Schell Games' I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar brings back all of the 1960s spy-inspired elements players are familiar with from the original game, but the situations Agents are thrown into are even more life-threatening this time around. I Expect You To Die 2 doesn't change much of the series' core gameplay loop; players will still remain in a seated VR position and use their wits and their hands (or telekinesis, for manipulating objects out of reach) in order to solve puzzles and escape from dangerous circumstances. Unlike the original I Expect You To Die, however, the sequel's plot takes on a much larger role.
During a hands-on preview covering the first three levels of I Expect You To Die 2, it immediately was apparent how much more focus was being put on this entry's story when compared to the first game. Unlike the original's relatively loosely connected missions with only vague segues between them, I Expect You To Die 2 flows cleanly from one mission to the next, something which is helped along in no small part by the new security van hub area (replacing the fancy office from the original). Although it feels confining at first, I Expect You To Die 2's mission hub is a cozy spot players return to between jobs in order to catch up on plot details they missed, examine briefings for their next assignment, or simply listen to different radio stations to immerse themselves in the game's world.
The scope of I Expect You To Die 2's missions themselves has also been increased, with the most game-changing addition being the inclusion of multiple on-screen NPCs at once. As it was pulling from ideas exemplified by the memorable James Bond quote, I Expect You To Die was almost entirely focused on putting players in deadly rooms with no other people around, and the sequel's addition of things like guards who are trying to shoot and/or throw grenades at the Agent while they attempt to complete their mission provides a much-needed change of routine.
Guards rushing the player, thankfully, isn't something which happens during every assignment in I Expect You To Die 2, and players will still have plenty of escape room-type puzzles to solve. Based on the three missions (out of a total amount of six) available during the game's preview, it looks to be providing the same amount of variety in location and mission structure as the original, with levels taking place in the back of a theater, on a private jet, and in a room with a Mission: Impossible-style security grid. The difficulty of some of the more abstract puzzles is roughly equal to what is found in the first I Expect You To Die - medium-hard but not overly so, and usually solvable after two or three attempts - and speed run options are also available.
I Expect You To Die 2's increased focus on its overarching plot isn't overwhelming or distracting from what makes the game enjoyable to play, and it is helped along by pitch-perfect writing and voice acting. Rival Peak's Wil Wheaton seems to relish his role as the celebrity John Juniper, and the ever-present handler returning players remember from the original game is clearly one of his character's biggest fans. The game's sound design as a whole is impressive, with dramatic stings and jazzy melodies that go far in capturing the mood of an old-school espionage thriller.
For those who are stepping back into the world of The Agency and Zoraxis, I Expect You To Die 2 offers more of what came before, with an increase in scope and story that never quite feels like too much. For curious players who are interested in trying out a spy-themed escape the room-style puzzle game, playing the first I Expect You To Die isn't required (although it is also quite good) to understand the sequel's story, and this new part-Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes and part-James Bond game would be a fantastic place to start.
I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar releases on August 24, 2021, on SteamVR, Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift, and PSVR. An Oculus Quest code was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this preview.
https://ift.tt/3BteEGY
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario