Saw II: Flesh & Blood

It doesn't break any new ground, but what it does, it does well enough.

There are some brains here; why waste them by splattering them all against the wall?

The first part of Saw was a relative good game, but the combat system didn't work. The developer has changed that with a new system that isn't working at all, and that's a very bad move. The puzzles are also more of the same and the developer plays it on safe. But if you're a fan of Saw this game can be pretty cool.

The Jigsaw traps are definitely the highlight of the game even if they do get a tad bit repetitious.

An interesting game for all the movie saga fans, but some major flaws and too many quick time events spoil the overall game experience.

The scary, tingly sensation dies out way too soon when the repetition and predictability kicks in (and that doesn't take long), and although there are plenty of collectibles (puzzle pieces, case files, etc.), you have no big incentive to grab them all.

As a cerebral challenge SAW II is refreshing, fares noticeably better than the rushed original and is bloodier than an abattoir killing floor. That said, if you buy it expecting action that feels as visceral as the subject matter, you'll soon feel trapped with no way out. [December 2010 p76]

"Quotation Forthcoming"

For all the filth and frustration it's still oddly fun in places. [Issue#51, p.105]

It's clear that fans of Jigsaw, those who know everything about the Saw movie franchise and appreciated the first tie-in, will also enjoy this sequel. The fact is the game could have been way better than this. The puzzles are very repetitive, and the lack of a real combat system further devalues the title, which would have benefited of more action.

Saw II has a few decent puzzles, and fans may appreciate some of the story's revelations, but terrible combat, poor boss encounters and the complete lack of scares detract from the experience.

SAW 2 is basically a step backwards from the first game.

Again Jigsaw fails to impress us much. This is mostly due to lack of innovation, lack of tension and some annoying elements. Just as the first part this is a nice title for the sales bin.

If all you want is a gore-fest, then this may well tick all the boxes required, but everyone else will find it lacking the things that make games great.

Saw II: Flesh & Blood tries to bring a great deal of emotion into a game, this is something that developers have been trying to do for years and very few games have accomplished this effectively. Saw II fails to deliver this, it is difficult to become attached to the lead character and without this attachment it is difficult to be overly concerned about the characters.

Just too lifeless to bother with.

Based on the successful film saga, what starts being an entertaining adventure in the first steps of the game even with it's lacks, soon it becomes something extremely repetitive, due to recycling the same situations and gameplay mechanics over and over again.

Saw II doesn't just take a step backwards from the first game – it performs a reverse swan dive off a balcony into a swimming pool filled with razorblades.

Saw II: Flesh and Blood is a budget title, shoveled out in less than a year in order to cash-in on the fans that still remain loyal to the series.

Saw II outstays its welcome after a couple of hours and keeps on forcing the hackneyed plot on you when you want it all to end.

It could have been a decent game, despite de limitations of the property, but it ultimately results in something worse than the first game, which doesn't improve in what the original lacked.

The clunky visuals and animations, the terrible gameplay and the repetitive puzzles make Saw II: Flesh & Blood one of the worst horror games currently available on the market. If you're a fan of the genre look elsewhere.

Saw II: Flesh & Blood is a shameless tie-in with the minimal amount of effort undergone to get the title out the weapon-fitted door.

Horror games are supposed to be scary, but the only thing that really gives Saw II any credibility are some of the more interesting puzzles. [Issue#198, p.97]

Outside of those few positives, it's a lesson on how not to use a movie license within the video game industry.

Being released just a year after the first Saw game has resulted in an uninspired and recycled title, bringing with it the sense that this is just another shameless tie-in rushed out to capitalise on the license.

The only thing of any value here is the story, and even then you're mostly just reading it in the menu screen. This game has nothing to offer anyone in terms of gameplay.

Considerably worse than the thoroughly unremarkable original, this is a horror game but not quite in the way it was intended.

No tension anywhere.

The end result is not only a slap in the face to the Saw faithful, but to dangle it at a full price tag is the "Saw that broke the camel's back."

High production values and charming characters makes Final Fantasy XIII a good game. But all to linear structure and boring story keeps it from being brilliant.

There's a temptation to end this review with a play on Jigsaw's famous 'I want to play a game' line, but to call Flesh & Blood a game would be doing a disservice to games, and 'I want to play a train wreck' doesn't have the same ring to it.