Metascore
40 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 12 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 12
  2. Negative: 7 out of 12
  1. ShellShock 2: Blood Trails spices up Vietnam with a liberal application of zombies, but it does nothing to liven up the generic shooter gameplay.
  2. The sequel to the controversial Vietnam first person shooter abandoned the use of torture and atrocities to civilians. It also abandoned good graphics, atmosphere and almost everything else needed for a good game. Dumb enemies, exaggerated splatter effects, boring levels and graphics right from the last century - Shellshock 2 has nothing interesting to offer.
  3. A terrible shooter with pretty much nothing to like about: the level design is horrible and the AI turns out to be foolish at best. Explicit gore does not make up for bad game design, in fact it makes this games mistakes stand out even more. If it weren't for the acceptable cutscenes and some halfway spooky level sections, this game would be an even bigger disaster than it already is.
  4. Frantic shoot-outs in the Vietnam jungles and tunnels return in a game that has not much to show besides an amazing level of gore. Enemies often lose limbs, and during the close quarters combat blood starts to overflow the field of vision, but the confrontation with legions of mindless drones (only some of them have an excuse) is simply tedious. [Apr 2009]
  5. Shellshock 2 is a short game with nothing that's worth a try. It lacks a plot, action and tactics and all it's asking to you is to accept the imprecision of the control system.
  6. 46
    A budget title and it shows. The visuals, level design, AI, and just about anything else you can think of can't match up with the top-tier first-person shooters. On top of that, you only get 10 brief stages and no multiplayer options.
  7. If you want something to put on the box, Mr. Marketing Man, try this: "This is so bad, it is like beating old ladies to death with hammers." [May 2009, p.77]
  8. You can enjoy the straightforward gameplay, in some moments you can be surprised by the horror atmosphere. But those are only small details in the overall game of boredom, disturbing mini-games and a bunch of bugs. [Mar 2009]
  9. Zombies in jungle and abandoned temples – that's a nice setup for a Left 4 Dead campaign. Unfortunately, Rebellion is not Valve. "Repeatedly press button on-screen to survive torture", says a hint message during one of the interactive cutscenes. Oh I wish there was a button to erase Shellshock 2 from my memory.
  10. While it's not all bad it is hard to find any aspect of the game that is particularly praiseworthy.
  11. No shock, just schlock. Almost impressively dreadful. [May 2009, p.67]
  12. Shellshock 2 gives the word uninspiring a new meaning. The game never, and i repeat never ever, offers the player any form of originality or even simple fun. Five frustrating hours, no more no less, make of Shellshock 2 entertainment of the lowest order. If you can call it entertainment.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Negative: 2 out of 4
  1. ConnorM
    9
    I think this game is awesome. It has an awesome storyline, but what saddens me is the graphics and the gore. Hardly no gore (lots of blood though). Anyways, I love this game. Full Review »
  2. D.S.
    0
    Horrifyingly bad. There is, absolutely no reason whatsoever, to play this game. I, in fact got this for Approx. $2 in a Steam pack deal and I can tell you, I am truly missing those two bucks dearly and want them back now.The game starts out boring but just a little atmospheric. It all goes way downhill after that. You are thrown into an abysmally ugly looking forest to tunnel shoot dumb AI and to make your way to a point B. For the rest of the game thats basically what you do. Tunnel shoot braindead AI. Not to mention, I got horrible motion sickness from this game and migranes from listening to abrasive dialouge and watching hilariously clunky animations. Full Review »
  3. JoeyD
    6
    A long, long time ago game developers decided to begin using war games as an excuse to say no more war and hence worth we get HFPS(Historical First Person Shooter) now this would be fine in viedo games if the Game Developers would auctually make a game not based on WW2 or Modern Warfare. Now this, horrid dread of a WW2/ Modern Warfare plague lasted four years before Shell Shock 2 came out. Now! Now we finally have a game in between the two wars and some actual creativity in the gaming industry... Oh wait, of course it has to have fricking zombies. Sigh, I hate the fact that no one can be realistic with video games anymore and SS2 was a good example of this. I remember going to my local game rental store and renting this out in hopes that it would give me some hope of people being more creative in the gaming industry. Saddly, my hope was crushed when I found out that this game of course like anything else is a boo-hoo anti-war zombie shooter. I was severely disappointed by how all games with the word Vietnam in any shape or form has to be a cry baby party about how it was such a bad war and all that crap. I figured that this game would make me happy but like many other was disapointed to find it's game devs had jumped on the boat of hippies on the second stop of anti-war. Full Review »