A visually impressive and engaging point and click tale that leaves you asking is there a third chapter coming?
Like Her Majesty's Spiffing, this is proof that the old style point and click, procedural, puzzle solving game is a genre that's very much alive. A sequel to a title that came out some time ago, this tale is yes an old fashioned point and click adventure game, but now has those sometimes annoying Quick Time Events. yes you either love those or loathe them.
This is a beautifully presented game though, set in a make believe world created by two young children who at the start of the game, are sheltering in a bunker while a war wages above them.
Needless to say, the two become separated so the young boy hero has to explore a mysterious, enchanting and at times surreal and dangerous world.
On the way he will meet friends, get involved with a resistance unit and gain a sidekick, a shape changing caterpillar like creature that can help you break chains, reach items that you can't etc.
As you go through the adventure, the lines of reality (as far as the game goes) become more blurred and indistinct, so it's hard to figure to make out what's in the kid's head and what is 'real'.
His plight becomes more desperate as the tale unfolds and unless you are a completely heartless devil, then you cannot help but get drawn in and sympathise with the hero and his plight.
Pace
It's not the fastest paced game in the world nor the longest either, but i found it engaging and appreciated that it takes some time to unfold. The quick time events do frustrate at times but the tale makes up for that.
The game world is menaced by some truly sinister creatures that are silent and approach with little or no warning. There's no need for slavering monsters or shambling undead when you have these fast moving, silent buggers stalking the realm! And be aware they rarely hunt alone.
Challenge
The puzzles are pretty taxing at times but not that hard that they will club you into submission. Hints are available at the press of a button, but you should be able to figure them out relatively easily.
The real time events are the biggest pain. Either the button inputs are spot on or there's just the merest delay that can mean the difference between success and failure and character death.
Though no Lost Souls, it can be quite frustrating at times and you may be gritting your teeth as you try and overcome the obstacle in front of you.
But there is that unmistakeable sense of relief when you do complete the task. Be patient, you will do it!
Atmosphere
Silence lives up to it's name, as in it's for the most part silent. But the music is effective and the ambient sounds can be very atmospheric. The soundtrack (such as it is) is pleasing and suits the game well but it won't linger long in the memory.
Replay?
There isn't anything in the way of hidden items to discover but you may want to try again on completion, just to see if you couldn't have done things a little quicker or smoother. It's not a long game either and it kind of ended for me just a little too soon. There is no DLC as far as I know to add to the adventure but if there's going to be third game then I may well sign up for it.
All in all it isn't bad, not brilliant but it's art style and tale is still worth the effort.