Tormented Souls 2 marks Dual Effect’s return to the world of classic survival horror, once again guided by Caroline Walker as she faces new terrors in the aftermath of the first game. What begins as a desperate attempt to help her afflicted sister soon draws both into a web of corruption and occult experimentation in the isolated Chilean town of Villa Hess. The tone immediately channels the unease of the late 1990s genre icons, yet feels more confident and ambitious in scope. From its ominous opening to its closing chapters, the story leans heavily on atmosphere and psychological tension, using its South American setting to blend local folklore with familiar survival horror tropes.
The sense of place is one of the game’s biggest achievements. The mountain clinic, derelict school and shadow-filled convent are rendered with care and mood-driven lighting that elevate the production far beyond its modest roots. Dynamic illumination, flickering bulbs, and detailed textures make every corridor feel like a threat waiting to surface. Subtle touches in design – the cracked walls, faint reflections, and unsettling background noises – build a haunting atmosphere that rarely lets go. The visual and sound direction together succeed in recreating the unnerving stillness and isolation that defined the genre’s golden age.
While the first game has some clunky pacing, this sequel tightens the structure considerably. Exploration and puzzle-solving are central once more, but item management feels better balanced, with clearer environmental cues and logical puzzle chains that reward observation. The supernatural mechanic that lets Caroline shift between realities adds a clever layer to progression: solving a puzzle in one world can subtly transform another, giving exploration a sense of consequence and discovery. The game rarely resorts to hand-holding, which makes every solved riddle satisfying without crossing into frustration.
Combat remains intentionally slow and deliberate, staying true to the classic survival horror template. The addition of a quick-select feature makes switching weapons smoother, and the arsenal – ranging from nailguns to improvised melee tools – matches the game’s gritty tone. Still, aiming precision and enemy feedback can feel inconsistent, and the occasional awkward camera transition reminds players of the limitations of fixed perspectives. These moments don’t ruin the experience, but they occasionally interrupt the tension that the level design so effectively creates.
The technical presentation is another step forward for Dual Effect. Character animations and environmental detail show marked improvement, and the PS5 version benefits from stable performance and fast load times. The soundtrack alternates between ambient dread and sharp crescendos that punctuate key encounters, while the sparse use of voice acting contributes to the feeling of isolation. A few rough edges remain – occasional pathfinding quirks and stiff animation transitions – but overall, the production quality feels significantly more polished than before.
Narratively, Tormented Souls 2 walks a fine line between homage and familiarity. The story of Caroline and Anna has emotional undercurrents that lend it humanity, even if its twists sometimes tread predictable territory. The writing embraces the melodrama that defined the classics but grounds it with improved pacing and direction. Its best moments come from environmental storytelling – bloody symbols, discarded notes, or cryptic murals – that hint at the corruption beneath the town’s facade, allowing the mystery to unfold naturally rather than relying solely on exposition.
For players who crave deliberate tension over cinematic spectacle, Tormented Souls 2 offers a faithful yet refined return to form. It delivers a blend of puzzle-driven progression, carefully measured combat, and oppressive atmosphere that feels handcrafted for those who grew up with fixed cameras and limited saves. While not all of its modernizations land perfectly, it demonstrates how a small studio can reinterpret survival horror with reverence and purpose. For its imperfections, this is a confident sequel that deepens what its predecessor only hinted at – a haunting and rewarding experience for anyone who believes fear works best when the camera barely moves.
Score: 7.7/10
Press Play Media 