The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope

Little Hope is the game that ends up establishing The Dark Pictures Anthology as the greatest benchmark for interactive horror stories. Man of Medan took a promising first step, but this time the balance between script, acting and interactivity is perfect.

An engrossing, frightening experience and may well be Supermassive’s greatest game to date.

If there was ever a time to sit down with some friends and play a scary game, it's Halloween 2020. Little Hope fits the bill perfectly. The annoyances found in Man of Medan have been almost completely removed leaving a spooky tale with jump scares to giggle about, heart racing action, and tonnes of atmosphere. For £25 Little Hope is an absolute steal and highly recommended.

The Dark Pictures Little Hope is a solid continuation of Supermassive Games' horror series, and a step above the previous entry, Man of Medan. With a gripping story, heaps of collectibles, and a solid cast of characters, Little Hope is a fine addition to PS4's already-stacked horror library.

Little Hope is a return to form for Supermassive Games. After the somewhat slow and dry Man of Medan, Little Hope arrives with a narrative audacity and assured performances that place The Dark Pictures Anthology squarely on the top of the interactive filmic adventure game heap. With a rich, complex, and wickedly surprising narrative, Little Hope is well worth playing, despite some awkward moments and transitions.

However you choose to experience the game, Little Hope restores players’ faith in Supermassive Games to continue making decent narrative horror titles. The story ties together well regardless of player decisions, and there’s a great mix of character personalities. Friendlier QTEs and better character movement make the title an improvement over Man of Medan, and there are barely any technical issues. The Dark Pictures Anthology has a bright future ahead.

All things considered, I enjoyed my time with Little Hope. While still marred by some unfortunate technical issues, it is a more polished and engaging experience than the first game and the perfect way to spend a dark and spooky night (with friends if you can manage it!). With this game, The Dark Pictures Anthology has hit its stride, and I can’t wait to see what Supermassive Games has in store for us next.

With a more engaging cast of characters and an intriguing mystery at its core - leading to an insane mindfuck of an ending! - Little Hope is a definite improvement over its predecessor and hopefully a sign of even better things to come.

Little Hope has some of the best branching narrative that Supermassive Games has ever done, it looks lovely and packs a horror punch throughout.

The Dark Anthologies: Little Hope improves on the franchise’s previous entry in all aspects and is one of the most compelling narratives that I have experienced in recent times. With an incredible ending that left a profound, lasting effect, this is a game that fans of interactive dramas need to experience. Supermassive Games have slowly honed their skills in order to be considered one of the giants in storytelling and Little Hope has left me excited in anticipation of the next entry in what is proving to be a landmark series.

Little Hope is a solid spooky story best enjoyed with popcorn and friends. The tension is high, the fear is real, and the mechanics are improved from the previous Dark Pictures instalment. If you’re interested in some witchy goodness and moral judgements, this might be the spooky story for you.

Little Hope is, both from a technical and gameplay point of view, a step forward compared to Man of Medan. The changes do not impact the gameplay greatly, but still make the experience more pleasant overall. The storyline is well thought out with numerous branches leading to an interesting plot twist at the end.

Supermassive Games doesn’t have much competition in “cinematic interactive horror” genre, but they keep improving their product: Little Hope fixed most of Man of Medan’s problems. [Issue#249, p.46]

What distinguishes Little hope from horror movies is that you don’t get to be annoyed about clichés or numerous bad decisions by its characters. No it is not a good idea to wander off alone when a killer is on the loose, nor should you explore that creepy basement by yourself. Yet, in this game, only one person is responsible for his bad judgement: you.

Little Hope is a fantastic horror experience that really shows what Supermassive can do with the Dark Pictures series. Though it's a short experience and it exhibited a crash during review, it's a fantastically crafted thrilling drama with amazing characters who are genuinely fun to interact with. If this kind of game is something that seems interesting, don't pass up on this experience!

The second chapter in the Dark Pictures Anthology is a major improvement over Man of Medan. With better pacing, a well written story and a great multiplayer mode, Little Hope is ideal for fans of horror and their friends.

The atmosphere is, in a word, anxious - and it’s impossible not to internalize it. Particularly when faced with Quick-Time Events (QTE) which, more often than not, lead to a horrifying death.

Little Hope is a chilling experience with enough nail-biting tension, horrible monsters and lovable characters to mark it as one of the better horror experiences this year.

Little Hope is an atmospheric, mysterious and brilliantly presented horror story, with you being in charge of the course of the story via decisions and reaction tests. The movie-like experience dominates at the expense of rudimentary mechanics, though.

This new chapter of the Dark Pictures Anthology delivers another solid, but still not fully convincing, horror experience from Supermassive Games.

The Dark Pictures: Little Hope is the most successful Supermassive studio's Game. The themes and the cast are more interesting than usual, and the moment with Little Hope is pretty pleasant.

These games aren’t interested in the darker aspects of the human psyche, the vulnerabilities and existential questions which impart the lingering sense of dread that lasts after the story is told. No, The Dark Pictures so far has been all about popcorn-horror, the kind where the viewer screams and jumps before remembering that everything’s all right after. They’re not elegant, but they’re not trying to be - and that’s perfectly acceptable, especially if it’s what the player knows what they’re getting into. And as much as I’d wanted the next Dark Pictures title to take a more cerebral approach to horror, I’m happy to welcome a well-crafted witch-themed slasher game all the same.

I often felt like the game gave me multiple chances to save a character so that, even if I missed a vital item previously or erred in judgement otherwise, one bad decision isn’t a death sentence. Like a horror trivia night centered around a game you’ve never played or a movie you’ve never watched, Little Hope feels best when you try to get in the heads of the characters and imagine what they’d do and how others would respond. There are characters that’ll make you swear in the beginning that you don’t care what happens to them, and you may even root for their downfall, but you’ll be cheering them on by the end.

In terms of plot, it's clearly superior to Man of Medan. Little Hope keeps the Supermassive style, but adds a risky twist that you may love... Or hate.

The latest Dark Pictures Anthology installment takes narrative risks and refines mechanical gameplay. While I still take issue with photorealistic graphics, Little Hope is still worth visiting.

Little Hope uses the same concepts as Man of Medan and tries to improve them by providing a welcome warning before the QTEs or by trying to smooth out the sequences which, unfortunately, still suffer from some slowness. The story is quite good and effectively mixes three eras, but we will probably have to redo the game several times to fully understand it. Unfortunately, the Curator's Cut that seduced us in Man of Medan is unfortunately no longer on the menu. Nevertheless, we spend a "pleasant" moment in the middle of repulsive creatures and we now await the third episode with curiosity.

Although this part is somewhat a bundle of clichés compared to Man of Medan and the acting performance does not look like it improved a lot, Little Hope offers enough freaky moment and interesting mystery to keep you entertained (and scared?). I will be back for more when the next part of this anthology drops.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope isn’t a long game by any measure, but what it delivers in its time is used effectively enough to purvey a sense of dread. While not necessarily a traditional horror game full of jump scares or horrific machinations, Little Hope attempts to deliver nuance in the style of an arthouse horror film. It mostly gets there depending on a player’s choice, but overall it doesn’t completely stick the landing. Little Hope’s themes put in a 2020-context make it stand out as a horror title but otherwise, it offers very little in terms of true horror.

This second chapter preserves the average quality level of the Anthology unchanged, and our "little hope" is that this standard will at least be maintained (and perhaps exceeded) for future horror stories as well.

Little Hope is a little step up from Man of Medan but not as good as Until Dawn, due to some flaws in the storytelling, the pacing and the gameplay itself.

Little Hope is an evolution from what we saw in Man of Medan, but it also has a fair amount of shortcomings. We are really enjoying the series, though, and we look forward to the new entries.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope improves on several aspects from Man of Medan, and shows that Supermassive Games is actually taking notes so as to make its horror collection one to remember. Although there are still some elements to work on, we can certainly recommend Little Hope, especially when it is enjoyed as a group experience.

Little Hope is inconsistent, like a witch-in-training still learning how to fully weave a spell. It sets up its story well and keeps you guessing, but the execution is lacking. It needs more variety and interesting things for your characters to do. The action comes too late, and by then, you’re already nodding off. However, seeing the fantastic ending makes putting up with those boring moments a little more bearable.

There are certain things that don’t quite connect and a handful of plot holes that stick out, but Dark Pictures: Little Hope is definitely worth your time if you’re a fan of the genre or liked Until Dawn and were disappointed with Man of Medan. It’s a game that’s best enjoyed when being played with a group of people to shout out which decisions to make and pass the controller around. At its best, Little Hope is chilling and gripping and creates an internal conflict in the player between wanting to press on and being too scared to see what lies behind the next door.

A great second step in the new horror franchise of Supermassive Games. Creepy and spooky, with lots of jump scare. A perfect plan for Halloween.

While Little Hope may not be the fright fest some wanted, it’s still a fascinating game that’s well worth playing once or twice, if you can get over the nonsensical ending.

Though it has some problems with pacing and minor bugs, Little Hope is a brilliant Halloween pick thanks to its over the top narrative and gruesome deaths, making it hard to say no to another visit.

The Dark Picture: Little Hope is a good step forward from the first chapter. The implementation of more responsive controls and greater clemency in QTE make the experience more correct and enjoyable, although in the end the game structure remains essentially the same. Despite the splashy story in a few too many clichés, the tension remains high, as does the involvement, thanks to a superb technical department. Unfortunately, the naivety of some narrative choice, the introspective smallness of almost all the characters and the longevity reduced to the bone do not let the title fly beyond the discreet. It does not betray the expectations of those who expect a couple of evenings in horror sauce, but it really goes no further.

The Dark Pictures: Little Hope falls behind compared to the first chapter of The Dark Pictures Anthology, with a somewhat slow but enjoyable story if we play in company of friends.

The Dark Pictures Anthology has yet to truly impress but, for the price, there are worse fates. However, reader beware, you’re in for more than your fair share of screaming puritan jump scares. [Issue#182, p.158]

If you don't take the clichés and rattling writing too seriously, Little Hope is a fun-filled adventure game with lots of scary moments. Choices are meaningful, characters really behave differently based on your decisions, and there are multiple disconnects to discover.

Little Hope makes the direction of The Dark Pictures anthology clear, but it makes up for its evident formula with an interestingly convoluted story and increasingly nuanced branching paths.

All The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope wants to be is the popcorn flick of the horror genre. And despite an ending that robs some merit from the experience and intruding load screens, the game achieves that. An interesting cast of characters lends weight and impact to your decisions while the story itself intrigues and surprises. Perfect for an unsettling night in? You got that right.

The Dark Pictures: Little Hope is something akin to a good rollercoaster ride you can spend an evening or a two with. Sadly, there is not a lot of replayability, due to only one ending, albeit a quite unexpected one.

Little Hope capitalizes on the strengths of Man of Medan, and improves the recipe on a few key aspects, which makes for an overall better game.

Little Hope is a genuinely good time horror game, that isn't quite at the apex of what the team behind it can achieve. It's good fun alone but really comes alive when shared with another person, or group. I have no doubt that when the full Dark Pictures Anthology is complete and sold as a package, that history will remember it quite fondly. Despite the well worn path this entry treads at times, it whittles out enough of a memorable story for those who dig these kinds of games to really find enjoyment in.

While there are some problems with the design, narrative, and dialogue, overall, the story and experience offered in Little Hope left me rather impressed. The story was creepy and intriguing, and presented a lore-rich world about a town with a past steeped in the occult. For those savvy detectives, there are enough clues that one could piece together the narrative prior to the end, but even if you don’t manage to do this, it’s still a satisfying conclusion and another great entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology.

As a short, enjoyable romp that can be shared with friends either locally or online, Little Hope is worth the price of admission. The title's move to more accessible gameplay ensures that it can be enjoyed by a wider audience without issue, and the visual prowess of its characters is second to none. In both scares and narrative however, Little Hope doesn't come close to matching the same heights reached by Until Dawn, meaning that true horror lovers should probably look elsewhere.

Little Hope has an interesting story but lacks as a good stand-alone horror-title. The game is cinematic and the choices you make do influence the outcome of the game. Multiplayer is fun, but unfortunately, the game relies too much on jump scares which get annoying over time. Let's hope the next installment in the anthology is scarier than this one.

Little Hope doesn't have the charm of Man of Medan and its story is too predictable and not terrifying. Even so, it is a good option to play in the company of 5 friends.

Little Hope is a fun way to burn a couple of hours by yourself and a fantastic way to spend a night with friends but is let down by a disappointing conclusion, some uninspired performances, and general pacing issues.

Little Hope is a good scary game and it seduces with its narration and its very cool atmosphere. The story is interesting, and we take pleasure in being afraid throughout the game. Nevertheless, it suffers from a few faults, such as a little too rigid movement and some stifling camera angles. Moreover, the fact that the choices are somewhat illusory removes interest from the experience. Regardless, we are afraid throughout and that’s what we’re looking for.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope is a dangerous step backward in the series, with a shallow and trivial story, and a very limited game design.

Supermassive Games once again do what they do best - and once again they cannot reach that best. Little Hope isn’t nearly as good as Until Dawn but horror fans might like it anyway, especially on sale or in the Game Pass.

Little Hope, the second part of the horror series Dark Pictures, is a more refined and scarier experience than its predecessor. Walking around the misty town reminds us of Silent Hill, even though the game soon takes a more familiar horror route. The journey could be better in a lot of ways, but just like horror movies, some weird acting and other oddities are a part of the package. Little Hope is far from perfect, but it is still a fun little horror gem that will entertain horror fans.

It’s a real shame that I was disappointed by Little Hope because otherwise it’s an impressive piece of audiovisual excellence and I just love its genre. If you like Charlie Kaufman’s movies (which I don’t), you may perhaps appreciate the ending better than I did. It remains a mystery why Supermassive Games have degenerated their interactive storytelling formula by restricting players’ influence over events.

Despite its faults, Little Hope can't help but remind me of the reasons I love Supermassive's take on the modern narrative adventure game. The studio is masterful at producing tension through gameplay as simple as a well-timed button press, and Little Hope is a high-water mark for the studio's technical proficiency. While the story and character work are uncharacteristically lackluster, Little Hope still manages to offer a solid foundation for Supermassive's future.

If you have some people to play The Dark Pictures: Little Hope with, it’s definitely a fun way to past the time, especially around Halloween. If you’re planning on going at it alone, though, it’s not a bad experience but you may be left feeling a bit unfulfilled.

The game’s aesthetic enhances the horror, with your crew’s flashlights rarely being much of a match for the overwhelming fog and darkness, and the monsters reflecting the full ugliness of witchcraft murder techniques like drowning, burning, and pressing. But the gameplay blunts the effectiveness of that aesthetic, because there’s no real danger to exploring the environments here. There might be the occasional jump scare upon opening a window or door, but nothing’s actively chasing you as it would in something like Resident Evil. It’s the weirdest sort of plot armor to be found in a horror game, in that your characters are completely safe in Little Hope so long as you control them, and at risk only when a cut scene takes over.

It's also a visual knockout, with highly detailed environments and character models. Regardless of how well-animated or detailed the characters are, though, many players will find it difficult to care about them or the story, which is a huge blow to something that is basically an interactive movie. However, those who push through will be rewarded with a memorable ending, and if nothing else, Little Hope is still a solid choice as a sort-of party game.

Little Hope doesn't go out of its way to reinvent the wheel in any way, but it does keep things entertaining with a gripping story and characters that are hard to hate and even harder to see meet their demise.

Little Hope didn't convince me when it came to horror either. Although the scenes seem coherent and remind of good Silent Hill 2 times, too many predictable jump-scares drive away the horror and leave a tired shrug. That's enough for a nice co-op evening with awful company, but otherwise I can't make any recommendations here.

Partial overhaul of certain gameplay mechanics and refined writing… Supermassive Games only partially improves its formula. The ubiquitous illusion of choice and obvious technical limitations leave an incomplete feeling once the adventure is over.

Little Hope’s namesake has somewhat of a dual meaning. It is the name of the town in the game and it’s also representative of the little bit of hope that Supermassive would learn from its mistakes and get back to making classic horror adventures. But its multiple thematic troubles, pathetic cavalcade of jump scares, and abysmal twist ending paint a dark future for The Dark Pictures Anthology, leaving little hope that it’ll ever recover from two disappointing adventures in a row.

Little Hope tells a mostly one-note story with underdeveloped characters, and even a fun co-op mode can’t inject enough life to fix that. There weren’t enough meaningful consequences to the choices I made to inspire further digging into its box of tricks, which made additional playthroughs tough going, and the more generous amount of time you have to react to quick-time events deprived me of any gory deaths. A gorgeous setting and some genuinely frantic monster sequences save it from being a complete disaster, but this still feels like a step backward from the heights of interactive horror stories. Hopefully, the next entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology will have interesting characters with much more to say and do, as Little Hope’s predecessors have proven Supermassive can deliver.

The least interesting use of the Until Dawn formula so far, with a tedious tale of 17th century witchcraft that fails to either scare or entertain.