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Do you love the frantic, breathless scrap for survival of Hotline Miami, desperately seeking cover as enemies close in from all directions? The precise, measured stealth of Splinter Cell, where enemies must be picked off with ruthless efficiency? How about the freedom to approach situations as you see fit in immersive sims like Deus Ex? If your answer to all of those is yes, Intravenous 2 is that perfect mix – realistic, brutal, and uncompromising, it’s a stealth game where the smallest error often leads to a deadly, high-stakes shootout. Now, a new update makes it even better, introducing new weapons and Steam workshop support.
Intravenous 2 is a more refined sequel to developer Explosive Squat Games’ first offering. The new blend of tactical shooter and stealth game has earned itself an ‘overwhelmingly positive’ Steam rating, with 96% of user reviews recommending it. I’ll admit I struggle to make it through even half of each mission without blowing my cover, but the feeling of every successful takedown or sneaky evasion is sublime, and when it breaks out into a full-blown action game it’s perhaps even more pulse-pounding fun.
The game’s newest update, patch 1.2, was originally planned just to introduce the map editor and Steam Workshop support, which allows users to share mods ranging from weapons and gadgets to full custom campaigns. However, creator Roman Glebenkov notes that the update “grew in size” over its development, and now includes several extra core features. Three more weapons have been introduced to the base game: the Mac-10, UMP, and Famas G2.
The Mac-10 is an incredible close-range powerhouse, but falls off quickly as you get further from your target. The UMP functions as a middle-ground option between the MP5 and the Mini-Uzi, with a slower fire rate than both making it easier to control and offering more impact with each hit you land. The Famas G2, meanwhile, is versatile across ranges, but its high rate of fire means it’s tough to keep steady if you use it in full-auto mode. It’s also worth noting that bullet velocity across the whole game will now drop as your shots travel further.
New filters have been added to the loadout menu to more easily navigate and structure your inventory. Weapon handling has been improved, with your skills now affecting how long you can continuously fire a weapon before it becomes hard to control. A slight silhouette effect when your character is in very dark areas has been introduced to make it easier to keep track of your position, and you can change the visibility of your line-of-sight indicator if you want a more challenging experience.
Several existing weapons have been made compatible with other attachments to further improve their flexibility. The Model 700, for example, can now be equipped with a 4x scope to help you in longer-range engagements, while the MP7 can be concealed if you’re in a level where you need to keep your weapons hidden in a public space. Weapons found in missions or dropped by enemies can now have mods attached, and you’ll see more of this as the game progresses – carry one to the end of a level, and you’ll unlock all of the equipped mods for that particular weapon automatically.
The new level editor is a flexible tool that should be pretty easy to pick up and learn, allowing you to create your own missions from scratch that can be shared via the Steam workshop. If you’re eager to start modding beyond that, Explosive Squat notes that you’ll need knowledge of the Lua scripting language, but beyond that “the sky is the limit.” It also encourages you to seek out the game’s Discord if you’re eager to speak with other mod creators and players.
Intravenous 2 update 1.2 is out now on Steam. The game is also on sale at a 25% discount through Saturday February 1, so you can buy it for just $14.99 / £11.24 until then. There are lots more minor tweaks in the update, so check the full patch notes courtesy of Explosive Squat for all the additional changes.
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