News

‘Layers of Fear 2’ Trades Tension for Uneven Game Play

Published

5 years ago

May 29, 2019

Layers of Fear 2, the highly anticipated follow-up to Bloober Team’s Layers of Fear, released this week with a brand new story to tell. Unfortunately, it seems the magic of the first has been somewhat muddled in the creation of this new chapter.

Set on a luxury cruise ship, Layers of Fear 2 is every bit as beautiful as its predecessor. Immaculate dining rooms and state rooms are open for exploration; gorgeous sunsets gleam through portholes and windows, and terror can wait around any turn.

Bloober Team also seriously upped their game in this sequel with sound design adding layers upon layers of directional sound.

Players step into the shoes of an actor who has been brought on board to star in a film directed by a reportedly deranged film director whose musings we hear in voiceover–by none other than Tony Todd (Candyman)–as the game progresses.

The settings are stunning in Layers of Fear 2

Unfortunately, the game seems to flounder, not only in purpose but also in storytelling.

The first hour or so of the game feels much like the first Layers of Fear. Players solve puzzles, rooms change in the blink of an eye, and strange voices whisper from the dark.

The developers deftly use jointed wooden mannequins to incredible effect in these scenes. It’s almost unbelievable how utterly terrifying an inanimate object suddenly moving can be, but the turn of a head or the shift of a hand can be truly startling in these circumstances.

Then things get strange.

Suddenly the actor comes face to face with a deformed creature who can and will kill you…instantly, again and again, until you figure out exactly how to navigate safely away from it. While this might work in other games where the player is expecting confrontation, it was completely unexpected in the Layers of Fear setting.

Not only did it pull me out of the storytelling space the game had curated to that point in the game, but the combination of slow game mechanics versus a very fast-moving monster left me frustrated and angry. What’s more, there’s very little signposting in this game. Many key moments you’re going to figure out only by trial and a lot of errors.

Once this confrontation aka running-for-your-life-while-slamming-doors-without-making-a-single-mistake challenge is over, the player finds themselves back inside the walk and explore model.

Unfortunately, this creates a very uneven gaming experience. It’s as though Bloober attempted to please everyone with this game and somewhere along the way lost sight of their objective.

Still, there is a lot to enjoy here, especially during those sequences where you’re exploring and putting together the story. Unlike the rather internal experience of the first game, Layers of Fear 2‘s story is more external, putting together the story of those who have sailed this ship before while trying to adapt to “the Method” that the director is asking you to take on for his film.

There are moments where the game asks you to simply give over to its madness and it’s up to the player to decide just how deep they’re willing to go in their exploration and immersion.

Will you give over to the madness?

Can you accept the conceit of stepping out of an elevator on a ship to find yourself on a cobbled stone street while still accepting that you’re actually still on the ship? How about a door in slideshow that actually becomes a door?

If so, and I recommend you go with it, then you may find things to love in Layers of Fear 2.

Layers of Fear 2 is available on PC, PS4, and XBox now.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

20 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

22 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.