The demo of one of the most attested games of 2021 is finally available, and we obviously tried it for you. Today, we will preview your first impressions from playing the short Little Nightmares 2 demo
The “little nightmares” are back in a new chapter, to everyone’s delight. Little Nightmares, acclaimed horror title by Tarsier Studio and distributed by Bandai Namco, it certainly needs no introduction. In the wake of the first chapter, this second adventure introduces us to new characters, new settings and other threats to survive. Let’s discover all these elements and much more together, nin our preview at Little Nightmares 2!
Lots of news, but the formula does not change
A winning team does not change, and Tarsier Studio seems to have understood this well. Starting the Little Nightmares 2 demo, we are almost in the same main menu as the first game. Same interface, same options, same creepy main theme. Here, however, instead of the eye, the characteristic logo of the series, we find the protagonists of the game in the foreground: Six, old acquaintance of the fans, this time is accompanied by Mono, unprecedented protagonist of the series.
From what is predicted on the screen, therefore, the game will see us engaged in keeping two characters alive instead of just one as it happened in the first chapter. Excited and anxious to try the game, we start a new game and we launch into the macabre world of Little Nightmares 2.
The Return of the Nightmare – Little Nightmares 2 Preview, our first impressions
Starting the game, as a big fan of the series, I am hit by a wave of feels not indifferent. The game begins exactly like the first, with Mono awakening in a haunting and dark nightmare. From the beginning it is clear that the studio wanted to focus on the same formula as the first Little Nightmares, to remain consistent with both the first approach to the adventure and with the unfolding of events.
We are therefore in a forest strewn with traps that vaguely recalls the setting of Limbo. Crossing this completely new environment, one soon arrives at a decidedly more familiar home environment. Entering a house through the window, and then descending into the basement, we find our mate of imprisoned adventures.
Once freed, the escape from the nightmare begins: after passing some puzzle typical of the game, we find ourselves surviving the menacing hunter who will chase us, trying to kill us with a shotgun. The demo ends at the exact moment you survive the first encounter with the hunter.
Look n feel – Little Nightmares 2 preview, our first impressions
The glance also in this second chapter is not lacking. We can consider Little Nightmares 2 as a kind of version 2.0 of the first game: there are no substantial differences in graphics, design or animations, but everything has been lightly coated. Compared to Six’s essential look, here we find Mono with the jacket fluttering, and the lighter has been replaced from a more functional flashlight. The animations appear smoother and more elaborate, especially when it comes to the interaction between the two protagonists. The particle effects are beautiful, as is the use of lights and reflections. In the woods in particular, when the traps are triggered, we are definitely struck by the behavior of the foliage and what we have around us.
Even on the audio sector we can only praise it (at the moment). While we have a 15 minute demo on our hands, the sound design is really addicting and each sound finds its perfect fit in the framework of the work. Here, too, we are particularly impressed by the feedback from the traps and the hunter’s shotgun shots. The music frames everything perfectly, like this as was also the case in the previous chapter.
Puzzle and survival – Little Nightmares 2 preview, our first impressions
Also on the puzzle speech and on the main component of the game, or the survival one, we retrace the footsteps of the first chapter but with the necessary changes. First of all, as already mentioned, here we find ourselves having to manage two characters. This implies that the gameplay will largely consist of the interaction and combos of Mono and Six, for better or for worse. Although this choice can certainly bring freshness to the gameplay, at the same time we hope that the AI in the most excited sessions does not reserve some unpleasant surprises for the players.
From what we saw in this preview of Little Nightmares 2 the survival, especially in the “sneaky” sessions, remains almost unchanged. The puzzles, on the other hand, seem to be slightly more interesting (even those to be played with only one character). While we are not dealing with the conundrum of Uncharted or AC puzzles, some decidedly nice dynamics have been implemented such as the wielding of hatchets to destroy seemingly blocked sections, or the detonation of traps. Nothing new in gameplay history, but it is definitely a nice novelty in the series.
Little waiting
Little Nightmares 2 will be available from 11 February per Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X e Series S, Android e Microsoft Windows. The premises are really good, and we must admit that we are no longer in the skin waiting to be able to get our hands on the full game. One thing is certain: with Little Nightmares 2, 2021 opens in the best way.
Well friends, this Little Nightmares 2 preview has come to an end too. We hope to have made your mouth water and as always we invite you to stay connected on TechGameWorld.com for more news, previews, reviews and much more from the world of video games. Hi!