Syberia 2
- May 19, 2011
- Microids
- 10h median play time
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.
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and art design that create an immersive atmosphere.
- Engaging story continuation from the first game with well-developed characters.
- Challenging puzzles that require thought and exploration.
- Excessive backtracking and tedious walking between locations can be frustrating.
- Some puzzles are illogical or require trial and error, making them difficult to solve without a guide.
- The ending feels abrupt and leaves some plot threads unresolved.
- story918 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Syberia 2" is a direct continuation of the first game, following protagonist Kate Walker as she assists Hans Voralberg in his quest to reach Syberia. While many players appreciate the emotional depth and immersive atmosphere, some feel the narrative lacks the same engagement as the original, with criticisms aimed at its pacing and certain plot elements. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoyed the first installment, as it wraps up the overarching storyline, though it may not stand alone effectively without prior knowledge of "Syberia 1."
“Incredible story, voice acting and art design!”
“A wonderful completion of the story the first syberia began.”
“The story picks up where the first one left off and continues.”
“The thing to get out of the way immediately is that this is more of a story with a game than a game with a story.”
“The story is at a lot of points totally arbitrary, without any logic; the dialogues in cut-scenes which are supposed to further the story are so fake and unrealistic that it is infuriating.”
“I didn't find the story of Syberia 2 to be anywhere near the level of interest and engagement as the first.”
- graphics258 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in Syberia II are generally praised for their artistic quality and atmospheric design, with many noting that they have aged well for a game released in 2004. While some improvements have been made since the first game, such as enhanced detail and smoother animations, many reviewers feel that the overall graphical style remains somewhat dated. Despite this, the beautiful artwork and immersive environments continue to captivate players, contributing significantly to the game's storytelling experience.
“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.”
“With much improved graphics (that still holds up pretty well even today) and a musical score to match, this game has excellent storytelling and solid puzzles to keep you interested throughout.”
“The graphics are dated, especially in terms of animations, but they are still serviceable.”
“Very atmospheric point and click game, with a unique style and story if you can skip on the outdated graphics.”
“The graphics on characters and objects look dated because they are.”
- gameplay150 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Syberia 2 remains largely unchanged from its predecessor, featuring the same point-and-click mechanics and puzzle-solving elements, which some players find seamless while others consider tedious and frustrating. While there are minor improvements in mechanics and smoother movement, many reviews highlight issues with clunky controls, obscure puzzles, and a linear structure that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a continuation of the story with a familiar gameplay style that may appeal to fans of the original but may not satisfy those seeking innovation.
“Moving story, great gameplay, excellent atmosphere.”
“Excellent gameplay, challenging puzzles and a fun story.”
“This second part of Syberia has improved on many levels, not only the graphics are more beautiful and more dynamic, but also the gameplay is a lot smoother and finally the circle that you use to move Kate has an arrow pointing the direction.”
“The voice acting is so eye-wateringly bad on top of the unintuitive gameplay; I'm glad I didn't throw down a lot of money on this.”
“Putting things as far apart as possible just to lengthen gameplay and then confuse you in how to get there is a very, very bad idea.”
“The only irritant – a big one – in the game is its tedious gameplay.”
- music102 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the immersive atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its haunting beauty and orchestral quality. While some feel the soundtrack in the sequel is not as memorable as the original, it still complements the stunning visuals and engaging story effectively. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and art creates a compelling experience that resonates with players.
“The scenarios, the music, the atmosphere are incredibly immersive, and the plot takes some really interesting and surprising twists.”
“The soundtrack is a wonderful blend of regular orchestral music or a tribal feel, depending on where you are in the game.”
“The game looks amazing, the music and the sound are full of emotion.”
“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.”
“The soundtrack isn't as catchy, imagery isn't as distinctive (due to all the snow), seemingly more stilted dialogue/voice acting, and etc. The game also includes a subplot which, frankly, is more distracting than complementing.”
“Music isn't as good as in the first game, in my opinion.”
- atmosphere66 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Syberia is widely praised for its immersive and enchanting qualities, characterized by beautiful visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and a sense of adventure and exploration. While the first game is noted for its exceptional atmosphere, some reviews suggest that the sequel falls short in this regard, lacking the same depth and charm. Overall, the series is celebrated for its ability to transport players to a unique and atmospheric world, despite some criticisms regarding the storyline and puzzle design.
“The scenarios, the music, the atmosphere are incredibly immersive, and the plot takes some really interesting and surprising twists.”
“A beautiful relaxing game with a pleasant atmosphere of adventure and exploration.”
“The atmosphere and world building, meanwhile, is even better with its impressive visuals and soundtrack.”
“The big thing is that it lacks the atmosphere of the original, which is probably the biggest factor in the original being so good.”
“So all of the above combined to dramatically decrease the atmosphere of Syberia 2 to its detriment.”
“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.”
- grinding42 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews consistently highlight the grinding nature of the gameplay, with many players finding the extensive backtracking and slow movement between areas to be tedious and frustrating. While some appreciate the challenging puzzles, the overall experience is marred by the repetitive tasks and lack of efficient navigation options, leading to a sense of exhaustion rather than enjoyment. Players suggest that the game could benefit significantly from a map feature to alleviate the monotony of traversing the same locations repeatedly.
“This felt tedious, because you were watching her walk (or run if you double-clicked) through screens for no purpose.”
“Not only that but each time a new puzzle appeared I found myself groaning out of exhaustion knowing that it's going to involve more tedious tasks, walking, and backtracking.”
“But me, having played it for the story, I felt all the puzzles (with partly not entirely credible solutions), all the tedious and time-consuming running back and forth to find stuff and apply it to other stuff in the right order... and all those obstacles springing up from out of nowhere all the time distracting me from advancing the story.”
- emotional42 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players describing it as a heartwarming and touching journey that evokes strong feelings, including tears. The story continues to explore deep themes of dreams and relationships, particularly through the dynamic between the main characters, making it a memorable experience despite some criticisms regarding pacing and plot coherence. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most emotionally impactful narratives in video game history.
“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 dynamic between these three makes this game special, and at times heartbreaking.”
- stability14 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing glitches and bugs that hinder gameplay, while others report a smooth experience without issues. Compatibility problems with the executable launcher have also been noted, suggesting potential challenges for future Windows versions. Overall, while some users enjoy a stable experience, the presence of glitches and the need for troubleshooting may detract from the game's overall stability for others.
“Plays well with no glitches.”
“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. 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.”
“But I found it more complex in some parts compared to Syberia 1, as well as it had some glitches.”
- character development14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has been widely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and progression for key characters like Kate and Oscar. Many felt that the story's plot points were disjointed and failed to enhance character arcs, resulting in a linear narrative that did not significantly impact players. Despite the impressive character design, the overall sentiment is that the sequel missed opportunities for meaningful character growth and world-building.
“And the character design is fantastic!”
“Overall it is a nice sequel that was technically pulled off a lot better than the original (from gameplay to story progression).”
“My other major complaint about the game is that there is next to no world building or character development.”
“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.”
“World building and character development were thrown out the window altogether.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional hilarity, particularly due to technical issues like uncapped frame rates causing exaggerated character animations, and a discreet wit that complements the melancholic atmosphere. While some scenarios are ludicrously funny, others may feel lacking in passion and humor. Overall, the humor is a blend of absurdity and subtlety, appealing to different tastes.
“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 the melancholic atmosphere.”
“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.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game requires similar optimization adjustments as its predecessor to run smoothly on modern systems, but users report no significant issues when using contemporary GPUs. Overall, while some tweaks are necessary, the performance is generally stable.
“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.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of Syberia III is viewed skeptically by users, with many perceiving it as a potential cash grab, particularly at its current price point. Some express a willingness to purchase it if the price drops to $12.99, indicating a belief that the game may not offer sufficient value at its current cost.
“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.”