I recently tried out Intravenous II (Intravenous 2) by Roman Glebenkov, Explosive Squat Games, and HypeTrain Digital. It’s a top-down stealth game that; honest to God I’ve been referencing old games but this is accurate, resembles the Metal Gear games released for Gameboy Advance. The developer even cited inspirations from games like Splinter Cell, Dishonored, and Deus Ex, and those influences are evident in the gameplay.
Stealth Mechanics
Intravenous II is a fairly simple game made hard by how harmonious the challenges that attack its mechanics go together. The game incorporates elements found in various stealth games like light visibility, noise detection, and player posture. You can also go prone to hide behind half-walls, crouch inside bushes, or vault over obstacles. The game also allows you to crawl through vents, similar to Metal Gear Solid, letting you reach positions your enemies wouldn’t expect.
Movement is also surprisingly nuanced, offering various speed options, including sprinting, jogging, brisk walking, regular walking, and crouch walking.
As mentioned before, you can also go prone which means you can crawl; adding another layer of stealth. These mechanics provide creative opportunities for players to outsmart the enemy AI.
Enemy AI and Difficulty
The enemy AI can be a bit inconsistent, sometimes appearing almost comically stupid. However, I personally think this is a necessary “feature” in stealth games to avoid frustrating the player and giving them ways to exploit the enemy AI.
Despite the “stupid” Enemy AI, Intravenous II is fairly challenging, especially in higher-difficulty settings, requiring careful planning and execution which we will go into deeper later on.
Combat Mechanics
While Intravenous II emphasizes stealth, it also offers the option to go guns-blazing. The gunplay isn’t particularly deep, but it does borrow a feature from Max Payne to make it a little bit more interesting—slowing down time.
Even with this skill, combat can be tough. Enemies are surprisingly accurate, and your character, Sean, can be quite vulnerable without the right equipment. Running out of bullets or lacking the appropriate weapon can make firefights even more difficult. However, proper preparation, quick thinking, and being resourceful by memorizing the map to employ clever tactics can let you overcome any encounter.
Preparation and Customization
Preparation is key in Intravenous II. Before each mission, you can customize your loadout with one primary weapon, a secondary weapon, and three gadgets. Every weapon can be tailored to your playstyle by changing its parts or mods such as the barrel, trigger, and sights.
Modifying your weapon affects the gun’s firepower, accuracy, and stealth capabilities. However, not all weapons and mods are free, so you’ll need to complete missions and explore for extra cash.
Visuals and Art Direction
The visuals in Intravenous II may not be the most realistic, but they suit the game’s genre and mechanics. The art direction is pixel art but takes some inspiration from Splinter Cell and Metal Gear with how techy some of the UI looks. The UI is also simple but effective, ensuring that nothing distracts from the core gameplay experience.
Conclusion
Intravenous II maximizes its potential as a top-down stealth and shooter game. If you’re interested in trying it out, you can visit its Steam store page here.
More Intravenous II Screenshots
Intravenous II FAQs
When is the Intravenous 2 release date?
Intravenous 2 releases on August 15, 2024.
How big is the game Intravenous 2?
Intravenous 2 is 955.46 MB big.
How long does it take to beat Intravenous 2?
I actually do not know how long it takes to beat Intravenous 2. I haven’t gotten far yet so we’ll see.
Is the Intravenous game worth it?
If you are a fan of stealth games, then yes. It is surprisingly complex and creative with the amount of features you can use for stealth in a 2D top-down pixel game.
How long is Intravenous 2: Mercenarism?
Intravenous 2: Mercenarism is the prologue of Intravenous 2 and it is roughly 2 hours worth of playtime.
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