Ben 10: Omniverse 2 is based off the popular franchise following a young boy who finds an alien device, called the Omnitrix, which allows him to transform into various alien species. The new game has Ben partnering up with the creator of the Omnitrix, Azmuth, to infiltrate his new enemy's warship, as he tries to return to Earth, and take down the frog-like alien species known as the Incurseans.
The game plays pretty much the same as previous titles with players taking down enemies either alone or with a co-op friend in true beat 'em up style. Ben can take own his opponents in a ton of alien forms which all possess their own powers, moves and abilities. The combat in Ben 10: Omniverse 2 involves simple button-pressing throughout, but still manages to offer a great deal of variety due to the abilities offered by the various alien forms. Every time the player uses their alien abilities, energy in the Omnitrix is depleted, and when it completely runs out then Ben returns to his regular form. Ben will remain human until he can recharge the Omnitrix which means players must strategically use their powers during combat to successfully finish each level.
Ben's various forms can offer a creative approach to gameplay with players deciding on which alien form to utilize for certain situations, enemies or puzzles. The approach to each level will change as players fight, unlock and gain new abilities. The enemies evolve throughout the game which starts out with the basic melee enemies called Frog Commandos and ranged enemies who attack with projectiles called Frog Infantry. You then have your more advanced opponents such as Toad Battlers, Toad Assault Merc and then the evil scientist Dr. Psychobos. While some of the basic enemies can be taken down in your human form, as you progress, using your Omnitrix-powered alien forms becomes more necessary. The simple combat and steady progression allows gamers of all ages to pick up Ben 10: Omniverse 2 and have a blast!
High Voltage Software has done an excellent job in capturing the cartoon series' unique look and feel with its cel-shaded art alongside an implacably written story, tight controls and superb voice acting. However, even with the many great aspects of Ben 10: Omniverse 2, the game's stages are extremely repetitive with little variation between each one. Despite its flaws, Ben 10: Omniverse 2 still manages to make several improvements over its predecessor with animations being more stable and glitches in sound being less frequent.
Ben 10: Omniverse 2 allows gamers to play as their favorite characters from the show during its multiplayer brawler mode which is quite entertaining. One of the things that I enjoyed most about Ben 10: Omniverse 2 was the fact that it was written by the same people from the Cartoon Network series making it a believable story from the Ben 10 universe. The game also features intense new chase sequences, fantastic alien upgrades, and over 10 alien forms to encompass. Ben 10: Omniverse 2 definitely offers up enough variety and new content to keep you entertained for several hours.
CLOSING COMMENTS
In the end, Ben 10: Omniverse 2 is a fun title that long-time fans of the series will enjoy. The title's simple game mechanics and progression allow younger gamers to take full advantage of the game's impeccable story. Ben 10: Omniverse 2 can get repetitive and stale for some and is definitely not a game for everyone. However, if you have a young gamer or Ben 10 fan, then Ben 10: Omniverse 2 is a must-buy this holiday season!
Ben 10: Omniverse 2 is now available from all major retailers for the MSRP of $39.99 and can be purchased for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. Ben 10: Omniverse 2 is rated Everyone 10+ by the ESRB for cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. For more information on Ben 10: Omniverse 2, check out the official Ben 10: Omniverse 2 website.
Game Features:
- Single Player
- Entertaining Co-op Modes
- Online Leaderboards
- Trophy/Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer: High Voltage Software
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 (reviewed), Nintendo 3DS, Wii U
Release Date: November 5, 2013
- Fun new storyline
- Entertaining alien upgrades
- Play as your favorite characters from tv series
- Repetitive stages
- Simple mechanics that may not be enjoyable by hardcore gamers