official Natural Selection 2

[Nagisan]

Two Unique Sides

Whether you play as one of the elite marine Frontiersmen or the vicious alien Kharaa, you must use unique strategies and your abilities to win. Marines form persistent squads to find and destroy alien hives. Aliens can choose a wall-running Skulk, pudgy Gorge, flying Lerk, murderous Fade or gigantic Onos that can smash through doors.

Real-time Strategy

Commanders play from overhead to lead their team to victory. Build structures anywhere, collect resources and research upgrades. Marines buy weapons at an Armory or build sentry turrets and siege cannons to assault the enemy. Aliens build upgrade chambers, evolve special abilities and plant traps.

Dynamic Environments

Spreading alien infestation deforms hallways and causes space station power failure, turning off lights and shutting down marine powered structures. Use a flamethrower to clear infestation or weld a bulkhead shut for a last defense. Every game is different.

Unlimited Variations

WYSIWYG graphical tools and powerful scripting allow you to create new weapons, scenarios or entirely new games. You'll get all our tools and Lua source code we're using to build NS2. Ongoing automatic updates keep the game fresh by adding new maps, weapons and abilities.

System Requirements:

• 1.2 GHz Processor
  
• 256MB RAM
  
• DirectX 9 level graphics card
  
• Windows Vista/2000/XP
  
• Steam
  
• mouse
  
• keyboard
  
• internet connection
  

http://www.naturalselection2.com/

http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/

Buy Now! for $19.95 (price increase after July 26th), or $39.95 for the Special Edition.

I can't believe there is no official thread for this game yet. The last topic about it was back in July of 2009.

If this game is half as good as the first, it will be one of the best PC shooter games in recent times.

The Alpha starts July 26th, if you preorder the Special Edition, you get Black Marine armor, access to the Alpha on the 26th, and of course the full game when it releases. The special edition will be unavailable after the 26th, in which case you can only preorder the normal edition which DOES NOT get you into the Alpha, only the Beta.

I played the first game for 5 years before I was VAC banned (towards the end I started getting bored and started hacking), it was the single best FPS experience I have had on the PC since the original UT. If the sequel follows in the original games footsteps, it will be the next best FPS experience with recent FPS games.

The entire game logic is coded in Lua, so it will be a modders paradise, you can change the Lua files and instantly change gameplay (they will likely use a system like Steams sv_pure to ensure file consistency).

UPDATE:

Natural Selection 2 Alpha is now available to download, you will not be able to play until the Alpha Activation keys are released at 9PM EDT (6PM PDT). But go get your game downloaded so you do not have to wait until the keys are released to do so. - Special Edition owners only.

NS2 Alpha has Officially Launched! Use your Black Armor key to 'activate' your Alpha to launch the game (Special Edition buyers only).

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

The original was awesome but I'm a little wary of playing an alpha. If there are impressions before the 26th and they're good, then I might pre-order it.

[Nagisan]

The original was awesome but I'm a little wary of playing an alpha. If there are impressions before the 26th and they're good, then I might pre-order it.

Understandable, you may want to listen to some of the podcasts (posted on their site and on their twitter), they talk about a lot of the changes feature-wise over the first. My reason for preordering is partially for the black marine armor (looks awesome), but also to enjoy the beta as well. Just remember, you have a very limited time from when I posted this topic to preorder (5 days :p), so don't take too long on deciding.

[Jase]

Im gonna build a PC just to play this game :|

[Razorwing]

That looks fantastic.

[Nagisan]

Im gonna build a PC just to play this game :|

You need to build a new PC just to play it? BTW, thanks for saying that, adding system requirements to the OP.

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Understandable, you may want to listen to some of the podcasts (posted on their site and on their twitter), they talk about a lot of the changes feature-wise over the first. My reason for preordering is partially for the black marine armor (looks awesome), but also to enjoy the beta as well. Just remember, you have a very limited time from when I posted this topic to preorder (5 days :p), so don't take too long on deciding.

I might just fold under the pressure and pre-order it, especially after seeing the latest screenshots (I didn't know they added 3 new ones). I was a huge fan of the original - so much that I convinced most of my gaming friends to play. And knowing that the same developers are behind this one, it's somewhat of a relief to finally see it coming to life. All in all, I really hope the alpha isn't a horrible mess.

[SierraSonic]

I already got the Special Edition package, loved the first game, cannot wait for some actual game-play. The pre-alpha they give you is not fun at all. Can't wait for the 26th.

[+Fulcrum Subscriber¹]

I still play the first one and plan to pre-order this soon. I too was a UT player back in the day.

[Ayepecks]

I'm still amazed that a former mod team has made a completely new engine that looks as good as NS2's does.

[Nagisan]

I'm still amazed that a former mod team has made a completely new engine that looks as good as NS2's does.

Yeah, they were going to make NS2 a source mod game, but they found many aspects they wanted to include (such as the overhead view for the marine commander) were not working as easily or how they wanted it to, so they would essentially be rewriting parts of the Source engine to try to create the game how they wanted it. Instead, they decided to create a new engine from scratch, and found development to be going much faster than the work they had been doing on the Source engine.

[Ayepecks]

Yeah, they were going to make NS2 a source mod game, but they found many aspects they wanted to include (such as the overhead view for the marine commander) were not working as easily or how they wanted it to, so they would essentially be rewriting parts of the Source engine to try to create the game how they wanted it. Instead, they decided to create a new engine from scratch, and found development to be going much faster than the work they had been doing on the Source engine.

Yup, yup, I see you've been keeping up with the game as much as me (Y)

[Nagisan]

Yup, yup, I see you've been keeping up with the game as much as me (Y)

I was more interested in it back when it was announced, but the long delay since then up till now caused me to lose some interest (but not all......I did spend nearly 5 years playing the original NS). With its Alpha coming, I am getting a bit more interested in it again.

Also, it seems they plan to use netcode similar to the original HL, but its written from scratch, not just a library or anything they found and decided to use.

[SMELTN]

WHats the price on it? Is it free like the old mod or does it cost now?

[Nagisan]

WHats the price on it? Is it free like the old mod or does it cost now?

Its going to be a full retail game, $39.95 for the Special Edition (only available until the 26th), and $19.95 for the normal edition (no Alpha access). The price is rising when the Alpha starts, rumored to be going up to $29.95 (early pre-orders get a discount, basically).

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Okay 2 questions....

1. Is it just an online FPS, or Does it have a SP campaign as well?
2. I somewhat recall checking out the original a long, long time ago, but honestly if I did, I do not remember much of it. So Is it worth checking out the original one still, or will it feel dated? It is quite old, so if it is going to feel dated, I do not want to do myself the disservice.

Basically I see some real high praise being thrown around in this thread, and it is definitely coming from members that while we may not always agree on all things gaming related, I do tend more often than not to agree with as far as games go. As such I respect their opinion, so just based on these members saying they have been anticipating this game, I am without a doubt interested. Not only that, but considering I can purchase the full game for $19.95 before the 26th, well if it is anywhere near as good as some are making it out to seem, then that to me just seems like a no-brainer. That, and I also really like the whole aliens on a ship concept too.

My biggest thing is if it is online only, I may have to pass, as quite frankly I really do only have sporadic times that I can game these days, so I prefer knowing there is a SP aspect for those times I hop on at weird hours and no one is around, and/or I am just feeling anti social. :laugh: And I do mean like a full fledged SP, if it is just a scenario where I can play offline with Bots ala Unreal Tournament, that gets old real quick for me.

But the price point is definitely looking real, real good, as I without a doubt do not need the special edition and I am not concerned about no alpha access.

TIA,

DL

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

DL,

The game is an FPS/RTS hybrid and it's strictly MP, just like the original. The team doesn't have the resources to make a fully-fledged SP experience. Who knows though, maybe they'll consider doing it in the future. As for the original, it's an old mod for Half-Life so the graphics won't be easy on the eyes (especially if you're used to playing modern games). It's just one of those games that you had to play when it was released otherwise it won't be that interesting to you.

[Nagisan]

As Anaron said, it is multiplayer only. You may want to check out the original, but the graphics are quite dated. If you do check out the original, try to see if you like the general concept of how the game works (with two completely different sides, not just multiple different classes like TF2, for example). But, do it quickly if you can, as the price is rising after the 26th.

I personally played this game for about 5 years with a close friend, we got so good that the best players we knew were afraid to play against us. We would switch teams just to balance the game at times, but that was a few years so it will definitely take some retraining to get back to that level (one of the better players on our usual server made a comment once basically saying "Who else could take on me and ____ and actually win?" :p ).

I think if you have never played NS, or do not remember it, it may be worth checking out the original to get a better idea about the game concept and how it works together. Just try to play "classic mode" and not "combat", as the developers are not releasing combat mode at release (and may not ever, but it will be done via modding as some people absolutely love combat mode). The difference between the two is classic mode plays a bit like an RTS, where the marines have a commander who drops buildings and gives them weapons, while the marines go around and build these buildings. And the aliens (at least in NS1) run around and drop buildings themselves (no commander, but this may change with NS2), each side essentially trying to kill the other by destroying their base. In combat mode, it players more like a traditional FPS where you cannot build buildings, and instead just have to destroy the enemies base (which only consisted of their main building).

[SoapyHamHocks Member]

Really looking forward to this as well. Ended up purchasing the SE last night. Hope to see some of you on the 26th!

My Steam if anyone wants to add me http://steamcommunity.com/id/SoapyHamHocks/

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Thanks Anaron and Nagisan. (Y) I downloaded the original, so may have to check it out.

[Nagisan]

Thanks Anaron and Nagisan. (Y) I downloaded the original, so may have to check it out.

If you enjoy the original as much as I did when I first played it, you might not be pre-ordering NS2 for the sheer fact you are having so much fun with the original. :p

Four days left for those who ordered the SE, and for those who are on the fence just remember, the Black marine armor is going to be the norm during the Alpha, because you can only play the alpha if you got the SE which also gives the black armor, but once the game is released and as time passes on, it will become more and more rare, so think of it as collecting comic books or something.

[Dashel]

Pre-Ordered and anxiously awaiting alpha next week. I owed it to them after the absurd amound of time I played the first one. (Though I was forever partial to the earlier builds where the marines had little chance, more like Space Hulk!)

[Evolution]

http://twitter.com/ns2

Expect the alpha to be released around 10 PM EST. Of course you had to have ordered the special edition to play the alpha.

[SoapyHamHocks Member]

http://twitter.com/ns2

Expect the alpha to be released around 10 PM EST. Of course you had to have ordered the special edition to play the alpha.

"Building the alpha Steam depot" Hopefully sooner than that :woot:

[ViperAFK]

It says order before the 26th for the alpha, would I still get it if I ordered today?

edit: ordered the special edition, which says it expires after today, so it looks like I will. And they emailed me with a 'special edition key' and said they would email details about the alpha when it comes out later today :)