Introduction
Basic information
- Developer Name: Tarsier Studios
- Full Name: Little Nightmares II
- Release Date: February 11, 2021
- Released on: PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Cross Play: No
Initial thoughts
After playing and finishing the first Little Nightmares, my wife and I were eager to see where the sequel would take us. We hoped for new mysteries, an expanded storyline, and refined mechanics. But instead, we were met with a prequel that didn’t quite live up to its predecessor. The mechanics were clunkier, and the game struggled to capture the same atmosphere and narrative intrigue that made the first entry so memorable.
Story and setting
Plot overview
Little Nightmares II attempts to expand the lore of the series by taking a step back in time. However, this prequel approach feels like a missed opportunity. Rather than adding to the mystery, it muddles it, leaving more questions than satisfying answers. The plot revolves around Mono, a new character, teaming up with Six, the protagonist from the first game, as they traverse a series of eerie and surreal environments. Unfortunately, the story lacks the gripping narrative thread that pulled us through the first game.
World building and immersion
While Little Nightmares II tries to build upon the world introduced in the first game, the expanded setting feels disconnected and unfocused. Instead of intensifying the sense of dread and mystery, it dilutes the atmosphere. The environments are visually distinct, but they often fail to tie into the larger narrative in a meaningful way.
Character development
The connection between Mono and Six is intriguing, but their relationship lacks the emotional weight it should have. Mono’s role in the story feels underdeveloped, and while there are hints at deeper connections, the game never fully explores them.
Emotional impact
Where the first game left us feeling tense and constantly on edge, Little Nightmares II struggles to maintain the same level of emotional engagement. There are a few standout moments, but they’re overshadowed by the overall lack of narrative direction.
Rating for story and setting
I have visited multiple aspects of the story and after some thought and objective thinking, I rated the story and setting with an 6
Gameplay and mechanics
Core gameplay mechanics
One of the biggest disappointments in Little Nightmares II is the gameplay. The first game struck a delicate balance between exploration, stealth, and puzzles. In this installment, the balance feels off, with sections that drag on and mechanics that don’t always work as intended. The addition of more combat and interaction elements doesn’t mesh well with the game’s core identity.
Difficulty and balance
The difficulty spikes are often frustrating rather than rewarding. Where the first game offered clever, intuitive challenges, this one leans heavily on trial and error. Certain segments feel unnecessarily long, leading to moments of frustration that detract from the experience.
Pacing of the game
The pacing is another area where Little Nightmares II stumbles. The game stretches out certain areas and encounters, losing the tight, focused feel of the first entry. Instead of maintaining a constant sense of tension, the game often feels repetitive and drawn-out.
Innovation and uniqueness
While the game tries to innovate with new mechanics and larger environments, these additions feel more like missed opportunities. Rather than enhancing the experience, they dilute what made the original game special.
Controls and user interface
The controls are serviceable but often feel unresponsive, especially during tense moments. This lack of fluidity makes some sections more frustrating than they need to be.
Microtransactions
There are no microtransactions, which is a welcome relief in a game like this.
Rating
After combing through many of the mechanics, the pacing and other factors of this game, I rated the gameplay and mechanics with a 5.5.
Graphics and art style
Quality of graphics and art direction
The art style remains one of the game’s strongest points, but the choice to open up the world and move away from confined spaces diminishes the unsettling atmosphere. The environments, while visually impressive, don’t carry the same sense of claustrophobic dread that made the first game so impactful.
Technical performances
The game runs smoothly, with no major performance issues during our playthrough. However, the camera angles can sometimes be awkward, making it difficult to navigate or avoid dangers.
Environment and design uniqueness
The environments are unique but feel disjointed. While each area has its own visual identity, the overall design fails to tie them together in a cohesive way.
Rating
It took me some time to give the graphics and art style an objective rating. There are many things to consider, but ultimately, I rated this section with a 6.5
Sound and music
Music score and how it contributed to the game
The soundtrack is suitably eerie, but it’s not as memorable or impactful as the first game’s. It sets the mood but rarely stands out.
Sound effects quality
The sound effects are well-done, enhancing the eerie atmosphere and making encounters feel tense. However, the audio design lacks the same attention to detail that made the first game’s world feel so alive.
Voice Acting
There’s no traditional voice acting, which isn’t a major issue given the series’ style. However, the lack of emotional weight in the characters’ interactions feels more noticeable this time around.
Rating
After a lot of consideration, I rated the sound and music section with a 6.5
Replayability
Game Length and content volume
The game is longer than the first installment, but this isn’t necessarily a positive. The extended length feels padded, with segments that drag on unnecessarily.
Extra Content
There are some secrets and collectibles to find, but they don’t add much to the overall experience. Once you’ve finished the main story, there’s little reason to revisit the game.
Replay value
The replay value is minimal. Unlike the first game, which begged for another playthrough to uncover hidden details, Little Nightmares II feels like a one-and-done experience.
Rating
After thoughtful consideration, I decided to rate the replayability and game length of Little Nightmares II with a 5
Suggestions and comparisons
Suggestions and feedback
- Focus on refining the core mechanics instead of introducing unnecessary new elements.
- Tighten the pacing and avoid stretching out areas for the sake of length.
- Deepen the narrative and explore the connection between Mono and Six more effectively.
Comparisons
Compared to the first Little Nightmares, this sequel feels like a step back. While the original offered a concise, gripping experience, Little Nightmares II struggles to maintain focus and consistency. It’s a classic case of a sequel trying to do more but achieving less.
Personal experiences and anecdotes
Neither my wife nor I had a favorite experience in this game. We found ourselves just wanting to be done with it as quickly as possible. The game’s pacing issues, combined with clunky mechanics, turned what should have been an exciting follow-up into a slog. We were left more frustrated than thrilled.
Rating
Taking in all the personal experiences with Little Nightmares II, I give it a personal rating of 3.5
Last words
Pros
- The art style remains unique and visually impressive
- Some standout creepy moments and encounters
Cons
- The story lacks the mystery and emotional weight of the first game
- Pacing feels slow and padded with unnecessary segments
- Clunky and frustrating mechanics, especially in tense situations
- Difficulty spikes rely too heavily on trial and error
- Disjointed environments that don’t tie into a cohesive narrative
- Controls can be unresponsive at critical moments
- Weak connection and character development between Mono and Six
- The soundtrack is forgettable compared to the first game
- Fails to expand the series’ lore in a meaningful or satisfying way
Little Nightmares II is a classic example of a sequel that tries to do more but ends up delivering less. The game’s clunky mechanics, disjointed story, and pacing issues make it a disappointment compared to the original. While there are moments of eerie brilliance, they’re overshadowed by a lack of cohesion and frustrating gameplay. It’s a game that had the potential to build on the first, but instead, it falls flat.
FINAL RATING
5
Please let me know what you think of Little Nightmares II in the comments!
I hope you enjoyed reading this review, I hope to see you in the next review!
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I think this review definitely describes the game perfectly. Basically a good game that should of spent a little more time in the oven.
A lot more time perhaps?
Oof. 🙁
I’ll be honest, I didn’t read the entire review because I don’t want ti get spoiled. I read the intro then skipped to the Final Rating.
> Fails to expand the series’ lore in a meaningful or satisfying way
That’s sad. :/
I was really looking forward to it (and still am), but seeing that makes be a little bit less excited. 😅
I read it complete and there are no spoilers so nothing to worry. Now going to the video 🙂
I do not think this is a game you should invest time in it.
Hope they can do all needed changes to make the new one better
Let’s hope!
Still have to play the first game, but it’s sad to hear that the sequel doesn’t live up to the original…
Thanks for the review as always! 🙂
I am glad you are happy with the review!
This is a quite hard review for a in my personal opinion very nice game. It indeed had some flaws but I was entertained from the start.
There are quite some flaws in the game!
Thx Alamar for stating there are no spoilers. Always wanted to play this game, was even happy once thats it free, but then it turned out it was PS plus only lol.
Great Review. Keep it up Sven and Team, Wish you all a Happy New Year.
I am glad you liked the review!
so sad to see, that the second games falls short. feels like this happens way to often with sequels of any kind.
Sequels can be a dissapointment!
hm… this review’s not in favor of LN2 … but still want to play it someday ^^
You can still try to play it!
I thought that it is difficult for a sequel to be good.🐑
It can indeed be hard!
Thank you for the review!
You are welcome!
dang, i thought this was gonna be a great game cause i heard the first one was pretty good, but i guess not, Thanks for the review!
You are welcome!
Thank you for review!
No problem!
Thanks for sharing your insightful thoughts
Hope it helps!
Thanks for the review. Considered getting it but think I will pass now.
Glad to be of help!
Ah, I’m sad this one didn’t live up to the uniqueness of the first one! The story seems like it has a lot of meaningful metaphors and potential to go into very deep topics!
It can be fun, but there are a lot of flaws!