This sequel certainly isn't pushing the limits of the aging Xbox by any means. But one has to ask, "Does it need to?" I say no, because a game like
Destroy All Humans! 2 should be based almost entirely on gameplay, and gameplay it has got. There's something to be said about the effect that
Grand Theft Auto has left on the world, good, bad, or otherwise. But one thing remains true, that there are many clones out there for one good reason:
the gameplay is great! Destroy All Humans! 2 takes that
GTA formula and gives it a slight titty-twister. Cities to wreak havoc on? Check. Multiple cities to do so? Check. Main missions and optional sub-missions? Check. Car-jackings? Errrr... sort of. Instead of ripping unsuspecting victims from their vehicles in a shameless act of thievery,
DAH!2 allows you to instead steal the
bodies of those hapless citizens. Now isn't that
much better? You'll use these pedestrians for much of your bidding, because they will allow you to gain trust from others, instead of scaring the crap out of them. What cracks me up though is that the wise-cracking Crypto (your alien character) may change his exterior, but his voice remains the same, even as an attractive young girl.
The basic premise of Destroy All Humans! 2 is that Crypto is posing as the President of the USA in the swinging '60s, baby, yeah. Unfortunately for he and his alien race, Crypto was more interested in hot chicks than to make peace with the USSR, who has just nuked his mother ship. Now Crypto is out to right his wrongs, and in the process, Destroy All Humans! Crypto has a myriad of weapons and abilities at his disposal, from his Disintegration Gun to the ability of psychokinesis. With this, Crypto can pick up and manipulate almost all objects within the environment, including the humans. He also has the ability to hop into his spaceship and move from one area of the map to another a bit more quickly, as well as use his intergalactic mode of transportation as a weapon of mass destruction. He can even abduct humans for research, increasing Crypto's abilities to quickly inhabit their bodies, as an example.
Also included in your character's abilities is the very important aspect of making the humans forget that you exist. You may think there’s only one method to do so, but vaporizing them isn’t the only way to give them amnesia. You can actually lure humans in, and then use your powers to also make them forget what they just saw. But for a group of humans who may have seen your skinny, you can always make them dance to groovy songs. When they wake, they will be clueless once again. And for those of you who prefer multiplayer games, never fear. The cloning of Crypto allows you and a buddy to take on the humans via split-screen.
