Alright, Mate, The Sinking City 2 Just Might Deliver the Cthulhu Survival Horror Punch We've Been Craving
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Jeremy Blum's preview of *The Sinking City 2* from Rock Paper Shotgun hints that Frogwares has crafted a tightly focused Cthulhu survival horror experience, ditching open-world bloat for classic genre thrills and an innovative, upgrade-linked investigation system. Despite the developer's real-world challenges, this sequel looks set to be a genuinely cerebral and terrifying contender against *Resident Evil* and *Silent Hill*.
So, you know how sometimes you stumble out of a cosmic wormhole and suddenly everything just *clicks*? Well, Jeremy Blum over at Rock Paper Shotgun seems to have had a similar vibe after getting his hands on a preview build of *The Sinking City 2*. And fair dinkum, mate, his report makes it sound like we might finally be getting the Cthulhu survival horror game we’ve been waiting for – one that actually dares to stand toe-to-tentacle with the big guns like *Resident Evil* and *Silent Hill*.
Now, Frogwares, the wizards behind this madness, have had a bit of a chaotic journey. The first *Sinking City* had its charm, a genuine love for Lovecraftian lore, but it was also a bit rougher than a freshly dug grave and got tangled up in a cosmic horror-style legal spat with its publisher. Plus, let's not forget these legends are crafting this eldritch dreamscape while navigating the very real and horrific backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Talk about real-world dread adding to the atmosphere, eh? But here's the kicker: *The Sinking City 2* is apparently free of those legal woes, letting them focus purely on the terror.
Jeremy reckons this sequel is less about the bloated open-world structure of its predecessor and more about trimming the fat for the tight, claustrophobic corridors and timed thrills of classic survival horror. Think 1920s Raccoon City, but with more water damage and, you know, Eldritch abominations instead of just regular ol' zombies. You've got limited ammo (classic!), locked doors and puzzles (yes, please!), and a healthy dose of shambling, skittering horrors. And those familiar Safe Rooms? They're back, adorned with mementos of protagonist Calvin and his comatose lover, Faye. Plus, a gramophone playing that wonderfully unsettling calm music you know and love when you're just trying to save your game without having a mental breakdown. *Bloody brilliant*, if you ask me.
He saw Arkham's decayed, flooded streets (very Raccoon City-esque) and the Akeley Memorial Hospital (giving off serious RPD vibes). And the baddies? We've got the Slither – worms reanimating bodies like Lovecraftian zombies, complete with squishy weak points. And the Stygian, those hopping spider-things from the first game, apparently even more terrifying now thanks to your paltry ammo count. Frogwares have clearly been taking notes from the masters, tweaking the formula just so.
But here's where my wizard-brain really perks up: the investigation system. The first game had a 'mind palace' – a bit like Batman's detective mode, apparently – but this sequel swaps it for an actual investigation bulletin board in the menu. You're connecting scattered documents, scribbles from folks having eldritch breakdowns, to piece together the madness. And the brilliant bit? Successfully connecting these digital tea leaves earns you currency for character upgrades! So, it's not just for organising your thoughts; it's a genuine progression mechanic. Jeremy even had to pull out a physical notebook for one puzzle, scribbling down hints from the board to match monolith symbols with Lovecraftian deities. Now *that* sounds like proper detective work, mate – less getting lost in an overworld, more intimate, brain-teasing dread.
So, while our protagonist Calvin might not have the immediate charisma of a Leon Kennedy or a Grace Ashford (yet!), his journey sounds far more cerebral and deeply unsettling. Frogwares have clearly endured a fair bit of chaos and struggle to get this sequel to the finish line. If *The Sinking City 2* truly delivers on this promise of survival horror suspense mixed with adventure game puzzle-solving, then we might just have a Cthulhu game that finally gives Nemesis and Pyramid Head a run for their eldritch money. I'm cautiously optimistic, mate – maybe this time, the cosmic horrors will actually be *fun* to unravel!
Big thanks to Jeremy Blum at Rock Paper Shotgun for peering into the abyss and bringing back this intel. (And full disclosure, Jeremy backed the Kickstarter for *The Sinking City 2* himself, getting this press preview build was his first personal hands-on!)
Tags: Cthulhu, Survival Horror, The Sinking City 2, Frogwares, Lovecraftian
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun