'Little Nightmares II (2020)' is an atmospheric and enigmatic puzzle-platformer that's as creepy as it is enjoyable. Because of certain aspects of its story which I won't spoil here, the game can easily be played without having played its predecessor (which is how I experienced it). Its story is surprisingly compelling considering that there isn't a single line of dialogue. It's simple but effective. The piece conveys its ambiguous narrative without holding your hand, which actually makes for a very satisfying experience. Its ending is fantastically frustrating and downbeat; it's actually the perfect note on which to end. The gameplay consists of puzzles, traversal challenges and stealth segments, usually all at the same time. It's more-or-less a side-scroller, even though you can move away from and closer to the screen, as it were. It feels surprisingly fluid, though the controls are ever-so-slightly clunky and you can get stuck on geometry quite easily. The title just drops you right into its events and forces you to fend for yourself, only occasionally interrupting with a tutorial message when an obscure new mechanic comes into play. The experience never feels frustrating, though, because it saves very frequently. It's a little annoying how much trial and error is involved, especially when the thing throws something at you that you couldn't possibly predict, but this doesn't detract from the overall experience as you immediately respawn not too far from where you met your demise. The game has several collectibles (one type of which leads to an extended 'secret' ending) that are incredibly well hidden. In fact, they're a little too well hidden at times. Still, it's entertaining to try and find them all. They add a bit more value to the relatively short story, although I still managed to finish the entire thing to 100% in around five-and-a-half hours. The length isn't an issue, at least for me, because the affair is so entertaining. Its aesthetics are spot on, with several disquieting enemies and a generally gloomy vibe, and its gameplay is really engaging, especially during its more exciting segments. The story, too, is unexpectedly affecting; you'll really care about your player character and his mysterious new friend by the time you reach the thing's conclusion. In the end, this is a distinct and well-achieved little title. It's great. I'll be playing the first game very soon. 8/10.
