The results are fantastic. NS3 is tactical and tense, but sometimes the emphasis on teamwork can mean you're stuck on a long losing slope if your pals are rubbish. [Jan 2013, p.86]
Natural Selection 2 has quite a few things to be nitpicky about. Pared down strategy elements, scanty arsenal of weapons, lack of single-player missions and decent tutorials – yep, it's all there, but, in contrast to shooters that come off big assembly lines, the developers put love and effort into making of this game.
It's a game that asks a lot up front, but offers some incredibly rewarding moments for those who are willing to stick around. Be patient and just take it all in -- you won't be disappointed.
Natural Selection 2 is an interesting multiplayer FPS with an important RTS section, decisive for the final victory. It offers great variety but is highly competitive and features just a single game mode.
Natural Selection 2 offers a promising combination of strategy and first-person shooting, but disappointing execution holds it back. [Editor's Note: this quotation and score are from the original GameSpot review. Metacritic, per long-standing site policy, only accepts a publication's first review/score for a given game.]