Syberia 2

About

In Syberia II, Kate Walker and Hans Voralberg continue their journey together, traveling to the heart of Syberia to find the last mythical mammoth. Facing dangerous obstacles, they navigate a surreal universe, with the outcome of their quest coming to a close. This immersive sequel takes players on an unforgettable adventure, building upon the story of the first game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 872 reviews

story275 positive mentions

grinding32 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and art design that have aged well, creating an immersive atmosphere.
Engaging story that continues the journey of Kate Walker and Hans Voralberg, with emotional depth and character development.
Challenging puzzles that require thought and exploration, enhancing the adventure experience.

Tedious backtracking and slow character movement can make gameplay feel frustrating and drawn out.
Some puzzles are illogical or require trial and error, leading to confusion and reliance on walkthroughs.
Dialogue can be cut off prematurely, detracting from the overall narrative experience.

story
646 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
4%
The story of "Syberia II" continues seamlessly from its predecessor, following protagonist Kate Walker and her companion Hans Voralberg on a quest to reach the mythical land of Syberia. While many players appreciate the emotional depth and character development, some criticize the narrative for being less engaging than the first game, with occasional plot holes and frustrating puzzles. Overall, the game is praised for its captivating storytelling, beautiful visuals, and the nostalgic atmosphere that enriches the experience.
- “The narrative is well-written, and the character development is compelling, which keeps players invested in the story from start to finish.”
- “The story picks up where the first game left off and takes you through gorgeous scenery backed with fantastic music and filled with fun characters.”
- “A beautiful ending to the first story arc.”
- “The plot isn't interesting and the characters are very shallow.”
- “This game continues the same tiresome road trip plot from the first game where things just happen for 'reasons' and then you eventually get a disappointing final destination.”
- “The story is hollow and shallow, and often makes no sense at all.”
graphics
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
51%
4%
The graphics in "Syberia II" are generally praised for their beautiful artwork and atmospheric settings, with many reviewers noting that they have aged well for a game released in 2004. While some improvements have been made compared to the first installment, such as enhanced detail and smoother animations, the overall visual style remains similar and may feel dated by modern standards. Despite this, the game's artistic direction and immersive environments continue to captivate players, making it a visually appealing experience within the context of its genre.
- “Nonetheless, the graphics and artwork are wonderful, and the game immerses you in some very beautiful settings.”
- “The graphics are stunning, especially for a game that was published 17 years ago.”
- “The graphics look better, and all the models and locations are much more detailed.”
- “The graphics are dated, especially in terms of animations, but they are still serviceable.”
- “While the game runs a lot smoother and has slightly better game mechanics than its predecessor, it does lack some of the visuals and adventure the original contained.”
- “The graphics on characters and objects look dated because they are.”
gameplay
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
71%
9%
The gameplay in Syberia II is largely consistent with its predecessor, featuring standard point-and-click mechanics that some players find tedious and slow, particularly due to backtracking and pixel-hunting puzzles. While there are notable improvements in mechanics and smoother navigation, many reviews highlight a lack of depth and complexity, with some puzzles being overly simplistic or frustrating. Overall, the game maintains a strong narrative and atmosphere, appealing to fans of the genre despite its gameplay shortcomings.
- “Building upon the success of the first installment, Syberia 2 manages to maintain the same level of charm and wonder, while also introducing some new elements that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
- “The gameplay mechanics and UI are vastly improved from the first game, and the story and world-building throughout the game is top-tier, as I felt deeply connected to all the characters I had met while playing.”
- “Great gameplay, graphics, and storyline are awesome - excited for #3.”
- “The gameplay is also very basic by modern standards.”
- “The problem lies in its gameplay, or lack of it.”
- “Most of the gameplay time is spent watching Kate trekking across screens to go back and forth, which becomes tedious very quickly.”
music
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its emotional depth and immersive qualities. The soundtrack complements the visuals and storytelling effectively, creating a nostalgic and captivating experience. However, some players expressed a desire for more dynamic music triggers during gameplay to maintain engagement.
- “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the sense of immersion and wonder.”
- “The soundtrack is a wonderful blend of regular orchestral music or a tribal feel, depending on where you are in the game.”
- “The game is once again filled with superb voice acting and an excellent musical score.”
- “I wish the game had music on loop. When you solve one puzzle, music starts playing for 2 minutes. If you get stuck or just admire locations, you play without music until you solve the next puzzle. The game has good music; make it loop or add more trigger points.”
- “The soundtrack isn't as catchy, the imagery isn't as distinctive (due to all the snow), and the dialogue seems more stilted. The game also includes a subplot which, frankly, is more distracting than complementary.”
- “The original soundtrack has been left out of this sequel, and there is no single, dramatic track to encapsulate 'Syberia 2', but I still think it stands on its own.”
atmosphere
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
33%
6%
The atmosphere in the Syberia series is widely praised for its enchanting steampunk aesthetic, immersive sound design, and nostalgic storytelling, which together create a captivating sense of adventure and exploration. Players appreciate the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and unique world-building that enhance the overall experience, although some note that the atmosphere in the sequel may not fully match the original's charm. Overall, the games are celebrated for their ability to transport players into a richly detailed and atmospheric environment, despite occasional criticisms regarding puzzle design and narrative depth.
- “Syberia is a great example of what games should do: they should take you to places and embark on an adventure that just keeps getting more and more interesting, putting you spiritually into a much different atmosphere.”
- “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the sense of immersion and wonder.”
- “Like the first game, Syberia II uses its slow pace and dreamlike atmosphere to immerse the player in its wonderful world of clockwork machinery and snowy landscapes.”
- “The big thing is that it lacks the atmosphere of the original, which is probably the biggest factor in the original being so good.”
- “There was so much potential for a great storyline to match the mysterious, exciting, adventurous atmosphere of the game but it just fell short in every possible way.”
- “The story is lacking and wastes a promising steampunk atmosphere, characters are comically imbecile and have horribly awkward dialogue, and the relatively small number of puzzles are more tedious than challenging.”
emotional
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
8%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming and touching narrative, which resonates deeply with players, often leading to tears by the end. Many reviews highlight the strong character connections and the satisfying, emotional conclusions that make the journey worthwhile, despite some critiques about pacing and plot consistency. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to evoke genuine feelings and create memorable moments.
- “The story is heartwarming, and there's a few puzzles; not much else to it.”
- “Lovely game, fantastic cutscenes, an emotional journey as usual, fantastic story.”
- “Syberia 2... what can I say... absolutely one of the most magnificent and touching stories in the history of video games.”
- “The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I felt no real emotional impact; the narrative was predictable and uninspired.”
- “Despite the beautiful setting, the emotional moments fell flat and failed to resonate.”
grinding
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, primarily due to slow movement speeds, excessive backtracking, and unclear puzzle mechanics. Many reviews highlight that the gameplay often involves repetitive tasks and long distances between objectives, which detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the visuals and story, the general consensus is that the game suffers from a lack of efficient navigation and engaging challenges, making it feel monotonous at times.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's a pity Steam doesn't allow something between yes and no, like yes but, because it is a resounding yes to the artwork, animation, etc. However, it really, really, really needs a map, so you can jump between areas as it's a tedious slog having to go back and forth often for stupid reasons.”
- “Most of the gameplay time is spent watching Kate trekking across screens to go back and forth, which becomes tedious very quickly.”
- “The story is lacking and wastes a promising steampunk atmosphere; characters are comically imbecile and have horribly awkward dialogue, and the relatively small number of puzzles are more tedious than challenging.”
character development
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the compelling narrative that keeps players engaged, while others criticize the lack of depth and progression for key characters like Kate and Oscar. Several reviewers noted that certain plot elements detract from character growth, leading to a feeling of missed opportunities for deeper storytelling. Overall, while there are moments of strong character design, many feel that the sequel falls short in delivering meaningful character development compared to its predecessor.
- “The narrative is well-written, and the character development is compelling, which keeps players invested in the story from start to finish.”
- “Great story and character development.”
- “And the character design is fantastic!”
- “The lack of character development for Kate is a bummer, as is Oscar's diminished role, which is necessitated by the need to share his 'sidekick' role with Hans.”
- “Overall, it is a nice sequel that was technically pulled off a lot better than the original (from gameplay to story progression), but I can't shake off the feeling that it had a shorter brainstorming process behind it - it serves simply as a linear continuation of the story without a lot of character development and deeper impact on the player.”
- “My other major complaint about the game is that there is next to no world building or character development.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is described as a mix of intentional and unintentional hilarity, with many funny moments and ludicrous scenarios that enhance the experience. While some players appreciate the discreet humor that complements the melancholic atmosphere, others feel that the humor has diminished compared to previous installments. Overall, the humor adds an interesting layer to the immersive story and character development.
- “It ran fine, except I couldn't cap the frame rate, which left their mouths going a mile-a-minute when they were talking, which was hilarious.”
- “Sometimes the scenarios and their solutions are either ludicrous or border on the unintentionally hilarious.”
- “- It has a discreet sense of humor that fits perfectly with the melancholic atmosphere.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
88%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing glitches and bugs that hindered their enjoyment, while others reported a smooth experience without any issues. Notably, there are concerns about compatibility with certain systems, particularly during the launch process, which may require troubleshooting. Overall, while some users found the game stable, others faced significant stability problems that affected their gameplay.
- “Plays well with no glitches.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
- “I haven't experienced any bugs or issues during my gameplay.”
- “But things like glitches, bugs, and pixel hunting are unacceptable, and this eventually made me stop playing the game.”
- “There is a problem setting up compatibility options for Microids games when they go through the Microids splash screen executable launcher, so if this game ever fails to work on this or a future version of Windows, I am joining in the troubleshooting note I have used to fix the original Syberia.”
- “- Facial movement was sometimes buggy.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game is well-optimized for both medium hardware and modern systems, running smoothly with minimal adjustments needed. Despite its age, it performs well on Windows 10 64-bit, providing a pleasant experience with charming graphics and a captivating soundtrack. Overall, players report a seamless experience, particularly with modern GPUs.
- “The game runs smoothly on medium hardware.”
- “You will still need to make the same adjustments as the first game in order to have the game run smoothly on modern systems, though I did not have trouble running the game on a modern GPU.”
- “As for performance, for a game nearing almost 20 years old, it was relatively simple to get up and running on Windows 10 64-bit.”
- “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite being an older game, the optimization issues make it feel outdated and frustrating to play.”
- “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, which detracts from the overall experience.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of Syberia III is viewed skeptically by users, with some perceiving it as a potential cash grab, leading to reluctance in purchasing unless the price drops significantly.
- “I regret to say that once Syberia III costs $12.99 or less, I'll probably cave and buy it as well, but I can't see it being anything other than a quick cash grab.”