SHAPEZ 2 review - THE FACTORY MUST GROW (AND TWIST, AND TURN, AND...)
Shapez 2 is about to take you on a wild ride through the candy-colored hallways of automation heaven. This sequel cranks everything up to 11, transforming the 2D puzzler into a 3D mindfuck that'll have you questioning reality.
GAMEPLAY: FACTORIO ON STEROIDS (AND MAYBE SOME LSD)
Shapez 2 takes the core concept of its predecessor - manipulating shapes like a deranged geometric god - and injects it with enough new features to make your head spin. We're talking tech trees deeper than a philosophy major's thoughts at 3 AM, trains that'll make you forget Thomas the Tank Engine ever existed, and multi-layer factories that'll have you building Escher-esque monstrosities before you know it.
The learning curve is steeper than a rollercoaster designed by Satan himself, but goddamn if it isn't satisfying. One minute you're struggling to connect two squares, the next you're orchestrating a symphony of shapes that would make Pythagoras weep with joy.
VISUALS: MINECRAFT MEETS TRON ON ACID
Forget the 2D simplicity of the original - Shapez 2 looks like what would happen if Minecraft and Tron had a baby, then fed it nothing but psychedelic mushrooms. The 3D graphics are slicker than an oil spill, with a color palette that'll make your retinas dance. It's like someone took the concept of "eye candy" literally and turned it into a game.
AUDIO: BLIPS, BLOOPS, AND EARGASMS
The soundscape in Shapez 2 is a techno-organic masterpiece. Every conveyor belt hum, every shape transformation ping, it's all designed to tickle your eardrums in just the right way. You'll find yourself bopping along to the rhythm of your factory like it's the world's nerdiest rave.
OPTIMIZATION: SMOOTHER THAN A GREASED-UP PENGUIN
Unlike some early access clusterfucks that run like they're powered by a hamster on a wheel, Shapez 2 is smoother than a conman's sales pitch. It's optimized so well, you could probably run it on a toaster (note: please don't actually try this, we're not responsible for any bread-related fires).
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GEOMETRICALLY INSANE
Good shit: The progression is tighter than a miser's wallet, the UI is so intuitive it might as well read your mind, and the depth of gameplay is deeper than the Mariana Trench.
Bad shit: It's more addictive than crack-coated cookies. Say goodbye to your social life, sleep schedule, and possibly your sanity. Also, the limited blueprint "tokens" system can go fuck itself with a rusty chainsaw (thankfully, you can turn it off in settings).
FINAL THOUGHTS: TO SHAPE OR NOT TO SHAPE?
Shapez 2 is the kind of game that'll have you losing track of time faster than a blackout drunk at a clock factory. It's a masterclass in how to do a sequel right, expanding on everything that made the original great while adding enough new shit to keep even the most jaded factory-building veterans entertained.
Is it perfect? No, but it's damn close. Is it fun? Does a bear shit in the woods? (Hint: the answer is a resounding "fuck yes" to both.)
Final Score: 9 out of 10
Shapez 2 is a triumph of game design, a testament to what happens when developers actually listen to their community and deliver on their promises. It's the kind of game that'll have you saying "just one more shape" until you realize the sun's coming up and you haven't blinked in 6 hours.
We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn't impact our review in any way. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go rebuild my factory for the 47th time. This time, I swear I'll get it perfect. (Narrator: He didn't.)