Frogwares has developed quite a following with its work on the Sherlock Holmes series, but The Sinking City was its brand-new IP, which managed to pique the curiosity of fans of its work with a mix of detective and exploration elements alongside Lovecraftian horror. The sequel appears to take a drastic departure from its predecessor, focusing more on action-paced third-person horror rather than the grounded roots of its predecessor.
As for the game, it is a third-person, over-the-shoulder survival horror game that feels like a combination of Alan Wake, Silent Hill 2, and Resident Evil. Instead of going with a semi-open world, the game takes a different approach with a set of interconnected linear levels, with the story divided into chapters. Every chapter shifts the focus of the game to a different location, but without the option to return to them. Each of these levels is connected through flooded sections of the streets, where the player navigates using a boat.
The one thing this sequel adds is more enemies. There are more firearms to deal with them, as well as melee attacks to stagger them. The main character starts with a simple pistol and later acquires other weapons, such as a shotgun, rifle, and submachine gun. Ammo is usually scarce on the default difficulty, and the game is quite generous when it comes to throwing enemies at the player. This means that most of the time, it is best to run away instead of killing everyone, at least on the default difficulty.
Most of the enemies in the game are human corpses that have been reanimated through weird-looking worms. The lack of distinct enemy types is a big issue with the game, and some of the stalker-type enemies also tend to be annoying, as they require the player to run away and hide. There are boss encounters too, but only a handful of them.
While The Sinking City 2 starts strong, the game does not really hold up toward the end. The narrative is set in the same fictional Lovecraftian city of Arkham, Massachusetts, which is the subject of a massive flood. As the city is slowly being evacuated, the main character, Calvin Rafferty, who is also an occultist, sets out to find a way to revive his partner, Faye Bennett. He is a different character from the first game’s Charles Reed, who is only referenced through an Easter egg. Calvin’s search first takes him to a library, where he needs to study methods of bringing back people from a coma induced when they step into the Dreamlands.
One thing that The Sinking City 2 does well is using the established Cthulhu mythos for its larger story and narrative, as well as its creature design. While the game tries to offer an illusion of choice, it is less player-driven this time, instead focusing on a linear narrative. Unfortunately, as good as the game starts, both narratively and gameplay-wise, the last half of the game takes a step back, making it a struggle to beat. My biggest issue is with the enemy variety, as well as the abundance of enemies, which can often leave players with no choice but to run away.
I understand that Frogwares had some issues due to the unfortunate situation in their home country, which is why I do not really mind how the last half of the game felt disjointed or rushed compared to the excellent opening. Calvin as a protagonist is likeable and has a nice personality, especially in the story concerning his partner Faye as well as the grander set of events that unfold.
The game is technically excellent, in my opinion, at least on a decent PC. It runs well, and there were no noticeable performance issues. Visually, it looks great, standing head and shoulders above its peers in the genre, such as Silent Hill 2. While it might not beat Alan Wake 2 for the best visuals, there is still a lot to like here. Performance was generally okay for me on an RTX 5070 Ti with everything fully maxed out, but I understand that the game does not really offer much on screen to justify these visuals, considering there are other games with path tracing that can run and look even better.
Inventory management plays a big part in this game, with the ability to store items at save points throughout the levels. The crafting system is useful for making medical items, while the talent system offers passive bonuses. The Mind Palace also plays an important role in solving puzzles, while environmental interactions and item-based locks make up the majority of the exploration. I also liked how the difficulty was dynamic, allowing us to set the combat and puzzle difficulty separately.
I would recommend The Sinking City 2 to those who have enjoyed games like Silent Hill 2 and Alan Wake 2. It is not the best game in the genre, but it is a massive improvement over its predecessor. There are some minor drawbacks, but the visuals and gameplay are generally excellent.
The Sinking City 2 Game Information
- Price: $49.99
- Publisher: Frogwares
- Developer: Frogwares
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher
