It's ok if you get scared!
It's that time again for a new episode of Chichuki Plays, the show where I go hands-on with upcoming games and show them off. Usually, it's about an hour or so but I don't want to spoil too much of the game for you. For this playthrough, I decided to go for almost 2 hours to show off more of the game. This time we're looking at Layers of Fear: The Final Masterpiece Edition on Nintendo Switch 2. Your mind will need a reset after playing this game. The Final Masterpiece Edition has Layers of Fear, Layers of Fear 2, and all released DLC, along with new chapters that add even more to the journey.
Right off the bat, the game does a great job in setting the mood that something creepy/spooky is going to happen. We start out by taking a boat to an old lighthouse in what appears to be in the middle of nowhere. The lighthouse has a lot of creepy charm to it like floorboards creaking when you walk over them or entering one room and have something fall in another room. We are first introduced to a woman in the lighthouse who is the Writer. Along the way we're also introduced to the Painter. I love the idea that the Writer is writing the story of the Painter at an old typewriter. Having multiple stories in one is an interesting way of telling a story as well as trying to keep the player entertained. I have to say that the story was doing a great job of keeping in invested.
The different locations in the game felt like different mazes. The Painter's house was a lovely location and at the same time, I was waiting for something to jump out and scare the hell out of me. Safe to say, that only happened a few times. You'll find all kinds of collectibles strewn about. If you want to learn more about the characters, keep an eye out for papers hidden about. You'll also be tested with minor puzzles and those could range from burning paintings to using the lantern to attack deities. Near the end of my video, I got stuck trying to open a safe. I had the code, but I just couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.For those of you who care, I eventually got the safe open, but it was off camera.
Another great way the game sets the psychological horror aspect is having locations reset as well as never knowing what's going to happen next. What I mean by resetting is that the game has you walk into a room and there might be nothing there. There might not be an exit either so you'll have to walk out the way you came in. That previous entrance will probably take you to a new location so be on alert. There will also be times where things like cats or mice jump out from behind something to spook ya so again, be on your toes.
The writing was very well done in the game as well. I was finding myself feeling really sorry for the wife of the Painter the more I played. He would spend less and less time with her, spending all his free time painting. Then you find out that he didn't want her performing at his exhibit because they guests wouldn't be paying attention to his art/him. The kicker was you find out they might try marriage counseling, and it all clicked because it really sounded like the writing team did their research on what a failed marriage sounded like.
Fans of the psych horror genre will want to check out the Layers of Fear: The Final Masterpiece Edition because it has a lot going for it. The sheer amount of content is a good start as well as the great writing. Just know that safe cracking is a pain in the ass!
Make sure you check out the hands-on video below!