The second entry in this series is again a moving and incredibly empathetic experience towards those who experience psychosis. The audio design of this game doesn't fall behind the first, and is perhaps the foremost achievement.

Gameplay wise, I can't point to anything specific, but this feels slightly less involved than the first game. It felt as though there were less puzzles and the combat that existed was slightly more frustrating and slighly less engaging than the first game. BUT, this game really isn't about combat for me.

Visually this game is stunning - one of the best uses of modern unreal engine I have experienced, and brought my 4090 to its knees - but well worth it. Extra bonus points for ultrawide experience.

The game is an amazing experience end to end and I highly recommend it. Do NOT play this without headphones - it is a must.

All in all, I would recommend this game to anyone who has patience enough to take it seriously for what it is. If you are someone who favors gameplay above story and immersion, this one might be a pass. If you enjoy emotionally moving experiences, and are not opposed to the idea of what amounts to an interactive movie, then definitely give this a shot.

As far as ratings, I would rate this slightly below the original game - that game was a MUCH more visceral experience because it focuses on much more extreme emotions and situations. granted, the goal the developers set out for this game was to "move her experience forward", and so this game does that well.

As a life-long fan of story driven RPGs, this is such an amazing and refreshing take on the genre. Something that really allows the story to live without being encumbered by in depth combat (not that there is anything wrong with RPG combat but... this is more special because its almost singularly focused).

Playing this game brought me some of the joy i had with the old point and click adventure games like police quest and DOTT, but with the story depth, writing, interactivity, and world depth I love from things like Planescape Torment, Torment ToN, Pillars of Eternity, Tyranny, etc.

This felt like a living novel turned into a videogame. Every conversation was interesting. Every NPC mattered. Every character a part to play.

My ONLY negative takeaway was the clothing system. Not being able to see stats at a glance, or just view them without hovering items really made it a pain to change your build depending on the situation.

Update after Second Runthrough of the Game: So much to explore in this game emotionally. Still an absolute must play. Cannot wait for more story content from the developers.