A sequel to the survival horror game from a third-person perspective is in production, inspired by the early versions of Resident Evil and Silent Hill in terms of camera angles and tank controls. The first part was released in 2021 for PC and consoles under the development of Dual Effect studio, and the same team is now working on this sequel.
This time, you are once again in the role of Caroline Walker, a Canadian who investigated what happened to the twins Anna and Emma in the first part. I won't reveal much about the synopsis of the first part, but the story involves fanaticism, attempts to sacrifice children with the aim of resurrecting a monster that was considered a "savior" by the fanatics, and also provides a good opportunity for a classic boss fight in a game of this type. The ending of the first part depends on Caroline and her attitude towards the adult Anna. In the sequel, the story of the two continues. Anna begins to be haunted by visions of violence and death that compel her to draw them, after which they manifest in reality. Hoping to help her with her manifesting powers, Caroline and she travel to the remote town of Villa Hess, where a specialized clinic is supposedly located. However, behind the disturbing smiles of the staff lies a chilling truth that gets the two of them into trouble and new nightmares again. The demo takes us to a "murky" monastery where all sorts of strange things are practiced. Anna suddenly disappears, and you wake up in the not-so-hygienic bed of the monastery's clinic, trying to figure out what is happening...
Speaking of gameplay and some technical aspects, the game continues the formula of its predecessor with the camera and controls, and the visuals are enhanced by Unreal Engine 5 technology. Playing in 4K on the computer currently brings UI bugs and a distorted image, but I believe this issue will be fixed by the time the game is released. Therefore, for the demo version, I switched to the full HD option... How is it to play Tormented Souls 2? The demo features a mechanic with darkness that can kill you if you are exposed to it for more than a few seconds. Therefore, while exploring, the player needs to use candles and lighters. What I liked was crafting improvised weapons, like a nail gun. At first, I didn't believe I would be shooting nails at enemies, but in the end, it turned out to be a fun, albeit frustrating experience. Frustrating because of the controls. I got the impression that the player needs to memorize where each enemy is located and prepare for action immediately, because if you get stuck on some piece of furniture while trying to back away in panic, woe to you when the creatures catch you. The concept of left and right in the game changes depending on where your camera is, which can be very confusing. This used to irritate me occasionally in Tomb Raider as well. There's nothing worse than when the camera gets positioned in front of your character while you are walking straight and suddenly an enemy appears in front of you. By the time you draw your weapon, aim, and then shoot, the enemy has already jumped on you. Three buttons to press. I think shooting could have been executed more simply without all these complicated operations to fire a single shot, but that's a topic for another time.
Generally, when you manage to "take down" an enemy quickly enough, you beautifully shoot nails at them and watch them fall... And then they get back up again! A cool idea borrowed from Resident Evil. But don't worry, with the second round of shots, they fall again, but this time for good. You also have an alternative option; if the enemies are slower, you can simply run past them, and when you close the door, they stay where they were and do not follow you into the next room. A cheaper solution. Your resources are limited, so you need to use them wisely. What I didn't like is the limited ability to save progress. If the developers intended to create additional anxiety for players through this, they succeeded. From what I saw when I peeked at the comments on Steam, this "feature" did not leave a positive impression on players. We'll see what happens with that in the full version of the game. Allegedly, in the full version, you will be able to choose between 90s-style gameplay or switch to an assisted mode for casual players. As a casual player, I welcome this option, whatever it may mean. The puzzles are quite decent and fun to solve, not too hard nor too easy. A balanced exercise for the brain. Sometimes you will need to examine or dismantle certain items in search of important information or combine them and interact with the environment to make something happen.
In conclusion, Tormented Souls 2 is a game that is played slowly and with patience, enjoying the atmosphere that envelops us as we move through dark and eerie corridors. But it is definitely not for everyone. As frustrating as it can be with occasional bugs and awkward camera angles, its design is still its strong point, and that (along with excellent voice acting) could win over players who appreciate a good atmosphere in the horror genre. The game does not strive to be on par with AAA games, and that's perfectly fine. There is a certain feeling of satisfaction and achievement when you finally finish it (in this case, the demo). The game is neither more nor less, an ode to the classic horror survival genre for a very specific audience of players who will definitely know how to appreciate it. And it is not for minors, which is completely understandable.
[modula id="5506"]
