Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 Review Summary

Graphics and gameplay are solid improvements, but stuttering, a downgrade from its predecessor, and a high price make it best for fans of the first game.

Graphics significantly improved: A large portion of feedback highlighted that the graphics are noticeably better than the original, with enhanced lighting and overall visual quality. This was a common point of praise across multiple clusters.

Gameplay is fun and solid: Reviewers consistently described the core gameplay as fun, solid, and enjoyable. The mechanics feel refined, and the game maintains the charm of the original while offering improvements.

Enhanced customization options: Players noted a significant increase in customization for characters, weapons, and loadouts. This depth allows for more personalized playstyles and adds to the game's replayability.

No crashes or technical issues: Multiple reviewers reported experiencing no crashes, stuttering, or other technical problems. The game runs smoothly, contributing to a positive overall experience.

Four-player co-op enhances experience: The addition of four-player co-op was well-received, with players noting that it adds new challenges and opportunities for teamwork. The co-op experience runs smoothly and is enjoyable with friends.

Downgrade from predecessor: Players consistently report that the game feels worse than the first entry in almost every aspect, including sound design, weapons, gameplay, and graphics. Many describe it as a disappointing rehash or a step back, with no significant improvements.

Stuttering and performance issues: Many players experience stuttering, micro-stutters, and performance issues, including janked animations and visual bugs. The stuttering occurs frequently, even at high frame rates, and can be distracting during gameplay.

High price point: The game's price is considered too high for the quality and content offered, with players noting it feels like a DLC rather than a full game. The cost is seen as outrageous or steep, especially for what is perceived as a rehash.

Stiff character animations: Character animations are described as stiff, awkward, and outdated, often compared to Minecraft characters. Movement and facial animations are seen as clunky and janky, detracting from immersion.

Poor voice acting: Voice acting is widely criticized as terrible, awkward, and poorly delivered, with cheesy dialogue and recording quality described as reminiscent of a Nokia phone. The writing and dialogue are also considered among the worst heard in a long time.

Sequel to first game: The game is a direct sequel that builds on the foundation of the first title, with many reviewers noting it follows the same formula and feels familiar. It is described as a continuation that expands on the original while being harder and having better graphics.

Very similar to first: A significant portion of feedback emphasizes that the gameplay is very similar to the first game, often described as a rehash or with minimal improvements. Players note it feels like more of the same with only slight changes.

Four-player co-op support: The game features a 4-player co-op mode, a change from the previous three-player setup. Players appreciate the ability to play with a full team or AI companions.

Horde shooter mechanics: The core gameplay is described as a horde shooter with chaotic combat, featuring classes and a perk system. It revolves around fighting waves of enemies.

Cooperative shooter gameplay: The title is identified as a cooperative shooter with wave-based combat, supporting co-op play with friends. It is described as a third-person shooter specifically designed for team play.

Mostly smooth performance: Many players report no crashes or major performance issues, with the game running smoothly on high settings and high frame rates. Some specifically praise stable FPS on RTX 3080 Ti and 4K.

Common stuttering issues: Stuttering is frequently mentioned, ranging from occasional to severe, even on high-end hardware. This appears to be the most common performance complaint.

Poor optimization: Some players feel the game is poorly optimized, leading to stutters, freezes, and FPS drops even at lower settings. This is a significant concern.

Frame drops and instability: Unstable framerates with drops into the 30s and hitches are reported, especially in hectic scenes. This causes inconsistent gameplay.

Micro-stutters common: Micro-stutters are reported in various scenarios like menu openings, mission starts, and asset loading. They are minor but noticeable.

Recommended for first game fans: Many reviewers recommend the game to those who enjoyed the first game, suggesting it delivers a similar or improved experience. This sentiment is consistent across multiple clusters, indicating that existing fans are the primary target audience.

Wait for a sale: A significant portion of reviewers advise waiting for a price drop or discount before purchasing, citing the current price as too high for the game's value. This suggests the game may be overpriced at launch.

Not worth current price: Several reviewers state that the game is not worth its full price, recommending purchase only at a significant discount. This reinforces the perception of poor value for money in its current state.

Not recommended currently: Some reviewers cannot recommend the game in its current state due to technical issues and unfinished aspects. They advise waiting for patches or improvements before considering a purchase.

Good co-op experience: The game is recommended for co-op play with friends, with reviewers praising it as a fun horde shooter when played with others. This highlights the game's strength in multiplayer cooperation.

Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00.

Story completion: 17.5h.

Session length: 0.6h.

The game is stuck in a boring tutorial phase that misrepresents the deeper progression and co-op fun that emerges after the first few missions, especially with friends.

Friction: boring and linear prologue/tutorial missions; performance issues such as stuttering and fps drops; peer2peer connectivity causing disconnects and lag; repetitive and uninspired early level design; weightless gunplay with low impact feedback; poor story pacing and unlikable character dialogue.

Unlock drivers: completing the tutorial and early missions; unlocking deeper class abilities and mastery; playing with friends in co-op mode; intensifying enemy waves and challenge in later missions; expanding build customization through progression.

Diehard Alien Franchise Fan: Enjoys immersive co-op, replaying missions to experience the atmosphere, willing to grind for class unlocks. Motivation: Love for the Alien universe and franchise. Stance: buy.

Veteran Fireteam Elite Player: Min-maxing builds, optimizing loadouts, mastering classes, grinding for endgame content. Motivation: Comparison to the first game and desire for meaningful improvements. Stance: sale.

Performance-Critical Co-op Gamer: Plays with friends or randoms, expects seamless matchmaking and stable performance. Motivation: Stable and optimized co-op gameplay without technical interruptions. Stance: deep sale.

Performance varies significantly by VRAM tier: lower VRAM systems are mostly playable with minor issues, while higher VRAM tiers exhibit a strong divide between smooth experiences and severe stuttering and optimization problems.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: negative. Frequent stuttering, frame drops, and crashes dominate user reports, even on high-end systems, making performance the main drawback.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: mixed. Experiences are split: some report smooth 60+ FPS with minor stutters, while others face constant stuttering and unstable framerates.

Windows 16GB+ VRAM: mixed. High-end hardware shows a sharp divide: some achieve 85+ FPS at 4K epic, but others report unacceptable stutters and frame drops even on flagship GPUs.

Steam Deck: The game exhibits severe stability and performance issues on Steam Deck, with frequent crashes, freezes, and frame drops. Linux compatibility is mixed, often requiring ProtonGE or native version tinkering. These barriers make the experience broken and frustrating for many users.

Linux and Proton: The game features a native Linux build that runs flawlessly, and ProtonGE also works out of the box for many. A minority of users report cutscene freezing on Proton, but the overall Linux experience is positive with available workarounds.

Monetization: Player reviews focus heavily on the game's high base price and expensive DLC, calling it an overpriced cash grab or DLC-worthy content. However, no evidence of predatory microtransactions (gacha, pay-to-win, currency obfuscation) was found. The optional DLC is traditional one-time purchase content. According to scoring rules, base-price and DLC complaints alone cannot push the score above 20.

Sequel compared to predecessor: Reviewers frequently compare this game to the first installment, with mixed opinions on whether it's an improvement or a downgrade. Some feel it's a major step up, while others see it as a step back.

Game is overpriced: Many reviewers consider the game's price too high for its content, with some suggesting it should be cheaper. This is a common complaint across multiple clusters.

Familiar but improved: Many reviewers acknowledge the game is similar to the first but with polish and improvements, making it more of the same but better. This is a positive comparison for some.

More of the same: A subset of reviewers feels the game is a copy-paste of the first with minor improvements, which works for fans but may disappoint others. This is a common criticism.

Lack of regional pricing: Several reviewers note the absence of regional pricing, which makes the game more expensive for non-USD users. This is a significant issue for players in countries with weaker currencies.