Dabbling in horrifying imagery that draws inspiration from everything from gothic art, fairy tales, and early American cinema, Layers of Fear 2 is densely packed with frightening-yet-beautiful scenes that raise the bar in terms of what people expect from horror games. Layers of Fear 2 does not disappoint when it comes to the aforementioned art direction - not one bit. With Layers of Fear 2, though, I went in expecting a serviceable story at best and I was blindsided for the better. Much of my enjoyment of Bloober Team’s games came from the studio’s immensely talented artists and scenario designers. While the original Layers of Fear could be enjoyed for its scare-factor alone with one playthrough, its sequel’s staying power comes from its story which requires deeper analysis that I was prepared for.ĭespite having those mixed feelings at first, upon reflection, Layers of Fear 2 surpassed my expectations in great part thanks to its narrative. Even going through the game’s first act alone a second time reveals new layers (heh) to the story previously missed or disregarded. But its redeeming element is also shared with the first game for those seeking a satisfying narrative, Layers of Fear 2 demands a second playthrough to truly appreciate what Bloober Team were going for. Initially, this worried me Layers of Fear 2 was among my most anticipated games of the year and I walked away with mixed feelings. Key moments in the game which present the player with one of two choices, suffered because each option lacked sufficient context - making them morally ambiguous at best. It wasn’t until Act 3 (out of 5) that I felt like any of the pieces were coming together to a satisfying degree. This approach to the storytelling comes at the cost of the game’s first couple of hours coming across as disjointed, random set pieces intended to be visually striking but superfluous. Layers of Fear 2‘s early hours mark new, experimental territory for Bloober Team, which has its pros and cons. It isn’t until the latter half that it resembles the first game in terms of tone and pacing - with context regarding the protagonist’s plight finally coming into view. The story, which unfolds through in-game notes, phantom dialogue, and surreal set pieces, is drip-fed to such a slow degree that L ayers of Fear 2 risks being described as meandering at first pass. Layers of Fear 2 is a bigger yet subtler game than the first, which is manifested by its exceptionally slow burning first-half. As the journey begins, we hit familiar ground - an increasingly contorted perception of reality informed by trauma, displayed in symbolic interpretations of events passed. Set aboard an ocean liner serving as the setting of a new movie, Layers of Fear 2 explores the torment of an actor under the direction of an unconventional director (as portrayed by the incomparable Tony Todd). Layers of Fear 2 is a staggering achievement in the genre, but much like the original game, it too has its own caveats - of which keeps perfection from its grasp. This rings true in each facet of the game’s parts - from the gamut of its twisted machinations to its approach to storytelling, the latter of which is the most complex, thought-provoking story that the studio has told to date. Let’s get this out of the way Layers of Fear 2 is Bloober Team’s most ambitious game yet. Following their last title, the utterly fantastic Observer, Layers of Fear 2 is their next masterstroke contribution to the horror genre. I know I’ve explained this in past coverage of the studio, but I can’t help be proud of this team for their growth and accomplishments. Layers of Fear wasn’t perfect, mind you, but it showed immense potential on the part of Bloober Team’s approach to horror game design. Following a painter driven mad by trauma, the game subjected players to a series of escalating horrors, each more twisted and unpredictable than the last - impressively so. inspired horror games, though its saving Grace was that it stood out from uninspired clones thanks to clever ideas and impressive imagery. Bloober Team’s original Layers of Fear hit amidst a wave of other P.T.
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