Layers of Fear 2 Reviews
Layers of Fear 2 falls short in one too many areas for us to consider it a classic, but the experience that remains is still well worth your time. Predictable horror conventions aside, spectacular visuals, a haunting atmosphere, and impressive shape-shifting environments are sure to keep you up at night.
Layers of Fear 2 retains many of the features of its predecessor while varying the setting greatly. Wandering in solitude on the Icarus in search of the truth is undoubtedly a claustrophobic experience, however, the continuous use of the more classic clichés of the horror genre makes the final result too predictable and inevitably much less terrifying than expected.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Layers of Fear 2 is an abstract, slow burn psychological thriller that strings you along with increasingly skilled and disturbing imagery, then leaves you shaking and looking over your shoulder.
A visually resplendent sequel, Layers of Fear 2 is frequently terrifying affair - though it fails to capture the ponderous melancholy of its predecessor and boasts plot that is far too often disjointed. All the same for those willing to stick with it, there are no shortage of hair-raising and spine-chilling moments.
Layers Of Fear 2 is an extremely gripping first-person horror game that can keep players engaged from beginning to end thanks to its story, which touches some very interesting themes. The game, however, is far from being a masterpiece that could appeal to a wider audience due to its simple gameplay mechanics, linearity and excessive similarity to its predecessor. A solid game and a must-have for fans of psychological horror stories, but not for everyone.
Layers of Fear 2 is a rather disappointing follow-up to 2016's interesting and effective psychological horror effort. There's a decent premise here, a strong setting and an opportunity to tell an interesting tale, but it feels wasted for the most part. Despite looking and sounding great, predicable scares, repetitive gameplay, disappointing puzzles and a story that just never makes a decent connection result in a game that's pretty hard to recommend overall.
Even though both Layers of Fear's stories are not linked, this sequel follows up the style of the original game. All the horror comes from the peculiar stagings and visuals used by Bloober Team that cause a constant sensation of anguish. Also, the different "homages" to several movie classics are a great classy touch.
Review in French | Read full review
Layers of Fear 2 excels in many aspects of psychological horror, but it also undermines itself. While it creates many layers of fear, there’s little connective tissue between them to make the narrative coherent enough to engage with.
Layers of Fear 2 didn’t live up to any of my expectations, but given what I expected, that’s a good thing.
The game's first few acts are its finest, particularly for their strong sense of physicality.
Layers of Fear 2 has a great atmosphere, but it's muffled by choppy controls and confusing narratology.
Review in German | Read full review
Layers of Fear 2 is an enjoyable horror adventure, but rarely does anything new with the genre. I've seen it all before, and given the excellence of Bloober Team's last project, this feels like a step backward in terms of both ambition and quality.
Layers of Fear 2's cryptic story is filled with film references and well-earned scares, making it the perfect digestible game for any horror buff.
Bloober Team has done tremendous work in creating rich horror narratives that are as compelling as they are scary.
In conclusion, Layers of Fear 2 is a worthwhile experience, and even more so if you consider the launch price of $30. I can’t say I found it as thought-provoking or chilling as the first Layers, but it’s still pretty solid. The story, writing, sound design, much of the game design overall really, outlasts the lesser, but still very significant, flaws of the game.
Layers of Fear 2's production is without peer, but the continuously frustrating design decisions confuse.
Layers of Fear 2 is a "sightseeing horror walking simulator" that focuses on different things than games like What Remains of Edith Finch. This majestic, atmospheric game offers players a unique and bold experience, but the best features can be seen in single scenes than in the entire title.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Layers of Fear 2 provides an atmospheric horror story that uses scares to its advantage. Despite some buggy mechanics, the game contains beautiful and haunting visuals, varied gameplay, and satisfying plot elements incorporating classic films.
Overall, I found Layers of Fear 2 to be a mixed bag for me. While I do enjoy the puzzle solving, the majority of the game is too slow and uneventful to really make a huge impression on me. Sure it was fun playing the game more than once to unlock all of the endings, but I don't think this game is worth all of the effort.
While Layers of Fear was a jaunt into the unknown, Layers of Fear 2 has a strong sense of déjà vu that you carry with you from beginning to end; you’ve the feeling you’ve seen this before, and likely, more expertly done. Despite that misstep, it remains a must-play for horror fans who’re looking for a polished, atmospheric little fright.