It does a lot of things better than the predecessor Penumbra Overture. the enemies are way more interesting actual humanoid types that wander around with flashlights and axes searching for you. there's no combat in this one unlike the first where you actually had the option to attack, here you are defenseless. the story evolves in an interesting way and it more or less wraps its self up nicely. there is really only one enemy type. I think I saw a spider once. but the atmosphere is done really well and the environment is a sprawling underground fallout bunker full of strange hivemind inhabitants. I enjoyed exploring and collecting notes, finding out more about the place.
Like the first game, there are some really bullshit parts such as:
- An electricity box that you must open, I search around for 40 minutes looking for a way to open it. Backtracking, looking for anything I missed. I even pickup random objects and swing it at the box to try to break it open. Nothing works. I then see a rock on the ground and throw it at the panel, and it breaks open. This is what you were suppose to do. Specifically. kind of bullshit!
- Some extremely awkward trial and error death sequences. Such as it forces you into a room with a giant worm and you have to figure out the correct sequence to leave, but it takes 30 deaths before you figure it out. Maybe im just slow but this is just my experience
- another part where you have invisible deaths due to some dog-man in the wall just felt a bit awkward and undeveloped
- Another point where it forces you into a small confined room with an enemy that you must face. You have to figure out how to drop a box on its head and flip a switch but fumbling with the controls to turn the valve is awkward as hell especially with an enemy inches away from you. This took a dozen deaths. At first I was just throwing random shit at him to try to kill him but he just appeared to be stunned
- the third hivemind trial towards the end of the game was stupid. the concept is interesting but i just felt frustrated.
- Some various puzzles that I tried really hard to figure out (30+ minutes) but ended up just saying fuck it and googling it. Such as the chemical mix puzzle, and the computer puzzle.
these parts aren't exclusively bad, they're unforgettable, just the trial and error stuff is kinda bad as it ruins atmosphere. There are a lot of really interesting things to just walk around and examine in the environment, and the descriptions that come with them. It seems like the story is wrapped up but there is a third game Penumbra Requiem but I hear really bad things about that and that its not even really a penumbra game. but there are more memorable and great parts too like the whole level design and finding what you've came to the place for, and being locked in the server room with a guy who just turned infected. its hard to mention all the cool moments without spoiling the game in this review so ill just leave it at that it was a lot better than Overture because of the improved enemies, atmosphere, level design, and the puzzles overall were more enjoyable and didn't waste as much of my time for the most part
7/10
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