Layers Of Fear 2

THERE’S ENOUGH AMBITION HERE TO SINK A SHIP

- Adam Bryant

More than most genres, psychological horror provides the perfect canvas for experimenting with game design, but for all the potential it offers, doing things a little differently can open up the door to risk. On the one hand you could end up with something spectacular that resonates with players and developers alike, influencing the future of the genre, but a game can just as easily become a victim of its own ambition, which is precisely the case with Layers Of Fear 2.

You play as an early 20th century Hollywood actor who finds themselves on-board a luxurious transatlantic cruise liner, a setting which has been chosen by a mysterious ‘Director’ – voiced by Candyman’s Tony Todd – as the location for his next movie. You’re instructed by him to research and build your character in preparation for the leading role, but this direction quickly reveals itself to be connected to something far more personal: revisiting the relationship between a brother and sister, and the childhood trauma they shared.

Initially, the game shows promise. The environments have been wonderfully crafted, littered with all manner of items to make it feel like a lived-in (but now abandoned) place, and thanks to some chilling sound design, Bloober Team has built a brilliant sense of atmosphere.

Ghost ship