October 18, 2023
Parabole

Kona II: Brume

Sequel to 2017's survival adventure Kona, Kona II: Brume is a survival mystery adventure game that follows the story of Detective Carl Faubert, who returns to the fictional land of Manastan in Northern Quebec, Canada, in 1970.

64%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

grinding, stability

78% User Score Based on 277 reviews

Critic Score 67%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

In Kona II: Brume, return as Detective Carl Faubert to a Quebec mining village consumed by a reality-warping mist. Explore the snowy landscapes, interrogate survivors, and uncover the secret behind the Brume to eliminate it. Brace yourself for the harsh weather, dangerous wildlife, and eerie nightmares as you fight to survive. Investigate diligently, using Carl's journal to piece together the mystery of the Brume's origin.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 280 reviews

story50 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story that expands on the original, with intriguing mysteries and character development.
Visually stunning graphics and immersive atmosphere that effectively capture the essence of the Canadian wilderness.
The gameplay includes enjoyable puzzles and exploration, providing a satisfying experience for fans of narrative-driven games.

The game lacks the depth of investigation and exploration found in the first installment, often relying on tedious fetch quests.
Difficulty settings are unbalanced, making the game feel too easy and removing any sense of survival challenge.
Many players found the linear gameplay and excessive backtracking to be frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.

story
185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The story of "Kona II: Brume" continues directly from its predecessor, offering an intriguing narrative that expands on the original while introducing new elements. While some players appreciated the deeper exploration of character backstories and the atmospheric setting, others criticized the reliance on fetch quests and a more linear plot that detracted from the mystery and investigative aspects that defined the first game. Overall, the sequel presents a mixed reception, with some finding it engaging and others feeling it lacks the depth and polish of the original.
- “Fantastic sequel to Kona, keeping the story true to the original while carving its own unique path.”
- “The story was amazing, tying up loose ends that the first game didn't finish up, the environmental storytelling was absolutely phenomenal too!”
- “Overall, I really enjoyed the game and its continuation of the story.”
- “In particular, the stripping of supernatural elements really left a sour taste in my mouth and robbed me of my investment in the story.”
- “The story is a mediocre slog through worn tropes with a hint of pretentious xenophobia and condemnation of industrialization.”
- “The sense of mystery and investigation is gone because of predictable, linear story and a bunch of characters and notes that will just plainly explain everything to you.”
graphics
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
42%
7%
The graphics in the Kona games are widely praised for their beauty and high quality, with many noting significant improvements over the original. Players appreciate the stunning scenery and immersive atmosphere, although some express disappointment over the lack of ray tracing and occasional performance issues. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the gaming experience, enhancing the narrative and engagement.
- “Gorgeous graphics and great optimization as well, everyone should play both Kona games.”
- “Visuals are fantastic, it just sucks you right in and won't let go.”
- “Kona II really expands on the atmosphere established in the original game, and is a major graphical step up from the original.”
- “Overall subpar optimization / performance for the visuals provided.”
- “The graphics are also overall quite pretty - disappointing to not see this game raytraced though.”
- “Ok story, graphics are ok, but nothing fancy.”
atmosphere
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
33%
8%
The atmosphere in "Kona II: Brume" is widely praised for its immersive depiction of the Canadian winter wilderness, effectively capturing a sense of loneliness and exploration. While the game expands on the atmospheric elements established in the original, some players feel it loses the isolationist feel and mystery, particularly with the introduction of numerous NPCs and a shift to a sci-fi narrative. Overall, the game's strong visuals and engaging sound design contribute to a compelling atmosphere, despite some dissatisfaction with the ending.
- “The atmosphere is extraordinary!”
- “Also incredibly immersive and a great atmosphere of loneliness in the Canadian wintry wilderness.”
- “Kona II really expands on the atmosphere established in the original game, and is a major graphical step up from the original.”
- “The atmosphere of the Canadian wilderness did justice, but everything else felt so hollow.”
- “I love the atmosphere they have set up, but I did not enjoy the ending for either of these games and it felt dissatisfying.”
- “For me, it's the combination of two things - the winter atmosphere and the process of investigation.”
gameplay
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
49%
9%
The gameplay in "Kona II: Brume" is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, atmospheric design, and a variety of gameplay options that cater to different playstyles. However, some players find the gameplay loop repetitive and note that certain mechanics can feel counterproductive, particularly in specific levels like the laboratory. While the game builds on its predecessor's strengths, it may not fully satisfy fans of the original's narrative depth.
- “In some areas, the gameplay has been lifted greatly compared to the original.”
- “The scenery is amazing, the gameplay is amazing, the combat is awesome, the investigative side to the game is more than I could've expected.”
- “The mechanics and graphics have evolved on a whole other level.”
- “The gameplay loop doesn’t really evolve in a significant way at any point; it becomes repetitive.”
- “Don’t expect a realistic handling of weapons or any complex fight mechanics; it’s usually point, shoot, headshot does extra damage - that’s it.”
- “Also, the entire lab stage has mechanics that literally fight against each other, such as the whole section E battery thing, which made that level feel more tedious.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The game's soundtrack is generally praised for being dynamic and engaging, effectively setting the atmosphere and enhancing the gameplay experience, particularly during combat. However, some players found it underwhelming at times, especially towards the end, and noted a desire for the quirky, wacky music from the first game. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, with many expressing anticipation for a potential soundtrack release.
- “The soundtrack is great for that and setting the appropriate ambiance for what is currently happening in the game.”
- “I stayed in the main menu for 10 minutes just to hear the music and feel the vibe of the snowy forest.”
- “The music differs from the first game but it does a great job to create a thrilling atmosphere.”
- “I missed the low synth sounds, and more empty feel to the soundtrack.”
- “It's missing a bit the wry humour, the wacky music on the radios.”
- “Can't wait until the soundtrack will be released.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have criticized the grinding aspect of the game for its excessive backtracking and tedious fetch quests, particularly in the lab stage, which detracts from the overall experience. The removal of engaging detective elements from the first game has led to a sense of emptiness and repetitiveness, making exploration feel more like a chore than an adventure. While some still find moments of fun in exploring, the overwhelming legwork and lack of meaningful puzzles have left many feeling frustrated.
- “The idea is good, but in practice there's just way too much tedious legwork, as you find yourself walking through the same corridors back and forth a billion times.”
- “One simple mistake can cause minutes of tedious backtracking.”
- “The detective elements from the first game have been removed and replaced with tedious fetch quests.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players praise the impressive graphics and smooth performance, others report subpar optimization issues, including graphical downgrades and long load times. Overall, the game's performance is generally good, but it is marred by various shortcomings that detract from the experience.
- “Gorgeous graphics and great optimization as well, everyone should play both Kona games.”
- “Graphics are super impressive and it runs smoothly.”
- “Overall performance was good.”
- “Overall subpar optimization and performance for the visuals provided.”
- “Performance issues, graphical downgrade, long load times, lackluster enemies, and no option to switch character voiceover to English from foreign languages.”
- “Overall subpar optimization and performance for the visuals provided.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its dry wit and quirky situations, such as the lack of a quit button, which players find both amusing and frustrating. Additionally, the exaggerated damage mechanics and abundance of aid kits contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, making the gameplay feel less serious despite some combat weaknesses. Overall, players appreciate the humor as a standout feature, enhancing their enjoyment of the game.
- “The narration was dryly humorous, the characters were interesting, combat was a little weak.”
- “Even if that happens, the hilarious amount of damage they deal and dozens of aid kits in your inventory removes any sense of danger.”
- “To quit from the game, I need to Ctrl + Alt + Del and close it from the task manager or taskbar; there is no quit button and the escape in the home menu doesn't work... so weird and funny, but the rest of the game is very, very good :3.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with only a few minor bugs and glitches reported, such as issues with the journal and some physics challenges like dog sled maneuverability. These issues are considered tolerable and do not significantly detract from the overall experience, which is enhanced by a compelling story and engaging puzzles.
- “Sure, the game has its bugs and glitches (the journal not turning pages sometimes) and some issues with physics (the dog sled can be a little difficult to maneuver), but they are definitely tolerable for sure!”
- “The game suffers from various bugs and glitches that can disrupt the experience, such as the journal not turning pages and some awkward physics mechanics.”
- “There are noticeable stability issues, including glitches that affect gameplay and navigation, which can be frustrating at times.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the game's replayability is significantly enhanced by its diverse content and multiple pathways, encouraging players to explore different strategies and outcomes. Many users appreciate the variety of challenges and unlockable features that motivate them to return for additional playthroughs. Overall, the game offers a compelling reason to replay, ensuring a fresh experience with each session.