An Epic Expansion of Logic and Philosophy
Sometimes, video game sequels just give you the same experience one more time. “Copy and paste” has been the criticism levied over the years at certain franchises. Yet, sequels are big business. EA’s FC series sells brilliantly every year despite featuring only minor additions, and the same can be said for many other yearly sports ports.
However, sometimes a sequel takes what you loved from the first game and expands it into a larger world with a deeper narrative. The Talos Principle 2 tricks you in the beginning by presenting the same setting as the first game, but then it opens up into a whole new world and story. Don’t worry, though; the puzzles are still there, and your brain will be challenged… a lot.
The 1000th Robot
Right from the start, if you were a fan of the original The Talos Principle, then you are going to have a lot of fun with this next iteration of the franchise. It is set 1000 years after the original, where we learn (spoilers) that humans have been wiped out by a virus released from melting permafrost. An AI robot was tasked with preserving human knowledge and, through a series of tests, granting the robots free will.
In The Talos Principle 2, you play as a robot called 1K, named so because they are the 1000th robot to enter New Jerusalem. This is a massive city where the robots live, trying to restore humanity’s purpose and ethos. There are mayors, musicians, and protesters within the city. However, early on, there is a huge energy surge, and a purple apparition of a figure called Prometheus appears in the sky, directing them to a mysterious island. You and a team of other AI robots travel to this island to uncover its secrets and figure out what it all means for their worldview and their purpose in life.
I thought that the developers did a brilliant job expanding the world’s narrative this time around. I liked going on an expedition with these various AI robots, all of whom have different personalities and roles within the group. I enjoyed how the game constantly asks questions about life and philosophy through discussions with your team. The main mystery is engaging and keeps you enthralled throughout as the secrets unfold.
Connecting the Beams
The gameplay takes place in the first person as you guide your robot chum through the world. Each area you discover contains several puzzles to complete, each named, with the goal usually being that to reach a button or switch located behind a hard-to-access area. To help you solve these puzzles, several tools are introduced over the course of the game.
To start with, you might encounter a series of barriers that need opening. These have different coloured sundial locks that need to be operated by matching lasers. The first tool you get is a connector which, when picked up, allows you to link a laser source to the sundial of the corresponding colour. Simple, right?
Well, it gets a lot harder as different rules and equipment are introduced. For example, coloured beams cannot cross each other. From there, fans are introduced to lift you and your equipment into the air. Blocks and inverters appear that change the pigmentation of the coloured beams. Later, you even get to swap between different robot bodies to solve puzzles.
Facing the Mid-Game Difficulty Spike
Nearly halfway through the game, the difficulty level spikes, and you will be looking for walkthroughs as quickly as you can say, “Alexa, help.” But The Talos Principle 2 is such a clever puzzle game, even when it is kicking your butt. The feeling when you finally work something out after being stuck in a room for an hour is the best feeling in the world.
The visuals are just as impressive as the last game, but here the scale feels even bigger, from the city to the island itself. Locations range from forests with brutalist architecture to the interior of a pyramid megastructure. These locations are awe-inspiring and are great places to explore.
The audio is equally impressive, with an epic, choral, almost religious soundtrack playing as you solve puzzles. The voice cast for the various robots is fun too, giving them distinct personalities. There is one robot voiced by a dour Northern woman who was my absolute favourite.
A Near-Perfect Puzzle Masterpiece
You’ll find it a pleasure to step into the world of The Talos Principle 2. If you love puzzle games, then this is near perfect; a game full of challenge but backed by a great story. It does get very tricky about halfway through, but if you want to help keep the memory of humanity alive, then you need to unlock the secrets of The Talos Principle 2.
Important Links
The Talos Principle 2 is available now! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-talos-principle-2-is-available-now/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/the-talos-principle-2/9N7P8GVMF6SS/0010
There’s a Deluxe Edition too – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/the-talos-principle-2-deluxe-edition/9NTDPBXG9BCD/0010
