Is the survival horror revival a blissful nightmare, or simply a tortured experience?

Introduction

There is a particular atmosphere that only classic survival horror can conjure; a palpable sense of vulnerability woven from fixed-camera angles, scarce resources, and deliberately cumbersome movement. Tormented Souls 2 arrives on the scene unapologetically embracing this lineage, a fact that will either elicit a cheer of nostalgic joy or a groan of frustration, depending on your tolerance for the genre’s older conventions. It picks up with Caroline Walker, scarred yet determined, as she ventures into the remote town of Villa Hess in southern Chile, desperately seeking a cure for her sister Anna’s bizarre and terrifying affliction. Her journey takes her through a series of increasingly sinister and decaying locations—a shadowy convent, a derelict shopping mall, and an abandoned school, all rendered with an oppressive gothic dread. The developers have not just aped the classics; they have attempted to distill the essence of what made those games genuinely unsettling while utilising contemporary technology. We have seen many attempts to recapture the magic of the 90s horror heyday, but has this one managed to navigate the tricky line between respectful homage and frustrating relic? Read on to find out!

Between Two Worlds

Tormented Souls 2 is, at its core, a third-person survival horror experience. The narrative follows Caroline Walker in the months following her first ordeal at Wildberger Hospital. Her sister Anna is now plagued by violent visions that manifest as horrifying, deadly realities, driving Caroline to the mysterious clinic in Villa Hess. Unsurprisingly, the clinic holds a sickening truth, and the sisters are plunged into a new nightmare involving a twisted cult and otherworldly rituals.

The story is a complex tapestry full of twists and revelations, seeing Caroline encounter and cooperate with other characters, each with their own agenda and dark secrets. The main story arc is supported by a rich, interconnected world of exploration. Exploring the huge variety of unnerving locations within Villa Hess always feels rewarding, and the atmosphere is immediately recognisable as that from the original Tormented Souls game – terrifyingly grim (but in the best possible way)!

A Nailer, a Chainsaw, and the Other Side

The moment-to-moment experience of Tormented Souls 2 is governed by classic survival horror mechanics: combining exploration, puzzle-solving, and limited-resource combat. The game encourages you to collect, examine, and combine items to solve mind-bending, intricately designed environmental puzzles. You will need to reveal hidden information and forge connections between various objects to progress, all the while avoiding any altercations with the monstrous creatures loping through the hallways.

A central mechanic involves Caroline harnessing her supernatural powers to switch between realities, a feature essential for progression. This allows her to change the past to reshape the present and search for alternate paths in the nightmarish “other side.” This reality-shifting ability adds a clever layer to both the exploration and puzzle design.

Combat is a tense affair, designed to make you constantly decide whether to fight or flee, especially given the scarcity of ammo and healing items. Not only that, but Caroline’s almost cumbersome movements make it difficult to get away in a timely fashion. Caroline collects and modifies an arsenal of makeshift weapons, such as a nailer and a chainsaw, and a new quick select feature helps switch armaments in the heat of battle (this is a serious improvement, considering the slow, almost “heavy” nature of the game). Confronting lethal new enemies—from skittering bladed horrors to hulking armoured abominations—culminates in demanding and clever monstrous boss encounters.

An Unreal Nightmare

The environments within Villa Hess – such as the clinic, convent, and mall – are rendered with a gothic dread that successfully elevates the atmosphere, and remains faithful to the first Tormented Souls game. This visual fidelity helps to sell the nightmarish reality Caroline finds herself in. Environments are beautiful, and intricately-detailed. The character models, however, are reminiscent of the early 2010’s, which detracts from the otherwise stunning surroundings.

The audio design is spectacular, with subtle, eerie music and sound effects always audible throughout the game, no matter where you are within it.

The Cycle of Horror

Tormented Souls 2 has decent replay value. Its narrative complexity, full of dark secrets and unexpected revelations, is bolstered by the presence of multiple endings, offering a strong incentive for a second playthrough to see every possible outcome of Caroline’s plight.

Conclusion

Tormented Souls 2 is an incredibly successful continuation of the retro-inspired survival horror revival. The developers have meticulously crafted a game that feels simultaneously modern and deeply nostalgic, successfully harnessing the chilling atmosphere and intricate puzzle design that defined the genre’s golden era. The central reality-shifting mechanic adds a fresh layer to the exploration, and the narrative, while dealing with familiar occult and cult themes, is executed with genuine tension. While the combat retains the deliberate, clunky, and often awkward feel of the classics – which some will love and others will find frustrating – it perfectly serves the core design philosophy of limited resources and high danger. It is an outstanding example of the genre.

Grade: 9/10 – Outstanding