The gameplay is nothing new to those who played the original. Crypto is outfitted with an arsenal of alien weaponry that includes blasters, lasers, and a flying saucer for certain missions. Psychic powers are also at your disposal, allowing Crypto to control minds and lift large objects with telekinesis. Over the course of the single player campaign these items can be upgraded allowing you to destroy even more humans. However, none of these aspects take away from the fact that this game is just very bland. You choose missions from an open area similar to Grand Theft Auto, but none of these missions are particularly interesting and the ease of difficulty does not help the repetitive objectives.

Technically speaking, Destroy All Humans! 2 is no large improvement from the first game. Weapon effects and explosions are nice but the textures of the environment and pedestrian character models can really disappoint. Although, on a positive note, the level design really emphasizes the particular spoof of each zone. The sound is a bigger star than the graphics as the game’s voice acting is probably the best reason to play it all the way through. Crypto, sounding like a moody Jack Nicholson, is constantly spewing cynical cracks about his victims. This is topped by the insubordinate banter between Crypto and his holographic commanding officer. All of the conversations with smaller side characters are far less enjoyable and can really get tedious when the game tries to force bad jokes.

The real reason why this game falls so short is its inability to deliver the kind of humor and charm that its predecessor used to overshadow shallow gameplay. Destroy All Humans! 2 is just the same lame action as the original without the humorous crutch. The 60s are simply not as funny as this game tries to portray them. Crypto is the only charming part of the whole experience because he is an outsider to the over the top caricature 60s theme. This game is not worth sticker price but maybe a rental if you hold nostalgia for the original. With childishly easy action and just lame taste, this game won’t amuse you unless you’re still repeating lines from Austin Powers.

The story is told through short scenes between missions. All three playable characters are hunting a renegade Nazi general in a G.I. Joe caricature fashion. Each mission is comprised of a series of checkpoints and strategic resources that must be captured in order to proceed. Each building or resource allows the player more powerful reinforcements and vehicles. The levels are very linear and force the player along a winding series of roads that leave little room for any strategic developments. In fact, the only real strategy in the single player game is positioning defensive guns when warned of an impending enemy attack.

To its credit, The Outfit makes it very easy to access your combat resources with its “destruction on demand” menu. With the press of a button you can call in extra troops, tanks, and air strikes.

The importance of ordering additional resources cannot be stressed enough as there is a massive range of difficulty between gameplay on foot and gameplay in a tank. In later levels it becomes nearly impossible to make any progress without the use of armor. This brings the game to a major fault as the strategic options fade away with the use of faster moving vehicles. Gameplay becomes laughably easy once behind the wheel of a tank.

The multiplayer game is far better than the single player campaign. The game delivers a more challenge and strategy is more important once the opponent is another human. Multiplayer level design is far less linear and allows for strategic gameplay rather than a grinding linear experience.

Graphically, the game looks quite nice, levels are littered with war-torn towns and destructible structures. Explosions look good for the most part but many weapon effects, especially on the smaller scale, seem weak. Oddities like blocky character models, bizarre level boundaries, and repetitive textures stand out clearly against good looking environments.

Overall, The Outfit isn’t well designed. The story and characters can make the campaign painful to complete. It is easy to see why this game fell to bargain pricing so soon after its release.