Layers of Fear: Legacy

 Switch
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 35 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 50
  3. Negative: 11 out of 50

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  1. Daedalusfalls
    Feb 24, 2018
    9
    I love horror games. I'm a big fan of Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and The Evil Within. I didn't think I would find Layers of Fear scary for one big reason, you can't die. I figured if you took away the threat of death, you would take away what's fear inducing about a video game. I was wrong. Through excellent pacing, mind bending psychological effects, and wonderful sound design, Layers ofI love horror games. I'm a big fan of Silent Hill, Resident Evil, and The Evil Within. I didn't think I would find Layers of Fear scary for one big reason, you can't die. I figured if you took away the threat of death, you would take away what's fear inducing about a video game. I was wrong. Through excellent pacing, mind bending psychological effects, and wonderful sound design, Layers of Fear managed to scare the heck out of me. In fact, I had to take frequent breaks during my time with the game. I made sure to play with headphones and in a darkened room for maximum effect. Even in portable mode, this game unnerved me. If you are into horror games, I highly recommend picking this game up! It's excellent value for the money, and a great way to get your horror fix on the go!… Expand
  2. b00lpr0p
    Jan 24, 2019
    9
    A great ride in a haunted house, with some jump scares and a story that gradually becomes understandable. Play in the dark with headphones for a better experience.
  3. Sijun
    Aug 27, 2019
    9
    What a blast to play it on the Switch! Playing this in handheld mode when everything around you is dark and silent is to good. If you want to experience it to its max, play it with headphones when its dark and you are alone in your bed. Absolutely worth every dime!
  4. garygreen
    Nov 2, 2020
    10
    the best part i play with the great soundtrack and the great game play i play ever seen
  5. Micmicc
    Sep 2, 2023
    8
    The gameplay largely involves you walking around an 1800s mansion solving a puzzle every now and then. There's no story segment in this review just because it can be summarized in a few sentences:

    You're a mentally deranged painter roaming around in a victorian mansion trying to keep your sanity and piecing together who you are and what you've done whilst attempting to finish you final    The gameplay largely involves you walking around an 1800s mansion solving a puzzle every now and then. There's no story segment in this review just because it can be summarized in a few sentences:

    You're a mentally deranged painter roaming around in a victorian mansion trying to keep your sanity and piecing together who you are and what you've done whilst attempting to finish you final painting and getting it right finally. Layers of Fear Legacy also includes an expansion called Inheritance in which you return to the mansion as the Painter's daughter and go through flashbacks to discover what he was like as a father.

    So, now that I've explained the story, let's cut back to gameplay. As I've said you largely just walk around, but solve a puzzle sometimes. Some things for the puzzles were just too well hidden for me, so I had to consult a walkthrough at least a dozen times, because they were very well hidden.

    You find items sometimes that are somehow connected to the Painter and he explains what he's done with it, but I didn't find enough to be able to piece his story back together.

    Also, since this is a horror game, I have to talk about the scares. The game utilizes this mechanic where you face a direction, then you come across a locked door for example, turn around, and the environment is entirely different from where you've been before. It uses this mechanic really well. And despite how large of a part it plays during the whole experience, it never really gets old.

    Also there are a couple of really good scares. There aren't many jumpscares, you're kept uneasy because of the changing environment and the sound design. As you'd expect, the further you go, the more insane things get. This game isn't really about scaring you per say, just making you feel uneasy and fear what might be there after you open the next door.

    And this, in the Graphics section is where I get a bit more technical. I played Layers of Fear Legacy on a Nintendo Switch OLED Model, so obviously the graphics are gonna be much worse than on Xbox/PlayStation/PC.

    For one, there's some anti-aliasing, but where there isn't you can really see it.

    As I've watched a walkthrough whenever I got stuck on a puzzle I noticed that the other versions are much darker than the Switch port, so if you fear the dark and not being able to see much, I'd say get the Switch port, it's much brighter.

    Performance was a very mixed bag. In docked mode, it ran with around 15-30 fps. I had enough of the slowness one time, so I played the majority of the game in handheld more, where the performance was actually better at around 20-60fps. I know that's a huge range, but that's how it was. I didn't know handheld mode could run better in any game, but here we are.

    But no matter what mode I played on, the controls were still janky. It's not bad or game-breaking at all, it's just not as fluid as you'd think. Also, the game will recommend you every time you boot it up to try out motion controls to open drawers and doors. I tried it and I can confidently say, you should not! It's like Wii motion controls: when it works, it really works, when it doesn't work, it really doesn't work. It's ok as a gimmick, you can try it once or twice, but it's much easier to play with them off. Also, I discovered AFTER finishing the game that there's a fast walk button. Hold L if you want to run. The game NEVER explains this!

    So, in conclusion, Layers of Fear Legacy in my experience is a pretty good horror game. If you played this on anything else, it would be multiple times scarier. So if you want something that isn't that scary, only unsettling, and you don't mind the performance, this is for you. I beat the game with the expansion in about 6 hours without knowing that you can run, so it's not a long game at all.

    Layers of Fear Legacy costs €20 which I feel is a bit too much, but I bought it on sale at €4, which is very much worth it in my opinion. The game gets an 80/100 from me.

    Thanks for listening, drop a like and a sub if you enjoyed, and see ya in the next one.    … Expand
  6. dan-man
    Jan 19, 2022
    9
    A very dark and distressing story. Melancholy music and scenes really change the nature of horror games. A game to be played on your own in the dark with headphones on. It is very unsettling at parts and the use of geometry and setpieces is very impressive at times. It is a sad tale, but one near-perfectly told. Great switch port too, save for the reduction in quality and lighting.
  7. vasilias21
    Nov 13, 2022
    9
    A descent horror game for Nintendo switch.We need more horror games like this Nintendo wake up.Also try layers of fear 2 which is even better.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Worth Playing
    Jul 11, 2018
    86
    Despite some minor performance issues and the occasional on-the-nose writing, Layers of Fear: Legacy is a fantastic horror experience for Switch owners. You get two great stories, both accessible right from the menu screen — I highly recommend you play the main story before Inheritance, though — that offer gripping tales and shocking scares. Better yet, both are playable in portable mode, ensuring that the courageous and unafraid can get their fill of terror before bed. It may not be P.T. in name, but for those seeking that same level of atmosphere and hallway-twisting tension, Legacy fits the bill.
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  2. Nintendojo
    Jun 28, 2018
    91
    The concept of losing one’s sanity is perhaps one of the most relatable fears of all. Layers of Fear: Legacy captures that idea in a way not seen in gaming since the days of Eternal Darkness. While the two titles share that theme, Legacy is strong enough to stand on its own. The scares are plentiful and well thought out, the visuals are jarring and the game’s audio is downright haunting. It just might be the scariest title currently available on Switch.
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  3. XGN
    May 2, 2018
    80
    Layers of Fear is a perfectly well-made horror-adventure game. The feeling that you get from playing is mostly fear. Get ready for one of the best game of the horror genre.
    Read full review
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