Making a sequel is tough. In truth, it might be seen as a daunting prospect.
On one hand, if a recreation has gone nicely and the viewers loves it then producing one other alongside the identical traces is like printing cash. However the draw back is that the viewers needs a brand new expertise, albeit in an analogous world. Generally the journey goes flat and the viewers grows uninterested in the format fairly rapidly.
Within the case of the Horror Story video games, it seems like solely yesterday once I was enjoying Horror Story 1: Kidnapper; the primary recreation within the collection. Meaning Horror Story 2: Samantha has to do one thing particular to maintain me hooked. However does it?
The Horror Story recreation franchise was initially made for the cell market, however it has slowly made its manner over to consoles. The premise is straightforward, as are the mechanics of this puzzle-solving stealth-based recreation.
Within the spooky place known as Lakewitch, kids are being kidnapped by folks in rabbit masks. Within the first journey, you ran round attempting to unravel the thriller of why this was taking place, in addition to attempting to nail down who was the kidnapper. On this second a part of the story, you begin the sport in a jail as soon as extra. As you escape you discover one other prisoner known as Samantha – you’re tasked with attempting to free her and your self from the kidnapper’s evil charms.
The story is an efficient one, despite the fact that Horror Story 2: Samantha is usually concerning the gameplay. It doesn’t really feel like an grownup horror recreation, however extra like a teen one. And all through, there are some good twists and a few good bits of writing on supply right here. It does really feel like a chapter ripped out of a e book moderately than an entire recreation although.
Horror Story 2: Samantha is performed within the first particular person, and all of it feels just about like the primary recreation. And neatly there’s a issue stage. In case you’re a type of who need to take a look at themselves absolutely when it comes to their stealthy abilities, you are able to do so.
How you progress and play is as much as you. However the secret right here is to attempt to resolve some puzzles earlier than escaping, all whereas avoiding the kidnapper patrolling the realm. You do that by stealth-shifting across the maze-like ranges of the sport; ranges which can be stuffed with twists and turns. It’s when the kidnapper spots you, wherein you’ll have to run after which cover in sure locations; bins or chosen areas till the hazard has handed. Whether or not you take pleasure in this recreation mechanic or not would be the key to your enjoyment of the sport. Personally, it’s one thing I’ve executed many occasions over and am getting somewhat uninterested in it. Others can have a great deal of enjoyable although, in a position to relish the problem.
Different parts at play deal with the gathering of things and discovering the proper place to make use of them. Fixing puzzles to open different areas can also be entrance and centre, as little by little you get to unravel extra of the narrative and escape the evil clutches of the captives. Nonetheless, very very similar to in Horror Story 1, there have been moments right here wherein I’ve been misplaced as to what to do. Whereas I applaud the dearth of hand-holding, somewhat bit extra steerage wouldn’t go amiss.
Visually, Horror Story 2: Samantha employs the graphical fashion of one thing like a Telltale Video games expertise; it feels very very similar to The Strolling Useless collection. All cartoony but blended with realism is the closest I can get to explain it. It really works although and the eye to element within the stage design works nice all through.
The sound is excellent too, with high-alert music that makes your heartbeat race when getting chased and a intelligent, but tense, soundtrack sitting beneath the sport when transferring.
It’s secure to say that for those who appreciated Horror Story 1: Kidnapper, you’ll do nicely with this subsequent chapter. The story in Horror Story 2: Samantha is sweet and the best way this universe retains including to itself is cleverly addictive. There will not be a lot new when it comes to mechanics from the unique recreation to this one, however Horror Story 2: Samantha is aware of what it needs, delivers its objectives brilliantly and gives some nice escape room vibes.
