Anomaly 2 Tower Offense Game Review

Amid the FPS, MMO, MMORPG, open-world adventure games craze, we sometimes forget how much fun a nice real-time strategy game can be. If you want a break from all the shooting and running and fighting, try this intriguing game called Anomaly 2.

A follow-up to 11bit Studios’ Anomaly: Warzone Earth, the game continues in the vein of its predecessor, offering a unique spin on the traditional tower defense games. Warzone Earth was actually a tower offense game in which players had to control human convoys that were trying to overtake alien towers.

Anomaly 2 retains the tower offense feature, but takes it a step further by offering a multiplayer mode that pits players against each other. More specifically, players will be split between the two sides: some will have to defend the towers and other will fight to defeat them.

This approach makes the game asymmetric, but not in a bad way. It is indeed strange that while some players get to control the human side, others play as immobile alien towers. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have much to do: incredibly good strategy and tactics are needed to protect yourself from human convoys.

There are many complex rules to the game that take some getting used to, but after you do, you will experience a highly enjoyable real-time strategy game. Both sides have access to all sorts of power-ups that can tilt the balance in their favor during battles, but you still have to carefully plan your moves to benefit from their effect.

The gameplay is virtually identical with Warzone Earth, with complex puzzles and enjoyable tower defense/offense action. Visually, Anomaly 2 is even better than its predecessor, with entertaining cut scenes, memorable locations, amazing graphics and effects and more than decent voice acting.

Every level in Anomaly 2 is replayable and we recommend that you do revisit some chapters, because the outcome may not always be the same, which is quite refreshing. All in all, this is a very enjoyable game both in single player and multiplayer mode, although you’ll probably enjoy it more if you play it with a friend who likes tower defense strategy games as much as you do.

Anomaly 2 is out now for Mac, PC and Linux and can be purchased via Steam.

[Image via vimeo.com/studiobx]