fortytwo points: Demaking Team Fortress 2: Gang Garrison hits Beta Version 2.0

I'm a huge fan of Team Fortress 2 and would even go so far as to call it the best multiplayer deathmatch game there is, period. Of course you do not have to agree with me, as we all know not everyone can be right all the time. But I digress. Proving that a fun system is a fun system regardless of technical ability, Gang Garrison 2 captures the spirit of TF2 and shoves as much of it as possible into as few pixels as possible, and the result? Even more fun.

For those like me who were not aware that this scene had a name, "demaking" means to remake a game to play on a platform inferior to the one that it was originally intended for. It can also refer to games that are remakes in a traditional sense but that do not have the same technical features as the original, such as extravagant graphic effects or surround sound compatibility. Not the first Valve game to see this treatment, Gang Garrison 2 falls into the latter category alongside its compadre Portal: The Flash Version, potentially enforcing the idea that the Orange Box must be one of the most popular game packages of all time. Having just made it to version 2.0, I think it's time for a look.

Reverting from the 3rd realm back to the 2nd, Gang Garrison 2 is played on an entirely 2D plane. You can move and jump with the arrow keys, fire in the direction you're pointing with a left-click, and even use special abilities like spy cloaking with the right. Engineers can build sentries, spies can back-stab, scouts can double-jump, and medics can heal, but outside of each classes primary weapon you will not find too many other ways to attack. Melee is notably absent, unfortunately.

Every class is here and functions essentially the same, except that they have new names like "Detonator" instead of "Demoman" or "Overweight" instead of "Heavy". The pyro/"firebug" even ignites people for burn damage just like the original. The levels themselves are glorious homages to the ones in Team Fortress 2 and almost every detail is a 2D representation of it's 3D counterpart.

The gameplay will also feel eerily familiar once you start to fall into old habits on this new plane. The bit-music rendition of the TF2 theme is absolutely iPod-worthy as well, assuming iPods are still compatible with music rather than some form of proprietary audio technology like Aural iBrations or some shit.

The game supports LAN and online multiplayer and at this time I was able to find about seven servers, all of which were almost always full. The gameplay online is laggy but being a beta, this is to be expected. When the developers can consider the game finished, it is not likely that there will be much trouble with lag considering the games lowly system requirements.

The pace of action is frantic and you'll find yourself in many of the same predicaments you might in original. It's still frustrating to get stabbed in the back and it's still a death wish to confront a tank and a medic team alone. There were times where GG2 felt more like Team Fortress .5 than an homage of any sort, and I think that is the best compliment I can possibly give it.

It isn't required yet, but I would easily pay money for this. Port Gang Garrison 2 to the iPhone or some other handy mobile device and you have a serious option for action on the go, and not just one that you choose because it's the best you have; instead you choose it because it's actually enjoyable. This is less a gimmick than it is a truly great title, so please click the link below and try it for yourself:

Gang Garrison 2

I do not believe you will be disappointed.

-Unfather