Out today, Lovecraft’s Untold Stories 2 once again invites players to tangle with strange tentacled monsters and other foul creatures that would haunt your dreams.
For the most part, players of the original game will slide into Lovecraft’s Untold Stories 2 like a pair of well-worn slippers. But there are some key differences here that make it obvious that this is a newer, more ambitious sequel.
For a start, there are the visuals. Gone is the blurry, pixelated aesthetic of the original game, replaced with a crisp, high resolution presentation that perhaps takes a little away from the game’s atmosphere, but allows for greater detail. Environments such as asylums and graveyards are more densely packed, not only with adversaries, but also objects for you to interact with and get obstructed by.
Making use of the space available is once again paramount, only now it’s easier to get backed into a corner. Enter a room packed with enemies, and you’ll have to really make effective use of your weapons, items and abilities if you want to succeed. But sometimes death seems inevitable, causing you to curse when you do finally meet your demise.
Death is just a minor setback in Lovecraft’s Untold Stories 2, though, just like in the first game. This is an action RPG with roguelike elements, meaning when you die you’re taken back to your base of operations, but thankfully you don’t really lose anything. Over time then, you become more capable of meeting your goals, as you not only brush up your skills, but also gain more powerful equipment.
One of the most notable new aspects to Lovecraft’s Untold Stories 2 is a crafting system. You’ll find a wide range of materials as you play, and upon discovering recipes you’re able to craft items. Whether you’re low on healing items and need to replenish your supplies, or need a key, you’ll find it invaluable. Though perhaps put any materials you’re carrying into storage before leaving your base, otherwise your inventory might get full and prohibit you from collecting new items.
Whereas the previous game had five characters for you to undertake your investigations with, Lovecraft’s Untold Stories 2 features six, with only three from the original game making a return. The Detective, The Witch, and The Professor are your initial choices, with three new faces to be found and recruited as you progress further into the game. The Medium, The The Alienist and The Veteran all bring their own unique skills to the table, making them fun to dabble with.
Fans of Lovecraft’s Untold Stories will find a lot to like about this sequel, then. Though some issues remain that we would liked to have been ironed out, such as an abundance of hazards, sometimes not all that visible, that constantly make you feel like you’re taking damage. Also, while Lovecraft’s Untold Stories 2 does have controller support, navigating its menus and dialogue options can be a pain at times.
Ultimately, with this sequel, Blini Games has sought to iterate on its hit Lovecraftian action RPG rather than reimagine it. There’s nothing wrong with that, especially when there are numerous improvements including brand new features, but it’s questionable if it will draw in new fans. There’s a solid game here, but it’s uncompromising at times. To the point, in fact, that it often feels unfair.
Lovecraft’s Untold Stories 2 is available now on PC.
