The Sinking City 2 Review – A SHERLOCK-TO-HORROR SPECIALIST
With the war in Ukraine still raging on, it’s honestly epic that this dev team based in Kyiv was somehow able to create such a bangin’ survival-horror game, especially since it’s the first time they’ve really leaned into this genre. This makes The Sinking City 2 a much different beast compared to the first entry.
Ever-Present Danger
After a few minutes of playing, you’ll quickly notice the major Resi Evil, Silent Hill and Dead Space influences. The tight, over-the-shoulder action, extreme close-ups when a monster’s tearing you a new one, and a weighty boot stomp that Mr Clarke would be proud of. It’s all very fluid, and the aiming is much better than the original. Even if some of the melee attacks sound like a wet sock, and a glitch or two hits the immersion for six, there’s a constant sense of tension in the dark, dilapidated corridors of Arkham and its Lovecraftian-themed residents.
The combat itself can be tough due to scarce supplies, and those moments when groups of enemies gather, and you can’t quite rush in for a risky physical attack. So you’ll be constantly thinking three steps ahead about how to conserve ammo and health, or just running away like a brave and highly tactical individual. Sometimes the best strategy is to dodge and leg it, then worry about the consequences later.
That said, the enemy designs do make the encounters feel unique. Since you’re always trying to conserve ammo while monsters try to smack ya, specific enemies only reveal their weak points at certain times during combat. This forces you to actually pay attention to what they’re doing, instead of adopting the classic survival-horror strategy of “shoot the scary thing until it stops moving.” It’s these situations that make this entry’s combat truly stand out, since they never fully allow you to rely on one game plan, each and every time.
Oozing With Atmosphere
Unlike the original, the investigation mechanics are naturally ingrained, letting players figure things out through fun puzzles and exploration, rather than reconstructing crime scenes or interrogating half of Oakmont. Most of the mysteries can be solved without even opening the dedicated Investigation tab. Although, if you are able to group pieces of information together, The Sinking City 2 does reward you with upgrade points that can make a noticeable difference to your stats and combat capabilities, without completely nuking the difficulty. A very efficient approach to game design.
The awesome colour-coded red and blue map system from Resident Evil 2 remake is also here, alongside gun modifiers, expandable inventory and a semi-open world design that keeps the puzzle-to-gameplay ratio exactly how it should be. Featuring smaller, but more focused level designs and light backtracking that actually feels earned, unlike the original’s tedious travelling to and fro. Just don’t expect protag, Calvin to go full action-hero like Leon in RE9’s second half. It’s a stable, on-edge tone all the way through, and it’s honestly better for it.
The story starts off with a strong and sombre tone as well, but runs out of steam a tad too quickly. There weren’t enough emotional beats or mystery to keep me invested, even with all the strange and creepy tentacle monster stuff going on. Calvin and his damsel in distress have some great chemistry between them, but the narrative itself is simply not memorable. The environmental storytelling does a lot of the heavy lifting, with signs of prior life and imagery making you wonder “what on Earth happened here?” While there were some big frame dips in the crowded, action-heavy scenes, Arkham looks pretty spectacular in Unreal Engine 5, using persistent darkness or fog to keep you on your toes… and make those palms very sweaty.
Decision
The Sinking City 2 is a huge improvement over its predecessor. It trades much of its detective-focused identity for a tense and atmospheric survival-horror experience that wears its Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Dead Space influences proudly. While the story ultimately fails to leave much of an impression, the excellent combat, clever exploration and suitably creepy rendition of Arkham make this one hell of a good time. Frogwares may have sacrificed some of the original’s unique personality, but in return they’ve created a much better survival-horror game. And honestly, who can argue with that?
By Anthony Culinas – Reviewed on PC
Excellent
A far more polished experience, with weighty combat, inventive enemy encounters and rewarding puzzles that keep you thinking. The Sinking City 2’s narrative may stumble, but Arkham’s oppressive atmosphere does a stellar job of keeping you on edge.
This game was reviewed using a download code provided by Frogwares. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.
