Here’s a quick rundown of just some of the references I caught: Hitchcock (of course), Ridley Scott, David Fincher, Kubrick (naturally), Jean Cocteau, Lynch (no kidding), Willard/ Ben, and, pardon the pun, a hell of a lot more. In particular, there are a couple elements that may technically constitute spoilers, but are so central to the experience I’d be remiss to omit them from this review:įirst is arguably the game’s main selling point: its many, many (many) references and homages to classic horror and cinema in general. That the game later abandons this for an increasingly supernatural approach is both a major weakness – once everything is spooky, then nothing is – and also one of its strengths: there are some truly surreal moments in LoF 2, ones that could only work in this medium. In many ways, it’s the most “haunted house” of the haunted house games, at least in the early goings. There’s little here that couldn’t plausibly be arranged by a sadist with a penchant for used film sets and simple robotics. Initially, the game sets up a sadistic film director as the game’s driving force, with some early sequences proving the most frightening precisely because of how plausibly they play out, and how little they rely on otherworldly elements. Setting aside the mythos of the original, LoF 2 tells a brand new story involving a washed-up actor (in the original, it was a failed painter) plagued by malevolent forces psychologically torturing him for reasons both annoyingly clichéd and frustratingly enigmatic. Sadly, its sequel, out now, pales in comparison – though it does have a few neat tricks up its sleeve. One of the best of the genre remains the original Layers of Fear, a game that successfully balanced disturbing aesthetics, mind-bending gameplay, and well-timed jump scares. Less resourcefulness, more cowering in fear. In many ways, these are the games that come closest to emulating how you or I would actually attempt to survive a similar scenario. Whereas traditional survival horror titles like Silent Hill or Resident Evil give players a gun or a crowbar with which to ward off ghosts and goblins, haunted house games are expressly designed around the idea of defenselessness: your hero is alone, afraid, and vastly overpowered by the evil forces that surround them. Titles like Slender Man, Amnesia, and the Toronto-set SOMA all tend to have certain things in common: a first-person perspective, spooky/decrepit environments such as hospitals, insane asylums, or creaky Victorian mansions, a plethora of jump scares, and, significantly, player-protagonists with little-to-no ability to defend themselves. There has lately been a surge in popularity in what might be called haunted house video games. It’s fun, though disappointing in that it’s more creepy than genuinely frightening. Released on for PS4 (reviewed), Windows, Xbox One.Ī spooky and nightmarish haunted house simulator. For more Info go to the Paintings.Our review of Layers of Fear 2, developed by Bloober Team. Some of the pictures are even cuttings of bigger paintings, like the picture of the dog in the daughter's room which belongs, actually, to a portrait of a man. Many of the pictures are from known artists like Francisco Goya (»Saturn Devouring His Son«) or Rembrandt (»The Abduction of Ganymede«). The paintings with which the artist surrounds himself are all his real works. The game features the Painter exploring the warped and twisted version of his house, searching room after room despite always returning to the Workshop, collecting mementos, The Rat Scrawlings and delving into The Locked Cabinet as you go.Įvery year around Halloween, an event unlocks in the basement. Layers of Fear saw its full-release in the "Masterpiece Patch" on February 16, 2016. Layer by layer uncover the visions, fears and horrors that entwine the Painter and finish the masterpiece he has strived so very long to create. Heavily inspired by classic paintings from centuries past and the architecture and décor of the Victorian Era, Layers of Fear is a truly unique experience where each move of the camera can change your surroundings. Delve deep into the mind of an insane painter, and discover the secret of his madness as you walk through a constantly shifting house. Layers of Fear is a psychedelic horror that will keep you on-edge for the remainder of the game.
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