That means Space Elite Force II.
Same classic S.E.F. gameplay, a few new rules included.
At first, the gameplay of Space Elite Force II is pretty much the same than its predecessor, so I'll give you a rundown 'cos I'll end up repeating myself again. You start off with a rapid blaster and a missile which is now more efficient on taking multiple enemies with the blast radius, pretty much like the Atomic weapon on E.D.F. Earth Defense Force, and it becomes more essential than before since the multipliers are back, and this is when things take a simple, yet radical spin as the multiplier resets completely when you take a hit instead of dropping a few levels. Also, the game provides you with new items like the droids, small ships that fire bullets, wave shots or lasers for a short time, the "X2" item is back but in two forms: White, which increases your score and Green for the green orbs dropped by the enemies. These green orbs or Power Core Fragments are the new currency of the game and you'll have to fill the gauge to obtain 1 Power Core.
The most notorious feature of all is the length of the game which is twice as larger than before with 14 stages of non-stop, bullet hell packed space combat waiting for a skilled enough player ready for some action.
The profitable business of weapon sales.
Like the first Space Elite Force, the upgrade shop is back, although it makes a couple of changes to differ from its predecessor. The first thing different is the currency. Remember what I've said about those "Core Fragments" you've been collecting throughout the stage? The purchases are done with the Power Cores rather than accumulated credits. This makes weapon and powering up more of a critical decision, being the regular shot and the standard missiles the top priority in terms of upgrading, along with extra HP. You can also buy enemy downgrades that reduce their bullet speed making the game a little more easier. What's more important it was the introduction of new weapons like the Laser which is a beam that rather than using a fire rate, it consumes its own gauge until it reloads until the energy depletes or you let the fire button go. Despite that, it is very effective to deplete continuous damage than the rest of the game's weapons, but uneffective against force-field equipped enemies and mines. The game also includes a new type of sub-weapon: The Special Weapons. These can be either defensive or offensive. For instance, the Shield is a defense as it protects you from most projectiles for a period of time, while the Bomb causes partial damages and clears the screen, and there's the full force Special Weapon that is the Superlaser.
That Superlaser is an Over-powered Over Weapon.
Of all the Special Weapons, the Superlaser is perhaps the best one you can buy. Is extremely powerful at the point of destroying a boss or cause immense damages. It takes time to reload it, but you can spend time watching the level clear Upgrade screen, it still reloads while you're there.
Now you're inside the enemy defense line.
The game's length isn't the only thing different here. After a few stages, you'll be entering a Station, which is an armed facility where the main defense lines of the enemy are waiting to take you down. Some of them will require you to learn the laser patterns since later in the game the laser shielded enemies are immune to the missiles and the Superlaser itself.
Another armed brick in the wall.
With the inclusion of Stations, the boss battle features a new enemy: The Station Commander, which is an armed wall in the style of the Gradius games. The auto-aim cannons will be the least of the problems since the room has ceiling and floor lasers that fire in a "Beam-Space-Beam-Space-Beam" pattern. In the later battles, the thickness of the beams will increase, making them more difficult to dodge.
It's all about doing things on time.
The main campaign is not the only thing in this game. The game features not just the Arcade Mode which is the same as before, but also a new mode. Boss Rush, which sends you against the game's bosses and powering up after each battle. However, since the enemies are removed, getting Power Cores is reduced, making the ship upgrading more strategic. Also, the objective is to defeat the bosses as fast as possible since the more time you take it will be discounted from your final score. The Elite difficulty, formerly the "Hardcore", was rebalanced. Instead of sending you back to the first level, it sends you back to the beginning of the stage as it removes the checkpoints while retaining the previous mechanics of sending you with 5 HP instead of 10 and harder attack patterns.
Continue the fight, for the war is not yet over.
One day, peace will return again.
After finishing the game, it releases a sequel threat promising Space Elite Force III. Hope Moraes Game Studio can live up to that promise and don't turn out to be the Axelay2 of the new generation.
Extraordinary pixel-art graphics!
When it comes about the graphics, once again the backgrounds are who steal the scene and with much greater quality than before with major detailing on the planets and even galaxies with light coming out of their center and a stage with semi-digitized asteroids. Better graphics in the background also come with slight improvements on the sprites, for instance, your ship "tilts" when it moves vertically, making it a little more animated than before.
Captain Minifig's Lego Club Band.
We also have the chance to know a little of the universe within the game, at least with one character, your superior known as Captain Moraes who looks like a Lego Minifg.
The music of the game is the same as the previous title, with the addition of one new track. Like I said on the previous Space Elite Force review, if you like Angra and Dr. Sin, you'll love the soundtrack of Space Elite Force II. Not to mention, the opening and ending crawl still has the same Star Wars theme ripoff and the credits theme is also the same.
SPACE ELITE CURIOSITIES
- Cp. Moraes name is a reference to Moraes Game Studio and the Programmer and Game Artist Alysson Moraes.
- Despite reducing its pop-culture references, Invading Space and Wars on the Stars are nods to Space Invaders and Star Wars.
- The black hole in one of the stages resembles the Gargantuan from Interstellar.
Time to tell this game "Please make your way to the nearby videogame console" don't you think, Nina?
Space Elite Force II feels more like an extension or add-on of the first game, with the re-designed store mechanic, the new added weapons and the re-balanced multiplier mechanic as the only differences. Regardless if you want to call it an add-on or sequel, its worth playing and worth the time and money, and I'm really sure you'll enjoy this game.
Good Luck, Have Fun and Go after those trophies and achievements. It's an enjoyable Trophy/Achievement Hunting for everyone.
Going "All Positive" this time.