"So, what is Natural Selection 2? Does that bloody Homer want people clicking on his link again so he can get into a closed beta? And why should I even care about this game?", you might think.
NS2 is a hybrid FPS/RTS game that was released as a Half Life 1 mod in the early 2000s. It takes place in a dystopian future where mankind has spread all over the galaxy, but during its conquest of the stars discovers a terrible species whose only goal is to expand and expand and destroy everything in its path.
The game is heavily influenced by the cult movies "Alien" and "Aliens". You´re either playing as human Marine with advanced technology or as alien, who relies on biological engineering and evolution.
The game play is, as I said, a mix of FPS/RTS. This means that both teams have a comander, who gives orders to his "boots on the ground", researches new technology, builds infrastructure and supports his team, when they encounter enemies.
This mix makes NS2 a unique game that makes people collaborate and work together, to defeat the other team.
Both teams are fighting assymetrical. While mankind relies on technology (including robots, different sorts of weaponry, jetpacks etc.), the aliens feel way more organic. Different lifeforms can evolve into more specialised types of aliens or can get new "add-ons", such as carapace armour or the ability to spit poisonous phlegm.
The aliens also have different types (or classes), such as flyers, builders, warpers or the massive Onos who are the biggest alien lifeform and tramples nearly everything in their path.
The games athmosphere reminds one of the Alien movies or the Space Hulk bord game by Games Workshop: tight corridors, futuristic drilling bases that are slowly covered by alien goo etc. The rooms are either fully dark, lit by red emergency lights or (if all goes well for humans) fully lit, creating an exciting athmosphere.
Imagine you´re a Marine and you´ve cleared a room, secured it and now you´re forced to move to the next room that is completely pitch black. Aliens could be anywhere, on the ceiling or in a ventilation shaft, seeing you with their thermal view, and the only light source is your flashlight. The only thing keeping you safe is your buddies covering your backs. Suddenly a loud scream, something falls on the ground next to you. Everyone starts shooting, going cyclic with their assault rifles. A flame thrower starts lighting the room. Something´s burning while next to you one of your mates goes down.
An now imagine this scene from the alien POV. This is NS2.
NS2 is currently in closed beta and if you preorder the game for 35 Dollars or 30 Euros, you get immediate acces to the beta. If you want to wait, the game will be released in "summer 12". There´s no fixed release date yet. The game will be released on Steam. Hopefully there´ll be a demo, for those who are not yet fully convinced.
Since pictures say more than words, here are three good videos made by TotalBiscuit, where he introduces the game. You´ll see the Marine and Aliens and also the commander mode in action:
Natural Selection 2 Coverage - MarinesNatural Selection 2 Coverage - AliensNatural Selection 2 Coverage - The CommanderAnd here´s the games homepage for further info, media and the pre-order option:
www.naturalselection2.com
