Little Nightmares 2 not only builds upon the strong foundation laid out by the first, it surpasses it. Fortunately, in Little Nightmares 2, many of those gripes have been expertly smoothed out and refined so as to make this title an incredible platformer. The first Little Nightmares was a competent puzzle platformer that had its frustrations. When required to put yourself into a world as ethereal and vanishingly out there as this, that kernel of character investment is vital. Since we all know the sweat of the archetypal nightmares they find themselves in, it is easy to remain invested in their survival.
These wordless companions have enough character to pull us into their story. Regardless of whether you can fully understand the story, it is a thrilling and effective one, due mostly to how the two protagonists work and struggle together. With the added context of the first Little Nightmares, and upon realizing that first game is, in fact, a prequel, these blurred lines might just become a little easier to connect. Tarsier Studios present us merely with a few recurring iconographies and events and ask that we connect the dots ourselves however we choose to interpret what is happening. Rather, much like a dream, players are just dropped into these scenarios that unravel around them without explanation-nor is one needed. Every chapter of the game takes Mono and Six into a new nightmare concept, each with its own distinct monsters and archetypal settings-the school, the abandoned hospital, the desolate city, etc.-with the only goal merely being to find a way to escape.įans of the first Little Nightmares will already know how little the overarching narrative is explained or even makes sense. Within this puzzle platformer, brutal death awaits around almost every corner for our struggling heroes. While it may be easy to be fooled by the cuter miniature protagonists, Little Nightmares 2 is by no means an easy, child-friendly journey.
Every element of its art, setting and narrative is brought together brilliantly in this nightmarish ride that does not let up from first to last. Plundering the Depths of Our Nightmaresįrom the long-necked teacher to the thin man, the living child porcelain dolls and the hanging slug-like hospital attendant, Little Nightmares feels as though it has been lifted out of some forgotten and twisted concept art for a Studio Ghibli piece. Nightmares Through A Child’s Eyesīuilding upon the bizarre world set up in Little Nightmares ’ first instalment, Little Nightmares 2 brings together the most monstrous elements and confusing aspects of our common nightmares to visceral fruition as you plunder through the world of the Pale City with Mono and Six, fighting forever merely to survive this nightmare-fuelled journey. As if those nightly cold sweats weren’t enough, the team at Tarsier Studios have once again brought that nightmarish vision to horrifying life with Little Nightmares 2. We all know the sinking horror of dreaming about being stuck back in school once again with a maniacal teacher and a forgotten homework project or test.