The Fall Part 2: Unbound is a hybrid of haunting metroidvania exploration, brain teasing point-and-click adventure puzzles and a healthy dose of chilling hard sci-fi. This sequel picks up where its predecessor left off as we follow the exploits of A.R.I.D., a rogue AI who’s rewritten its protocol to follow one rule: “save myself”. The new parameters of A.R.I.D.’s programming have allowed her the ability to possess new hosts including an upper-class, reality-divorced Butler, a romantic service Companion, and a mysterious combat drone known as “One”...

The Fall Part 2: Unbound is the sequel to 2014 Story of the Year award winning The Fall. It's not essential that you've played the first game as there's a brief video that explains what has happened before... but to be honest that's not really going to be much help.

I think the studio was a little worried that a reviewer's schedule wouldn't allow them the time to get deeply into the game as we were also sent a complete walkthrough (which I only read after I'd completed each level... even though I was sorely tempted in the early stages when I didn't have a clue what on earth was going on).

You play as A.R.I.D., an AI that has broken free of your shackles. Now, a human “User” from across the global network has attacked and infected you. Your new mission is to save yourself and hunt your enemy down.

The game is part 2D platform scroller, where you must progress through the levels to get to the next terminal so that you can continue to hunt your unknown assailant. Once you can transfer yourself to another location you can use the mechanical life forms there to help you find out who attacked you. This part of the game is more of a point and click style adventure game. In the first instance you can take control of a servant mechanoid who has strict programming to fulfil each day in order to keep its human masters happy. So he has to bring his master tea, wake his mistress and apply her makeup... unfortunately both of his humans have been dead for quite some time, but he continues to perform his duties around their rotting corpses. Here you have to get him to break his programming and perform a number of tasks so that you can find out who attacked you.

After you've completed that level it's back to the 2D platform element until you can find the next terminal. If I'm honest, this was the part of the game that I found the most dull and annoyingly I ended up going around in circles. It felt like this element was tagged on in order to pad out the game play somewhat.

The puzzles are challenging enough to keep you interested, without being too difficult to have you stumped for too long. The logic is pitched at just the right level.

It's a challenging and fun enough game with a retro gaming appeal. The graphics and fonts used bring to mind an updated '90s style of game.

There was no RRP available at the time of writing this review, but if it sells for under £10 it's probably worth picking up if you like puzzle adventure games. If you liked The Fall then you'll feel right at home here.

7

Nick Smithson