Soldier Front 2
Soldier Front 2, known across Asia as Special Forces 2, was a 3D tactical MMO FPS built as the follow-up to the original Soldier Front. In Europe, it also went by the name S.K.I.L.L, and it aimed to deliver a fast, lobby-based shooter with a more grounded tone than the typical arcade F2P FPS of its era.
 | Publisher: GameForge Playerbase: Medium Type: MMO Shooter Release Date: June 27, 2013 Shut Down: August 4, 2015 Pros: +Permanent weapon purchases. +Snappy, consistent gunplay. +A handful of standout modes. +Solid weapon variety and balance. Cons: -No meaningful weapon modding. -Population can feel thin. |
Soldier Front 2 Overview
Soldier Front 2 is a lobby-driven tactical first-person shooter that leans into quick lethality, clean weapon handling, and a familiar round-to-round structure. As a sequel to the original Soldier Front, it targets the same audience that enjoyed Korean tactical FPS staples, and it often feels mechanically adjacent to games in the Call of Duty 4 lane, while also sharing DNA with other Korean shooters such as Alliance of Valiant Arms.
In the West, the game previously ran under Aeria Games, but that service ended on August 4th, 2015. The European release published through GameForge remained the accessible option after that, and it is the version most players reference when they talk about Soldier Front 2 still being available.
Soldier Front 2 Key Features
- Over 40 weapons which can be purchased permanently! Other gear is available to rent.
- 20+ maps and 5+ game modes (Solo Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Sabotage, Seizure, Escape, Shatter, Capture, and Hero)
- Achievement system called “Challenges”
- Ranking system where players can climb from “Trainee” all the way up to “General of the Army”
- Unique MOBA style PvE game mode called “Hero Mode”
- Stat tracking system that records stats on a per weapon basis
Soldier Front 2 Screenshots
Soldier Front 2 Featured Video
Soldier Front 2 Review
Soldier Front 2 is a tactical MMO shooter from South Korean developer DragonFly Games. It follows the original Soldier Front (a major hit in its home region) and is marketed as Special Forces 2 in Asia. The U.S. release entered open beta through Aeria Games on June 27, 2013, and it later expanded distribution via Steam on July 3, 2013. Given how big the first title became in South Korea, it makes sense that DragonFly would try to modernize the formula with a sequel that looks sharper and plays faster.
Gunfeel and Match Flow
Powered by Unreal Engine 3, Soldier Front 2 goes for a realistic presentation similar to several other Korean FPS games from the same period. The bigger takeaway, though, is how immediate it feels in motion. Inputs are tight, weapon swap and aiming responsiveness are strong, and matches tend to move at a brisk pace once both teams understand the map lanes.
Time-to-kill is low in a way that rewards discipline. A few well-placed shots can end a duel quickly, and headshots are consistently decisive. Recoil, particularly on common assault rifles, is relatively manageable compared to some competitors, which makes controlled bursts and mid-to-long range engagements feel reliable. If you come from shooters where recoil is exaggerated for difficulty, Soldier Front 2 can feel unusually forgiving, but that also makes it easy to focus on positioning and crosshair placement.
Beginner-Friendly Channels (At Least Early On)
One of the better onboarding ideas is the presence of “new recruit” channels with restrictions (below 1st lieutenant and under a 1.3 KDR). In practice, this gives new players room to learn routes, common angles, and weapon behavior without immediately running into high-rank regulars.
You can enter the unrestricted “open” channels immediately, but most players will have a better time staying in the protected environment until they are pushed out by the rank and KDR limits. It also helps with progression, because steadier matches typically translate to more consistent Soldier Points (SP), the main currency you earn just by playing.
Permanent Weapons and Fair Monetization
A standout element for a free-to-play FPS is that core weapon purchases are permanent. You earn SP through normal play and can spend it on a wide selection of guns (30+ in the shop selection). Instead of forcing constant rentals for effectiveness, Soldier Front 2 largely lets you build a stable arsenal over time, which makes long-term progression feel more respectful than many F2P shooters.
Weapons can also be upgraded up to five ranks through usage-based objectives and achievements tied to that weapon. For example, you might push an AWP upgrade by getting a specific number of kills or headshots. These upgrades are intentionally incremental, they are more about rewarding dedication than creating a massive power gap. At higher ranks you may notice small quality-of-life improvements such as slightly better handling or capacity, but it does not turn a weapon into something unrecognizable.
What you do not get is deep weapon modding. Compared to games that let you swap barrels, optics, and triggers, customization here is limited to the upgrade track, which keeps the sandbox simpler but also reduces player expression.
Premium “chrome” weapons exist, purchased with Aeria Points, but they are presented as cosmetic alternatives rather than stat upgrades. They also bypass some rank requirements and have a flashier appearance, but they do not outperform standard versions. That approach keeps the competitive side healthier than the usual pay-to-win pitfalls.
Shop Items and Character Options
Beyond guns, the shop offers a mix of cosmetics and utility items, including masks, gloves, hats, and similar accessories. The one practical rental that stands out is “lite armor,” available in seven-day periods and providing a direct survivability benefit. Most other items are either cosmetic or provide bonus SP/XP rather than raw combat advantages, which keeps the match outcome more dependent on aim and decision-making.
On the character side, you begin with the Russian Spatznaz special forces character, and you can permanently unlock additional units using SP, including UDT (Kroean Special Forces), GAFE (Mexico), GIGN (French), SAS (Britain), and Delta (USA). It is a straightforward system that emphasizes collection and identity without heavily affecting gameplay balance.
Modes That Try to Do More Than TDM
Soldier Front 2 includes the expected staples like Solo Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, but it also experiments with a few modes that feel distinct. Snowball Fight, for instance, leans into seasonal chaos on a holiday-themed map, but still plays with surprising lethality since snowballs can drop opponents quickly. Shatter is another oddball mode, built around breaking glass beneath enemies to send them falling, and it works best as a lighter “party” alternative to the more serious playlists.
There is also a cooperative PvE option, Xanthid survival, where teams hold out against waves of monsters. It is enjoyable as a change of pace and a way to play with friends who are less interested in pure PvP, though it can become repetitive once you have seen the enemy patterns. Finally, “Hero” mode attempts a longer, MOBA-like structure in a 5v5 setup, but it tends to be less active compared to the standard FPS modes.
Closing Thoughts
Soldier Front 2 does not radically reinvent the tactical F2P FPS template, but it executes the fundamentals with confidence. The weapon handling feels clean, the time-to-kill encourages smart peeking and teamwork, and the permanent weapon economy helps the game avoid the constant rental treadmill that frustrates many players in the genre.
If there is a recurring issue, it is the reality of population and matchmaking consistency over time, plus the occasional presence of cheaters that most online shooters inevitably wrestle with. Still, for players who primarily want a traditional, polished lobby shooter (rather than a PvE-heavy hybrid), Soldier Front 2’s core loop remains its best argument. The “corps” clan system also provides a reason to stick around for community-driven competition.
Final Verdict, Excellent
Soldier Front 2 delivers a smooth, balanced free-to-play FPS experience with strong responsiveness, good weapon variety, and enough mode variety to keep sessions from feeling identical. If you enjoy tactical Korean shooters and prefer permanent progression over rentals, it is an easy recommendation.
Soldier Front 2 Links
Soldier Front 2 Official Site
Soldier Front Wikipedia
Soldier Front 2 Wikia [Database / Guides]
Soldier Front 2 System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: XP / 2000 / Vista / 7 / 8
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz or AMD Equivalent
Video Card: GeForce 6600 / ATI Equivalent
RAM: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 5.5 GB
Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: XP / 2000 / Vista / 7 / 8
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3 GHz
Video Card: GeForce 7800 GT / Radeon HD 5430D
RAM: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 5.5 GB
The official system requirements for Soldier Front 2 don’t list hard drive requirements, but based on our installation of the game, Soldier Front 2 takes up about 5.5 GB of space.
Soldier Front 2 Music & Soundtrack
Soldier Front 2 Additional Information
Developer: DragonFly Games
Game Engine: Unreal Engine 3
Closed Beta: June 12, 2013
Open Beta: June 27, 2013
Steam Release Date: July 3, 2013
Foreign Release:
South Korea: August, 2011 (CJ internet Netmarble)
Japan: June, 2012 (NHN Japan)
China: April, 2012 (Published as Tornado Force by CDC Games)
Taiwan: December, 2013 (Wayi Entertainment)
Europe: January, 2013 (GameForge)
Development History / Background:
Soldier Front 2 (Special Force 2 in Asia) was created by DragonFly in Unreal Engine 3 after the original Soldier Front proved to be a major success. The sequel launched first in South Korea in August, 2011, and it was later licensed for the U.S. market by Aeria Games, where it entered open beta on June 27, 2013. During its early lifespan, the title received the 2011 Korean e-Sports “Best New Title” award.
The North American version of the game operated by Aeria Games shut down on August 4, 2015. The game later returned under the name S.K.I.L.L. – Special Force 2, but that service was also discontinued by September 30, 2019.