Yahtzee reviews Evil Genius 2: World Domination, discussing its base-building mechanics, minion management, and overall fun factor. Is it a worthy successor?
This page contains the transcript for Zero Punctuation's review of Evil Genius 2: World Domination.
Walkthrough
- 1The review begins by discussing the concept of an "evil genius" and the game's premise as a base-building management game similar to Dungeon Keeper, but with a retro-futuristic spy theme.
- 2The core issues are identified as creating the villain lair aesthetic and managing the logistics of running such a place, with a perceived lack of "fun and engaging video game" elements.
- 3Base design is criticized for being inefficient, with arbitrary room designations and restrictions on furniture placement. The need to research basic concepts like staircases is also questioned.
- 4The game's reliance on building entire new structures for power or signal strength is deemed inefficient, suggesting larger components would be better.
- 5The "hands-off" management style is highlighted, where players give build orders but don't directly control minion assignments or priorities. This can lead to inefficiencies, such as a training center being too far from the evil genius's room.
- 6The lack of direct minion control is problematic when dealing with unexpected threats like investigators, as minions may not be in the right place or equipped to handle them.
- 7The review suggests that traps are more effective than guards, but even traps can be undermined by minions acting erratically.
- 8The game is described as inconsistent, with unrealistic base design elements contrasted with a lack of minion self-preservation. A super-agent's ability to defeat all minions before the evil genius intervenes is seen as undermining the game's core themes.
- 9The reviewer questions the point of building a complex base if the evil genius can simply defeat threats directly, suggesting this diminishes the challenge and theme of delegation.
Tips
- Focus on trap-based defenses rather than relying solely on guards.
- Ensure essential facilities like training centers are strategically located to minimize travel time for your evil genius.
- Be prepared for unexpected threats and consider how to mitigate them, as the hands-off approach can be a liability.
- The reviewer suggests that the game's core loop might be more engaging if the direct intervention of the evil genius wasn't such a powerful and readily available solution.
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