Destroy All Humans 2 - Xbox (XB), Playstation 2 (PS2) Previews


	Platform Xbox, Playstation 2 Genre Action Publisher THQ Developer Pandemic Studios ETA Fall 2006
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Destroy All Humans! 2

Though it didn't score a whole lot of recognition when it was released, the fact the Destroy All Humans has borne a sequel speaks to the fact that it sold well.

Crypto, the needle-toothed alien from the first game is back in Destroy All Humans 2. A decade has passed since the close of the first game, when fear of alien invaders and Communists ran rampant, and Crypto's assorted weapons provided laughs. It is now the 1960s and fedora-wearing business men have been replaced by groovy hippies, Crypto's adventures will span the globe in a number of different environments.

The change of scenery should open the doors to humorous potential. I really liked the rendering of 1950's (exaggerated) middle America of the first game, but by the end things had grown tired because there wasn't much variation.

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But what didn't get boring was blowing up anything and everything. Destroy All Humans (like Mercenaries before it) allowed a high level of interactivity with the environment, which essentially meant that just about everything could be damaged or blown up. The sequel looks to exceed this with an augmented roster of weapons, super weapons and

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mental abilities. These are par for the course when plotting out a sequel.

Crypto's exploits in the original game were loosely connected -- the plot progression was more about fun and probing humans. And with a synopsis that reads, "Explore 5 open-world game environments – from Bay City , to Albion, to Takoshima Island and more... or explore the open world with a huge variety of side missions relevant to the game’s storyline" leaves the slate pretty clean when it comes to Destroy All Humans 2 plot line, which "[lampoons] humanity and [parodies] the hallmarks of the sixties: free love, counter culture, the space race, spy movies, the cold war, and hippies." What the story line actually is, is another question entirely but who really cares? As long as it's heavy on action and fun, I'm pretty sure there won't be many complaints.

On the theme of fun, Destroy All Humans 2 is to feature two-player modes via split screen, which includes playing the single-player game with two players and a selection of mini-games. It's always fun to game with friends.

With both the Xbox and Playstation 2 consoles seemingly on their way out, the graphics are only marginally better than the original (though it may be my imagination because sequels are supposed to look better). The game looks very close to the original, which tells me that at least the old graphics and physics engines have been polished and are being used to their potential. Or at least they should be.

If Destroy All Humans 2 can build on the success of the original, it's likely we'll see a third or even fourth game -- there are a few more decades to explore -- and when you're a hostile alien lifeform, you just know time travel will get involved at some point.

- Omni

(July 18, 2006)