Paper.io 2 is the sequel to the insanely, almost otherworldly popular Paper.io, with more gameplay mechanics and even more insanity.
Paper.io 2 is a prime example of the strangely unclassifiable genre of mobile and browser games that, in the last year, have easily become one of the most frequent sites in secondary school libraries.
The gameplay in all of them, whether they be about drawing images or making large holes in the ground, primarily consists of trying to entrap other players in your sphere or area of control, while simultaneously not be destroyed by them, all the while growing in size and scope to become the biggest on the server.
These types of games work because of the individual server element – each time you play, you are thrust into a new server with real players across the world, all trying to achieve the same thing you are.
Paper.io 2’s prime motif is the drawing of lines on the server to create the largest… shape… thing. It is possible to make artwork, but the constant efforts of your enemy players force you to continuously run back to your shape and avoid death.[sc name=”quote” text=”It is possible to make artwork, but the constant efforts of your enemy players force you to continuously run back to your shape and avoid death.”]
Paper.io 2 doesn’t exactly provide any new gameplay mechanics on the original, instead offering a myriad of server and infrastructure improvements that make the inherent experience more enjoyable.
Instead of the odd element of stuttering and server issues, Paper.io 2 has essentially no problems whatsoever – you jump into a game and get to drawing straight away.
The only problem is that Paper.io 2 refuses to educate you as to how you actually play. If you have never tried Paper.io before, you will find yourself somehow trapped, being killed again and again by enemies as they cross your path. It takes far too long to realize that you need to tie the extra spaces you draw into your initial starting area and not actually try and actively hunt enemy players.
The core gameplay of Paper.io 2 is surprisingly addictive, despite its inherent simplicity and lack of deviation from the original.[sc name=”quote” text=”The core gameplay of Paper.io 2 is surprisingly addictive, despite its inherent simplicity and lack of deviation from the original.”]
You die extremely frequently, unable to best the near-robotic, synchronized movements of the enemy players, especially as it would appear that every single enemy literally plays this game every minute of every hour of every day.
However, each death merely fuels your desire to try again – you play again and again, ardently hoping that this time, this time, you will not die in the first minute.
Eventually you will reach the leaderboards and begin to dominate until, one day, you will get caught be destroyed by enemy plays; they might even gang up on you.
Paper.io 2 is a strange game on first looking at it, but it is inventive in its gameplay mechanics, as well as being familiar enough to other, similar games that you won’t be too confused after your first few rounds.
[review pros=”Actively addictive, despite endless deaths. You have an endless ability to draw more and interesting shapes, despite everyone trying to murder you.” cons=”Enemy players essentially play this game as a full time job.” score=8.5]
[appbox appstore id1423046460]
[appbox googleplay io.voodoo.paper2]
