Little Nightmares II is coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC very soon, so we thought we’d talk about five things that have got us HYPED to play the game.
– It does something different (but still incredibly eerie and disturbing) with the horror genre.
When you think horror, you don’t really think ‘puzzle-platforming adventure’, do you? Well, that’s what Little Nightmares brought to the genre when it released in 2017 and it felt really unique. Sure, Limbo and INSIDE proved that it could be done, but Little Nightmares took the formula and expanded upon it with a more adventure-driven focus that felt more akin to a typical example of the genre.
Little Nightmares II looks like it’s going to offer more of the same… you know… a good mixture of tricky precision-based platforming, plenty of fun puzzles to solve, and, of course, a good dose of frights to go along with it all.
It’s that last one that I feel like needs emphasising, with the original game offering a fantastic sense of tension and fear within both its gameplay and environmental design. There was ALWAYS something frightening to see around you, whether it was one of the many nasties that were out to get you or something a bit more subtle like a pair of hanging feet. There’s a story to be told within the game world and its NEVER a pretty one, but it helps build this disturbing atmosphere that easily rivals that of the Resident Evil or Silent Hill series. It doesn’t bombard you with jump scares either, but instead builds up an unnerving sense of tension that’ll have you desperately seeking those moments of solace where you KNOW you’re (temporarily) safe. It’s brilliant.
– It has very clever environmental-based puzzle-platforming that fits in perfectly with the game’s sinister world.
One thing that the original Little Nightmares did really well was the environment-based puzzle-platforming, with almost anything and everything around you able to be climbed over, hidden under, or used in a clever means to get past any obstacles in your path. Little Nightmares II looks to continue that trend, with a believable sense of progress found in the game where you use objects around you that actually feel like they belong there.
I mean, come on, how many times has a conveniently placed crate or a random floating platform broke the immersion in other platforming adventures? You won’t get that in Little Nightmares II – just don’t be surprised if some of the things you find yourself climbing over have sinister undertones…
– The encounters with the villains are going to be wild.
If there’s one thing that sticks out the most about the original Little Nightmares, it’s the encounters with the game’s cast of gruesome villains; I STILL get freaked out by the Twin Chefs, but I think it’s safe to say that The Janitor and his long dangly arms gave me the heebie-jeebies the most.
Little Nightmares II is bringing even more vile antagonists to face off against, with the Thin Man, The Hunter, and The Teacher some of the early reveals that look like they’re going to make your journey a terrifying one. If they’re anything like the encounters from the first game, they won’t just rely on jump scares and chase sequences either – you’re going to have to use all of your platforming prowess to get past these monstrosities and be ready to think outside of the box if you’re going to have any hope of survival.
It might sound intimidating, but don’t be surprised if you find these showdowns stand out as the most memorable parts of Little Nightmares II.
– You’re not alone this time around…
Ok, sure, that sounds pretty sinister, but I’m talking about the fact that you have an AI-controlled buddy with you this time around to help you out during some of Little Nightmares II’s puzzles and platforming sequences.
Now I know that AI partners don’t always work that well in video games and they can be a bit of a burden, but the simplistic setup of Little Nightmares II’s gameplay lends itself well to the concept. It also adds a fresh element to the puzzling mechanics to encourage the player to see how their actions will play out from two perspectives, which opens up some new ideas that weren’t present in the first game. I think it’ll work, and hey, it’s nice to know that you’ll have a bit of company.
It’s worth noting that there isn’t a multiplayer feature in the game though, so don’t expect to be able to have a friend join you on the adventure.
– It’s also coming to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S (with a free upgrade).
You’ll be able to play Little Nightmares II on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC when it launches on February 11th, but it’s also coming to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S later in 2021. There aren’t any details available for these current-gen versions just yet, but I’d expect to see better performance and visuals across the board… not bad for a game that already looks pretty stunning throughout (in that eerie and macabre kind of way).
Best of all, those who own the game on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One already will get a free upgrade to the current-gen version of the game when it launches, meaning you won’t have to double-dip – it’s certainly enough of an incentive for me to give the game another playthrough when it launches later in the year.
Little Nightmares II is coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC on February 11th 2021, with a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S release coming later in 2021. Find out more on the official website through this link.
