Receiver 2

Work In Progress This article is still under construction. It may contain factual errors. See Talk:Receiver 2 for current discussions. Content is subject to change.

Receiver 2 Steam Box Art Release Date: April 14, 2020 Developer: Wolfire Games Publisher: Wolfire Games Platforms: Microsoft Windows MacOS Linux Genre: First-Person Shooter

Released in 2020 as a sequel to 2012's Receiver, Receiver 2 is a first-person shooter with an emphasis on realistic firearms handling published and developed by Wolfire Games. The player, a "Receiver", is given a random weapon and tasked with navigating a procedurally-generated urban environment while evading hostile Killdrones and collecting cassette tapes. As in the first game, Receiver 2 has a complex weapons handling system where each function of the weapon (hammer, safety, slide release, slide, magazine release, ect.) is mapped to a different button, which effectively requires the player to execute long series of inputs to reload a firearm. To further complicate gameplay, the player's firearms can also experience various malfunctions, such as double-feeds and failure-to-ejects, and the magazines/cylinders of their weapons can be partially blocked off, restricting their capacities.

The following weapons appear in the video game Receiver 2:

Automatic Pistols

Automatic pistols (or, alternatively, self-loading pistols) are ALWAYS a better choice than revolvers. Their greatest advantage is their superior magazine capacity, as all of the game's automatic pistols can hold more (sometimes much more) than 6 rounds. Reloading is also a comparatively streamlined experience; a player with multiple loaded magazines can reload extremely quickly, while a player with just one magazine still has the benefit of not needing to worry about cylinder rotation or blocked chambers.

Beretta M9

The Beretta M9 appears as an available handgun in-game. With its generously-sized 15-round magazine and toggleable safety (which also functions as a decocker), the M9 is both an effective and relatively safe option. The design of its safety allows the player to manipulate the slide to chamber a round or perform a press check, for example, without having to put the firearm in a condition where it could potentially fire, which both wastes ammunition and risks personal injury.

Beretta M9 - 9x19mm Parabellum

"The US military adopted the M9 service pistol in 1985 to simplify logistics between branches of the US armed forces and with our NATO allies."
The Beretta M9 in the help menu.

Standing just outside an apartment, the player holds the M9 (with the safety on) and one of its magazines. If the witness holes are to be trusted, this mag has approximately 11-12 rounds in it.

Working to clear a hallway with the Beretta in their hands, the player breathes a sigh of relief that the ceiling turret in their peripheral vision has already been put out of the fight with a clean shot to the motor, which prevents it from rotating. If the player were to try and pull the pistol's hammer in this state, it would simply decock itself harmlessly.

Press-checking the service pistol. The M9 is arguably one of the safest/easiest guns to perform a press check on, as its slide-mounted safety allows the slide to be operated when the safety is on (unlike the Hi-Point C9 or M1911) while also preventing the hammer/striker from being primed as the slide is racked (which cannot be said of the P226, Glock 17, or Desert Eagle).

The player takes the safety off their Beretta, manually pulling back the hammer as they do so. This provides a shorter trigger-pull, which in turn grants better first-shot accuracy.

Utilizing the Beretta's clear irons, the player takes aim at a drone...

...and strikes it down with the power of a small piece of metal moving really fast.

Back inside the apartment, the player experiences an unfortunate failure-to-eject (stovepipe) malfunction. In the world of Receiver 2, an intangible force known as the Threat stacks the deck in its favor by manipulating probability, making most weapons much more unreliable than in real life.

A quick tug of the slide fixes the jam, thankfully.

Back in the Compound, a combination training facility/yoga resort, the player takes a look at the left side of the M9. This reveals its slide-mounted markings, which designate it as a "U.S. 9mm M9-P.BERETTA 63490" and reveal that it was made in Italy (as M9s made in the USA read "M9-BERETTA U.S.A." instead).

Colt M1911/A1 Hybrid

The "Colt M1911" featured in Receiver 2 is a hybrid of the M1911 and the M1911A1. The weapon notably features the checkered grips, larger hammer spur, and markings of the M1911 while possessing the larger ejection port, curved mainspring housing, shorter trigger, and trigger frame cuts of the M1911A1. It holds only 7 rounds per magazine, which is low for an automatic pistol, but its relatively simple operation and manual safety make it an easy weapon to use effectively.

Colt M1911 (dated 1913) - .45 ACP

World War II Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP

"The 1911 set the pattern for almost all modern semi-automatic pistols, and served as the official sidearm of the US Army from 1911 to 1985."
The hybrid 1911 in the help menu. Note the combination of M1911 (diamond grips, larger hammer, slide markings) and M1911A1 (short trigger + cutaways, curved spring housing, larger ejection port) features.

Standing in the midst of a burning city, the player grasps their M1911 firmly. Desperately, even.

Of course, a decocked M1911 is as useful as a paperweight, so the player pulls back on the hammer to ready the pistol.

Attempting to holster the handgun in this state is suicidal, so it's best to put on the safety on until you're ready to shoot. This can, correctly, only be done when the hammer is pulled back.

The player loads a few new rounds into the M1911's magazine.

Toggling the safety, the player press checks the 1911.

Spurred into action by the refreshing sight of brass in the chamber, the player draws a bead on a hostile drone.

Pulling the trigger; the results are as expected.

The pistol mid-recoil.

Desert Eagle Mark XIX

The Desert Eagle Mark XIX in .50 AE is the most powerful of the game's firearms. Holding 7+1 rounds, the Desert Eagle is capable of dealing immense damage to turrets and drones, frequently destroying multiple components or completely disabling the machine with just a single shot. Shot placement still matters, however, and the Desert Eagle is dead last in the "ease of making a quick follow-up shot" department. Its magazine size, joint worst in the game, also leaves a lot to be desired.

Magnum Research (MRI) Desert Eagle Mark XIX, current production model with Picatinny railed barrel and different safety catch - .50 AE

"The Desert Eagle was designed to let Arnold Schwarzenegger fire handguns without looking disproportionate."
The Desert Eagle Mark XIX as it appears in the game's help menu.

Finding themselves tucked away in the back corridors of a dead industrial zone, the player holds the Desert Eagle, hammer down and safety engaged, at a low ready.

Even a Desert Eagle is useless without ammunition, however, so the player holsters the handcannon and loads some .50 AE rounds into the weapon's magazine. The red "X" indicates that this magazine is partially "blocked", meaning that it holds only 4 rounds instead of 7.

After inserting the magazine into the weapon, the player brings a round into the chamber.

Performing a press check, which is met with satisfactory results.

Having completed the Deagle's reloading process, the player holds the locked-n'-loaded handgun in their not-hands. Attempting to holster the weapon in this state is generally inadvisable, as hesitating for even a fraction of a second when holding the "holster" button will cause a negligent discharge. Unlike the game's other weapons, the Desert Eagle offers no second chances to a player that shoots themselves in the leg - it only takes one self-inflicted .50 AE round to end a run.

Receiver 2's firearms handling system allows the player to perform actions not seen in other flatscreen first-person shooters; for example, by holding the "hammer" button, pulling the trigger, and releasing the "hammer" button, the player can safely lower the Deagle's hammer without firing the weapon. The hammer can then be re-cocked to fire, but letting your finger slip off the hammer button too quickly (before it is fully cocked) will cause it to fall, firing the handgun.

In a different area, the player holds a new fully-loaded magazine in one hand and a locked-open Desert Eagle in the other.

Aiming down the Mark XIX's iron sights at a turret.

A fraction of a second later, the player pulls the trigger. In response, the Eagle's slide shoots backwards and a fireball erupts from the muzzle.

The handgun at full recoil, which demonstrates an oddly octangular spent casing in the midst of being ejected.

A frame or two later and the handgun feeds the next round. The spent casing tumbles through the air, its job completed.

Glock 17

A 4th Generation Glock 17 with a select-fire conversion device ("Glock switch") fitted appears as one of the available sidearms in-game. The highest capacity handgun (17+1 rounds) on offer, the Glock 17 is also the most unsafe weapon, as its trigger safety is not functional in-game. This means that it is only possible to safely holster the Glock 17 if it has an empty chamber, which significantly increases the amount of time required to "reset" the handgun in-between fights (as the player must remove the magazine, rack the slide, grab the ejected round, and reinsert the mag). The Glock 17 can be fired semi-automatically or, thanks to an illegal modification, fully-automatic, but the latter is of extremely questionable utility considering the limited amount of ammunition available to the player.

4th Generation Glock 17 - 9x19mm Parabellum

Glock 17 with select-fire conversion device - 9x19mm Parabellum. "Glock switches" come in many models and forms and are regulated as NFA firearms.

"The Glock 17 pioneered the modern polymer-framed striker-fired pistol design."
The select-fire Glock 17 as it appears in the game's help menu.

Hi-Point C9

The Hi-Point C9 is one of the guns the player can randomly be granted at the start of a new level. The C9 is a relatively simple striker-fired handgun (and thus lacks an exposed hammer, which simplifies handling) with an 8-round magazine. It lacks a slide release, which means that the player cannot manually lock the slide open and, after firing all their rounds, must pull back on the slide to unlock it, which can mess with the player's muscle memory. With its somewhat poor sights and stiff double-action trigger, the C9 is often not the best tool for a situation, but, like any other, can be made to work with enough patience and knowledge.

Hi-Point C9 - 9x19mm Parabellum

"Since 1993, the Hi-Point C9 has been a great choice for those who value their lives over their dignity."
The Hi-Point C9 as it appears in the help menu.

Having manifested on the rooftop, the player holds the C9 (with the safety on) in one hand and a magazine in the other. The magazine is partially blocked, however, which cuts its already poor 8 round capacity to just 6 rounds.

Six rounds is actually seven when the chamber is accounted for, however, so the player moves to check if the C9 has one in the tube. Seeing as the handgun's safety is enabled, this doesn't go very far.

One press of the "V" button allows visual access to the chamber, revealing... nothing.

One inserted magazine and powerstroke later and the glint of brass speaks to the affirmative.

The player, while standing on a balcony, investigates the left side of the C9.

The player aims the C9 at the body of a drone. While not the easiest shot in the world to land, a hit to the middle of a drone's "body" often causes massive damage, destroying its battery or rotors instantly.

After firing just a single shot, the C9 experiences its first malfunction: a failure to return to battery. A firm hit to the rear of the slide (or a firm hit to the "T" key, the "release slide" binding) sends the slide forward, readying the handgun for action once again.

Slightly later, disaster strikes again. After neutralizing a turret, a spent 9mm casing fails to eject properly, causing a "stovepipe".

A quick pull of the slide (via the "R" button) dislodges the casing. At least it wasn't a double feed...

SIG-Sauer P226R

The SIG-Sauer P226R appears in-game. The P226R, with its 15 round magazine and SA/DA operation, performs very similarly to the Beretta M9. The main difference between the two rests in their safeties; while the Beretta features a slide-mounted toggle, the SIG is equipped with a manual decocker. Pressing the "safety" button (V) lowers the hammer, allowing the handgun to be holstered safely even with a round in the chamber; the pistol's sufficiently heavy double-action trigger pull works to prevent negligent discharges. Unlike a more traditional safety, however, it does not completely eliminate the possibility of an ND (as pulling the trigger hard and long enough will still cause the gun to shoot), so some care must still be taken.

SIG-Sauer P226R - 9x19mm Parabellum

"The SIG-Sauer P226 is a popular choice for special forces, with a high-capacity 9mm magazine and no safety switch to worry about."
The P226 as it appears in the game's help menu.

Perched atop a catwalk, the player holds one of the P226R's magazines.

Holding the P226 at the hip.

Performing a press check reveals the lack of a round in the SIG's chamber.

Racking the slide to chamber a round. Contrary to popular belief, handguns are typically more effective as combat weapons when they can actually fire.

Operating the decocker, which is bound to the "safety" button (V). This safely drops the hammer (as opposed to the risky grab hammer, pull trigger, lower hammer procedure used on other handguns), allowing the player to holster the pistol without fear.

After manually pulling back the hammer for a lighter trigger pull, the player gets uncomfortably close to a turret to line up a shot.

Revolvers

Revolvers are ALWAYS a better choice than automatic pistols. The greatest point in favor of the revolvers is their simple method of operation; they cannot experience malfunctions, and clearing a blocked chamber is as easy as pulling the trigger again. The DA/SA revolvers can also be fired in single-action by pulling back on the hammer before firing a shot, giving them a very light trigger pull and comparatively high first-shot accuracy.

Colt Detective Special

The player can occasionally spawn with the Colt Detective Special as their sidearm. Its cylinder rotates clockwise, so any blocked chambers are best aligned to the right of the barrel. Its short barrel makes the revolver faster to pull from a holster but makes longer shots less reliable.

Colt Detective Special 1st Gen with Round Butt and semicircular front sight - .38 Special

"The Detective Special was the first snubnosed revolver with a swing-out cylinder."
The Detective Special as it appears in the help menu.

The player holds the Detective Special at the hip in a liminal hotel lobby. By setting the revolver to half-cock, as seen in this screenshot, the player can rotate its cylinder freely. Wheee!

Elsewhere, this private eye finds himself in a spot of trouble. Reaching for his sidearm, he quickly draws the gun and pulls back on the hammer...

...points it at an oblivious drone...

..and pulls the trigger. While the muzzle flip briefly obscures the target, the seasoned detective already knows he's hit the shot.

The player opens the Detective Special's cylinder, pointedly ignoring the two spent casings.

The player operates the ejector, holding the "grab item" button (G) as they do so. This causes them to instantly catch any unspent rounds as they leave the chamber while also letting any spent brass hit the ground.

Inserting half a dozen new rounds, one at a time.

Momentarily illuminated by a bolt of lightning, the player closes the cylinder dramatically.

Colt Single Action Army

The Colt Single Action Army is unlocked by completing the fourth level for the first time, making it the last weapon the player can unlock. As a vintage single-action revolver, the SAA is significantly harder to use than any other weapon in the game. Time-consuming reload notwithstanding, the Single Action Army's greatest shortcoming is its lack of a transfer bar safety, which means that the hammer either needs to be at half-cock or resting over an empty chamber to safely holster. Failing to do so can result in the revolver misfiring (directly into the player's leg) after a fall.

Colt Single Action Army with 5.5" barrel - .45 Long Colt

"The Peacemaker revolver is an enduring icon of the Wild West, and is a good test of modern shooters' reloading skills."
The Single Action Army as it appears in the help menu.

Flashlight in one hand and half-cocked Colt in the other, the player investigates a construction site.

After fiddling around a bit with the revolver's hammer, the player opens the Single Action Army's loading gate. The misaligned cylinders, however, remind the player that the revolver must be at half-cock to insert new rounds.

A quick tap of the "hammer" button (F) half-cocks the weapon, readying it for a half-dozen rounds of .45 Long Colt.

Inserting a round. This is done with the "Z" button on the keyboard while the cylinder can be rotated with the mouse wheel.

"Press checking" the SAA. Pressing the "T" and "R" buttons at the same time (the default bind for checking the chamber of an automatic pistol), causes the player to hold the Colt up to their face. While this can be used to check if if rimmed cartridges can be seen in the chambers of the revolver, it is of little practical use.

Some time later, the player pulls back on the SAA's hammer, steeling themselves as they prepare to dispense some frontier justice.

The player sights up a drone with the Single Action Army's less-than-stellar irons...

...and drops the hammer with a click of the left mouse button. The drone, however, remains unfazed.

Pulling back on the hammer while aiming down sights, the player prepares to put the machine down for good.

After firing two shots, the player opens the loading gate, revealing a spent casing.

Knocking out the brass with the ejector.

Smith & Wesson Model 10

The Smith & Wesson Model 10 is one of the weapons that the player can spawn with. In contrast to the Detective Special, the Model 10's cylinder spins counter-clockwise; this means that any blocked chambers should be placed to the left of the barrel. The Model 10's long barrel gives it superior accuracy but makes it slower on the draw.

Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver with 5" Barrel - .38 Special

"The Model 10 set the pattern for all modern revolvers."
The Model 10 as it appears in the help menu.

Taking shelter within the concrete frame of a half-finished building, the player basks in the yellow light of a wall lamp while holding the Model 10.

Opening the cylinder reveals a mixed bag: two spent rounds, three unfired rounds, and one blocked chamber.

The player smacks the ejector while holding the "pick up item" key (G), which causes them to "catch" the unfired rounds as they leave the cylinder. This skips the most embarrasing step of reloading a revolver, having to scrabble around on your hands and knees after a partial reload.

All that's left to do is insert some new ammunition...

...and carefully spin the cylinder to align the blocked chamber with the barrel. This means that the first pull of the trigger will bring the blocked chamber out of the path of the barrel, ensuring five successful shots in a row.

After closing the cylinder, the player pulls back on the hammer. The glint of brass and primer that can be seen under the hammer indicates that the blocked chamber was, indeed, aligned correctly.

Squinting at the side of the Smith & Wesson apparently constitutes a "revolver press check". As ineffective as this may seem, it has one advantage over checking the cylinder normally in that the hammer does not have to be lowered.

The player lines up a precise shot on the camera of a turret while utilizing the Harries technique, a method of shooting while holding a flashlight that involves pressing the backs of one's hands together to increase stability.