Layers Of Fear (2023) Review – Delusions Of Grandeur

Bloober Team’s unique Layers of Fear (2016) grew to become an nearly in a single day gaming sensation when its mind-bending Steam Early Access model gave gamers some really imaginative sights. The sequel continued the unique’s themes of tortured artists, however swapped a painter for an actor, and supplied arguably much more ingenious visuals. Both video games have been, in my view, tremendous, however nothing extra. Now, reborn on Unreal Engine 5 with new content material interspersed with what was there earlier than, Layers of Fear (2023) appears to be like to be the definitive method to expertise the horror collection. However, its haunts stay largely empty. The new engine makes the sport a visible benchmark, however it nonetheless feels extra like a haunted home at a theme park, providing the phantasm of hazard however by no means one thing sincerely threatening.Perhaps the primary hurdle in critiquing the collection’ reinvention is explaining precisely what this package deal gives. Layers of Fear and its sequel each return roughly 80% the identical as you could have skilled them earlier than. Some scenes have been redesigned or added–or even eliminated, if my reminiscence serves me appropriately. Both video games obtain new however in the end shallow mechanics permitting for a couple of fight sections wherein you will must blast stalking ghosts with mild to stall them when you escape their maze-like settings. The first sport’s transient Inheritance DLC can also be included, and a brand-new DLC meant to wrap the collection up extra neatly than earlier than, The Final Note, makes its debut.The finest a part of all of that is really the framing narrative, The Writer’s Story. Built straight into the sport as you progress by means of its related components, you will routinely bounce again to a lighthouse the place a author tells the story of the sport’s different haunted artists: the painter, the actor, and the musician. Like these in the principle video games, the author is coping with her personal hauntings, and I discover the format elegant and fairly novel for the medium. It appears like a horror anthology, similar to V/H/S, solely on this case, all the person tales in the end share a universe.Light fight parts have been added to handle previous complaints, however they do not add a lot to the video games.This supply is compelling, however it has the odd impact of creating every particular person piece extra of a letdown, as they largely battle to carry up on their very own. Layers of Fear has all the time been extra like an amusement park experience than a survival-horror expertise, and that MO simply does not really feel conducive to producing precise pressure. Even in these new versions–which attempt to add extra attainable game-over screens–moments are too scripted and enemies are mainly non-existent. The novelty of coming into a room, seeing one thing bizarre occur, then turning to seek out the atmosphere has seamlessly modified earlier than you is sometimes mind-melting, however by no means, ever scary.The first sport additionally feels determined to keep away from being misunderstood, to the purpose the place its story is laid out so naked, it betrays the adage of “show, don’t tell” at each flip. The Final Note DLC seeks to over-explain much more by placing you within the position of the one particular person you by no means play as within the unique or its Inheritance DLC. Inheritance additionally winds up being mechanically irritating attributable to some complicated puzzles, however its intent to point out the world by means of the eyes of a kid make it extra memorable than something the opposite items do, until you rely the brand new DLC’s damaged enemy encounters, throughout which the ghost chasing me get caught midway within the floorboards.The spotlight is actually Layers of Fear 2, which does extra with its setting and story than the remainder of the collection mixed. Unlike the needlessly overt unique, the sequel is probably too shrouded in metaphor at occasions, although it does make piecing all of it collectively extra fascinating.For those that by no means performed the unique Layers of Fear video games, this reimagined package deal is certainly a greater first expertise than the outdated versionsWhile the opposite video games all happen in infinite darkness, Layers of Fear 2 is ready aboard a cruise ship the place a film was to be filmed, and it is not afraid to show the lights on at occasions, continually toying with totally different palettes and surroundings. It winds up extra memorable than the unique’s home, which feels the identical room to room, albeit with some nightmarish scenes of its personal to play off of. The story is without delay a twisted story of methodology performing, a darkish tragedy, and an almost fixed homage to horror’s previous, with nods to The Shining, Psycho, and extra laid out like shows in a horror museum. It’s all narrated by actor Tony Todd too, who makes a fantastic match given the tenor of his voice, notably if you happen to’re aware of his physique of labor like Candyman and Final Destination.Still, not even Layers of Fear 2 can break freed from the collection’ shackles. Gameplay throughout the collection largely comes all the way down to strolling, opening doorways, and seeing what bizarre scene awaits on the opposite facet. Some mild puzzles combine up the pacing, however the brand new chase sequences really feel one-note, lots of them even utilizing the identical dialogue traces time after time. To its credit score, this new version is constructed on Unreal Engine 5 and appears to make the most of the brand new Lumen lighting know-how, which makes video games like Fortnite so jaw-dropping to take a look at. Here, the colours are naturally not as brilliant as Epic’s cartoonish battle royale, however the lighting tech is dazzling nonetheless. I ended in my tracks many occasions throughout the 10-12 hours it takes to complete all 5 experiences just because the sport appears to be like superb.With a best-in-series story and extra visible selection, Layers of Fear 2 stays the collection’ excessive level.It’s simply too unhealthy it not often does greater than that. Before, Layers of Fear supplied some gorgeous scenes and a moody ambiance. Now, practically a decade later, the sport someway reinvents itself however provides only a few new strengths, whereas its weaknesses solely stand out extra because of the effort that went into justifying the challenge within the first place. It feels just like the studio heard the grievance of a scarcity of true threats within the video games, however in looking for to shine out that blemish, simply left extra faults.For those that by no means performed the unique Layers of Fear video games, this reimagined package deal is certainly a greater first expertise than the outdated variations, merely on account of trying higher and including the neat framing narrative of The Writer’s Story. But for horror fanatics already well-versed within the collection, its MO stays as smoke and mirrors. There are not any actual terrors lurking within the shadows simply out of attain. There is simply the suggestion of some, and like the various tortured artists on the heart of its saga, they’re left unfulfilled.