Evil Genius 2 has a cartoony style that hearkens back to the classic era of swanky spy films, which is accompanied well by game systems that allow for fine tuning but don’t force micromanagement. The setting is quite unique, clearly reminiscent of Sean Connery Bond movies, but with the tables turned so that players see the perspective of maniacal fiend bent on world conquest. Edwards was happy to detail all of the different sources of inspiration for Evil Genius 2’s iconic theme.
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Whether it’s monocled Max, burly Red Ivan, or any of the other playable geniuses or unique henchmen, there are countless references and callbacks to an era of spy thrillers that doesn’t see much attention these days. There’s a clear mix of nostalgia and love for lighthearted camp in Evil Genius 2, all in the hopes that players will find the fun in cackling with malicious glee as their cartoonishly evil schemes unfold. Although not many details have been shared, there will be a narrative story for each playable genius. In light of that, we asked whether players would get their own Bond, a super agent capable of undoing all their hard-earned machinations.
Along with nostalgia for classic spy movies, there is also clear nostalgia for the original Evil Genius, which released in 2004. When asked what his favorite part of the new game is, Edwards explained that as a fan of the original he is over the moon that Red Ivan is back, and now as a playable villain in his own right. Even for players who haven’t touched the original though, Evil Genius 2 may be worth keeping an eye on for fans of base building or just some fun spy-thriller antics.
Evil Genius 2 is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2021.
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