Rated 95%, one of PC's most beloved tactical shooters just got a free expansion

Intravenous 2 falls somewhere between a tactical shooter, a stealth game, and an RTS. Whereas a lot of sneak-'em-ups fall apart the moment you get spotted, and flood you with so many guards, alerts, and recriminations that all you can really do is load from your last save, Intravenous 2 finds an even rhythm between the covert and the overt. It's hard, it's punishing, and the learning curve on some levels is practically vertical, but unlike a lot of its contemporaries, Intravenous 2 actually makes a mixed, abusive-but-elusive style of play feel possible. Inspired by Deus Ex and Splinter Cell, as well as glowing player reviews, it now has a sizable free expansion.

A typical Intravenous 2 mission begins with you outside of a large building on a dark night. It's split in half. The first objective is to get inside and locate either the object you're there to steal or the person you want to kill. This is where it feels exceptional to even the best stealth games. Taking advantage of the extensive weapon and gear customization, you use silenced guns, throwing knives, tranquilizers, and noise makers to soundlessly get past the guards. You can kill people on the way - Intravenous 2 doesn't curtail or chastize you for using lethal force. But it's better to stay silent.

In the second half of each mission, however, the game often explodes into an out-and-out gun battle. Move fast. Use cover. Slip through vents and windows to flank the enemy. While you can take more punishment than Hotline Miami's 1HP Jacket, Intravenous 2 still demands that you use your brain as much as your brawn.

Originally released in August 2024, of the almost 3,000 user reviews posted for Intravenous 2 on Steam, 95% are positive. Now, developer Explosive Squat has released a significant expansion, which adds a new mainline story mission and three extra side levels to its campaign. There are also dozens of bug and visual fixes, and some alterations to the progression system so that graduating through the various character levels and unlocking new gear is a little more balanced.

If you want to play the new Intravenous 2 missions, you need to access the shooter's beta branch. Just right click on the game in your Steam library, scroll the 'properties,' select the 'betas' tab, and choose 'version140' from the drop down. Explosive Squat says that some of the additions and tweaks are still subject to change, but otherwise, this a chance to play a bigger, longer version of the campaign. You can get Intravenous 2 right here.

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