Putting my thoughts in order, when the credits rolled on Tormented Souls 2, I realized I didn't have much to say. The game essentially follows the formula of its predecessor and gives us another solid horror gaming moment, brought from the time capsule of the 90s to the present day. Sometimes that's all you need to unwind and have a good time. Of course, there are some minor improvements, but the bottom line is that anyone who enjoyed the first game will have a good time here too.
In Tormented Souls 2, we once again step into the shoes of Caroline Walker. A few years after the events of the first game, the protagonist travels with her sister to Chile, specifically to a monastery located in the village of Villa Hess. There, they have heard that a prototype treatment is being used to help those who suffer from nightmares and traumatic experiences during their sleep. Behind the kind faces and warm welcome of the nuns, there seems to be something sinister lurking. Something related to the past of the two brothers...
The script is more elaborate than the first part (again, it's not something that blew us away, but it was not uninteresting either), and it is much more influenced by the works of H. P. Lovecraft. The unearthly atmosphere created by the great writer has also permeated the ambience of the game. The narrative's emphasis continues to be on the information we obtain from the environment, through documents and diaries, which gradually build the lore and reveal the perspectives of various characters on the events that of Tormented Souls 2.
As a true offspring of Alone In the Dark, it wouldn't be complete without fixed camera angles and tank controls. Although their use is no longer mandatory due to technological limitations, they still provide us with some particularly gorgeous scenes, and fortunately, apart from one or two exceptions, they won't give us a heart attack due to some monstrosity they were obscuring. As for controlling Caroline, tank controls may seem outdated by today's standards, but in reality they work well in tandem with the static camera. The good news is that, as in the previous game, there is also a modern control scheme (which was used for this playthrough) that also works well, as the character's direction is maintained for a short time after the shift in perspective.
The interface remains the same, with the only significant addition being the quick access menu for weapons (we can assign up to four to shortcuts). This significantly reduces the disruption to the pacing caused by frequent opening and closing of the inventory. It still fits everything we pick up, with separate tabs for important items, supplies and weapons, and the files we discover. Tormented Souls 2 requires good ammunition management—it is recommended to use melee on fallen enemies—as it is frugal with them, at least in the opening hours, as was its predecessor. On the other hand, health items and the recording tapes we use to save our progress are plentiful throughout.
In the sequel, we have a greater variety of enemies, but with them comes a greater challenge. Some encounters, in fact, could be described as frustrating, as the abominations of Tormented Souls 2 are as quick as the protagonist , in the best case scenario. This, combined with the fact that in many cases they come in groups of 2 or 3, makes evading them impossible. As you can imagine, we need to learn which weapons are suitable for each situation (some, such as the shotgun, hit multiple targets). Compared to its occasional use in the first game, the use of dodge, which gives some i-frames, is now imperative. Especially in boss fights, it will make our life a lot easier. It should be noted that these are designed as a kind of a puzzle. We must use tools or devices in the environment to defeat them; the damage from weapons simply makes them move slower, reveal a weak spot, etc.
The strongest merits of the title are, without doubt, the level design, atmosphere, and puzzles. Tormented Souls 2 is longer than the first game. The different areas are excellently designed. All kinds of shortcuts, elevators, passages, stairs, etc. give us gradual access to different areas as we explore. There is also the outdoors area of the village with some smaller shops, streets, sewers, etc., which lends itself to exploring further and acts as a hub (the design brings to mind Raccoon City from Resident Evil 3), connecting the larger maps of the game, such as the monastery, the school, the fish and crustacean processing plant (Dark Corners of the Earth, anyone?), etc.
A place that was once bustling with life now reeks of brine and decay. Anyone perspicacious enough to see the signs left Vila Hess before it was too late. The places not covered by darkness (which not only hinders our visibility but also poses a danger as a gameplay mechanic) offer a temporary sense of coziness and safety. The game's puzzles largely follow gaming logic (in the sense that they resemble obstacles that some insane architect has placed in our path), as is the case in most survival horror games. However, they do not require irrational thought procees, except for one or two where the hints are not so clear. They vary greatly, from examining items in the inventory to using clues for crackinng codes, and their challenge is slightly above average of what we are used in this genre.
In terms of overall production, the character models and lip syncing have been significantly improved. The dialogue delivery is satisfactory (especially for Caroline and the main villain), considering the game's budget. The textures in the various areas show more detail, but there are still some that are a bit rough, while we also see some slight improvements in the lighting. In general, however, one would expect much greater differences between the two games, considering that the sequel uses Unreal Engine 5, while the first game uses Unity. Let's be honest, we've seen examples of what this engine can offer, and Tormented Souls 2 comes nowhere near them.. The upside, however, is that we have the most optimized title in UE5 so far, as there was no stuttering and the fps remained locked in the triple digits.
So, that's Tormented Souls 2 in a nutshell. More of the same (and literally in terms of content), but that's not a bad thing. These efforts are still necessary for younger players to see what this genre is all about, and we're glad that such passionate works from smaller teams can be viable in the relentless arena of polished AAA releases. Highly recommended for any lover of survival horror.
RATING - 84%
84%
They do make them like this, after all.
Tormented Souls 2, like its predecessor, doesn't break any molds. It doesn't need to, and we're happy that games like this continue to come out, catering to audiences with more particular tastes.
