Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise
- June 11, 2022
- Toy Box Inc.
- 8h median play time
Get on SteamDeadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise is an open-world survival horror game that serves as a prequel and sequel to the original Deadly Premonition. Investigate a series of murders in the small town of Le Carré, Louisiana, in 2005 through the memories of former FBI agent Francis York Morgan. In present-day Boston, Morgan must revisit the case and uncover new clues to solve the mystery. The game features unique storytelling and a blend of horror and detective gameplay.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The writing is amazing, with well-developed characters and an engaging story.
- The game runs smoothly at a steady 60 fps, providing a better experience than the Switch version.
- Fans of the original Deadly Premonition will likely enjoy the quirky charm and humor present in the sequel.
- The PC port is barebones, lacking graphics settings and keyboard/mouse support, which limits accessibility.
- Many side quests are tedious fetch quests that feel disconnected from the main story, leading to pacing issues.
- The overall atmosphere and music are considered a downgrade compared to the first game, making it less memorable.
- story318 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story of "Deadly Premonition 2" is characterized by engaging writing and memorable characters, but it suffers from poor pacing and an overreliance on tedious fetch quests that detract from the main narrative. While some players appreciate the quirky charm and emotional depth reminiscent of the first game, many feel that the overall plot is rushed, filled with plot holes, and lacks the same level of intrigue and character development. Ultimately, the game is recommended primarily for fans of the original, who may find value in the continuation of York's story despite its flaws.
“The best parts of the game are when it just focuses on storytelling.”
“It tells a really good story, with incredible and creative characters and dialogue.”
“The plot is really captivating, which makes you want to keep moving it forward while finding new discoveries and forming bonds with the people in town.”
“Most of the game's story is a slow-burning predictable mess with things only really ramping up the excitement in the final act, and even then the plot becomes a lot of nonsense.”
“The story feels rushed, unfinished, and riddled with plot holes.”
“The investigation drags on with little progress or anything to do beyond fulfilling meaningless fetch quests that never seem to end or have vague goals in order for the game to decide to move things forward.”
- graphics78 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting a lack of graphical options and settings, as it is a direct port from the Switch. While some improvements have been made compared to the previous installment, the overall quality is described as low, with issues like low detail, graphical glitches, and a barebones aesthetic. Despite these shortcomings, the game maintains a steady 60 fps, which some players find acceptable given the immersive story and character development.
“However, the game as a whole is great; you will get immersed in the world when you get used to the specific visuals and animations. You will enjoy the story, and you will especially like the characters.”
“The only things better in the second game are the graphics and how quickly you can move around town.”
“Runs much smoother than on the Nintendo Switch, but still, a very barebones PC port with no way of changing the graphic settings in-game at all; also can be only played with a controller.”
“Graphically, the game looks like a cheap asset flipping scam.”
“Moreover, the game suffers from numerous technical issues such as crashes, constant frame drops, lack of graphical settings, and no mouse & keyboard support.”
“Representing the jank, we've got an open world too big and empty for its own good, animations and textures of dubious quality, mirrors that are windows into an alternative universe inside a Game Boy Advance, and a port with no graphics options.”
- gameplay76 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been widely criticized for being tedious, lackluster, and repetitive, with many reviewers noting that it feels like a chore to engage with. While some improvements in mechanics and visuals were acknowledged, they were overshadowed by a lifeless open world, dull sidequests, and a general lack of engaging content compared to the first game. Despite these shortcomings, the strong narrative and memorable characters provide some incentive for players to persevere through the gameplay flaws.
“The mechanics and grinding can be rough, but the story and memorable characters throughout the town are golden and worth playing for.”
“There are a few interesting concepts and minigames, and a really funny skateboarding mechanic, but the open world feels lifeless and the sidequests are pretty dull at best.”
“Gameplay-wise is better and worse compared to the first game in several ways.”
“Gameplay is horrible.”
“The little charm it has is not worth the awful and broken/boring gameplay.”
“Every little ounce of gameplay feels like a chore.”
- grinding34 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tedious and repetitive nature, with many players expressing frustration over the abundance of fetch quests and the lack of engaging gameplay mechanics. While some appreciate the story and character interactions, the overwhelming grind required to progress often detracts from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable adventure. Overall, the game is seen as a significant downgrade from its predecessor, suffering from a monotonous gameplay loop that undermines its narrative potential.
“The side missions and stamps are just grindy.”
“Side quests were most of the time annoying fetch quests that sometimes required hours of grinding to complete for amazing rewards such as 30 dollars.”
“There are lots, and I mean lots of incredibly boring grinding.”
- music28 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the sequel to Deadly Premonition has been widely criticized as a downgrade from the first game, with many reviewers noting that it lacks the memorable quality and iconic tracks that defined the original soundtrack. While some tracks are enjoyable, the overall consensus is that the music is largely forgettable and does not enhance the gaming experience as effectively as in the first installment.
“Just like in the previous game, the soundtrack is great, and this one also has a few 'iconic' tracks (though nowhere near to the degree of the first one).”
“I found the various tunes of the first game getting stuck in my head to the point where I sought out the soundtrack to listen to it on its own.”
“Running more smoothly (especially compared to the buggier port of the first Deadly Premonition), it allows you to properly appreciate the madcap story that unfolds with a brilliant soundtrack and a wonderful performance from Jeff Kramer.”
“There is no background noise, very few sound effects, and music tracks.”
“In DP2, the music is largely forgettable, save for maybe 1 or 2 tracks.”
“Shallow characters, weak story, poor gameplay, forgettable music; Swery put very little effort into this following.”
- optimization28 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The optimization of the PC port is generally criticized as being barebones and lacking in graphical options, with many users noting that it requires high power to maintain consistent frame rates. However, it is considered a significant improvement over the poorly optimized Switch version, with some players successfully applying community fixes to enhance performance and visuals. Overall, while the port has its shortcomings, it is still recommended for those looking to experience the game on PC.
“Running more smoothly (especially compared to the buggier port of the first Deadly Premonition), it allows you to properly appreciate the madcap story that unfolds with a brilliant soundtrack and a wonderful performance from Jeff Kramer.”
“So excited to finally have this on PC, the performance is night-and-day from the Switch version; if you like Swery games, you already know you're buying this.”
“The game now runs smoothly with these fixes!”
“I bought the Switch version at launch, then spent months waiting for patches for its abysmal performance after playing a few hours.”
“The game is not optimized very well, so expect to use high TDP to hit consistent FPS.”
“Barebones PC port of an already ugly and poorly optimized Switch game.”
- humor24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with moments of absurdity and charm that evoke laughter, particularly through character interactions and quirky mechanics like skateboarding. While fans of the original may find some familiar comedic elements, many reviewers noted that the humor often feels overshadowed by lengthy, unengaging dialogue and a lack of character development in side quests. Overall, the game has its funny moments, but it doesn't consistently deliver the same comedic highs as its predecessor.
“I'm not sure why, but I find the skateboarding enjoyable and the absurdity of most things in the game, such as York talking to himself in front of people and the hotel worker acting like different people for each job, like chef and bellboy. It also has quite a few funny and enjoyable details, like York and Patricia's conversations via optional dialogues or story ones.”
“Funny and charming as hell (I know, not the first thing you expect to hear about a game about investigating gruesome murders), but it really is.”
“The script is remarkable in how funny and absurd its character interactions are, in a very deliberate Brechtian way.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 91 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to create a gripping narrative that resonates deeply with players, often leaving them feeling fulfilled yet yearning for more. While some elements may feel disjointed or repetitive, the well-crafted characters and voice acting contribute to a heartfelt experience that balances absurdity and emotional depth. Overall, it is praised for its emotional payoffs, making it a worthwhile journey for fans of the series despite not reaching the heights of its predecessor.
“I appreciate how they tried to tie everything up at least emotionally, but I was not ready for this game to end.”
“My heart felt full.”
“It's an emotionally gripping roller-coaster, and it makes me happy I can support Swery's storytelling endeavors.”
“In a world full of 'perfect' games that have 10/10 graphics and great gameplay but lack emotional depth, the story feels lazy and boring.”
“In a world full of 'perfect' games that have 10/10 graphics and great gameplay but lack emotional depth, the story feels lazy and boring.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the sequel is generally viewed as lacking compared to the first game, with many reviewers noting that the shift from the forests of Greenvale to swampy Louisiana diminishes its charm and immersive qualities. While some elements, such as music and character design, still contribute positively to the atmosphere, the overall experience is seen as less engaging, with criticisms aimed at the lack of environmental effects and the retconning of key story elements. Despite these drawbacks, a few reviewers appreciate the bizarre humor and unique atmosphere that the game still manages to deliver.
“It was the first game's atmosphere that I fell in love with.”
“It lacks in certain aspects, but not in the atmosphere!”
“Come for the sheer bizarreness of it all, stay for the laughs, surprisingly good atmosphere and the meme potential.”
“The sequel is set in the swampy Louisiana instead of the forests of Greenvale, and it lost some of its atmosphere because of it.”
“On the other hand, it lost some of the charm and atmosphere.”
“Much of DP1 gets retconned (Morgan's child, a certain character's death, the entire premise for the sequel, etc.), leaving the experience on the whole pointless, in addition to its terrible quality and dull atmosphere.”
- stability14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 57 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally improved compared to its predecessor, with no crashes reported and only minor graphical glitches and physics issues noted. While some players experienced bugs, particularly during skateboarding, the overall performance on PC is praised, though the Switch version suffers from significant frame rate issues. Players who can overlook these quirks may still enjoy the experience, but those sensitive to technical flaws might want to reconsider.
“Overall, I still enjoy the game; it is definitely not buggy and broken like the port of the previous game.”
“I own the Switch version as well, and it was tough playing the game at 15fps, but on PC it runs great.”
“If you're fine with looking past the bad and you just want to experience the sequel to Deadly Premonition, then by all means go for it because it runs great and it looks decent.”
“The game has a handful of graphical glitches, and the physics can act wonky at times, but at least it didn't crash on me once, so that's a huge improvement over the previous game.”
“Oh, and DP2 is fairly buggy when skateboarding around.”
“A worthy sequel to the original Deadly Premonition, it even comes with its own fun bugs, glitches, and oddities!”
- character development6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely criticized for its inconsistency, with only a few standout designs amidst a lack of depth for side characters and quests. Many players feel that side characters are neglected, resulting in minimal development and unengaging dialogue. Overall, the character design fails to create a cohesive and compelling narrative experience.
“The character design is inconsistent.”
“Side quests and side characters are mostly left to the side with no character development or funny dialogue.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significantly improved replayability compared to its predecessor, making it more enjoyable to play, despite being criticized as a poor port. While it alleviates some frustrations from the first game, the overall experience still suffers from technical shortcomings.
