I was excited when I heard that Evil Genius was receiving a sequel. I was sold when I heard that Rebellion was the developer behind Evil Genius 2: World Domination. You may remember they are also the minds behind Strange Brigade (Check Out my Xbox One Review!), which by itself already had a witty and adventure overtone. From what I have played so far, we have not been let down.
Evil Genius 2: World Domination is a base-builder, dungeon master, world domination simulator all in one. Whether you are on the path to taking over the world, or you have the deep desire to funnel money into your pockets, this game has it all. You can finally live out your 007 fantasies as the cartoonish villain and order your loyal minions as you see fit.
The first thing returning players will notice is the iconic soundtrack from the original game. Following the main menu, players will see that we have a new roster of super villains to play as, but we still have Maximilian. Each evil genius has a set of perks and abilities that come into effect as you play the game. Maximilian can enable faster training of his minions, which is a plus in the early game. There is an obvious graphical overhaul since 2004, but in such a way that you remember everything from the original game and appreciate the newer details. I like that the minions are no longer the same faceless characters and have become somewhat fleshed out. On the World Domination Map, we also get a more detailed view of the world and its various regions. I think it is interesting that we just spend minions on missions now instead of having casualties from the mission.
We have 3 islands to choose from, each having exposure towards some of the world’s alliances. It takes on a semi-Tropico vibe as we start building up our island and doing multiple side objectives to raise additional cash. Instead of a Swiss bank account, we have a room we built to store our gold and various trophies. We build the base from scratch, adding corridors and rooms with specific tiles. This is good and bad but makes way for strategic planning. Evil Genius 2 continues the tradition of being an ever-expansive dungeon master game. Enemy agents are just itching to breach the lair and sabotage you in any way possible. The more heat you gather from completing missions, the more agents are likely to arrive on the island. Each room you build serves a purpose, and duplication of these room types is likely going to happen.
If you are new to the series, I am happy to say that this new title is loyal to its source material, going as far as keeping the tutorials almost entirely the same. The game also maintains the same sense of humor, and it adds more in the new cutscenes. There is somewhat of a learning curve in the start, but once you get the hang of the game mechanics, you will be an evil genius in no time.
Overall, I think Evil Genius 2: World Domination is great. I constantly compare it to the original, and it complements the nostalgia I have for my quest to rob the world of its valuables. This title can take up hours upon on hours of your life. I think that this type of game is unique, and the mechanics can feel a bit difficult to get used to, even with the know-how and the experience. The difficulty of the game also climbs quickly with the Heat mechanic, but this is true to the spirit of the original game.
I think a fair rating for this title is a 9 out of 10.
Check Out the Evil Genius 2: World Domination Trailer:
Evil Genius 2: World Domination is available now on Steam priced $39.99 / £34.99 / €39.99. The Deluxe Edition is available now priced $59.99 / £54.99 / €59.99.
For more information please visit EvilGeniusGame.com
PC Review
I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.
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