Collider 2 feels like a game where you re-enact the scene in Star Wars where Luke Skywalker flies through the trench of the Death Star to destroy this massive planet destroyer to save the galaxy… Sounds Epic, right? Unfortunately, this game gives you that fast paced and exciting feeling but without that epic part where you destroy the Death Star. The game feels more like a glitch in the matrix system of the Star Wars Universe, but in a fun kind of way…. Let me explain!
Collider 2 is about flying your spaceship into an alien mothership that is trying to destroy the earth. How do you do this, by flying your spaceship into the metallic veins of this mothership and bring the fight directly to the heart of the alien mothership to save planet earth. This is of course, how I imagine it. In reality, you’re constantly flying into these tunnels that challenge your reflexes with only one goal, get out alive within the time limit. Less exciting, right?
The game offers you a variety of 50 challenging tunnels with different kind of objectives to keep the game “interesting”, but the main goal stays the same. Get out alive within the time limit. The tunnels are a hazard of closing barricades, spinning panels, mines and sharp sections full of credits OR alien artifacts for you to collect and hostiles to kill.
The level design is built up in a way that each level has 6 different sectors with their own obstacles to overcome. Obstacles can vary between destroying a certain amount of hostiles, making your way out of the tunnel within a set time, collecting coins or artifacts, … but all in all, it does feel like the same mode but in a different jacket. Some objectives ask you to kill certain bosses or take out high-tech equipment to progress through these sections within the mothership.
The game mechanics may sound simple but it fits the game perfectly. Your control over the ship feels intuitive and smooth. There’s the choice to use a controller or mouse/keyboard, both movement options feel wonderful. Controls are simple: move and boost within the whole area without colliding with obstacles, move your cursor over a hostile to target it and shoot. It doesn’t get more simple than this. The real challenge is to use your instinct and reflexes perfectly without any error.
During your gameplay session, you’ll earn coins and points to upgrade your ship or even buy a new and improved ship with a better shield/ boost regeneration, etc. Colors can also be modified, but it’s really only just the basics. Each challenge becomes harder and harder, so you’ll have to invest a lot of coins in your ship to prove your worth in these challenges. Alongside the main mission, there’s another mode called survival mode. This mode lets you compete with other players and getting that best score. This mode lets your ship start off slowly in a random tunnel and increases speed as you make your way throughout the rabbit hole.
| The Good: | The Bad: |
| + fast paced action | – basic customization |
| + different challenges | – no variety in modes |
| + easy to pick-up and play | – no story |
I liked the game a lot but there isn’t a big learning curve, the game doesn’t really build up from zero to hero. Some levels were extremely difficult even within the first stages. It won’t be weird if you start screaming out of frustration since you collided into the same wall for your 54th time. The game is simple but it does give you a sense of tough progression with all these challenges along the way.
The game is also VR ready, it can be amazing playing this game with a VR headset but give yourself some time in getting used to this very fast paced game. This “simple” game will turn into a chaotic hell with this VR system in mind but it’s a worth a try!
score 4 out of 5:
