All collectibles are scattered across the five different Acts, with the exception of the Prologue and Epilogue. It might not be the most original game in its genre, but for horror fans, it’s still a fun and spooky good time.This achievement is worth 15 Gamerscore. Aside from a handful of frustrating chase sequences, Layers of Fear 2 is, for the most part, a success. Its story is more interesting, and the shape-shifting environments that were so praised in the first game are back in fine form. Layers of Fear 2 is bigger, more ambitious, and scarier than its predecessor, but it can feel a bit familiar at times too. I was a bit bummed by my ending (I think it was the bad one…) but it does provide a reason for fans to replay and see the different outcomes. With that said, there are three possible endings to get that are dependent on decisions made at key moments. There’s a lot more at play here, and despite a few moments where I felt the game was treading water, the length feels about right.
LAYERS OF FEAR 2 JUMP SCARES TRIAL
While they are initially heart pounding, they’re more or less just frustrating trial and error segments that don’t add anything to the game.įor anyone thinking about putting down the dough, it’s worth mentioning that Layers of Fear 2 is a generally longer game than the original. These scenarios may sound spooky on paper but don’t exactly feel like they belong in Layers of Fear 2. Similar to Outlast or SOMA, your character doesn’t have the means to defend themselves and has to resort to hightailing it before they get caught. While there’s never a reason to ever speed through the game - it’s encouraged to explore, find, and read notes - every so often, you’re forced into a situation where you’ll need escape a terrifying monster or ghostly being. I was always engaged, never bored, and genuinely wanted to see where it was all heading to, even if that meant mustering up the courage to walk down creepy corridor after creepy corridor. That can be said for the game’s pacing as well, which is particularly on point for a linear horror game.
Just when I felt like I had the game figured out in terms of when and where something would pop out at me, I’d be in for a surprise. You’ll find plenty of jump scares peppered throughout the experience, and while they may not always be successful 100% of the time, they definitely kept me on my toes throughout. Even something as simple as a flickering light bulb or an out of place mannequin standing in my way was enough to stop me dead in my tracks.
From its opening walkthrough of an abandoned ocean liner to the spine-tingling delivery from Candyman himself Tony Todd, to its impeccable sound design, Layers of Fear 2 is ripe with frights. Lights, Camera, Scares!Ī key element in horror is building a good atmosphere, and Layers of Fear 2 has it in spades. I’ve played a ton of horror games in my lifetime and Layers of Fear 2 made me gasp more times in a single sitting than most horror games do in their entirety. I frequently did double-takes or, as I like to call them, “did that thing just move?!” moments. You might find yourself faced with a dead end only to find a new route previously blocked off now accessible. Sometimes you’ll enter a room through a door, turn around, and find your environment completed changed.
LAYERS OF FEAR 2 JUMP SCARES FULL
It reminds me sort of a rollercoaster ride, full of twists and turns, highs and lows, and anything else that might make you feel uneasy about what’s around the corner.
The original game was known for its twisting environments that would change in the blink of an eye, and the follow up continues that trend.