Dark water
The original Sinking City game is one of those titles that still sticks with me to this day. It had a unique atmosphere and story, with interesting mechanics that combined for an experience I hadn’t really had before. So, when the sequel was announced, I was ready to dive back in. Much to my surprise, the second game is hardly recognizable when compared to its predecessor. Sure, it is still set in a Lovecraftian world, and there is a city partially underwater, but that is where the similarities end. This is a survival horror game through and through. It borrows a lot from Capcom’s titular series, and while it may be different, it is still a journey worth taking.
The game kicks off with players taking on the role of Calvin Rafferty. He is the definition of if you asked someone to describe a 1920s detective, straight down to the trenchcoat and fedora. This isn’t a bad thing, as it fits, plus Calvin’s character expands as the game goes on. The storytelling and worldbuilding are what Frogwares is really good at, and it shines here. The more I played, the more I wanted to learn and uncover about this mystical world.
MSRP: $49.99
Platforms: XBOX (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $49.99
The story itself revolves around Calvin trying to figure out how to rescue his love from the Dreamlands. The more I progressed through the game, the more twists and turns it took. There are mentions of classic characters from the universe, and some really dark themes throughout. It is interesting and intriguing and it kept me playing. It is also more emotional than I was expecting, and the voice actors do a great job of conveying the time period as well as the stakes at hand.
The game is broken down into chapters, with each one taking our protagonist to a new area of Arkham. This keeps things fresh from start to finish and again continues the comparisons to Capcom’s infamous franchise. For example, the first area is more of a mystery to solve, while the second has a stalker that creates constant tension. Each area also comes with its own set of enemies and themes. I was never bored during my play time, and always excited to see what the next section had in store for me.
The mechanics are straight up survival horror. Calvin will gain access to several weapons throughout the game, and of course a limited supply of ammo. He also has a melee option, which should only be used for dire situations. The inventory is exactly like Resident Evil, complete with save rooms and storage boxes. There are plenty of puzzles to solve and players will be backtracking to drop off items in order to pick up puzzle pieces along the way. The formula is both familiar as well as tried and true. Fans of the genre know what they are in for right from the start.
Combat, when necessary, feels good. The guns have weight to them, and enemies range from slow-plodding zombie-like creatures to faster, smaller annoyances. The health system is even ripped from the RE games, with herbs that can be combined into more powerful options. It is clear what the inspiration for this game was, but I am not complaining as I will take as many of these types of games as I can get. I love the genre and love the design.
I do love that I can set the difficulty between combat and puzzles. In fact, this game has a lot of customizable options to make the experience easier and even harder. It is funny, as I was (finally) writing my review of the game, they just announced an upgrade patch that adds better NG+ options, a harder mode, and plenty of quality-of-life options. There has never been a better time to jump in.
Visually the game looks good, but not outstanding. It has its moments, and some of the horror sequences are really awesome, but a lot of it feels tepid at times. The dreary atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting though. The world always feels moody and dark, which is fitting. The sound is mostly atmospheric with great voice work and subtle music tones.
The Sinking City 2 is a great sequel that is truly nothing like the original, and that is just fine. It apes the RE games so well, I don’t even mind. I had a blast solving the mysteries and the atmosphere is just perfect. If you love games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, there is no reason to miss this. It holds its own while bringing its own flavor, making it easy to recommend.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.