Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 229 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise Game Cover
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Deadly 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.

Play Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 229 reviews
story36 positive mentions
gameplay10 negative mentions
  • The writing and character development are exceptional, making the story engaging and enjoyable.
  • The game runs smoothly at a steady 60 fps, providing a better experience than the Switch version.
  • Fans of the original Deadly Premonition will appreciate the return of beloved characters and the quirky charm of the series.
  • The PC port lacks essential settings, including graphics options and keyboard/mouse support, making it frustrating for some players.
  • Many side quests are tedious fetch quests that detract from the overall experience and pacing of the game.
  • The atmosphere and music are considered a downgrade compared to the first game, leading to disappointment among fans.
  • story159 mentions

    The story of "Deadly Premonition 2" is characterized by its engaging characters and intriguing narrative, though it suffers from pacing issues and an overreliance on tedious fetch quests that detract from the main plot. While some players appreciate the quirky charm and emotional depth reminiscent of the first game, many criticize the side quests as uninspired and the overall story as feeling rushed and less cohesive. 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.”
    • “Well written and emotional story, great characters and top-notch voice acting.”
    • “It's an emotionally gripping roller-coaster, and it makes me happy I can support Swery's storytelling endeavors.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics39 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting a lack of customization options and a barebones port from the Switch version, resulting in poor graphical quality and numerous technical issues. While some appreciate the steady 60 fps and improved visuals compared to the previous installment, others criticize the overall aesthetic as low-budget and lacking detail. Despite these shortcomings, players find the immersive story and characters somewhat compensate for the graphical deficiencies.

    • “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.”
    • “Straight port from Switch without any graphics options, but finally playable framerate and higher resolutions.”
    • “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.”
    • “The pc port is dogshit with zero options for graphics and no kb/m support; but the fps being solid actually makes this worth playing now.”
  • gameplay38 mentions

    The gameplay has been widely criticized for being tedious, barebones, and lacking engagement, with many reviewers noting that it feels like a chore to play. While some improvements have been made in mechanics and visuals, the overall experience is marred by repetitive tasks, dull sidequests, and a lifeless open world. Despite these shortcomings, the strong narrative and memorable characters provide some incentive for players to endure the gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is nothing to write home about, especially the dire combat, but the story alone is almost enough to warrant a buy if you enjoyed the first game.”
    • “Every little ounce of gameplay feels like a chore.”
    • “The little charm it has is not worth the awful and broken/boring gameplay.”
  • grinding17 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tedious and repetitive nature, with many players expressing frustration over the numerous fetch quests and the excessive time required to complete them for minimal rewards. While some appreciate the story and character interactions, the overall gameplay loop is seen as a significant downgrade from the original, leading to a lack of charm and enjoyment. Players often feel that the grinding detracts from the experience, making it a chore rather than an engaging part of the game.

    • “The biggest drawback is just how tedious this game can be.”
    • “The side missions and stamps are just grindy.”
    • “There are lots, and I mean lots of incredibly boring grinding.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the sequel to Deadly Premonition has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as a downgrade from the first game. While some tracks are enjoyable, the overall soundtrack lacks the memorable quality and iconic status of its predecessor, leading to a largely forgettable experience. Critics highlight the absence of background noise and sound effects, contributing to a less immersive atmosphere compared to the original.

    • “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.”
    • “The music is a downgrade compared to the first game; not terrible, but not as good.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users noting that the PC port is a barebones version of the already poorly optimized Switch release. While some players have found ways to enhance performance through community mods and fixes, the game still requires significant resources to maintain consistent frame rates. Overall, the PC version is considered a substantial improvement over the Switch version, but it still lacks comprehensive optimization and graphical options.

    • “The game now runs smoothly with these fixes!”
    • “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.”
    • “If you want to play Deadly Premonition 2, I'll recommend this port over the Switch original since the game's performance has been improved overall.”
    • “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.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding joy in the absurdity of character interactions and quirky mechanics, like skateboarding and York's unique dialogue. While there are moments of genuine laughter and charm reminiscent of the first game, many feel that the humor is often overshadowed by lengthy, unengaging conversations and a lack of character development in side quests. Overall, fans of the original may still appreciate the humor, but it doesn't consistently reach the same heights.

    • “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, such as 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.”
  • emotional11 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to create a profound connection with players, often leaving them feeling a mix of fulfillment and longing as they navigate its narrative. While some elements may feel disjointed or repetitive, the well-crafted characters and voice acting contribute to an emotionally gripping experience that resonates deeply, especially for fans of the original game. Overall, the emotional payoffs are seen as worth the journey, despite some inconsistencies in execution.

    • “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.”
    • “The game tries to evoke emotions but ends up feeling hollow and uninspired, leaving me disconnected from the characters.”
    • “Despite its beautiful visuals, the emotional impact is minimal, making it hard to care about the narrative or the characters' journeys.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The atmosphere in the sequel is generally viewed as lacking compared to the first game, with many reviewers noting a loss of charm and depth due to its new swampy setting. While some appreciate the bizarre elements and humor that contribute to a unique atmosphere, the overall consensus is that it fails to capture the memorable qualities of the original, including its music, story, and character design.

    • “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.”
    • “No rain or wind or anything to enhance the atmosphere.”
  • stability7 mentions

    Overall, 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 users experienced performance drops on the Switch version, the PC version runs smoothly, making it a solid choice for those willing to overlook occasional quirks.

    • “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.”
    • “It runs great and looks decent.”
    • “Oh, and DP2 is fairly buggy when skateboarding around.”
    • “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.”
    • “A worthy sequel to the original Deadly Premonition, it even comes with its own fun bugs, glitches, and oddities!”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is 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 underdeveloped, lacking engaging dialogue or meaningful growth. Overall, the character design does not meet expectations, leaving much to be desired.

    • “The character design is inconsistent.”
    • “Side quests and side characters are mostly left to the sidelines with no character development or engaging dialogue.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers significantly improved replayability compared to its predecessor, making it more enjoyable to play, despite being criticized as a poor port.

    • “This is infinitely more playable than the first game, but it is still a bad port. It's just a bad port that won't give you a headache like the first game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

8hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
5-16hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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