Layers of Fear 2

Bloober Team once again gets the most primal and instinctive fear in the body, creating a second chapter in which his way of telling a story of terror and delirium through exploration and setting will delight fans of the saga.

Even though both Layers of Fear's stories are not linked, this sequel follows up the style of the original game. All the horror comes from the peculiar stagings and visuals used by Bloober Team that cause a constant sensation of anguish. Also, the different "homages" to several movie classics are a great classy touch.

Even it struggles to be more than a deluxe ghost train, or that is writing is so-so at best, Layers of Fear 2 is a good choice for any psycho-horror enthusiasts, thanks to its clever mise-en-scène.

Layers of Fear 2 is bigger, more ambitious, and scarier than its predecessor, but it can feel a bit familiar at times too. Its story is more interesting, and the shape-shifting environments that were so praised in the first game are back in fine form. Aside from a handful of frustrating chase sequences, Layers of Fear 2 is, for the most part, a success. It might not be the most original game in its genre, but for horror fans, it’s still a fun and spooky good time.

Layers of Fear 2 is narratively brilliant but lacks some much-needed polish that would truly make it great. The game subsequently struggles to deliver consistently over the course of its roughly eight-hour length, but it is ultimately this short campaign and its thrilling atmosphere that saves it from becoming monotonous, allowing its expertly crafted story to truly shine. The game lives up to its name as a layered and nuanced tale of horror, making it worth experiencing for any fan of the genre.

Layers of Fear 2 is bursting at the seams with creativity and tension, with stellar writing and voice acting. Sadly let down by some outdated gameplay sections that should have been left in the early 2000s.

Bloober Team have made some important strides with Layers of Fear 2. Visually, there is a sharper, clearer look on display. Pacing is improved with scares not being laid on so thick and heavy. It does seem to lack some atmospheric qualities but the chase sequences do offer the player something to beware. Failure can hamper the flow and the storytelling is a little heavy-handed. For the most part, Layers of Fear 2 is a good effort.

If I could, I would score Layers of Fear 2 somewhere between Null and Infinity, but I can't, and as everyone is going to have a different view on Layers of Fear 2 the score is pretty much irrelevant. If you know your films and consider yourself reasonably intelligent then I would recommend at least taking a look at Layers of Fear 2. I *think* I enjoyed it, but I honestly couldn't promise that you or anyone else would. What an odd curio of a game.

Layers of Fear 2 falls short in one too many areas for us to consider it a classic, but the experience that remains is still well worth your time. Predictable horror conventions aside, spectacular visuals, a haunting atmosphere, and impressive shape-shifting environments are sure to keep you up at night.

Layers of Fear 2 excels in many aspects of psychological horror, but it also undermines itself. While it creates many layers of fear, there’s little connective tissue between them to make the narrative coherent enough to engage with. Overly video-gamey segments reveal the mechanics underneath, removing the tension in favor of fail states and cheap game over screens. However, its binaural audio and moments of reality-warping terror do wonders to instill a sense of unease in the player. It’s worth peeling back the layers in Layers of Fear 2 for all of the moments that don’t rely on the old horror tropes, but this journey into madness falls just short of being a pleasure cruise.

A visually resplendent sequel, Layers of Fear 2 is frequently terrifying affair - though it fails to capture the ponderous melancholy of its predecessor and boasts plot that is far too often disjointed. All the same for those willing to stick with it, there are no shortage of hair-raising and spine-chilling moments.

Layers of Fear 2 is trying to spice up its walk of horror by action sequences, but this innovation doesn’t really work and the atmosphere, while truly scary, can’t carry the whole game on its back.

A convoluted narrative muddies the waters too with a series of dubious decisions that affect the ending, and the game fast outstays its welcome with a stack of tenuous puzzles. It’s impossible not to feel like there’s something special hidden between the chases, but for a game with such a wilful director, all it actually needed was an editor. [Issue#164, p.96]