PixelJunk Monsters 2

 Switch
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 36 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 36
  3. Negative: 3 out of 36
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  1. Ankhyl
    May 28, 2018
    9
    I'll try to be honest as there are lots of "not recommended" ratings in Steam.
    However I've not played multiplayer yet.
    So, first of all, even when Switch price is more expensive than in other platforms, it is till an A game for the very affordable price of 15 USD. There are no other tower defense games in the platform so far. As a huge fan of PJM 1 , i had my doubts on the    I'll try to be honest as there are lots of "not recommended" ratings in Steam.
    However I've not played multiplayer yet.

    So, first of all, even when Switch price is more expensive than in other platforms, it is till an A game for the very affordable price of 15 USD. There are no other tower defense games in the platform so far.

    As a huge fan of PJM 1 , i had my doubts on the gameplay as soon as I watched the trailer. 2D and a full map view gave it its classic Zen experience. But in fact, this is no problem at all in PJM2 and the game delivers well.

    PROS:
    + You do actually get used to the zoom, and once you play for a couple of hours and then watch PJM1, you realize graphics were a good improvement. I wish a full or bigger zoom out though.
    + It's still pretty addictive, i enjoy more playing this than finishing my missing Odyssey's moons
    + Special towers are now more balanced and with a more affordable trade to purchase (use gems for every tower, instead of research them first).
    + full 3D Map looks gorgeous, and towers' range modification based on hill's height is clever. But coins/gems sliding through the slope is annoying.
    + Bosses are better. they spawn minions which makes the wave way more interesting, as they can spawn flying or ground monsters, Now you cannot simply unbuild your towers on that wave as before. However they are pretty slow, and they help you a lot by giving constant jewels. I wish they were more difficult.

    BAD
    - I expected to get more levels (there are only 15, and maybe 6 of DLC), new towers, mechanics, or new monsters. This doesn't feel as much of a sequel but a "redesign" as those fan-reimagined games you see in youtube.
    - The levels are huge and there are some paths that are not used, I wonder why they didn't simply create more levels repeating the map but using these alternate routes.
    - Map zoom is not great, but you get used to it. However a RUN button would be great as levels are big, and you are most of time running instead of building/dancing.
    - Background Music is good but it's always the same, they lost the charm of the original one. Why couldn't they simply use it again?
    - "Tricky" difficulty is not really tricky, i expected unexpected paths or different enemy waves , however most of the time it is simply "more enemies per wave" where you can probably use the same strategy.

    SMALL things to notice:
    - Fruits are confusing and don't add anything to the game
    - The zoom makes you feel that the game is slow, because even when waves have not interval at all, sometimes you don't see anything but yourself. It's not as slow that it feels boring, but it could be fixed again by enabling zoom out.
    + Rolling giant balls is a small fun improvement to help you with a wave.
    * Changing tiki wardrobe is great, however there are no great variations between masks or shells. It would be better to have more varied styles, even cosplays.
    - They removed some good things from the first one, like knowing what do each upgrade
    + Towers taking 2 or 3 trees is not very important, you get used to it.
    - Closeup view is only good to see art , because it is the most useless feature in the game, and it's glitchy. It would have been better to have a complete or big zoom out, and a not so close zoom in, where you can see things close but in a usable way.

    Overall, it is a good game that will give you at least 20 hours of fun, plus some announced DLC levels. It would be an 8 because of the lack of real improvements, but for the price, it's a 9.    … Expand
  2. a-ha
    May 29, 2018
    5
    PJM2 retains a lot of what was so charming and good from the first iteration. But...

    Given that it's been 11 years since the first one was released, it's pretty sad that the final product not only fails to bring new features to gameplay, but ultimately is a worse version of the first one. Someone mentioned a few gameplay gripes (not being able to run, no speed up, etc.), and while    PJM2 retains a lot of what was so charming and good from the first iteration. But...

    Given that it's been 11 years since the first one was released, it's pretty sad that the final product not only fails to bring new features to gameplay, but ultimately is a worse version of the first one.

    Someone mentioned a few gameplay gripes (not being able to run, no speed up, etc.), and while these missing features are essential the flow of gameplay, there are other, more glaring flaws that really need to be addressed.

    The first being visibility. In the original PJM, you can clearly see when towers are upgraded (little colored flags and visible tower changes). Not so in PJM2. The flags are hard to see and the towers at a maxed level 5 look identical to their newly birthed level 1 brethren. The 3D also makes it very difficult to gauge depth in the landscape, as well as coins and jewels being dropped.

    Speaking of dropped coins and jewels, the physics in this game are seriously wonky in that regard. If you have even a slightly downsloping plane, bye bye coins and jewels.

    The camera locking is by far the worst thing about PJM2, and it is something I feel needs to be addressed in a future update. The original PixelJunk Monsters did not have this issue because the the entire map was on display in each level. PJM2's maps, which are much larger, have to scroll with user movement. Okay that's fine.

    But what if you need to see the monsters and how they are pathing while you are sitting on a tower to upgrade it? Or running around looking for hidden items in trees? You can use your right stick for a limited map scroll. But what about 2P?

    Locked.

    This is a pretty gamebreaking design flaw in the multiplayer experience. The idea that 2 players have limited mobility + visibility, are map locked, have a limited range of separation (2P will automatically teleport back to 1P if he drifts too far off screen), it just doesn't make any sense. Why not zoom the map out for increased visibility? Why not allow players to map scroll to view monster pathing? I really don't understand this. There are times you can be on a tree building a tower with monsters 100% not visible on your screen because the camera will not allow you to scroll.

    Absolutely terrible.

    Lastly, the new features (which I'm adding as an addendum because they didn't really sway me one way or the other):
    - jumping. negligible. I'd rather have run. You can attack with Tikiman now, but the jump timing has to be perfect, and does barely any damage.
    - fruits. the only thing you can buy as one time use items. they do pretty much nothing in the grand scheme of things.
    - unlockables. masks and shells. okay? this is just purely aesthetic, there are no stat boosts or anything of that nature.

    So there we have it. At its core, it has the basic frame of PJM1. But with clunky gameplay, not enough features, beautiful graphics that are more of a distraction that anything else, and terrible multiplayer execution, it's missing the soul of what made PJM such a great game.    … Expand
  3. mtroni
    Jul 21, 2019
    10
    Oh boy did I not expect after owning PJM1 on several systems and then already co-opping this one (PJM2) on steam/PC that this would be still so mich fun on the go. Yes, even botw gets a rest until I work myself through all the levels with perfect rainbows. I am now well in my 30’s and still LOVE PJM. The only thing I could say is: can we also have PJM ultimate on Switch?
  4. runeasgar
    Jun 1, 2018
    7
    The original PixelJunk Monsters was a local co-op triumph. Some of the design decisions in this second game ruin that aspect. For example, the maps are large, and only zoom out a small amount as the two players separate. If you get farther apart than that, the second player gets warped to the first player. This makes it basically impossible for two people to multitask in different areas.The original PixelJunk Monsters was a local co-op triumph. Some of the design decisions in this second game ruin that aspect. For example, the maps are large, and only zoom out a small amount as the two players separate. If you get farther apart than that, the second player gets warped to the first player. This makes it basically impossible for two people to multitask in different areas.

    Given that I purchased the game FOR the local co-op, I can't score it favorably (although it still gets a reasonably high score, as it's a good game in other aspects).    … Expand
  5. Phuz
    Jun 18, 2021
    0
    Another example of why you can't go off reviews. This game is awful in every way except graphics.

    1. Load times are shocking. If this was on my WiiU, I'd still be annoyed at load times. In fact I think my Commodore Plus 4, which I had to type first and press play on a tape was faster. 2 There is strategy in tower defence. How can you make strategies if you can't see the area? 3. The    Another example of why you can't go off reviews. This game is awful in every way except graphics.

    1. Load times are shocking. If this was on my WiiU, I'd still be annoyed at load times. In fact I think my Commodore Plus 4, which I had to type first and press play on a tape was faster.

    2 There is strategy in tower defence. How can you make strategies if you can't see the area?

    3. The controls are just bad. Bad for the type of game, bad in general.

    4. The music? What would make our game great? Ah, I know. Let's put some really **** annoying music in it.

    5. Now I have played only one other tower defence game. It was free on PC, a very basic 2D, top down called Cursed Treasure, it puts this to shame.

    6. It just isn't fun. No fun at all. You feel like you're fighting against the mechanics and design choices more than the enemies.

    7. Air attack UI picture is a sword. Why? How confusing can you make it? Sword for aerial attacks now are they.    … Expand
  6. MediaFreak
    May 27, 2018
    6
    I was a really big fan of the first game. I'd put it right up there with Starship Patrol on DS and Field Runners 2 /Bloon 5 on ipad as my all time favourite tower defence.

    My 1 issue with the first pixel junk game is that it could have possibly done with a speed up button. Pixel Junk 2 not only doesn't have the speed up button either, but it's even slower than the first game.    I was a really big fan of the first game. I'd put it right up there with Starship Patrol on DS and Field Runners 2 /Bloon 5 on ipad as my all time favourite tower defence.

    My 1 issue with the first pixel junk game is that it could have possibly done with a speed up button.

    Pixel Junk 2 not only doesn't have the speed up button either, but it's even slower than the first game. There are times when i've just put the controller down and started doing something on my phone to occupy my boredom while the game plays itself. To make matters worse, their also doesn't seem to be a run button like their was in the first game, so not only is the game play even slower, so is your character.

    I'm not too keen on the graphic change, i associate 2d with pixel junk, this doesnt seem to fit in with their style at all. Looks really generic now.

    If the developers add a fast forward button in a later update I'd reconsider the score, but as it is, it's slow speed and lack of challenge are sending me to sleep, I don't think my boredom will let me get to the later levels and difficulties.    … Expand
  7. x9x9x9x9x9
    May 28, 2018
    10
    I love this game. I had a blast with the original and now this one is just as good. The graphics look good considering its supposed to be like claymation. This is a game that is fun while playing alone but REALLY fun when playing with a friend.
  8. Korvspad
    Oct 6, 2018
    6
    It has a cozy world that you just wanna run around in together with the addictive gameplay of the genre. What really drags it down though is the horribly long loading times. Becuase of how the game pnuishes you for not getting a perfect score, plus the unpredictable enemy movement, you will need to restart maps a lot. On each time you will have to wait thorugh a loading screen that takesIt has a cozy world that you just wanna run around in together with the addictive gameplay of the genre. What really drags it down though is the horribly long loading times. Becuase of how the game pnuishes you for not getting a perfect score, plus the unpredictable enemy movement, you will need to restart maps a lot. On each time you will have to wait thorugh a loading screen that takes forever. When you've completed a map, you will have to go through two of those to start a new map.… Expand
  9. Metarok
    Dec 1, 2019
    7
    Really enjoying the game for both its design and game play.

    I would have given the game a higher score, except the level loading time on the Nintendo Switch takes forever.
  10. BabeThePancake
    May 7, 2020
    9
    I am a big fan of tower defense games, and this game hits all the right marks. I like this game because it is simple in its concept and design. The game doesn’t try to add anything too complicated or include a cumbersome storyline. It lets you get straight to the fun part, building towers and defending your little monster kids. There are a variety of monsters to battle and strategies toI am a big fan of tower defense games, and this game hits all the right marks. I like this game because it is simple in its concept and design. The game doesn’t try to add anything too complicated or include a cumbersome storyline. It lets you get straight to the fun part, building towers and defending your little monster kids. There are a variety of monsters to battle and strategies to use. Some levels can be challenging, but I found it quite a bit easier than its predecessor, although I might have just gotten better with practice. I enjoyed the music and the fun different masks you can buy at the store. The multiplayer mode is pretty fun as well. Though tower defense games aren’t made for multiplayer gameplay, I still had fun working in conjunction with my partner to build and level up our towers. A definite recommendation for fans of cute tower defense games!… Expand
  11. Tspeed
    Jan 25, 2021
    4
    Judging by the overall score I’m in a minority here, but I found the game slow and aggravating. Chasing the coins, not seeing the whole map and sluggish movement just removed what I like about tower defence games. Plus the load times.. THE LOAD TIMES! WHY?!
  12. BeeBoss
    Jul 5, 2021
    9
    Great game with charm clay-like graphic. If you looking something for local co op this one is perfect.
  13. CakeJampbell
    Dec 17, 2020
    10
    Loved the first one and I really love the second one. No brainer, buy this game! There is co-op with the camera bug fixed in the update. There is a ton of cool expansions. There is a ton of great levels and areas with more content than the first one.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. NintendoWorldReport
    Jul 2, 2018
    85
    Some patterns can absolutely destroy you without proper notice, forcing you to play over and perfect certain levels. While that side can be little irritating now and again, it can't be denied the amount of effort Q-Games put in.
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  2. Cubed3
    Jun 18, 2018
    60
    Tower defence games may have lost their popularity somewhat in recent years but PixelJunk Monsters 2 shows why it exploded in the first place. It is insanely addictive and just the right level of challenging, although certain folk may find the frustrating elements a little too much to enjoy. Some will find achieving every perfect rating compulsive, while others will find it wholly off-putting.
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  3. Nintendo Life
    Jun 13, 2018
    80
    Charming, addictive but sometimes ruthlessly unforgiving, PixelJunk Monsters 2 has made the transition into 3D almost unscathed. While there is a sense of if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it in some instances, it's still a gorgeous, lovingly-crafted and action-packed tower defence game that despite a few annoyances, will delight, entertain and challenge in equal measure.
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