Let me say that again so it's clear: This game is NOT a GUN ""SIMULATOR"". Do not purchase this thinking it is. It does have some detailed mechanics that go deeper into the operation of a firearm than other games do, but to call it a gun simulator would be doing a disservice to firearms, responsible firearm owners, and Wolfire Games.

Receiver 2 is an exercise in focus and zen state.

It is teaching you how to be a Receiver. I'm sure that sounds corny, but let me explain:
Among the first few tapes you could possibly come across are the basic tenets of what makes an efficient Receiver. Your ability to take in your surroundings, your quick reflexes and ability to make quick decisions; all of these are valid. But you must do all this while making sure you make the correct key combinations with little room for error when things do get serious. Run through until it becomes natural. Don't lose focus, but don't focus to the point it slows you down.

The decision paralysis that comes with these seemingly arbitrary buttons are part of the game. Again, this is not a gun simulator. Should something surprise you, and you tap your unholster button and cause an ND on yourself, you have not ingrained that lesson or you've let your mind wander too far. This mechanic would not translate to VR or the range whatsoever; you'd simply unholster your firearm without placing your index finger within the trigger guard or the trigger proper. You have the tactile feel of your entire weapon in the aforementioned examples, but it doesn't really translate well into a mechanic where the game is to keep track of your own actions. Again: This game is not a gun simulator, it's one that teaches you to become a Receiver.

The loss of level is annoying, I admit, but it falls directly in line with the design of the game and its intent. If you got through those past levels on lucky cell RNG, or cautiously going through the level, have you truly mastered that level of the game? If you're truly ready for the next rank, you should be sprinting through those levels. After all, level 1's turrets are unguarded, level 2 has a few armored, and level 3 you start to see drones and ceiling turrets. Surely if you've lost level 4 and deserve to be up there that means you've mastered the past few levels, right? Or did you just scrape on by? I'm not saying I'm up to that level yet. I can only sprint through rank 2 at best, and 3 with preferred weapon. Still, I can tell I've improved since I started. Sure I'll take out an unarmored turret from a safe position, but I'm confident enough to allow a turret to face me so that it freezes for one second so I can pop a shot without it moving - in a direction of my choice, no less.

My only real gripe is the double tap [W] forward sprint. It hasn't killed me yet, but I swear it will.

If you take it as a GAME of focus and concentration, with a sprinkling of realistic gun mechanics, then I have little doubt that you will enjoy this game.

P.S. You don't have to listen to the tapes to pick them up, you can shoot them. The information you're fed doesn't all match up. Read the floppy disks, for god's sake, read the floppy disks. You are being deceived. You are -

[h1]This game is not a ""GUN SIMULATOR""[/h1] Let me say that again so it's clear: This game is [i]NOT[/i] a GUN ""SIMULATOR"". Do not purchase this thinking it is. It does have some detailed mechanics that go deeper into the operation of a firearm than other games do, but to call it a gun simulator would be doing a disservice to firearms, responsible firearm owners, and Wolfire Games. Receiver 2 is an exercise in [b][i]focus[/i][/b] and zen state. It is teaching you [i]how to be a Receiver[/i]. I'm sure that sounds corny, but let me explain: Among the first few tapes you could possibly come across are the basic tenets of what makes an efficient Receiver. Your ability to take in your surroundings, your quick reflexes and ability to make quick decisions; all of these are valid. But you must do all this while making sure you make the correct key combinations with little room for error when things do get serious. Run through until it becomes natural. Don't lose focus, but don't focus to the point it slows you down. The decision paralysis that comes with these seemingly arbitrary buttons are part of the game. Again, this is not a gun simulator. Should something surprise you, and you tap your unholster button and cause an ND on yourself, you have not ingrained that lesson or you've let your mind wander too far. This mechanic would not translate to VR or the range whatsoever; you'd simply unholster your firearm without placing your index finger within the trigger guard or the trigger proper. You have the tactile feel of your entire weapon in the aforementioned examples, but it doesn't really translate well into a mechanic where the game is to keep track of your own actions. Again: This game is not a gun simulator, it's one that teaches you to become a Receiver. The loss of level is annoying, I admit, but it falls directly in line with the design of the game and its intent. If you got through those past levels on lucky cell RNG, or cautiously going through the level, have you truly mastered that level of the game? If you're truly ready for the next rank, you should be sprinting through those levels. After all, level 1's turrets are unguarded, level 2 has a few armored, and level 3 you start to see drones and ceiling turrets. Surely if you've lost level 4 and deserve to be up there that means you've mastered the past few levels, right? Or did you just scrape on by? I'm not saying I'm up to that level yet. I can only sprint through rank 2 at best, and 3 with preferred weapon. Still, I can tell I've improved since I started. Sure I'll take out an unarmored turret from a safe position, but I'm confident enough to allow a turret to face me so that it freezes for one second so I can pop a shot without it moving - in a direction of my choice, no less. My only real gripe is the double tap [W] forward sprint. It hasn't killed me yet, but I swear it will. If you take it as a GAME of focus and concentration, with a sprinkling of realistic gun mechanics, then I have little doubt that [i]you will enjoy this game[/i]. P.S. [spoiler] You don't have to listen to the tapes to pick them up, you can shoot them. The information you're fed doesn't all match up. Read the floppy disks, for god's sake, read the floppy disks. You are being deceived. You are -[/spoiler]