(Image credit: Tarsier Studios)

A Dark Partnership

The dark atmospheric psychological horror continues in Little Nightmares II. Tarsier Studios tells a story in the new title that will have the player left with more questions than answers, but also a burning desire to replay the game. The Load Screen reviews the new title produced by Bandai Namco Entertainment as worth playing despite not advancing much from the original in graphics and platforming. The immersive narrative and added game mechanics make it stand out as another impressive survival action-adventure.

Little Nightmares II begins with a boy named Mono waking up in front of a television showing a mysterious transmission. The player is left assuming that the main character has no memory of how he got to the forest in the first place. Even his face is never fully revealed since most masks he wears cover it completely. After running through cleverly hidden traps, the protagonist runs into and frees Six, the hero from the first title. The two reluctantly team up to escape the island, however, the city they land in has fallen prey to the effects of the broadcast already.

(Image credit: Tarsier Studios)

The gameplay has the feel of the preceding game but with enough new mechanics that do not make Little Nightmares II feel as if it were just a DLC. Controlling a different character is not the only variation the title brings from the first one. Mono can lift heavier objects including weapons that the girl in the yellow hood could not. Also, having Six lend a hand for puzzles and platforming makes this game feel unique. The first time she reached her hand out to help me pass an impossible jump I was hooked.

Despite the advancements in mechanics, Little Nightmares II suffers some platform issues that were prevalent in the original title. Sometimes lining up a jump was difficult especially when running from one of the twisted residents of the city. The rafters and slim boards can get frustrating since the game uses more lateral movement than the first one. When the camera does not freely follow the player in a 3D platformer it can lead to these situations.

(Image credit: Tarsier Studios)

With no character uttering a clear word, the scenery and atmosphere must carry everything including the story. Tarsier studios does excellent work letting each room tell a little narrative. Even the actions of the remaining citizens speak to personal loss and longing, which made me wonder if they are resisting the transmission. Questions such as this caused me to linger in some rooms for answers, while at other times they drove me further into the darkness. The combination of distinct environments mixed with unique enemies added to the drama including the supernatural incident that preceded this game.

Unanswered questions ring in my head as I completed Little Nightmares II, but those dark questions only made me want to start the game back over and then go through the first title again for missed clues. The psychological action-adventure game is a worthy follow-up to Little Nightmares as well as a fun game in general. The Load Screen intends on replaying Bandai Namco’s Little Nightmares II many times over, searching for hidden masks and answers to who the real villains are.

Little Nightmares II

• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, Nintendo Switch

• Developer: Tarsier Studios

• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment

• Release Date: 2/11/2021