Layers of Fear 2

The end result is a measured but elaborate experience, full of tension and atmosphere.

The painter had been replaced by an actor, and old mansion morphed into a ship – but the gameplay and scare tactics have changed very little. [Issue#239, p.64]

Layers of Fear 2 is impressive to look at and listen to but like so many games in its genre, it feels sterile. Dream logic environments and an actor’s unraveling personality are interesting hooks but the game does little to make us care much about the star of the show to begin with. Real fear comes from attachment and the prospect of losing something or someone close to us. By the time Layers of Fear 2 has really defined its leading man, we’ve long grown impatient for the voyage to be over with.

Layers of Fear 2 is better than its predecessor and mostly succeeds at its attempts to induce psychological horror. It is only marred by a few sections that, despite the fact that you’re running, tend to bring the pace to a halt, hindering the entire experience.

I expected a game with terrifying scares and a confusing plot, but what I got was a game with okay scares and a fantastic plot. Layers of Fear 2 didn’t live up to any of my expectations, but given what I expected, that’s a good thing.

The game’s first few acts are its finest, particularly for their strong sense of physicality and connection to filmmaking methods and aesthetics.

As a low budget indie horror game, Layers of fear 2 may have done its best. But it doesn't show any new features compared with the prequel while the original game's core gameplay was nothing but a walking simulator.

Layers of Fear 2 retains many of the features of its predecessor while varying the setting greatly. Wandering in solitude on the Icarus in search of the truth is undoubtedly a claustrophobic experience, however, the continuous use of the more classic clichés of the horror genre makes the final result too predictable and inevitably much less terrifying than expected.

The winning formula does not change: this is what the boys of Blooper must have thought that, after the excellent commercial success of the first Layers of Fear, they have slavishly replicated the structure with some more interactivity.

The story in Layers of Fear 2 is decent, even if you can see the narrative twist coming, but you need to sit down and analyze the pieces for it to really come together. The same tricks used in the original to distort the environment still work here, as do the jump-scares despite their predictability over time. The longer playtime robs the title of the crispness of its predecessor, while the element of an active pursuer doesn't mix well with the game's need for more involved door and switch mechanics and the precision needed to activate those action spots. It's still worth checking out for fans — but sometime later, as opposed to immediately.

Atmospheric and beautiful, but the story is too abstract for its own good and it's not really scary. Film elements weren't used enough in gameplay mechanics and storytelling.

For better or worse Layers of Fear 2 follows very closely the steps of its predecessor. Alas, compared with the first Layers of Fear, its story is less integral to the paranormal events that are happening in front of our eyes, leading to a sense of disconnect between our character and the events unfolding around us. Also, the environment of the cruise ship is not quite as atmospheric as the isolated mansion of a deranged painter.

Layers of Fear 2 is most certainly not one of the best titles in horor genre, and although it's technically solid, there are lots of issues in gameplay and story telling departments. If you already enjoyed the first game, then probably you'll enjoy this one as well, but if you are looking for a deep, frightening experience, maybe you shouldn't rush into it.

Layers of Fear 2 is striking in its unsettling places, but is a looser experience than its predecessor, losing the player with busywork puzzles and winding corridors.

Layers of Fear 2 isn't a bad game at all. There's a lot going for it. Whether we're talking about the ship's lavish set design, the brilliant classic Hollywood theming, a smooth-as-hell recurring song that'd feel at home in a sinister coffee shop, or those dang mannequins, so many individual elements excel, and the production values are there. Unfortunately, they just don't coalesce in a captivating way.

Layers of Fear 2 is like a big, strange and greedy DLC of the first chapter. Despite the extreme "more of the same" feeling, in some ways here the expressionist atmosphere is even more disturbing than the painter adventure. On the other hand, however, the story is too fragmented, answers are not sufficiently clear and the game needs more than opening doors and trivial environmental puzzles.

Bloober Team tries to make Layers of Fear less "walking simulator", but fails daringly.

Layers of Fear 2 is an enjoyable horror adventure, but rarely does anything new with the genre. I’ve seen it all before, and given the excellence of Bloober Team’s last project, this feels like a step backward in terms of both ambition and quality.

The game tells a great story full of interesting scenarios and looks nice. However, some irritating escape sequences, the weak horror aspect and the fact that there is absolutely no exploration needed in the levels hold it back. Adding to that, Layers of Fear 2 is quite short. There are way better horror games like it.

Layers of Fear 2 shares its predecessor’s narrative shortcomings; it drops multiple clues that hint at a unifying story, but the bungled delivery and atmosphere prevented me from connecting to anything beyond the surface scares.

It fails to replicate the disturbing psycho-horror of its predecessor whilst adding deadly threats. Instead only the frustrating trial&error as well as the shock recycling get under your skin.

In expanding on its predecessor, Layers of Fear 2 sinks into a state of deep confusion.

A superbly polished visual feast as well as a jumpscare-laden walking simulator that takes a few steps back as a sequel, rather than forward.