The primary Layers of Concern title appeared in 2016, adopted by some meaty DLC. Then, in 2019, Layers of Concern 2 appeared, operating a shared universe however in a unique setting with totally different characters. Now Layers of Concern (2023) is right here, bringing the 2 video games collectively, plus some extra content material, to create a brand new bundle of horror.
Layer of Concern (2023) isn’t a remaster or a remake, however slightly a horror reimagining. There’s a entire new graphical engine in play with Unreal Engine 5, new gameplay methods, and a brand new chapter set in a lighthouse, bringing the narratives collectively. It’s scary, unique and also you’ll wish to lap all of it up.
Layers of Concern (2023) can finest be described as an immersive horror expertise and puzzle journey. On this reimagining, the sport begins with a lady who’s staying in a lighthouse, engaged on her subsequent novel. She is a troubled author, working via the anxieties of what to do subsequent. Slowly her world will get haunted by a presence that frightens her, earlier than in the end inspiring her. Then we journey via her phrases into the primary recreation.
The primary chapter is about in an early Twentieth-century lavish residence, specializing in a painter, his spouse, and their daughter. The painter is haunted by his life, his failures, and his paintings. It’s a deep dive into the insanity of an artist’s life and the impact it has on his psychological well being and household. There are two bits of DLC to go along with this, protecting the factors of view of the daughter and spouse. The storytelling is essentially visible, working an summary, deeply disturbing journey via somebody’s insanity. It’s as sensible now because it was once I first performed it; deeply disturbing.
The second chapter is about on a liner within the ocean. You play an actor who has come to shoot a film by a well-known eccentric director who loves his artists to be immersed of their roles. What takes place is a horrific journey that examines the world of movie and fantasy. When it comes to storytelling, there’s a particular development from the primary recreation, way more experimental in what’s achieved via the visible storytelling of the sport. Once more, what performs out is deeply disturbing, nevertheless it is stuffed with genius moments that can hold your coronary heart pumping. Total, putting these two video games along with a brand new chapter working as a bridge between them may be very intelligent and works excellently all through.
Gameplay smart and what’s present in Layers of Concern (2023), particularly within the preliminary incidents, works very very like a strolling sim; you progress via a linear (regardless that it’s a really twisted linear) pathway. Within the second recreation, there are a lot of extra puzzles and totally different innovations within the gameplay. A brand new addition on this reimagining is the addition of a torch or lantern to offer gentle. This can be utilized to carry again a monster or apparition that’s looking you. Within the second recreation, it’s used to maneuver mannequins in a really intelligent and distinctive means. The sport seamlessly provides new touches to the gameplay and to all of the chapters on provide. Frankly, every little thing about Layers of Concern (2023) is ingenious and intriguing all through.
The sport has had a visible improve with the introduction of Unreal Engine 5 and our outdated good friend, Ray Tracing. The lighting is wonderful, as are the textures all through. As I stated earlier than, the visible storytelling of this recreation is as vital because the textual content you discover all through. And my phrase does it do an incredible job. Unusual visions blur realities and fantastic rooms change quickly, remodeling into one thing else. But if I needed to listing my favorite visible moments it might be the pages of notes. Nonetheless, unusually, Within the second chapter there are nonetheless a number of – very fast – loading screens, which is odd as not one of the different chapters have any.
The soundscore is enchanting, highly effective, and epic in its scale. Wonderful strings improve the smooth melody moments to stress the emotion of the story, while tense tunes construct up for the extraordinary chase scenes. The results are sensible, very a lot as you’d anticipate from a horror recreation, and taking part in together with your headphones on or working an honest audio set-up is just about important. The voice work is sensible, and we have to drop a shout-out to the actress within the new chapter.
I’ve issues going again to beloved video games, particularly these which are being delivered within the type of a remake or shiny shine-up – this stuff are by no means nearly as good as you keep in mind. However maybe these ideas want reconsidering as alongside the sensible remakes of Resident Evil 4 and Useless Area comes Layers of Concern (2023). This reimagining weaves in new concepts, new content material, and visible upgrades with aplomb; a genius transfer.
If you’re nonetheless to play Layers of Concern then you’re in for a deal with with Layers of Concern (2023). And even when you have performed it earlier than, you need to head again in and be terrified as soon as extra.
