Bloober Workforce’s authentic Layers of Worry (2016) turned an nearly in a single day gaming sensation when its mind-bending Steam Early Entry model gave gamers some really imaginative sights. The sequel continued the unique’s themes of tortured artists, however swapped a painter for an actor, and provided arguably much more ingenious visuals. Each video games have been, in my view, tremendous, however nothing extra. Now, reborn on Unreal Engine 5 with new content material interspersed with what was there earlier than, Layers of Worry (2023) appears to be the definitive technique to expertise the horror collection. Nevertheless, its haunts stay largely empty. The brand new engine makes the sport a visible benchmark, but it surely nonetheless feels extra like a haunted home at a theme park, providing the phantasm of hazard however by no means one thing sincerely threatening.
Maybe the primary hurdle in critiquing the collection’ reinvention is explaining precisely what this bundle presents. Layers of Worry and its sequel each return roughly 80% the identical as you’ll have skilled them earlier than. Some scenes have been redesigned or added–or even eliminated, if my reminiscence serves me appropriately. Each video games obtain new however finally shallow mechanics permitting for just a few fight sections wherein you may have to blast stalking ghosts with gentle to stall them whilst you escape their maze-like settings. The primary recreation’s temporary Inheritance DLC can also be included, and a brand-new DLC meant to wrap the collection up extra neatly than earlier than, The Closing Notice, makes its debut.
One of the best a part of all of that is really the framing narrative, The Author’s Story. Constructed immediately into the sport as you progress by its related elements, you may routinely leap again to a lighthouse the place a author tells the story of the sport’s different haunted artists: the painter, the actor, and the musician. Like these in the principle video games, the author is coping with her personal hauntings, and I discover the format elegant and fairly novel for the medium. It seems like a horror anthology, reminiscent of V/H/S, solely on this case, all the person tales finally share a universe.
This supply is compelling, but it surely has the odd impact of creating every particular person piece extra of a letdown, as they largely battle to carry up on their very own. Layers of Worry has all the time been extra like an amusement park experience than a survival-horror expertise, and that MO simply would not really feel conducive to producing precise rigidity. Even in these new versions–which attempt to add extra potential game-over screens–moments are too scripted and enemies are mainly non-existent. The novelty of coming into a room, seeing one thing bizarre occur, then turning to seek out the surroundings has seamlessly modified earlier than you is sometimes mind-melting, however by no means, ever scary.
The primary recreation additionally feels determined to keep away from being misunderstood, to the purpose the place its story is laid out so naked, it betrays the adage of “present, do not inform” at each flip. The Closing Notice DLC seeks to over-explain much more by placing you within the position of the one particular person you by no means play as within the authentic or its Inheritance DLC. Inheritance additionally winds up being mechanically irritating on account of some complicated puzzles, however its intent to indicate the world by the eyes of a kid make it extra memorable than something the opposite items do, except you depend the brand new DLC’s damaged enemy encounters, throughout which the ghost chasing me get caught midway within the floorboards.
The spotlight is actually Layers of Worry 2, which does extra with its setting and story than the remainder of the collection mixed. Not like the needlessly overt authentic, the sequel is maybe too shrouded in metaphor at occasions, although it does make piecing all of it collectively extra fascinating.
For individuals who by no means performed the unique Layers of Worry video games, this reimagined bundle is unquestionably a greater first expertise than the previous variations
Whereas the opposite video games all happen in limitless darkness, Layers of Worry 2 is about aboard a cruise ship the place a film was to be filmed, and it is not afraid to show the lights on at occasions, consistently toying with totally different palettes and surroundings. It winds up extra memorable than the unique’s home, which feels the identical room to room, albeit with some nightmarish scenes of its personal to play off of. The story is without delay a twisted story of technique appearing, a darkish tragedy, and a virtually fixed homage to horror’s previous, with nods to The Shining, Psycho, and extra laid out like shows in a horror museum. It is all narrated by actor Tony Todd too, who makes a terrific match given the tenor of his voice, significantly when you’re aware of his physique of labor like Candyman and Closing Vacation spot.
Nonetheless, not even Layers of Worry 2 can break freed from the collection’ shackles. Gameplay throughout the collection largely comes right down to strolling, opening doorways, and seeing what bizarre scene awaits on the opposite facet. Some gentle puzzles combine up the pacing, however the brand new chase sequences really feel one-note, a lot of them even utilizing the identical dialogue traces time after time. To its credit score, this re-creation is constructed on Unreal Engine 5 and appears to make the most of the brand new Lumen lighting expertise, which makes video games like Fortnite so jaw-dropping to take a look at. Right here, the colours are naturally not as shiny as Epic’s cartoonish battle royale, however the lighting tech is dazzling nonetheless. I ended in my tracks many occasions throughout the 10-12 hours it takes to complete all 5 experiences just because the sport appears superb.
It is simply too dangerous it not often does greater than that. Earlier than, Layers of Worry provided some gorgeous scenes and a moody ambiance. Now, almost a decade later, the sport in some way reinvents itself however provides only a few new strengths, whereas its weaknesses solely stand out extra because of the effort that went into justifying the venture within the first place. It feels just like the studio heard the grievance of a scarcity of true threats within the video games, however in in search of to shine out that blemish, simply left extra faults.
For individuals who by no means performed the unique Layers of Worry video games, this reimagined bundle is unquestionably a greater first expertise than the previous variations, merely on account of wanting higher and including the neat framing narrative of The Author’s Story. However for horror lovers already well-versed within the collection, its MO stays as smoke and mirrors. There are not any actual terrors lurking within the shadows simply out of attain. There’s solely the suggestion of some, and like the numerous tortured artists on the middle of its saga, they’re left unfulfilled.