The Fall Part 2: Unbound

I really liked the first game but as much as I tried I couldn't get into this one, ended up watching a playthrough online for the story. I think you can really tell the indie dev did a lot of work to push themselves beyond what was done in the first game and it's very admirable. But I think ultimately this is a case where bigger isn't better. The game and story ultimately feels less focused and enjoyable, like it's trying to do more than it needs to or should. Also the story was once again left on a "to be continued". And where the first game centered on a tight story narrative this one reaches for a much larger sci-fi narrative especially at the end that I don't think the systems and quality bar support. The story is nice enough, the voice acting is great, and the settings are well done. Happy to have bought the game and support the dev, met them at a game con years ago, they were really nice. I wish them luck and success in the future, and thank them for the hard work even if this one didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Improved over the first in practically every facet. The game controls better, the writing and themes are tighter, the new characters are delightful (I particularly love the Butler). Incredibly sympathetic and fascinating perspectives of AI, bodily autonomy, and self-determination. The repeated discussions of violation and cycles of abuse are, in my opinion, detailed respectfully to the characters, yet remaining harrowing and truthful. I first played The Fall in... 2014 or so. Shortly after its release, by a friend whom I no longer speak to. I adored it, deeply, and felt it had a sympathy and perspective I'd rarely seen in other media about robots. I'd always wondered how the sequel would have continued. I certainly wouldn't have expected this. My main flaw with the game is the combat. It's improved over the first game (the lock-on is great), however it remains stiff and awkward with multiple enemies on the screen. I retried the final boss multiple times before I was successful, in large part because Arid moved too slowly or ran out of energy too quickly. The Dark Beam, while an interesting concept well-tied to the setting, proved nearly useless except for opening white doors. Cannot wait to see the conclusion. I do hope the combat is further refined, I don't think it'll take much at this point.

I think what gets me most about the first part of The Fall was how well it set itself as an emotional dilemma and the idea of AI being in control of human life. The Fall 2 however is more about AI itself overcoming it's own ambitions through use of trickier set up like puzzle games usually do. Unbound mostly sets itself apart from the first game by being episodic in it's story and puzzle solving. While three new AIs are center stage for the puzzles, thankfully the plot uses ARID as a connection between the three that doesn't feel forced in a blunt way. Thus each new main character we met gives newer perspective and aesthetic that simply wasn't in the first game. Due to these changes, the puzzles in Part 2: Unbound are far more interesting in the sense that they have personality behind each of them. It's not simply ARIDs problem to go to the next part of the game, but to work through the new AI behaviors and patterns that helps make each part interesting and memorable. From navigating individualism, servitude, and empathy as all different rule sets placed through each new AI the puzzles become rather transformative in a way that most puzzle games wish they can be, a form of storytelling. So not only does each new area have their own set of rules they also have different ways to solve their particular problems, especially when act 2 gets started. I can't say that everything in Unbound works particularly well though as the network area, and ARID's main parts aren't really interesting through out the game. Like there is certainly a need to continue the on going plot of the first game, but it's in a way that sorta falls on the wayside like the devs didn't want to touch on it too much. I understand why everything is placed the way it is, but it says something when the areas between each new AI are the weakest parts. Honestly, I was the most confused and bored whenever I hit the network ARID parts, and kinda wish I could've simply moved on to the next segment. There was some nice action points, but mostly due to how the game controls, they just didn't bring me the same joy as the puzzles would. Still I must say The Fall Part 2: Unbound did live up to my expectations, even if I didn't know that's what I wanted from it. It's very different from the first game, has a lot more emotional beats and character development, and honestly probably swung too hard in the other direction for some people. Despite all this, the ARID sections feel proof to me that focusing on the new AI was the key to making this game as great as it is, and it's ultimately what I like most about it. For fans of the first game, there is absolutely something here for you, but it is absolutely something you didn't know you wanted. For those newer to the series, you could honestly start here, but mostly I just want to express this game, like it's first, is quite a surprise. I am a surprise.

Just like the first game, it's awesome. That ending has me looking forward to part 3!

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It's hard to follow a great first game, and unfortunately this one doesn't quite compare. I wasn't brought in by the storyline, the characters were of mixed quality tied to their part of the story, and while some puzzles were enjoyable others were not. It's not a terrible game, but I don't think I would recommend this even if it wasn't a sequel.

This game was a fantastic mystery/thriller and almost horror game. It has a great sound design along with the dreadful environment where there is obviously nobody alive and you are just trying to get through this compound in order to escape. The puzzle-solving is top-notch and can be a little tricky at times, but not as ambiguous as early Sierra titles. The action helps to create a little bit of a break from the puzzles to add some variety to the mix. The story can be a bit hard to follow, specifically if you don't know what happened in the first game, but if you do, it really starts to pull things together and make it interesting.