The primary Layers of Concern title appeared in 2016, adopted by some meaty DLC. Then, in 2019, Layers of Concern 2 appeared, working a shared universe however in a unique setting with completely different characters. Now Layers of Concern (2023) is right here, bringing the 2 video games collectively, plus some further content material, to create a brand new package deal of horror.
Layer of Concern (2023) shouldn’t be 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 girl who’s staying in a lighthouse, engaged on her subsequent novel. She is a troubled author, working by way of 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 by way of her phrases into the primary sport.
The primary chapter is ready in an early Twentieth-century lavish house, 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 together with this, masking the factors of view of the daughter and spouse. The storytelling is essentially visible, working an summary, deeply disturbing journey by way of somebody’s insanity. It’s as good now because it was once I first performed it; deeply disturbing.
The second chapter is ready 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 sport, far more experimental in what’s achieved by way of the visible storytelling of the sport. Once more, what performs out is deeply disturbing, but it surely is filled with genius moments that may preserve your coronary heart pumping. Total, putting these two video games along with a brand new chapter working as a bridge between them could be very intelligent and works excellently all through.
Gameplay clever and what’s present in Layers of Concern (2023), particularly within the preliminary incidents, works very very like a strolling sim; you progress by way of a linear (despite the fact that it’s a really twisted linear) pathway. Within the second sport, there are a lot of extra puzzles and completely 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 searching you. Within the second sport, it’s used to maneuver mannequins in a really intelligent and distinctive method. The sport seamlessly provides new touches to the gameplay and to all of the chapters on provide. Frankly, every 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 buddy, Ray Tracing. The lighting is wonderful, as are the textures all through. As I mentioned earlier than, the visible storytelling of this sport is as necessary 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, reworking into one thing else. But if I needed to checklist my favorite visible moments it might be the pages of notes. Nonetheless, unusually, Within the second chapter there are nonetheless a couple 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 gentle melody moments to stress the emotion of the story, while tense tunes construct up for the extreme chase scenes. The results are good, very a lot as you’d count on from a horror sport, and taking part in along with your headphones on or working an honest audio set-up is just about important. The voice work is good, 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 can be being delivered within the type of a remake or shiny shine-up – these items are by no means pretty much as good as you bear in mind. However maybe these ideas want reconsidering as alongside the good remakes of Resident Evil 4 and Useless House 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 might be in for a deal with with Layers of Concern (2023). And even when you have performed it earlier than, you must head again in and be terrified as soon as extra.
