Play a life role – review of the game “Layers of Fear 2”

How to become a star?

In Layers of Fear 2,  we play the role of an actor at the height of his fame, who is to play a life role with an equally outstanding director. The set is located on a huge transatlantic ship, specially adapted for filming. After boarding, we will quickly find out that something is wrong here. First of all, there is no living soul here apart from us. In addition, our employer tries to prepare us for the role in an unusual way. Our task is to discover our own character and build a character, according to the instructions given to us in the form of photos, videos, newspaper clippings or letters. We also have to visit all the nooks and crannies to decipher what we will face. We will be accompanied by the ubiquitous mannequins that will quickly turn out to be uncooperative.

Something new, something old …

The plot of Layers of Fear  2 is in no way related to the first part. We will not find here information about the painter we directed previously. So if someone wants to reach for two at once, he can do it boldly. A completely new scenario will allow him to experience an unforgettable adventure.

Although we will have to play a completely different character and discover a previously unknown place, the developers have not forgotten what players valued the most in the previous installment. So they followed the same path and so we got a product almost identical to the one we got to know in 2016. We will play the “walking simulator” again. And although this statement may be considered malicious, it is difficult to describe the game in any other way. To complete the game, we will have to travel the length and breadth of the ship, and we will rarely have a chance to stop. We are not going to jump, swim or fight. We are to press forward, sometimes just crouching or running, and constantly look around to see if there are any clues somewhere or a deadly mannequin lurking behind us. For variety, the creators threw in a few logical puzzles. Usually, however, they are very simple.

When it comes to the rooms we travel through, we will also feel here as if we were playing the first part. Almost every door will close behind us and we won’t be able to reopen it. And if we manage to get back through them, it will soon be revealed that the room behind them has completely changed. Anyway, it is often enough to turn just for a moment and suddenly it turns out that we are standing in a completely different room than a moment ago. You also never know when, somewhere around the corner, an enemy who wants our death will jump out at us. That is why you have to think about every move and look back every now and then.

Psychedelic atmosphere

While the plot of Layers of Fear 2it is not particularly addictive, and the gameplay consisting of continuous walking can be boring, the developers made sure that the atmosphere of the game was unique again. We are dealing here with a great horror movie, in which we will hold our breath more than once, fearing what awaits us in a moment. To do this, the authors used some interesting procedures that, when combined together, gave an amazing effect. Most of all the player gets a slow build up of tension. Initially, we will just visit a beautiful ship and check individual cabins. With time, it will start to get darker, we will see mannequins, the colors will change to black and white, and above all, there will be a large dose of jump scares. In addition, there will be appropriate sound effects. We rarely move in complete silence. We will always hear the sound of the sea somewhere in the background, the sounds of engines, a working fan or a creaking cabinet. Along with the threats popping up at us, we will also hear a stronger impact of music. If, in turn, we have to run away from someone, then the sounds will adjust to the pace of the action. The narrative also plays an important role. When we manage to find an item important for the plot or we have to watch a found fragment of a film, we will hear a narrative, and a male or children’s voice will tell us about the events of our lives. I must admit that the creators made sure that the teachers sound really disturbing. The whole is complemented by graphics. The originators took care of the smallest details. All this so that the player has something to admire and wants to explore the interior of the ship. But as time gets darker and darker, the interplay of shadows and lights also produces an excellent effect. And each mannequin encountered is more and more disturbing. The only drawback is the fact that it gets too dark at times, which makes it difficult for us to see where we are. However, you can always lighten the view in the game menu a bit.

Opinions will be divided

Layers of Fear 2 is a very atmospheric horror movie, where you can feel anxiety and thrill. However, not everyone will like it. Too much monotony and limiting the player to walking on the ship can become boring and discouraging. You can also complain that the game does not bring much freshness and is very similar to the first part. It’s as if the Bloober Team studio only gave us a new interior and script, and left the rest unchanged. However, many will like this element the most. Because if something was good and it turned out to be true, is it worth breaking it? It must also be admitted that the creators took care of the beautiful graphics and sound and built the tension well. Personally, I recommend you see for yourself what it is like to be an actor with a mysterious past, on an abandoned ship full of mannequins.