The newly released Complete Edition of White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies is a return to the eerie corridors of Yeondu High School, bringing with it a blend of psychological horror, exploration, and puzzle-solving that fans of the original White Day will find familiar. Developed by Sonnori and published by PQube, this sequel expands on the unsettling atmosphere and intricate narrative of its predecessor while introducing new mechanics and stories that help deepen the lore of the haunted school. However, while the game excels in creating a tense and immersive experience, it’s not without its flaws either – here’s our take on the PlayStation 5 version.
The game’s premise is certainly engaging for those who enjoy narrative-driven horror. Set one day after the events of the original White Day, the game follows three characters (Jung Soo-jin, Kang Seo-yeon and Yoo Ji-min), who all have their own motivations for returning to the cursed school. The intertwining stories of these characters are split across three episodes, with each episode revealing new layers of the school’s dark past. The narrative is rich with mystery, weaving together themes of guilt, revenge, and supernatural terror. The branching paths and multiple endings add replayability, encouraging players to revisit completed episodes to uncover more than just one of the fourteen possible outcomes.
Gameplay in White Day 2 is a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and stealth. Players must navigate the dimly lit hallways of Yeondu High while evading malevolent spirits and unkillable stalkers. The game’s stealth mechanics are central to the tension, as the ghosts and night guards that haunt the school are relentless and can only be temporarily stunned using camera flashes. This creates a constant sense of dread and wanting to flee, as players are forced to carefully manage their resources and avoid detection. The puzzles are intricate and often obscure, requiring players to pay close attention to their surroundings and think creatively to progress. But while this complexity will appeal to fans of challenging puzzle games, it can also lead to moments of frustration when the solutions aren’t immediately clear.
Visually, White Day 2 does an excellent job of recapturing the unsettling atmosphere of the original game while enhancing it with updated graphics. The game’s use of lighting and shadow is particularly effective, with the school’s darkened hallways and eerie classrooms creating a sense of claustrophobic dread. The character models and ghost designs are suitably creepy, though they can occasionally feel stiff and dated compared to other current-gen horror titles. The game’s audio design is another highlight, with chilling sound effects and a haunting musical score to amplify the tension. The whispering voices, creaking floors, and distant footsteps all contribute to an immersive horror experience that keeps players on edge.
However, White Day 2 is not without its issues. The game’s controls can feel clunky at times, particularly during high tension moments where it can even break immersion because you’re struggling with the controls rather than the demons that face you. This can lead to frustrating deaths, especially when being pursued by the game’s more aggressive enemies. Additionally, while the episodic structure adds variety to the storytelling, it can also disrupt the pacing, with some episodes feeling more compelling than others. The game’s reliance on backtracking and revisiting areas can also become tiresome, especially when combined with the high difficulty of its puzzles.
In conclusion, the complete edition of White Day 2: The Flower That Tells Lies is a solid follow-up to the original game, offering an engaging horror experience for fans of the genre. Its atmospheric setting, intricate narrative, and challenging puzzles make it a worthy addition to the White Day series. However, the game’s technical shortcomings and occasional frustrations may deter some players. For those willing to brave its haunted halls, though, there’s a creepy horror story waiting to be uncovered.
Score: 7.0/10
Press Play Media 