Layers of Fear (2023 video game)

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Layers of Fear
Layers of Fear cover art 2023.png
Developer(s) Bloober Team
Publisher(s) Bloober Team
Series Layers of Fear
Engine Unreal Engine 5
Platform(s)
ReleaseJune 15, 2023
Mode(s) Single-player

Layers of Fear [lower-alpha 1] is a 2023 developed and published by Bloober Team. It is a remake of and sequel to the 2016 game Layers of Fear and its sequel Layers of Fear 2 (2019), combining stories from the previous games with new content. The game was released for Windows, macOS, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S in June 2023. It received mixed reviews upon release.

Contents

Development

The game was created in Unreal Engine 5. [1] The game was inspired by P.T. [2]

Plot

Reception

According to review aggregator Metacritic, the PC version and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game received "mixed or average" reviews, [3] [4] while the PS5 version received generally positive reviews. [4] Critics generally praised the introduction of a new framing story to combine the narratives from the previous games. [6] [7] Its environment and visual design was also praised, although many critics felt that it was not very terrifying. [8] [9] [7]

Dakota Evans, in a review for Game Rant , described it as "a beautiful yet terrifying game that accomplishes being both a remake and a sequel simultaneously." [10] Lewis Parker, writing for PC Gamer , praised the game's storytelling themes, favorably comparing its gameplay to the Amnesia series. [11] Mark Delaney of GameSpot and Ashley Bardhan of Kotaku described the plot as largely disappointing despite the quality of the game's visual design. [7] [12] Delaney and Michael Cripe of The Escapist both described the gameplay as lacking in tension, comparing it to experiences like an amusement park ride or haunted attraction. [9]

Some journalists found the decision to use the same name as the 2016 game confusing and unclear. [2] [11] [13] [14]

Notes

  1. ↑ Originally known as Layers of Fears

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References

  1. ↑ "Horror Games Releasing In 2023 You Should Know About". Game Rant. 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  2. 1 2 Ogilvie, Tristan (2023-06-15). "Layers of Fear Review". IGN. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  3. 1 2 "Layers of Fear for PC reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  4. 1 2 3 "Layers of Fear for PlayStation 5 reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Layers of Fear for Xbox Series X/S reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  6. ↑ Square, Push (2023-06-15). "Review: Layers of Fear (PS5) - A Collection That Brilliantly Reframes the Series". Push Square. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  7. 1 2 3 "Layers Of Fear (2023) Review - Delusions Of Grandeur". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  8. ↑ Boddy, Zachary (2023-07-02). "Layers of Fear (2023) Xbox review — A mostly good remake of a mostly good horror series". Windows Central. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  9. 1 2 Cripe, Michael (2023-06-15). "Layers of Fear 2023 Review in 3 Minutes - Still Not Great". The Escapist. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  10. ↑ "Layers of Fear (2023): Remake vs Original, Is the Remake Worth Playing?". Game Rant. 2023-06-17. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  11. 1 2 Parker, Lewis (2023-06-15). "Layers of Fear (2023) review". pcgamer. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  12. ↑ "Layers Of Fear: The Kotaku Review". Kotaku. 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  13. ↑ Blain, Louise; West, Josh (2022-11-05). "Upcoming horror games for 2023 and beyond". gamesradar. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  14. ↑ Ogilvie, Tristan (15 June 2023). "Layers of Fear Review". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
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