Still Life 2

About

Still Life 2 is a single player action adventure game with horror, drama and mystery themes. It was developed by Microids and was released on June 1, 2011. It received neutral reviews from players.

In Still Life 2, players assume the roles of FBI agent Victoria McPherson and paparazzo journalist Patricia Mahoney. The game is a sequel to Still Life and follows the story of a serial killer known as the "East Coast Torturer." Players will need to solve puzzles and gather evidence to track down the killer and uncover the truth behind the murders. The game features a mix of adventure and puzzle-solving gameplay with a dark and suspenseful storyline.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

42%

Audience ScoreBased on 418 reviews

story100 positive mentions

stability56 negative mentions

The story provides closure to the unresolved plot from the first game, with interesting twists and character development.
The forensic clue-finding mechanics and the use of a CSI kit add depth to the gameplay, making it engaging.
The atmosphere is creepy and immersive, enhancing the tension throughout the game.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
The inventory system is cumbersome, with limited space forcing players to backtrack frequently to manage items.
Voice acting and character animations are subpar, detracting from the overall immersion and quality of the game.

story
452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
67%
11%
The story of "Still Life 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment compared to its predecessor, "Still Life 1." While some appreciated the initial setup and plot twists, the narrative is often criticized for being convoluted, predictable, and lacking character development, leading to a lack of emotional investment. Additionally, the game fails to provide a satisfying conclusion to the overarching storyline, instead introducing a new killer and relying heavily on flashbacks that feel disconnected from the main plot.
- “The storytelling was great for the first two-thirds of the game.”
- “But I kept coming back because I wanted to know how this wild story resolved.”
- “The story is involved and engaging, yet takes twists to the extreme and often ends up being more comedic than dramatic.”
- “The story was weak and terrible but at the start it is promising and then you play and boom one let down after the other and at the end you are left confused as how the three of them ended up working together.”
- “The copycat killer ends up being your boyfriend who is the grandson of the murderous grandfather; instead, we get a new serial killer named 'the east coast killer' in the state of Maine and the story is awful. It doesn't even make sense; it was randomly thrown in.”
- “The story takes the backseat here for an abundance of puzzles and item busy work.”
gameplay
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
The gameplay in this title has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it slow, repetitive, and plagued by bugs and awkward mechanics. While some appreciated the introduction of new features like the crime scene investigation kit, others felt these additions were poorly implemented and detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a step down from its predecessor, offering a blend of challenging puzzles and frustrating mechanics that may appeal primarily to dedicated fans of the genre.
- “Overall though, I did enjoy this game for the gameplay at the very least.”
- “I in particular liked the expanded mechanics of crime scene investigations.”
- “Gameplay is also got a lot of escape room aspects, with characters sometimes being even timed to find a way out of a room or turn off poison gas quickly.”
- “Other than that, brace yourself for hours of excruciatingly slow and repetitive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is okay at the start, but gets repetitive and boring as the game goes on.”
- “The core gameplay experience is awkwardly maneuvering your clumsy character around tight spaces while sweeping the cursor around the screen to see what you can pick up or interact with and then using the correct item on the action prompts.”
graphics
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising their appropriateness for the genre and era, while others criticize them as inferior to the original game, particularly in terms of blending and detail. Many players noted issues with graphical bugs and clunky mechanics that detracted from the overall experience, leading to frustration in gameplay. Despite some positive remarks about cinematic cutscenes and character models, the consensus leans towards disappointment, especially given the game's release date in 2009.
- “For a game that was released in 2009, it has nice graphics.”
- “On a positive note, the graphics, voice acting, and user interface are all improved from the first game and have dated much better.”
- “A great mystery adventure, good story, nice graphics.”
- “Finding clues was an issue with how bad the graphics were in some areas of the game.”
- “The graphics quality is very poor compared to Still Life 1, and objects in some close-up scenes appear like they are in mid-air and do not blend well with their background.”
- “I could not even finish it due to a severe graphical bug that made most room geometry in the game disappear.”
stability
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, often leading to frustrating experiences such as freezing, missing items, and game-breaking issues that require players to revert to previous saves. While some players found enjoyment in the story and nostalgia, the overall consensus is that the game's stability is poor, making it difficult to recommend without a guide to navigate the many pitfalls.
- “Broken buggy mess of a game.”
- “This game is a nightmare, crashes and freezes all the time.”
- “Seriously, just get the first game and enjoy, instead of getting this buggy pixel-hunting mess no one managed to fix in eleven years.”
atmosphere
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
28%
8%
The atmosphere in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the creepy and tense musical elements that enhance the experience, while others feel it lacks the unique artistic style and depth of its predecessor. Many noted a shift from a horror-centric vibe to a more thriller-action approach, leading to disappointment for fans of the original's atmospheric qualities. Overall, while some elements contribute positively to the atmosphere, such as music and character backstories, the visuals and design choices have been criticized for detracting from the overall experience.
- “The music was atmospheric and generated tension when appropriate.”
- “There is a lot of good ideas, nice atmosphere, good graphics, change of gameplay.”
- “Good game, creepy atmosphere, interesting story (but gets a bit confusing...).”
- “The artistic style and atmosphere of the first game is sorely missing here too.”
- “Playing after the Still Life 1, this game is a huge disappointment... the whole atmosphere is garbage.”
- “The environment is cheap 3D with bad camera movement and boring brown textures instead of the unique art déco scenery that gave the first game its distinct atmosphere.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
12%
The music in the game is described as atmospheric and effective at generating tension, particularly during plot twists, though opinions vary widely on its quality. While some tracks enhance the experience, others are criticized for being loud and repetitive, often drowning out dialogue and playing at inappropriate times. Overall, the soundtrack contributes to the game's atmosphere, but its execution leaves room for improvement.
- “The music was atmospheric and generated tension when appropriate.”
- “The music also did a really good job of setting the atmosphere each time the plot twists, which it did a lot.”
- “When something dramatic happens and you have a time limit to solve something, then the tense music really adds to the atmosphere.”
- “The music is really loud and dialogue often gets drowned out by it (even when turning music down/voice volume up in options).”
- “The music is repetitive and annoying.”
- “The suspenseful music plays at the wrong time; for example, if you discover a certain piece of evidence, the music starts playing, and honestly, what is so exciting about evidence?”
grinding
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with repetitive tasks such as collecting evidence and managing a limited inventory space contributing to a frustrating experience. The straightforward puzzles and the need to frequently navigate storage areas add to the monotony, making exploration feel more like a chore than an engaging activity. Overall, the game is criticized for its long and repetitive nature, detracting from the enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “Probably the worst is this game is grindy in a never-ending 'stage' level type of way.”
- “I can't recommend it... it is so long and repetitive, which results in a very tedious game to play at times.”
- “All of this makes the investigation more tedious than compelling, engaging, or involving.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as both hilarious and absurd, with players finding amusement in unexpected scenarios, such as a character's maniacal laughter during a dramatic moment. The game's quirky interactions and comedic elements, like a button prompting players to buy the game as a gift, contribute to its overall comedic charm, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.
- “It's hilarious.”
- “Anyway, she tries to arrest Richard, but he starts a big fire and proceeds to kill himself in the fire while laughing manically.”
- “"There's a button here saying 'buy this game as a gift for a friend'" I'm laughing to my husband.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Character development in the game is criticized for the main character remaining largely unlikable and annoying, despite a few surprising moments of growth. Comparisons to the previous game in the series highlight a significant decline in character depth and personality, making earlier flaws seem more forgivable. Overall, the character development is viewed as lacking and disappointing.
- “The main character has a few surprising instances of character development that add depth to their personality.”
- “The main character is still unlikable and annoying, but has a few surprising instances of character development.”
- “I criticized the first game in the series for its terrible character development, personalities, and voices, but this sequel makes everything I said about the first game seem award-worthy.”
- “The characters are poorly developed, lacking depth and personality, which detracts from the overall experience.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional impact of the game to be profound, with memorable phrases like "oim nawt touching that!" resonating deeply and leaving a lasting impression.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for the game relies heavily on sales rather than traditional advertising or hype, which may limit its visibility despite its quality as an indie title.