WHAT I’VE BEEN PLAYING: Soldat 2

Fun as heck. That is how I am describing the newly released Soldat 2, which is a welcome addition to my PC gaming collection. I am new to the Soldat series as I just recently played the original a week prior to purchasing the latest one last week on Steam. Soldat 2 is currently in early access but for the $13.49 price tag, there was more than enough to justify my purchase. Plus, I’m always on the lookout for independent gaming gems.

What is Soldat? The original game was released in 2002 as a 2D side-view action multiplayer shooter featuring soldiers (Soldat means “soldier”) fighting on battle arena maps with jetpacks and an assortment of different weapons to utilize to obliterate your opponents. The result was the type of fast-paced chaos that garnered a cult following. It was developed by Michal Marcinkowski, who is currently the CEO of Transhuman Design, the company that developed Soldat 2. Transhuman Design is a Poland-based company that was founded in 2011.

I’m always up for something new, especially when it comes to first or third-person shooters. It doesn’t matter if it is 2D or 3D, side view or top-down. As long as I have fun and there is a great deal of kablooey involved, then I am willing to give it a shot. Along with discovering new mods, I enjoy coming across top quality titles that don’t receive a lot of attention (if any at all) in the mainstream gaming world. Maybe it’s because I love underdogs. When I see a relatively unknown developer trying its best to put out fun and creative games for consumers, I naturally feel inclined to want to support that organization. It’s like the equivalent of the desire to support the “mom and pop” businesses within your community rather than constantly giving money to major corporations such as Target and Walmart. Sometimes what the moms and pops offer provides greater satisfaction than what you’ll find in the bigger places. The same can be true for video games.

Perhaps Soldat 2 will receive better controller support in the future but I found that the keyboard and mouse configuration works best for the game in its current state. It can be very difficult at first trying to adjust to the controls, but if you give it some time, you’ll consistently improve. When I first began the tutorial in Soldat 2, I was all over the place. My movements were wonky and my aim was off. I took a deep breath and just kept at it. Mixing in strategy as I was learning the controls, eventually I was defeating the enemies in a variety of ways. As I improved, I noticed that I was really having a great time with the game. Soldat 2 is a game that you will have to invest some time in before really seeing what it is capable of. If you are willing to tackle its learning curve, you’ll be rewarded with a great experience.

This game is in early access so there will be more content added in the future. At this point, you’re able to play deathmatches, battle royales, capture the flag, and a few other game modes. There are about 10 maps to play on with a beta version of a level designer mode available to check out. Modifiers such as “Knife only” and the addition of motorbikes are included. And one of the reasons why I purchased the game is because it has a bot option to go along with player versus player. For this gamer, bots are essential. Be advised as because this is an early access version, you’ll experience some bugs and glitches along the way. From what I’ve played so far, I’m more than pleased with what the game already has to offer.

As always, no game is for everyone so do not take my word for whether this is a game for you or not. Visit https://soldat2.com and check out all of the information for yourself. On their page is also a link to Transhuman Design’s YouTube Channel where you can also see some of Soldat 2’s early development. The title has received very good reviews on Steam so far with nearly 90% favorable feedback. The main hurdle to overcome will be the lack of exposure as none of the major video game media outlets have reviewed it and many gamers do not know of Soldat in general. Plus the game is only available on Steam, which limits the title to a specific game client on one platform. No information was available as to whether the game will be released on Playstation, Xbox, or Nintendo consoles.

I initially found this game while searching for multiplayer shooters through the fantastic SteamPeek database. It is included within the “GAME DEALS” section of links and is an extraordinary resource for finding games similar to the ones you already play and love. I have found many great games that I had never heard of before through this method. What I most like about the website is that it is also indie-friendly, so the search results will include games from independent developers as well as the mainstream ones.

If you are on the fence regarding Soldat 2, download and play the original Soldat on Steam for free. It is a full release and will give you an idea of what to expect in the newer version without the upgraded graphics of Soldat 2. This will give you a chance to see if the world of Soldat is for you.

-TVGA

NOTE: ANOTHER GAME WITH SIMILAR GAMEPLAY TO THE SOLDAT SERIES IS ARMAJET. I JUST DISCOVERED THE GAME LAST WEEK AND IT IS AVAILABLE ON STEAM AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE (FOR MOBILE GAMERS). IT ALSO HAS BOTS JUST IN CASE YOU WANT TO PLAY IT AS A SINGLE PLAYER. JUST ANOTHER FREE ALTERNATIVE I WANTED TO SHARE.