We tried Little Nightmares 2, the new title from Tarsier Studios and Bandai Namco and we are ready to tell you what we think in this one review. Will the sequel to the famous saga be able to convince us or not?
- Little Nightmares 2 review: the plot
- Unity is strength: Six and Mono
- Environment and puzzles: constant anxiety
- A story worth living
- Conclusion
Our test took place on PlayStation 4.
Little Nightmares 2 review: the horror that will make you tremble
Little Nightmares 2 is a puzzle-action horror title and adventure developed by Tarsier Studios and produced by Bandai Namco. This is the sequel by Little Nightmares and was first announced during Gamescom 2019.
The new title takes place some time after Six, the protagonist of the first chapter, manages to escape from the Maw. The protagonist of Little Nightmares 2, and therefore the character we're going to check out, is the little one Mono. This is a masked child wearing a paper bag on his head and got trapped in a world that was distorted by the transmission of the Signal Tower.
With the help of little Six, Mono will have to uncover the dark secrets behind the Signal Tower and will also have to do everything possible to save her friend from her horrible fate. However, their journey will not be easy because numerous obstacles e scary monsters are ready to put a spoke in the wheel, in the worst way.
I tried the first chapter, Little Nightmares, recently and I was completely fascinated by the atmosphere it conveyed. So my first thought, and my first concern, was that the game's writers weren't able to maintain that exact same vibe. It is usually not easy to maintain high standards when making a sequel.
To my delight, however, I can say that Tarsier Studios has succeeded and most likely also managed to exceed my expectations.
A new adventure companion: unity is strength
The idea of having a companion of adventures in the course of this strange and gruesome adventure, I was very curious. At first, however, I didn't really realize that this time around, we weren't going to be wearing Six again but we were going to control another character.
Little Mono actually manages to win us over in no time. Despite his covered face and his faded brown jacket, he is able to touch our hearts in a strange but fascinating way.
Our adventure begins in a slow but, at the same time, dynamic way. It is a contradiction, we are aware of it but it is so. The first part that takes place outside allows us to familiarize yourself with the main keys again and reminds us of di observe every little detail of the surrounding environment. We must be careful as danger lurks in every corner, literally.
A little further on, then, we meet little Six. A breath of fresh air envelops us and we are happy to see our old friend again. Be ready because she will be the only positive element of this adventure: from now on the road will become more and more tortuous and it will be difficult to survive. In this regard you must remember that Unity is strength.
One of the fundamental points of Little Nightmares 2 is precisely the collaboration between Six and Mono. Through the triangle button the two will be able to communicate, in a certain sense, and whenever we need Six, she will be ready to help us. Long distance jumps, climbing a window that is too high or jumping over a door handle to open it: Six will be there and it's impossible not to notice. the sense of security that his presence offers us.
Obviously there will be occasions when we will have to split up and Six will necessarily have to wait for us on the other side of the door as we tempt fate and the monstrous creatures of that world to accomplish our mission.
In an environment so dark, obscure and perpetually on the verge of hitting us when we least expect it, knowing that on the other side of the room there is someone waiting for us, really comfortable. We never thought we would feel safe in a place where terror is ready to come out at any moment, yet thanks to little Six everything is calmer - sometimes.
Little Nightmares 2, however, also wants to aim for something else, namely the tension. The title, unlike what one might think, does not want to scare us but make us feel anxious, wants us to feel in distress, thesis. For the duration of our adventure, therefore, we will feel pressed and crushed by this anxiety that does not want to abandon us even for a moment.
It is an interesting one mix of emotions: on the one hand the security that Six gives us, on the other the terror of being left behind, in the dark and completely alone, anxiety.
Small input: if you approach Six by holding down the key R2, you can take her hand and walk with her. I found it something really Dolce e tender.
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Little Nightmares 2 review: environment and puzzles
One of the main features of Little Nightmares is this alternation of sounds and silence. The protagonists do not speak e there is no dialogue in the game: in their place, however, there are distorted melodies or the sound of foreign footsteps, the creaking of doors or wooden floorboards.
Sometimes, however, there is the total silence which is then interrupted by simple ambient noises. The delicate sound of the rain mixed with sweet melodies, which makes us understand that at that moment we are safe but also harder, more intense sounds, which make us understand that the danger is near.
Little Nightmares 2 plays a lot on this element and theapparent absence of sound, in some cases, it is itself a deafening noise.
The environment that surrounds us is macabre e dilapidated. The colors are extinguished, devoid of vitality, a bit like our protagonists. Unlike those destroyed furniture and that environment that seems to be on the verge of dying at any moment, however, Six and Mono want to survive.
Behind his faded jacket and the cardboard envelope covering his face, Mono It never gives up and so does little Six, who will be back here too more fearless than ever.
Tarsier Studios also makes a really interesting play of light and shadow. Often and willingly darkness is our greatest ally, which allows us to hide from the vile eyes of the monsters who, undeterred, seek us. Other times, however, the only way to survive is to turn on the light or run towards it.
Like the first chapter, Little Nightmares 2 features numerous puzzles e puzzles that we must resolve in order to move forward with our adventure. I feel the need to emphasize what these puzzles are ingenious e well done: most of them require a profound reasoning and they are by no means trivial.
As you progress forward, the puzzles will become more and more complicated and they will test us. For some, for example, it took longer than expected but I really liked this aspect. I managed to test my skills and allowed me to feel even closer to the characters.
A little piece of advice that could save you from horrible and sudden deaths: before proceeding forward, make sure you carefully observe the environment that surrounds you. Observe every little object e planned carefully your next moves.
Story and gameplay: real emotions
We will have to face different levels, each completely different from the previous one and characterized each time by new items. On some occasions we will have to interact more often with the surrounding environment throwing objects, climbing or hiding completely and then acting in stealth mode.
Others, however, we will have available an object that we will carry around throughout the level and will be our ace in the hole. But often we have to move quickly and if we don't act promptly, we will miss our chance. This could be a flaw, in reality it is one of the strengths of the title because it emphasizes the ability and concentration of the player. The so-called "action and reaction".
Obviously I have lost "my chance" several times at the beginning of the game so be patient. It is not easy to enter into this perspective but after a couple of times, you will succeed.
Another aspect not to be underestimated is the history. When it comes to horror, most of the time, one thinks of a game capable of arouse only fear and tension and that, in addition to this, has nothing else to offer. Instead I believe that horror can offer much more than you can imagine and Little Nightmares 2 it is living proof.
The Tarsier Studios sequel tells us a story right from the main screen, one story full of emotions that often they contrast with each other. Throughout the narrative arc we will fill up with these emotions that, in one way or another, will envelop us.
Then, suddenly, these feelings they will abandon us e there will be nothing left: it will be just us e the intense emptiness that only a noteworthy game is able to leave.
READ ALSO: Little Nightmares 2 ready for release: here is the launch trailer
In conclusion
Putting aside a little bug which fortunately I solved by resuming from the last checkpoint, Little Nightmares 2 is in effect the sequel we needed. The title shows us that even the horror genre is capable of tell a story and Tarsier Studios does it brilliantly.
It is not just any story, it is full of conflicting emotions and feelings that allow us to get to the heart of the game. Step by step, under the shadows of this decadent and monstrous world, we feel closer to our protagonists, in particular to little Mono. His is a character who manages to conquer us immediately and it shows us that you don't need to be big and big to be brave.
Somehow we come literally sucked into this lightless atmosphere, where the shadow reigns supreme. Monsters don't just attack Mono and Six, but us too. This is important, as it means that the developer has succeeded in make us part of history through music, settings, characters and a complex puzzle of riddles.
Tarsier Studios offered us a exceptional product that deserves to be played and lived.
To conclude, we remind you that the title is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
Little Nightmares 2
For 
- Suggestive settings
- Excellent sound sector
- Innovative and original story able to excite
- Characters that leave their mark
- Constant feeling of anxiety
Cons 
- Bug that was fixed by reloading from the checkpoint
