Rating: 4.5
Author: Katsutoshi

Fixed cameras, dark settings illuminated usually only by a weak light source, and claustrophobic corridors. Many games try to take this as a basis to bring back the experience of the classics of the Survival Horror genre that won so many fans in the past. Tormented Souls from 2021 was one of those games that emerged, but despite having all the “rules” of the genre in place, it manages to bring quality and identity to a good experience.

Four years later, a sequel has been released, which could just be a repeat of what worked in the first game, but shows that the developers have managed to stay true to their identity and, at the same time, go beyond in terms of quality.

Mansion/Hospital Gone, Welcome to Hess Village

If the first game was set in a mansion that had been turned into a hospital, here Caroline travels with her sister Anna to what was supposed to be a spa. Welcomed by a nun, the place is apparently run by nuns, which already gives it a suspicious air, and the game doesn’t waste much time in showing that the suspicions were true.

But going back a bit, the game already shows a visual improvement that the studio has managed to bring, where the colors are different, and the aspect of light and shadow is more balanced. This is already a new identity capable of differentiating us from the previous game. Caroline and Anna have a new look, but I still find the animations of these characters a little stiff, while the other characters are very good. Of course, when it comes to the gameplay, all the animations are equally good.

Caroline now has to explore not only what seems to be another mansion transformed into a convent for fanatical nuns, but also tunnels and external environments to try and rescue Anna from some macabre ritual. Here, the experience remains the same, and I don’t mean that in a bad way, as the corridors seem smaller, and the camera that follows you sometimes makes different movements.

The design of the levels is much better, and if it made sense before, here it becomes much more immersive. Of course, the puzzles sometimes don’t make much sense logically, but it’s a signature of the classics of the genre, which entertains and makes you think.

Lights, Sound, Streaming, and Scares

While I mentioned earlier that the game’s lighting is impeccable, the sound is no exception either and helps to immerse you as you explore the settings. There are many moments when the game is scary, but without using an exaggerated level of sound, with scenarios in which at every moment something seems to be happening while the player is trying to escape the place.

This game is recommended for those who create content by streaming games, so that the audience can be scared or see the streamer’s reaction in tense moments.

In terms of performance, the game runs very smoothly and has no performance problems. It can even be enjoyed on portable devices running Steam.

Praise must also be given to the game’s localization work, which is available in 12 languages, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences in different regions of the world.

STREAMER SCORE

Performance
Streamability
Audience Engagement
Replayability

4.5

Summary

It’s still a demo, but even so, the game is long enough to show its experience in a solid way. Tormented Souls 2 evolves and brings a better experience, but without detracting from the previous game. I highly recommend playing the first one to prepare for when the full version comes out.

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