Natural Selection 2

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 642 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 522 out of 642
  2. Mixed: 69 out of 642
  3. Negative: 51 out of 642

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  1. somedude14
    Feb 4, 2022
    9
    Bummer is long load times, but nowhere near as bad as they were at launch. A lot of fun to play, only 16gb so you can keep it on a drive and play it whenever you get the itch. I think the graphics still hold up really well today.
  2. Muchomexicano
    Jan 27, 2022
    7
    Fantastic game with many options for what you can do next and a forgiving community when you gaining your bearings in the rookie servers. Only problem in my opinion is it seems pretty unbalanced with the favor in the marines direction. The jet-pack shotgun combo is way over powered since when it comes to ranged attacks the aliens are lacking and cant match speed and mobility of theFantastic game with many options for what you can do next and a forgiving community when you gaining your bearings in the rookie servers. Only problem in my opinion is it seems pretty unbalanced with the favor in the marines direction. The jet-pack shotgun combo is way over powered since when it comes to ranged attacks the aliens are lacking and cant match speed and mobility of the jet-pack. Other then balance issues its a fun game with few levels but the pace and tactics make those all that are needed for now.… Expand
  3. fmsS
    Jun 30, 2020
    10
    Wait.. it's 2020 and the game still one of the best FPS + RTS games with an engaged community..
    Let me tell you on more thing.. The game has been gifted with one more map last week. This is amazing!
  4. Lithiumblade
    Feb 6, 2020
    8
    Starcraft meets Counter-strike that's how best I can describe this.
    There is a bit of a learning curve with this game and the community is somewhat toxic compared to the other games.
    The game requirements is steeeeeeeeeeeeep for such an old game, and because battles can be so fast paced you really need those extra frames in order to catch that Alien life form that's running circles    Starcraft meets Counter-strike that's how best I can describe this.
    There is a bit of a learning curve with this game and the community is somewhat toxic compared to the other games.
    The game requirements is steeeeeeeeeeeeep for such an old game, and because battles can be so fast paced you really need those extra frames in order to catch that Alien life form that's running circles around you. I went from being at the bottom of the scoreboard every round to being top 3 for most games by just changing my graphics card. (going from 25fps to 200fps)    … Expand
  5. Malachai84
    Dec 12, 2019
    10
    Natural Selection 2 is a game that is both a FPS game and a RTS game all in one.
    There are two sides, you can either play as a human marine, running around with a gun shooting aliens.
    Or you can be the commander and build the base that the marines operate from. Or you can play as the aliens, morph yourself into different creatures and hunt the marines. Or play as the alien commander,    Natural Selection 2 is a game that is both a FPS game and a RTS game all in one.
    There are two sides, you can either play as a human marine, running around with a gun shooting aliens.
    Or you can be the commander and build the base that the marines operate from.
    Or you can play as the aliens, morph yourself into different creatures and hunt the marines.
    Or play as the alien commander, and build the alien hive that the aliens live in.

    This game is alot of fun and is unique in its genre.
    It's to bad that it doesn't have a larger playerbase.    … Expand
  6. ianmanderson
    Jul 7, 2019
    10
    I created my MC account because I HAD TO WRITE THIS REVIEW. I've been playing these games since the original Half-Life mod back in 2002 and this game has always been grossly underrated. I was appalled to see that this game has a lower rating than games like Halo 5 *gross*.
    I am a long time player of RTS games spending most of my time on Starcraft BW+2 (masters on ladder), AOE franchise,    I created my MC account because I HAD TO WRITE THIS REVIEW. I've been playing these games since the original Half-Life mod back in 2002 and this game has always been grossly underrated. I was appalled to see that this game has a lower rating than games like Halo 5 *gross*.
    I am a long time player of RTS games spending most of my time on Starcraft BW+2 (masters on ladder), AOE franchise, and C+C. I believe this game delivers one of the best RTS experiences OF ALL TIME. From a Strategy perspective, the metagame is surprisingly deep and I'm still learning interesting things about the game after playing 3000+ hours. There is great diversity in the number of viable strategies in the game, with things like proxies, tech rushes, and sneaky bases. Even the drawn-out macro games with max upgrade units clashing across the map, all feel balanced and fleshed out, with the game continuing to be refined over the years When you are commander in a game you get to choose what weapons/ buildings are available for your team and you can still issue waypoint commands to your "units", but the fact that each unit is a living, breathing person, adds a huge amount of dynamics and replayability to the whole thing. People can choose to ignore your orders altogether and your teammates can also make suggestions and talk to the commander directly. Commanding in this game (which is optional btw) provides an unparalleled experience at making you feel like you are responsible for a platoon of men, with your every decision having in-game consequences for the tens of other people on the battlefield in real time. It's hard to do it justice by describing it, but let me say I have yet to play another game that delivers the same experience and sense of immersion as Natural Selection does.
    From an FPS perspective, still one of the greatest of all time. I'll start by saying that most people's complaint in this area is the number of weapons, however not only has the developer continued to add content (as of July, 2019), but each weapon has a specific niche and purpose in the game and with the variance in maps and functionality of weapons I never find myself wishing for more. All in all, when you factor in the combinations of weapons and upgrades (marines can have mechs or jetpacks for example) the marines still have about 20 different loadout combinations, while the aliens have 5 playable "classes" each with 9 different upgrade paths. Ultimately replayability has never been an issue for me and I'm constantly coming back for more.
    Graphically the game is beautiful and has held up very well over time, impressive when you consider that this is a small time developer that also created their own engine.
    this game does such a good job at making you FEEL like a space marine exploring an infested space station. it makes you FEEL like an alien hivemind stalking your human prey through the air vents. It makes you FEEL like a platoon leader desperately trying to figure out how to push back the alien menace. Your objectives during a match feel authentic as they are not force-fed to you by the game but rather decided by whatever your commander wants to do.
    I really wish more people knew about this game as even my most hardcore gaming friends have somehow never heard of it. Literally, the only downside to this game is that the community is quite small and you really need about 20 people in server to play the game at its full potential. Although small, this game still has an amazing close-knit community that is free of toxicity and a developer that cares about their product and continues to refine, balance, and stand by it after all these years. They also have increased the stability and optimization of the code over the years and included better tutorials for new players. The learning curve can be steep with this one but longtime RTS players will feel at home with the intuitive building designs. There are plenty of "rookie only" servers that are designated for those that have 200 or fewer hours in the game. From my experience, newbie players don't get flamed and harassed by veterans like they do in far too many other strategy titles. Being a newbie and asking questions is usually met with encouragement, as we all just want more people to play the game with.
    Just know this game is at legendary status, and you should buy it. not only would I buy it again, multiple times, but I think more developers should attempt to make a game that combines RTS/FPS elements and I'm surprised that we haven't seen this more. Thanks to Unknown Worlds for what you have achieved with this game.    … Expand
  7. UncleEd
    Apr 5, 2018
    10
    Natural Selection 2 is an asymmetrical online shooter and the sequel to the great, yet underrated Half Life mod, Natural Selection. The game is a FPS-RTS hybrid that resembles both Alien franchise and Starcraft. You choose Marines or Aliens, and in order to win you have to destroy the command station or hive of the enemy. One player from each team assumes the role of the “commander”, whoNatural Selection 2 is an asymmetrical online shooter and the sequel to the great, yet underrated Half Life mod, Natural Selection. The game is a FPS-RTS hybrid that resembles both Alien franchise and Starcraft. You choose Marines or Aliens, and in order to win you have to destroy the command station or hive of the enemy. One player from each team assumes the role of the “commander”, who is effectively the team leader and plays the game as a micromanagement focused RTS. The commander is the most important player of the team and can make all the difference in order to win by his strategic decisions, the way he expands the base, develops new technology and leads his team members. The rest of the team plays very much like a shooter, but some players also assume roles such as healing other players (aliens) or constructing buildings upon commander’s orders (marines). Where marines are soldiers with different weapons, aliens offer a very diverse gameplay (from flying aliens to extremely large and powerful creatures) based on the specific alien type the player chooses to evolve to.

    The setting reminds me of Alien and Blade Runner and is very atmospheric. This is a game that has to be played with a headset, as the game requires both paying attention to sounds and communicating to your team members.

    Natural Selection 2 is often criticized for its very steep learning curve. Although I admit the game is not friendly to new players, I find the difficulty to be its very asset. The developers have simply chosen to keep the game’s hardcore gameplay mechanics, at the risk of losing many players, but thereby managed to create one of the best online gaming experiences for its small, but faithful community. It is easy to give up on NS2, but if you are patient enough, you will find a treasure after 40+ hours playtime. If you come across games with balanced teams and good commanders in both teams (and you will very often), you will definitely appreciate the very tense and team-based gameplay, where every decision and every action counts.

    I do, however, have some caveats about NS2, which are not really the game’s fault. There are a handful of active servers and sometimes (not very often) when you log in, you may not be able find an active game with more than a handful of players. This is due to the fact that the game is very hardcore and therefore the player base is niche. The majority of new players simply do not have the patience to stick with the game long enough to appreciate it. As for the community, it is really a hit and miss. There are many loyal players with 1000+ hours playtime, who love NS2 to death. Some of these players (the silent majority) are very helpful to newcomers. However, there are some others who just keep complaining about every single false move newbies make, as if they are not aware of the game’s learning curve. Those who belong to this second category will also often start voting to surrender as soon as the opponent team gains some advantage, although in NS2 it is very possible to win the game even in toughest situations. When you come across this second category of players, just mute and ignore them, and don’t let them ruin your game. Because NS2 is a special game that every online video game player should experience and enjoy.    … Expand
  8. Ambient
    Oct 1, 2015
    10
    Deserves every last bit of success. If only we could have full releases of other nostalgic Half-life mods such as Science & Industry that are even half as good as this turned out. One of the greatest, most organic, most extravagant multiplayer experiences ever created.
  9. ThePCGamer101
    Jun 24, 2015
    8
    An awesome game, a sequel to the best Half Life 2 mod Natural Selection or NS1, now comes Natural Selection 2 or NS2! BUT there are some problems, it takes too long on the loading screen and times-out a lot in the multiplayer! But over the past few months, I have seen Unknown World Entertainment doing updates to try and fix the problem so I know the company knows about this problem andAn awesome game, a sequel to the best Half Life 2 mod Natural Selection or NS1, now comes Natural Selection 2 or NS2! BUT there are some problems, it takes too long on the loading screen and times-out a lot in the multiplayer! But over the past few months, I have seen Unknown World Entertainment doing updates to try and fix the problem so I know the company knows about this problem and that they are trying to fix it… Expand
  10. EvilTerrorizer
    Dec 22, 2014
    7
    I like the game. Got an upgrade to a brand new machine with all the bells and whistles, so on max settings the game looks really nice. Gameplay is dynamic, I like being commander. Each side, Alien and Marine have asymmetric strategies that they can use to win even if they are losing overall in tech and credits... which is important for giving people a reason to play a losing game.

    My    I like the game. Got an upgrade to a brand new machine with all the bells and whistles, so on max settings the game looks really nice. Gameplay is dynamic, I like being commander. Each side, Alien and Marine have asymmetric strategies that they can use to win even if they are losing overall in tech and credits... which is important for giving people a reason to play a losing game.

    My only negative experience with the game is being steamrolled by one or two really good players on the opposite team. Unfortunately, it only takes one or two out-of-balance players to destroy the game experience for everyone. Since resources are very tight early game, when one player goes 15-0 its pretty much time to forfeit and start again.    … Expand
  11. MasterSFX
    Nov 6, 2014
    10
    I have never felt the need to write a review for metacritic until I discovered this game. I wanted to share this masterpiece of a game with the world! Natural Selection 2 is by no means a perfect game, but it is extremely enjoyable, addicting, and just plain fun. This game mixes strategy, first person shooter, and RTS elements all into one game. If shooters aren't your thing, then youI have never felt the need to write a review for metacritic until I discovered this game. I wanted to share this masterpiece of a game with the world! Natural Selection 2 is by no means a perfect game, but it is extremely enjoyable, addicting, and just plain fun. This game mixes strategy, first person shooter, and RTS elements all into one game. If shooters aren't your thing, then you can jump into the hive (yeah ALIENS!) or the command chair. Teamwork leads to victory and having a strong and cooperative team will bring you far. Both sides, the Frontiersmen (marines) and the kharaa (aliens) have unique strategies and combat options. If you're a fan of the alien franchise you'll probably love this game. NS2 is what Aliens Colonial Marines should have been like- fast paced and full of alien destruction. NS2 has a great rookie-friendly community all of who are always available to help out. So please, buy this amazing game!… Expand
  12. G_Lerk
    Oct 27, 2014
    10
    Best game i ever played, deserves more than the entire CoD Franchise ever did. The graphic effects are sublime and immersive. with smooth gameplay, aliens and marines, extra AI units, and to top it all off its just fun. No question about it.
  13. beyondabraxas
    Oct 25, 2014
    10
    Easily my favorite Multiplayer. Its really a shame that this game is losing players (dont get me wrong, there's still plenty of people who play - die hards at that). Unknown Worlds really dropped the ball by letting this opportunity slip away. I know people don't like microtransactions, but that could have kept the studio releasing updates consistently instead of abandoning the game andEasily my favorite Multiplayer. Its really a shame that this game is losing players (dont get me wrong, there's still plenty of people who play - die hards at that). Unknown Worlds really dropped the ball by letting this opportunity slip away. I know people don't like microtransactions, but that could have kept the studio releasing updates consistently instead of abandoning the game and giving reigns to the community. They're a great studio with a great game on their hands - Its the most organic tactical gameplay in a team based online shooter. However, considering the asymetrical teams (aliens vs humans) constant patching and balancing is necessary. Its mostly balanced, but there are times when that doesn't seem to be the case. All in all, the fact remains that I can't play any other game but NS2. Its that good to me. Precisely why, I'm so dissapointed at the Dev not capitalizing on the opportunity to really make this game big. Unkown Worlds, Please return to NS2! Enable ingame microtransactions so you folks can maintain revenue for bug fixes and new maps.… Expand
  14. pro7otype
    Sep 17, 2014
    6
    This is a game with great potential but falls short of greatness. The community desperately needs more players, who are turned away by the combination of toxic experience of being pubstomped by the pros and being berated by them. The lack of matchmaking prevents this from becoming a more widely appreciated title. A diamond in the rough.
  15. Ecks33
    Aug 16, 2014
    8
    i am going to have to give this game a 8 as it is a good game you will find this more into something you would like to play for fun when you are getting bored of your MMO's or your typical FPS games unless you were like me in the past always playing the HL 1 Mod of it then you will have fun. the game does have replay value but a quick warning for 1st time users of this game it will take ai am going to have to give this game a 8 as it is a good game you will find this more into something you would like to play for fun when you are getting bored of your MMO's or your typical FPS games unless you were like me in the past always playing the HL 1 Mod of it then you will have fun. the game does have replay value but a quick warning for 1st time users of this game it will take a long time to load at 1st so you will be expecting that.… Expand
  16. asymptotic
    Aug 13, 2014
    9
    This is one of those FPS games with a tight knit community, a steep learning curve, and strong inclination towards competitive gaming. Twitch aiming, fast paced skills are necessary. This game is essentially Team Fortress Classic (not that abomination TF2), Counter-Strike, Starcraft, and Tribes all rolled into one game. Close quarter combat and a bevy of skills to learn and master.This is one of those FPS games with a tight knit community, a steep learning curve, and strong inclination towards competitive gaming. Twitch aiming, fast paced skills are necessary. This game is essentially Team Fortress Classic (not that abomination TF2), Counter-Strike, Starcraft, and Tribes all rolled into one game. Close quarter combat and a bevy of skills to learn and master. This game will supply hours of entertainment if you are the type of player who enjoys a challenge. This is not a game for you if you prefer the shoot'rm'up style of battlefield or call of duty. An underground cult classic comes to the modern age. Buy it.… Expand
  17. DeepW87
    Aug 5, 2014
    9
    It's a unique game, with asymmetrical teams, personal resources and team resources, jetpacks, exosuits, aliens that can teleport, fly, take a tonn of damage and more. It's not the easiest game to get into if you haven't looked at any guides or something beforehand but its unusual gameplay is what makes it worthwhile. The gameplay is pretty fast paced and twitchy. You need to play as a teamIt's a unique game, with asymmetrical teams, personal resources and team resources, jetpacks, exosuits, aliens that can teleport, fly, take a tonn of damage and more. It's not the easiest game to get into if you haven't looked at any guides or something beforehand but its unusual gameplay is what makes it worthwhile. The gameplay is pretty fast paced and twitchy. You need to play as a team to succeed. If you try to go lonewolf you will die a lot, and every time you die all upgrades that you've paid for with you personal resources are lost, so you really have a strong incentive to stay alive. The game also have mod support so this means community created maps, skins etc all free content which is great.… Expand
  18. Tastycakes
    Jul 17, 2014
    8
    Always one of the most interesting games in my library. This is a game that blends a lot of different play-styles together in one grand, immensely entertaining arena. The RTS role, the many different alien abilities as well as the FPS style Marines all come together in a well made, and overall balanced game. It's always fun, never repetitive and looks great as well. If you're looking forAlways one of the most interesting games in my library. This is a game that blends a lot of different play-styles together in one grand, immensely entertaining arena. The RTS role, the many different alien abilities as well as the FPS style Marines all come together in a well made, and overall balanced game. It's always fun, never repetitive and looks great as well. If you're looking for something different, this is the game I'd always recommend.… Expand
  19. Danil
    Jun 25, 2014
    10
    I believe this is a masterpiece of game development. I am not sure sure how it is even humanly possible to come up with an idea so complex and put it all together into a working game. It is a blend of RTS and FPS. There are 2 teams with completely different mechanics, units, weapons, special abilities and gameplay. Each team has a commander who views the game from an RTS viewpoint. HeI believe this is a masterpiece of game development. I am not sure sure how it is even humanly possible to come up with an idea so complex and put it all together into a working game. It is a blend of RTS and FPS. There are 2 teams with completely different mechanics, units, weapons, special abilities and gameplay. Each team has a commander who views the game from an RTS viewpoint. He places structures, upgrades units, gives orders etc. The rest of the team plays an FPS. The game is not rookie-friendly, It takes about 20 hours to more-or-less get the whole thing. Loading time is atrocious though...… Expand
  20. taggart3
    May 26, 2014
    10
    This is a 10 for the sole purpose of putting the game above 90 where it deserves to be, negative ratings about this game are simply ill informed, or from players who didn't like the fact that clicking with accuracy doesn't get you as far in this as it would in call of duty. It's an incredible game made by a team I've been following since they released natural selection 1, the mod forThis is a 10 for the sole purpose of putting the game above 90 where it deserves to be, negative ratings about this game are simply ill informed, or from players who didn't like the fact that clicking with accuracy doesn't get you as far in this as it would in call of duty. It's an incredible game made by a team I've been following since they released natural selection 1, the mod for half-life. This tiny team has put more on the table for their customers than any company I can think of. And they did it making next to no money. Shame on gamestop for **** on this games future… Expand
  21. debigman
    May 15, 2014
    0
    Any game that doesn't even start gets a zero in my book, because that is how much fun I got out of it. I feel bad for the guy who gifted it to me, but I'm glad I didn't pay for it.
  22. augh18
    Apr 17, 2014
    6
    The biggest problem of Natural Selection has always been that even in the most casual of matchups, there is a heavy reliance on teamwork. There's no way to Rambo in a game like this, which means you're only as strong as the people you're working with. It's great as a high-level competitive e-sport, but for people who just want something to play in their free time, this isn't the rightThe biggest problem of Natural Selection has always been that even in the most casual of matchups, there is a heavy reliance on teamwork. There's no way to Rambo in a game like this, which means you're only as strong as the people you're working with. It's great as a high-level competitive e-sport, but for people who just want something to play in their free time, this isn't the right game. If you're a newbie you're going to get chewed out constantly by people who *know* what they're doing and are really vocal about how bad you are to the entire team (since it isn't just a matter of K/D ratio, you need to coordinate resource captures, base strikes, base defense, buliding, etc. etc.), or you're going to be the guy that knows what he's doing, and feel like a loser for getting frustrated that people who don't play as much as you are ruining a *video game* for you.

    Aside from that, the load times are still ridiculously long, and the game has ludicrously high system requirements, either because it isn't well optimized or it's too big for its own good (the longer games go on, the more tech both sides have which means more effects going off at once, and there's also more buildings, more creep for the game to render).

    It's a really great concept, but the realization is that a game like this is too massive to be wielded. The engine collapses upon itself regularly, and you aren't going to even be an "average" player without being able to play this game like a full-time job.

    The 6 is not because it's a bad game, it's just too ambitious for its own good. I feel like the development team is composed of a bunch of hardcore gamers that are passionate about their work and wanted to take a genius idea they had and share it with the world, but they didn't have anyone around to rein them in and keep them in reality. In NS1 or NS2. Which is a real shame, because if this game was even half of what it is right now, it'd not only remain as a unique multiplayer FPS in a sea of derivative titles, it'd likely actually be a better game all around.    … Expand
  23. GoliathVietnam
    Apr 8, 2014
    10
    Remember guys , Unknowworlds Studio is an indie , small development team but they still can make this great NS2
    Unlike Call of Money : Bla bla-----> every year on Steam take you 49,99$ and another 4DLC 49,99$
    Of course , the money the pour on this NS2 is still small , game still have bugs , performance Until now (2014) UWE have fixed those problem and FPS is increse ,i have to admit    Remember guys , Unknowworlds Studio is an indie , small development team but they still can make this great NS2
    Unlike Call of Money : Bla bla-----> every year on Steam take you 49,99$ and another 4DLC 49,99$
    Of course , the money the pour on this NS2 is still small , game still have bugs , performance
    Until now (2014) UWE have fixed those problem and FPS is increse ,i have to admit that they do a great job compare to Big Company Activision    … Expand
  24. squirrell
    Jan 6, 2014
    10
    Steep learning curve. Except to loose hard for the first hours, especially when playing alien, which is mostly melee combat. Once you develop a feel for how the various creatures move it is extremely satisfying. Commanding is pretty hard and it takes a bit of brain to master both strategy, tactics and micromanagement.
    The marines are forced to play in small groups if they are to avoid    Steep learning curve. Except to loose hard for the first hours, especially when playing alien, which is mostly melee combat. Once you develop a feel for how the various creatures move it is extremely satisfying. Commanding is pretty hard and it takes a bit of brain to master both strategy, tactics and micromanagement.
    The marines are forced to play in small groups if they are to avoid getting eaten by the aliens.
    Without proper team play your team looses, or will have severe difficulties ending the game. All this forces cooperation and discourages the typical CoD behavior, making NS2 a game you can spend hundreds of hours playing.
    From time to time there is an influx of rookies and this strains the community quite a bit as the rookies can easily destroy the game, thinking it is a straight FPS or jumping into the command chair without a clue about what to do. I would advice future commanders to spend some time on Youtube there are lots of great guides.
    If you are going to play this you need a reasonably powerful computer. A mic is in my opinion a hard requirement, at least for the commanders.
    Also, it hardly costs any money anymore.    … Expand
  25. Cuyut
    Dec 31, 2013
    10
    I believe Natural Selection 2 is a masterpiece of a game, that represents the perfect blend of FPS and RTS game play. It is one of the few games where teamwork and individual skill are highly rewarded. On top of that, the community is accepting of new players and offers a friendly hand to educate those who are new.

    Due to the fact that Natural Selection 2 is a hybrid of FPS and RTS game    I believe Natural Selection 2 is a masterpiece of a game, that represents the perfect blend of FPS and RTS game play. It is one of the few games where teamwork and individual skill are highly rewarded. On top of that, the community is accepting of new players and offers a friendly hand to educate those who are new.

    Due to the fact that Natural Selection 2 is a hybrid of FPS and RTS game play, it allows for very competitive play in that the deciding factor of victory and defeat involves the long term decisions of a commander and/or the quick reactions and overall skill of the individual combatants (whether shooting aliens, or stalking marines). Due to this style of game play, games can very well last over an hour and yet feel very "tight" throughout the entire match.

    However, as of now, there is a lack of a ranked match system. The fact that the average game easily lasts over 20 minutes, and longer games tend to last for at least an hour, a very serious deciding factor of the winner is simply how many players leave and join the game. I understand that this is not really a game breaking problem, however due to the fact that players do not have much "loyalty" to their respective team, and the fact that the average match is rather lengthy, if a number of "pro" players join or leave the match during the middle of the game, it could drastically change the fate of the match instantly. I believe that having a sort of ranked match system, like that in Counter Strike: Global Offensive, will serve a very competitive game like Natural Selection 2 justice. Having ranked matches will also remove the occasional "newb stomping" matches, where there is a skill-based team stack.

    The game features asymmetrical teams with very different game play styles. This provides for a different style of FPS game play, and not the traditional shooter vs shooter like in most FPS games. I believe that because of this asymmetry, it expands the average gamer's experiences about FPS games in general. However, in Natural Selection 2, because it is also an RTS hybrid, a player could choose from essentially four game play experiences within one match alone which highly increases the game's overall learning curve. These four game play "roles" are: Marine commander, Marine player, Alien commander, and Alien player. Each type of "role" presents new strategies and information upon which the player has to know, and ultimately, having a sense of all the 4 roles is the minimum requirement for being "decent" in the game. Overall, having asymmetrical teams can interest those who are tired of the same-old shooter vs shooter, and because Natural Selection 2 is an asymmetrical FPS/RTS hybrid, such game play increases the overall learning curve to become fully understanding of every aspect, tactics and counter-tactics within the game.

    Do not let the lack of a ranked match system and rather difficult learning curve stop you from playing this game however. The lack of a ranked match system simply means that Natural Selection 2 is always going to be played on a "casual" game play setting, which many FPS games have. The difficult learning curve is also easily passed if one simply spends about a good 2 hours playing in a sandbox training server by themselves, learning all of the abilities, techniques, tech-trees, map-knowledge, weapons, and life forms to get that "full" understanding of the 4 game play "roles" I mentioned earlier. Furthermore, if you still need further clarification and help, the overall community in Natural Selection 2 servers are kind, vocal, and willing to help those who ask.

    I believe that Natural Selection 2 marks the standard for all asymmetrical and even symmetrical FPS/RTS hybrid games in the future. I would highly recommend this game to anyone, especially those with a background in playing other FPS and RTS games as they could easy apply their knowledge of both game genres into their Natural Selection 2 game play.    … Expand
  26. TomTom17
    Dec 6, 2013
    6
    A bit overrated but still a good game. When i bought this game on steam i wasent expecting much, just a typical online shooter and that's more or less what i got. The game has strategic elements as well but all you do is build structures on territory's you have captured. You get to play as either the aliens or the marines and i found that playing as the aliens was much more fun. you get toA bit overrated but still a good game. When i bought this game on steam i wasent expecting much, just a typical online shooter and that's more or less what i got. The game has strategic elements as well but all you do is build structures on territory's you have captured. You get to play as either the aliens or the marines and i found that playing as the aliens was much more fun. you get to climb on walls and tag enemy players so that other players know where they are. There are about 5 classes on the alien team and all are fun to play as. Now negative things about the game, the game has no xp or leveling up, no customization of characters, no leaderboards or stats so you cant compare scores with friends, which should be in a multiplayer game. Games like CS GO and Planetside 2 have these features and Planetside is free. So why buy this game, because its fun and i enjoyed playing it for a while. But quickly it got a bit repetitive and dident really care if i won or lost. Also there is one game type, no team deathmatch no capture the flag no free for all. The only game type is building up your base and taking the whole map which is a great mode but i want more variety. If you like sci fi shooters then get this game, it only cost me about £4 so you get a good game for the price.… Expand
  27. Gentoo
    Dec 5, 2013
    7
    The only downside I would consider is that it's really hard to master this game. Not like any other casual FPS game. First games in the game can be a tough experience for someone since it takes much time to fully understand it.
  28. SkulLmen99
    Dec 3, 2013
    1
    It wasn't pleasant to me! To servers it isn't connected, hangs, it is long loaded, all this takes off also for 500! rubles in steam? Battlefield 3 on ultra goes, and natural selection 2 and on averages takes off!
  29. facecake2
    Nov 27, 2013
    5
    Natural Selection 2 is a asymmetrical FPS/Strategy hybrid. The game consists of 2 teams; marines and aliens and both sides have a commander. The thing I like most is the map design and the graphics are pretty decent. However, if you’re thinking about picking this up, I wouldn't bother due to the humble bundle, steam sales, patches, the game has not only changed significantly, the communityNatural Selection 2 is a asymmetrical FPS/Strategy hybrid. The game consists of 2 teams; marines and aliens and both sides have a commander. The thing I like most is the map design and the graphics are pretty decent. However, if you’re thinking about picking this up, I wouldn't bother due to the humble bundle, steam sales, patches, the game has not only changed significantly, the community has gone downhill. This game was perfect upon release with the community being the highlight but it has now passed it's golden age, the regulars are long gone with the “balance test” patch. I usually play as commander now I keep getting ejected over extremely trivial things like: not having a mic and not building specific things early in the game. People also don't follow orders and blame it on you for things not going well. The gameplay changed significantly due to map modifications and game breaking nerfs and buffs. The hitboxes on aliens isn’t great especially for lerks. If you're looking for a decent RTS game, there are better games out there like the total war series. If you're looking for a FPS game, there is counterstrike. However, if you are still interested, I would recommend either getting a mic or playing this with a bunch of friends, otherwise be prepared for endless amounts of frustration … Expand
  30. wampastompa
    Nov 23, 2013
    10
    Very steep learning curve, but there is so much depth to this game. The blend of RTS and team-based shooter is unique, and it is fantastic. Difficulty and necessity of teamwork weeds out all the young and annoying gamers, there is a real level of maturity to the players in this game. I've never played a competitive multiplayer game where hostility was so pleasantly absent. The community isVery steep learning curve, but there is so much depth to this game. The blend of RTS and team-based shooter is unique, and it is fantastic. Difficulty and necessity of teamwork weeds out all the young and annoying gamers, there is a real level of maturity to the players in this game. I've never played a competitive multiplayer game where hostility was so pleasantly absent. The community is somewhat small, but I selfishly hope it stays that way, because I don't want to see it spoiled.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best PC Game of 2012
32
#32 Most Discussed PC Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Jun 10, 2013
    71
    Certainly not for newcomers in the genre; but it’s a blast for hardcore gamers that crave for action instead of the classic FPS mechanics and want matches that last something between a Counter-Strike and Battlefield 3 battle. [March 2013]
  2. Thunderbolt
    Feb 15, 2013
    60
    Natural Selection 2 is unquestionably a unique title, but its bar to entry is incredibly high for the average FPS player. For the hardcore strategist, it has its appeal, but its complexity severely limits the enjoyment in matches that aren’t significantly populated by experts at the game.
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  3. CD-Action
    Feb 6, 2013
    75
    I am sure Natural Selection 2 will gather a group of devoted fans. After all it’s a good, surprisingly original game. [CD-Action 02/2013, p.50]
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