Intravenous 2 is a surprisingly well-thought-out game from domestic developers. Here, professional mercenaries find themselves embroiled in big politics, and in order to survive, they will have to use their skills to the maximum. The player will have to choose a style of play – completely stealthy or combat.
The price of failure
A guy named Sean has big problems. He needs money to treat his father’s illness, and he needs it here and now. No legal means would help in this situation, and he had to become a hired killer. But even in such a situation, there is a place for moral principles – Sean gave his word that he will kill only those who poison the lives of others with their very existence.
One of the missions turned into a test of Sean’s moral code. He was tasked with getting rid of a politician who was trafficking children – a perfect job for a principled guy. However, the meeting with the target turned out to be strange. The politician was too plausible in saying that he had no idea about the trade. And the target’s wife and child, who were nearby, gave rise to doubt in his heart. Sean was unable to complete the mission.
Punishment for failure was not long in coming. An unsatisfied customer kidnapped Sean’s father and blackmailed him into eliminating competitors. The situation of the stubborn mercenary would have been dire if not for a meeting with Steve – a butcher who put an end to the existence of many criminal groups. Together, the mercenaries created a surprisingly harmonious alliance that is able to save Sean’s father and put an end to the scoundrels who were behind the kidnapping.
Find and destroy
Together, Sean and Steve will have to complete many missions. In each of them, you need to collect resources, get through an army of bodyguards, and decide the fate of the target. Each of the mercenaries is unique, which makes it easier to play a certain style:
- Sean: A specialist in stealth. He is harder for enemies to detect, making infiltration easier;
- Steve: A big guy who’s a good shot. It makes sense that it would be easier to shoot everyone around him for him.
If Sean decides to spare his target, this opens up an additional mission for Steve. The final decision and the way to complete the mission is always up to the player.
Quiet
Missions can be completed in such a way that no one will notice the mercenary. The main thing is to ensure that the noise and visibility levels do not rise too high. It is worth considering that enemies pay attention to turned off lights, open doors, lying bodies and even weapons on the ground.
The ability to move unnoticed and distract attention is facilitated by the ability to move through the ventilation; turn off the lights; conjure with the electrical panel; throw cans and bottles; install a noise-generating device.
If you don’t feel like straining yourself, there’s a special button to call your opponent. A unique feature of the game is that you can yell into the microphone – yes, your physical microphone – and it will make even more noise.
The sound is quite realistic, but sometimes there are problems. For example, in one place I wanted to make a guard open the door and go out. The above-described techniques, running in front of the door and asking into the microphone “bro, come out for a second” did not help. But reloading a silent rifle immediately lured the bastard into a portion of the butt to the face.
Relatively silent methods of getting rid of opponents include gentle strangulation; a blow to the crown; a taser and darts with sleeping pills. If CCTV cameras are in the way, then you can peacefully clear the room with security using gas.
Raising the alarm brings a lot of trouble. I managed to put two guards to sleep silently, but one of the bastards, through the hive mind, raised the alarm. And until the end of the mission, the guards ran around the entire location like scalded. In such a state, you can’t catch them one by one – the local Tamaras always go in pairs. And sometimes even the whole bachelorette party.
The missions with civilians deserve a special mention. Civilians run around apartments, look in the windows and report suspicious activity. What is this anyway? The game takes place in America – an armed man on a run is much more organic than a paranoid patrolling his own house!
Noisy
The easiest and most effective way to solve problems. A decent arsenal of firearms allows you to quickly deal with problems. Explosives, a flare gun, and motion-sensitive mines will come in handy in combat (it’s nice that enemies don’t use them). And the money you earn allows you to upgrade your guns to your own taste.
Enemies die quickly, but they kill a gaping mercenary no less quickly. They behave wisely: they look around corners; move in groups; take up convenient positions; surround and look for bypass routes; do not climb under bullets. But they are still easy to lure into a “bottleneck” and shoot.
If you find a gun that is missing from your arsenal, returning to your base with it will allow you to use it in the future. However, if there are still cartridges left in a fully upgraded weapon, you will have to remember its location in order to return and pick it up later.
Strange design decisions
Some elements of the game are either annoying or lead to another save loading. Need to quickly hide a body before a patrol shows up? Good luck, because picking up a body and a weapon are tied to the same button. And in a hurry, you don’t always choose the right action!
Such necessary items as first aid kits or valuables are poorly distinguished. If you do not pay attention to the surroundings, they are easy to miss. And the need for money disappears quite quickly. And there is no desire to look for such rarities as blueprints for weapons at all – given the size of the locations and the difficulties associated with the search.
The game forces you to learn the basic mechanics after the first missions – when you already understand them yourself. Steve simply won’t let you go without going through an obstacle course. From a plot point of view, this makes sense, but in terms of gameplay – it’s incredibly annoying.
One of the hints teaches that the cameras do not notice a mercenary moving by crawling. They notice! Even if you do not move while lying down! But the cameras can be temporarily disabled with an EMP gun, and no one will raise the alarm.
Attention to detail
The developers’ thoughtfulness can only be praised:
- In the game you can destroy wooden doors and shoot enemies through windows;
- During reloading, the entire magazine is changed, which forces you to monitor your ammunition;
- Fire spreads across many surfaces, and enemies do NOT get into it. If you start a fire in the office, the fire extinguishing system will turn on;
- It is better not to turn on the night vision device in illuminated rooms – it will only hurt your eyes
And as you progress, you discover more and more details like these!
Diagnosis
Intravenous 2 captivates with its diversity. It can be completed in ways that are convenient for everyone – there is a whole arsenal of techniques for fans of stealth and good shooting. And smart opponents will test the skills of even experienced players.
The game has its share of annoying and strange moments. However, the huge number of advantages more than outweigh the disadvantages.
Pro:
- Strong plot
- Huge variety of mechanics
- Thoughtfulness of many elements
- Moderately smart enemies
- You can use the microphone and attract enemies
Contra:
- Some elements are strange or annoying
- Too much foul language
***
All images courtesy of Explosive Squat Games and HypeTrain Digital. Preview image courtesy of SteamDB
