Layers of Fear (2023) has a new look and brings together all the games and DLCs in the series, including new content. But what does that mean? It took me a long time to understand what was included in the package – and then I wasn’t sure if it was a great remake or an overblown sales pitch.
What does the Layers of Fear Bundle contain?
First of all, what is the game about anyway?
Layers of Fear is a psychological horror game series (since 2016) in which the player takes on the role of different artists who all have one thing in common – their art is everything to them. The demonically chilling effects of her obsession come to a head as the games progress and find a conclusion in the new version.
You won’t find any action or wild shootouts here. The gameplay is based on solving mysterious puzzles. And if you want to avoid confrontation altogether, you can even switch off the option to die in the settings.
If you don’t know exactly what’s included in the new Layers of Fear, we’ll break it down into a simple list for you:
- Layers of Fear – The first game from 2016. It tells the story of a painter and father.
- Layers of Fear: Inheritance – The DLC for the first part from 2016. It expands the story to include the perspective of the painter’s daughter and the musician.
- Layers of fear 2 – The 2019 sequel. A completely new story told from the actor’s point of view.
- Layers of Fear: The Final Note – A new DLC that expands the storyline of the first part with the perspective of the mother and musician.
- Layers of Fear: The Author’s Story – An additional narrative thread that wraps around the games like a cloak, binding them together to create a whole. So parts 1 and 2 of the series are interwoven.
That’s a lot of older content complemented by new ones. The games have also been revised visually look a lot better than before with Unreal Engine 5. I don’t want to go any further into the content that has already been published. They have long been rated and there are enough tests and gameplays. But what about the new content?
The DLC is not a new game
The author’s story, which connects the games narratively, is not particularly extensive. The plot seems cobbled together quickly and is unfortunately not as gripping as you might be used to from Layers of Fear. However, if you consider the bundle as a remake with additional content, it shows a very creative approach to bringing older games to the new generation of hardware and consoles.
And then there’s also a new DLC on top of that, which adds a missing perspective to the storyline of the first and best Layers of Fear: The Final Note. While the mother plays a major role in the first part of the series, the story has not been told from her point of view so far.
The events of Layers of Fear 1 are explored from the mother’s perspective in The Final Note DLC. (Image source: Screenshot GIGA)
The mother was always portrayed as a minor character in the memories of the father and her daughter, whereas the daughter got her own appearance in Layers of Fear: Inheritance. Given the dramatic events that took place in the family home, in which the mother played a key role, The Final Note is not only logical but necessary. This DLC completes the story.
So much for the story. But how is it? the puzzles and scope of the DLC? Of course, the mother’s story does not offer just one exit. There are two endings that you can unlock. There are no puzzles. The developers are doing without something that defines Layers of Fear. A fact that really disappointed me. The playtime of the DLC is 2 to 3 hours if you want to unlock both endings.
For whom is the purchase worthwhile?
At the time of writing, the price of the bundle has not yet been released, making it difficult to judge whether it is worth buying. Based on the content alone, as a fan of the series, I really enjoyed playing the games again. That’s what I’ve planned to do anyway.
However, I was disappointed by the story, which is supposed to bring together the plot of all content. Those who have already played both main games might be disappointed as well. But who has never played just one Layers of Fear and loves plot-driven horror games, which simply shouldn’t pass the bundle. In this case, Layers of Fear (2023) gets a clear buy recommendation.
