The new IP from the Swedish studio comes to demonstrate its talent and creativity, in a suffocating and terrifying world.
Take a look at these other reviews
- Review of High on Life 2 – chaos, humor and shooting in its best form
- Crisol Review: Theater of Idols: How Terror and Action Combine
- Review of Romeo is DEADMAN – Suda 51 returns to the pinnacle of gore and irreverence
| Don't miss anything and follow us on Google News! |
There are moments in the industry that often leave us with gems that we appreciate for what they represent. I say this because there are studios that bring these IPs to life, which win the hearts of players in a crushing way, and then, due to various circumstances, they stop being what they were.
This is where we come to Tarsier Studios, the parents of Little Nightmares 1 and 2, who closed their cycle at Bandai Namco after being acquired by Embracer Group. This meant that there would be no third installment of their acclaimed game (at least not with them in charge); however, they left the door open for a new story.
Against all odds, the Swedes’ new game has arrived, and it’s no small feat: expectations are very high for REANIMAL, the big surprise that wants to make it clear that talent is still latent and that the studio’s magic has changed direction with a new adventure.
Technical Section
Horror games have a very important role in the sector, as they have the ability to bring together certain qualities that capture players, such as having a well-executed terrifying atmosphere, as well as leaving us with heartbreaking moments, all hand in hand with good graphics, visuals, and art.
In this sense, Tarsier Studios gives us a game that overflows with personality in every corner, and by this, I mean that it has a level of meticulous detail in each scenario. It’s not just about looking impressive, but also about its atmosphere being very well taken care of.
I have no complaints technically: it’s made in Unreal Engine 5 and it’s clear that they’ve taken advantage of the engine’s benefits to make the studio’s intentions clear. Without frame rate drops or failures, it’s quite solid in this aspect, and this is noticeable in each new setting (which is clear that the game looks impressive from start to finish).
Although this doesn’t mean the game is perfect, in my playthrough, I had two situations that made me restart to the previous point; for example, an enemy stuck in a door and, on the other hand, a boss that got stuck in a place it shouldn’t be. But nothing serious, and they were just two moments.
Something interesting is that the creativity of its creators is reflected, as it is seen in the level design, which is very well executed and, in certain moments, denotes verticality and depth beyond the aesthetic. With hidden areas or moments of destruction of the scenario that are brutal and that stand out with the play of lights and shadows.
As for the enemies, we believe they have elevated what was seen before in abyssal ways, as they have varied designs and are in line with what is shown to us, bizarre and disturbing enough. There are terrifying and frightening bosses that have an aberrant visual style. With this, I tell you that the Swedes’ touch raises their stakes.
To complement everything I’ve mentioned, the icing on the cake is the sound section, which stands out not only for representing the tension and anguish of the moment but also for introducing certain suffocating musical tones and, finally, voices in Spanish that leave us impressed by how well they are done.
Additionally, this experience is enjoyed more with the help of Xbox Play Anywhere, so it’s unnecessary to say that with a single copy, you can enjoy your game and progress on console and on Xbox. Although, unfortunately, the option was not active, and my analysis is based only on desktop.
Ending on a positive note, REANIMAL is spectacular in this section, as it manages to make you feel the anguish and, at the same time, enjoy its overwhelming world. Without a doubt, Tarsier Studios are magicians when it comes to making their vision a reality.
Gameplay
If you were left with good impressions from the above, now we dive into the heart of the game, and that is its gameplay. REANIMAL starts with the child on a boat at sea, and after a brief journey through the buoys, we will get to our sister.
The first thing we notice when starting is that darkness and terrifying atmosphere, which is perceived immediately. Fortunately, we are not alone. This leads us to the first key point of the title: we are two, and if you have a friend or acquaintance, you can play in cooperative mode, either locally or online. In this sense, from Tarsier Studios, they made sure to give us all the available options.
In my personal case, I experienced playing alone and in cooperative mode with my children. Being alone gives you the feeling of anguish that something will happen at some point, and that’s an extra. If you’re accompanied, then the anxiety is shared, and the feeling is doubled, which is great.
Either way, regardless of how you start, we will become familiar with the characters. Both are very responsive, and among the available actions, we have: jumping, crouching, running, and supporting joint actions, either to reach a higher area or to activate mechanisms simultaneously.
The above sounds very simple, and, in fact, it is enough, since we will have to go stealthily in certain parts and practically blind to what happens in the scenario, due to the fact that we will find many surprises, and not precisely pleasant ones. Therefore, pausing and caution are necessary to progress.
And despite the levels being linear, that is, we’re going from point A to point B, there is a margin of exploration, and this allows us to get two types of collectibles. The first are masks for the children to wear as a skin; the second comes from red posters that will unlock the game’s art. You have to search well to find each one of them.
Also, what would each scenario be without enemies? This is why each of the threats will be very varied, and this will imply that we will have to find ways to avoid each one of them, making our journey very engaging at every step we take.
Something fascinating is that, despite repeating our actions, everything changes when discovering new situations and very specific moments within each one of them. This means that the climax arrives through new mechanics, such as boat exploration, driving or controlling vehicles, the power to attack other enemies, and many more surprises.
If you read well, we can attack, and we will do so with a kind of lever or knife, depending on the character. It will be effective for some enemies, and although it’s a momentary relief, it won’t always be a guarantee of triumph against others.
Something that adds a lot to the experience is that we will face bosses, and we do this through final battles, each one of them tremendously elaborate. It feels special, and this is a wonder; the way they are implemented and express our abilities is a delight.
But what I’ve told you is superficial, it’s not all the game has to offer, and it goes in crescendo. It’s spectacular the detail in each moment we unveil; it feels like a rollercoaster of emotions that takes us through different locations with a level of immersion and detail very well achieved. When you think you’ve seen it all, something new appears that will surprise you, and the final stretch is SPECTACULAR.
Obviously, we will have sections with puzzles to solve. They are not complicated, but they are interesting to do.
There was one that bothered me a bit because I was going with my sister’s AI, and it was unresponsive at that moment. Luckily, I had my player 2 who helped me solve it and get out alive. Given the above, it’s true that we will die a couple of times, nothing frustrating; in fact, the game didn’t seem difficult to me at all.
Now, it’s time to make a comparison with respect to Little Nightmares 3. I know it’s hateful to mention it, but it’s something we must highlight. I’ve played both, and clearly, REANIMAL is superior in every aspect, from the detail of local cooperative play, to the atmosphere, the entire new approach in its playable section, and not forgetting the technical aspect, which is outstanding.
Being honest, it doesn’t mean that Little Nightmares 3 is bad, it simply strayed from what it was, that same essence that Tarsier Studios has placed in REANIMAL to make it the true spiritual successor of their most beloved IP.
Duration
After starting the game, we realize that we don’t want to let go, this is because the progress and what we discover goes uphill at all times. And, as you understand, this type of experiences are usually very short, which can be counterproductive if you’re enjoying your journey.
In this way, the game can be completed between 6 and 10 hours. I mention this with tweezers, as in my case, that was the time range invested. Is it short? Yes, but you will have left some collectibles on the way, so you would have to try again to get everything, in case you wish to do so, and you can be sure that you will.
In the end, the journey is wonderful, and despite its brevity, it doesn’t take away from the experience, as the sum of its parts makes REANIMAL special.
Conclusion
We didn’t want to reach the end of this analysis, because what has been achieved in Tarsier Studios is very special. They have returned like the phoenix, seeking to bring us the magic of telling this type of intricate stories, which have many symbols and reflect truths, that is the essence of REANIMAL.
The surprising thing about this new IP is that the studio’s talent is perceived, and they are not tied to a name to showcase their work. We are again faced with a hard and visceral story. The sum of a visual and technical section that borders on the extraordinary and is complemented by a gameplay that gives you impressive moments from start to finish. Additionally, the atmosphere is always the protagonist and maintains the level of tension at all times.
To conclude, I can only say that it’s a unique and cathartic journey, which cannot be measured or contained, and it delivers everything in the most brutal way possible. Recommending REANIMAL is confirming that you shouldn’t miss a game that will give you a lot to talk about for everything it offers.
If you love the Little Nightmares series, here you will find something very special: it not only drinks from its essence but also elevates it and takes it one step further, an essential part of the Xbox catalog.
*Thanks to THQ Nordic for providing us with the material to carry out this analysis.
Video game, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch enthusiast. Frank is one of the most active video game news writers on the web. He covers absolutely every topic. In terms of games reviewed, as of 2024 he has already passed the 60 mark and his average score, according to Open Critic is 80.
Related Post
