Developer: Tarsier Studios
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Release Date: 11th February 2021
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch & Steam
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X via BC
*A code for this game was provided by the publisher.
It’s hard to believe that the original Little Nightmares is nearly four years old. Released back in April of 2017, the same month as one of my other favourite Indie games, The Sexy Brutale. With the first game, it seemed like developer Tarsier Studios had taken all that they learned from the platforming in Little Big Planet and Tearaway, and fused that together with what Playdead produced with Limbo & Inside. Now Tarsier is back with the highly anticipated follow-up, but can it live up to the hype? YES!
Little Nightmares II is eerie, just like its predecessor. Tarsier Studios has not set out to reinvent the wheel with this sequel and honestly, I am so glad they haven’t. I got exactly what I wanted here – more of the same, but better. We begin out in the forest with our new protagonist Mono. Here we are (re)introduced to the basics of the game, including how stealth works along with some light puzzle-solving. The intro does a great job of showing you the parameters set within the world.
Joining our new protagonist Mono is Six, the hero of the first game. This isn’t an escort mission though. Six is often helpful in lifting you up to higher areas or grabbing your hand when a jump is just a little bit too far. While stealth is still one of the primary gameplay mechanics, there is the odd bit of melee combat now, by way of the odd pipe or other object left lying around. The blows pack a punch and feel super satisfying, but the timing can take a bit of getting used to. This new brutal combat is also made more impactful by the brilliant audio design, which goes to an even higher level if played with headphones on.
I often find puzzle games frustrating. It’s not the games fault, I’m just not particularly good at them. The puzzle-solving in Little Nightmares almost always feels logical to me though. This game made me feel smart. A rare treat. More often than not I could scan the surroundings, formulate a plan and it just worked. Now that’s not to say there isn’t a lot of trial and error, because there is. You are regularly blindsided and wiped out with little to no time to react, but this allows you to come back into the area ready to avoid the hazard next time. The game teaches you to learn from your mistakes. Plus the checkpoint system is absolutely on point, so you are never forced to play through multiple sections again.
The world itself is absolutely beautiful, in the darkest and most dreary way. It reminds me so much of a Tim Burton movie. The level of detail put into every corner of the world is really impressive. This was also the case with the first game, but I feel like the variety of locations makes it feel like a real leap in this latest entry. Each location was a joy to explore. The enemy design was also a real highlight of the game, such as the teacher with a neck that can just inexplicably stretch so that she can search high and wide while barely moving. There are other enemy encounters that I would like to get into, but these moments are what makes Little Nightmares II so special and should be experienced in-game.
The initial console release for Little Nightmares II is on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. I reviewed the game between both PC and Xbox Series X. On Series X via backward compatibility, it ran at a steady 30fps. A native next-gen version is planned for later in the year that will run at 4K/60fps. Frame rate is important to me in most games, but given the nature of the gameplay and how steady the 30fps is, it didn’t bother me at all throughout my playtime.
In a move that is likely to elicit cheers from the achievement and trophy hunting communities, Tarsier Studios have toned down their list this time around. Gone is the dreaded ‘Hard to the core’ – requiring you to complete the game in less than an hour without dying, making the list roughly a 3/10 difficulty. PlayStation gamers will also be delighted to know that there is a platinum trophy.
Overall Little Nightmares II is fantastic sequel to one of my favourite Indie games ever. It is bigger and better in almost every way. From its extended length to the brilliantly detailed environments, right down to a better achievement/trophy list. This is a game that I would recommend to anyone.
-Craig 🧐
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