The atmospheric horror adventure game returns with Sylvio 2. Like its predecessor, this game offers psychological elements and a touch of mystery. However, rather than typical horror games' jump scares, you will deal with the occult, supernatural, and themes about death and loss.

Sylvio 2 follows the story of the first Sylvio, and many of its themes return in the sequel. Unfortunately, its execution will disappoint fans. The mechanics for deciphering the sound recording and videos are clunky and cumbersome. Moreover, the game is not well-optimized, and you constantly deal with the cursor popping out of the window. 

Same story, different experience

Sylvio 2 picked up where the first game left off. Here, Juliette Waters is buried underground by a landslide. She seemed to have been temporarily unable to commune with the disgruntled spirits of Saginaw. However, upon a short jaunt, a new piece of equipment will help you talk with the dead. Instead of voice recording, you will gather visual and audio data.

As with its predecessor, the recordings reveal new clues about the world around Juliette, allowing you to progress. More than bringing more life to the haunting, the new machine also adds unexpected accessibility, helping players with hearing loss find the spaces where blank messages may exist. However, as mentioned, the mechanics for deciphering is a little clanky. The lack of wave indicators means you will go over evidence repeatedly.

The minimal interface is unsteady, with no separate audio controls. The closed captioning also doesn't help with solving the puzzles. The graphics are also very basic. Still, it does lend an unsettling atmosphere. Moreover, while it uses video recordings, the game is still audio-reliant. However, despite these shortcomings, fans will still find the story good, especially with the top-notch voice acting of the Swedish actress Maia Hansson Bergqvist.

Did not live up to its predecessor

In the end, Sylvio 2 did not give justice to the first game’s hype. Sure, the storyline is as unsettling and troubling, and the game also adds new features to make the experience different. However, the immersion is quickly destroyed by the glitchy, unstable environment. As it currently stands, the experience only made it more intriguing to play the first game.