and they will milk that one with this game. It's a solid game, with the graphics and story lacking the depth we've come to expect from this generation of games, but it is fun, and that is what games are supposed to be, I mean I never wanted Citizen Kane the game, just doesn't sound as fun. Unless Citizen Kane picked up a mini gun, stared at the city, scremed "BIIITCH!!!" and rushed to defeate a horde of Zombies... As a matter or fact, let me write that down. Anyone know EA's idea number? I feel like they need some new ones... :D
