Layers of fear 2 number skin#
Layers of fear 2 number plus#

Plus there’s a real sense of creativity here, something horror is scarcely associated with nowadays.

Layers of fear 2 number skin#

Yet Layers of Fear 2 still has enough about it to get under your skin and mess with your mind. It’s a cracker!īut the gradual descent into madness and the peeling back of the layers of a character serving to ‘play a role’ is a fascinating take on horror and Bloober should absolutely be commended for not playing it safe and going convention in a sequel.Īs a horror, it doesn’t quite match up to other greats this year, lacking the genuine sense of peril and desperation I found in Resident Evil 2, or the emphasis on uncertain horror in a Metro Exodus. If you’re after that then, my advice, play Observer instead. Ultimately, though, if you’re expecting a drastic evolution over Bloober Team’s original game then this will be a bit of a rude awakening. There are clues dotted around and interesting snippets you pick up on which, sometimes clue you into what’s coming next and sometimes seem to come to nothing. Not that plot has ever been massively needed in a horror, but it doesn’t help when it often feels like you’re just wandering from one set piece to the next. The structure and flow of the game feels relatively samey throughout, and there’s a bit of a disconnect with the story as – to be honest – you’ll spend most of it wondering what the point actually is. That said, it also feels very by the numbers. This definitely takes a while to get going Amazingly, as well, it’s one of the more unsettling gaming horrors I’ve played for a while.īloober have got the tone so right here and aesthetically, everything slots neatly into place, but you’ll need to be patient with it. They are so beautifully designed and the setting feels very fresh for a horror – I mean, it’s Pirate Horror for Blackbeard’s sake. However, Layers of Fear 2’s selling point is its environments. That can lead to some interesting divergence in the story and, in fact, even lead you to one of three different endings. I say for the most part as the game does let you make different decisions in certain circumstances and it’s up to you whether you go off-script, or remain faithful to the director’s rather macabre vision. You do get to interact with objects and as mentioned there’s a few puzzles here and there, but for the most part you’re following a relatively linear path. Specifically, opening lots of doors to see what’s behind them.īut it would be unfair to call Layers of Fear 2 a walkthrough experience. There’s an occasional bit of puzzle solving, like finding the combination for a safe, and even routes through a maze but essentially, this is a journey of exploration. The Director keeps throwing these philosophical sound bytes at you, while you’re trying not to get freaked out by random jump scares out of the corner of your eye. A cryptic, creepy Director has cast you in the lead role and so you go explore an abandoned old steamer, watching poor dummies get mutilated and burned alive and finding weird shit everywhere. What’s all that got to do with acting? Well you play the role of a Hollywood actor who’s looking for a job and just so happens to find himself on an ocean liner. It’s horror at its old school finest, but the kick is that this time you’ll find yourself onboard a ship, not traipsing through an old manor house. Filter changes mean the mood and vibe regularly fluctuate and help maintain the semblance of uncertainty behind every door.Īnd there’s chase sequences where you better hope you remembered to shut the door behind you. Each corner turned often greets you with the gravely voice of the Candyman himself booming in your ear. Layers of Fear 2 is a game with an unbridled, menacing atmosphere. Because if being an actor means you can get called to places that try to give you a heart attack for fun, I’ll stick to office work, thanks! And now I’ve played Layers of Fear 2, it’s killed all my dreams completely dead. I was definitely one of those kids until I realised I couldn’t act for toffee and would never make it. For adults, the money would be alright as well. There’s something alluring about the glitz and glamour, the spotlight and recognition. It came up a lot when teachers asked in class. Being an actor was a dream job for lots of kids in school.