Coming in at a healthy five-hour shuffle, Layers of Fear only manages to touch the levels of horror found in the short-lived sampler on a handful of occasions. Although quite the accolade, considering the critical acclaim surrounding the sampler, it’s a heavy torch to carry and doesn’t come without its negatives. Layers of Fear has garnered many comparisons most notably of which is its apparent likeness to P.T, the blood-curdling sampler from the since deceased Silent Hills. This really does reduce enjoyment in some of Layers of Fear’s grandest moments and is especially unforgivable in a title that leans so heavily on ambiance and feel. Despite the wide-open woodland in Wyoming being left behind for the intimidating corridors of an old mansion, the frame rate will consistently buckle under the weight of particular busy rooms. It’s unfortunate, then, that the Unity engine is the foundation of choice here and therefore, much like our Firewatch review, Layers of Fear is a little bit troublesome on the PS4. It’ll play up to these assumptions right until you’re feeling one step ahead, by then it’s too late and the sweating fits start all over again. Layers of Fear is devilishly unpredictable at all the right times and knows what you’ve come to expect in a horror game. Making movement itself have a reaction means even the most basic of inputs sparks new waves of tension. The rooms around you will warp and skew, sometimes flipping entirely, as you survey an environment or move about within it. The viewpoint you’ll experience while playing eerily manages to portray this with unnerving accuracy. The protagonist is in a bit of a state, suffering from debilitating and infuriating schizophrenia alongside an evident alcohol problem. It derives from the fear factor a touch on occasion, but is handled well enough to not be a joke at least. Gothic literary classics such as Dorian Gray are played upon heavily, their influences splashed as abusively on the walls as the many streaks of paint themselves. It certainly draws on more than a handful of clichés, dipping incessantly into the horror tricks of old and throwing them at you without sense or purpose. You’re unable to die in Layers of Fear but that doesn’t mean for one second it won’t feel like you’re close to death. With such splendid, yet claustrophobic environments, the game can set to work on your mind as you wander the halls. This focus on environment exposes the level of detail that can be found in each and every room and this helps Layers of Fear really shine in all the places that it counts. This is a walking simulator at heart and those yet to be convinced by the genre may be put off by the reduced mechanics, but it’s honestly not necessary here, not one bit. These quaint rooms and looming hallways provide the perfect playground for the very basic amount of interactivity at hand, your focus is on your surroundings and their mischief, rather than what you can do with them. It matches the gothic, horror vibe admirably and never feels small, even with its claustrophobic corridors. Information taken from the official PlayStation Store website, all rights reserved.Layers of Fear is locked within the belly of an old Victorian mansion, the only location you’ll be seeing. All other copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ’Layers of Fear’ and Bloober Team are all trademarks and/ or registered trademarks of Bloober Team Inc. “Aspyr” and the Aspyr “star” logo are federally registered trademarks of Aspyr Media, Inc. © 2016 Published and distributed by Aspyr Media, Inc. Online activity subject to Terms of Services and User Agreement (One-time license fee for play on account’s designated primary PS4™ system and other PS4™ systems when signed in with that account. Software subject to license (us./softwarelicense). Victorian setting – Explore a game world inspired by masterpiece paintings, architecture and décor from the 19th century.Story-focused exploration – Explore the mansion to uncover details of the painter’s dark and tragic past.Living art – A combination of original and classic art will move you-in more ways than one.Psychedelic horror – Careful where you look! Each turn of the camera may completely change the appearance of your surroundings.Uncover the visions, fears and horrors that entwine the painter and finish the masterpiece he has strived so long to create. See /bc for more details.ĭelve deep into the mind of an insane painter and discover the secret of his madness, as you explore a vast and constantly changing Victorian-era mansion. Although this game is playable on PS5, some features available on PS4 may be absent. To play this game on PS5, your system may need to be updated to the latest system software.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |