Confetti’s Cozy Corner: Amanda the Adventurer 2 review
With the exciting announcement that Amanda the Adventurer 3 is on the way, let’s deep dive into the twisted and grim plot of Amanda the Adventurer 2.
Amanda the Adventurer 2 picks right up where the first game ended. When beginning your first play through of Amanda the Adventurer 2, I would encourage you to get all of the secret tapes and endings, including the secret ending, from the first game as it is necessary to understand how the sequel begins.
We begin in the car of a masked person driving us away from Kate’s house. She introduces herself to Reily as a close friend of Kate and wants to finish what she was looking into and expose the cult behind the Hamlen Entertainment Company. The Masked Person drives to the Kensdale Public Library, in order to search for answers inside Kate’s office. They decide to stay outside and keep watch but hands Riely a radio before she heads inside.
You will have to solve puzzles just like the last game, however, the area of play is larger than an old dusty attic. The Kids Corner has the VCR set up where the tapes you discover will go, this time with the pause button fully accessible. You will make use of the pause button, and even have interactive puzzles between Amanda and the Library in order to solve puzzles and gain access to the next tape or secret.
I initially played this game at PAX West and I did not have the easiest time with the Library Book puzzle. I was too embarrassed to say anything at the Dread XP Booth because I felt a little dumb as I could not figure it out. I am SO glad to discover that I was not alone in the difficulty of that puzzle, as there was an update from the developers that adjusted the first puzzle to make it less complicated. Because you have to do this puzzle to get the FIRST VHS tape, and it was very frustrating. So I am grateful to know one, I wasn’t alone, and two that the first puzzle is much more straightforward than the previous version.
The look and feel of Amanda the Adventurer 2 is a big leap from the first game. When you walk into the library you can feel how oppressive the environment is. You know that you are not alone. When you enter the Kids Corner that oppressive feeling lifts but is replaced with the anxiety of knowing you will have to go through Amanda’s trials. And with much anxiety and sweaty palms, you insert the first tape.
The sounds of the game are intense and done well. Unlike the use of loud sounds to shock you as the player, I feel the use of sound and interruption were much more intentional and strategic. Sometimes you will hear random crawling in the walls but will never see anything, and it is random. When you interact with the clocks, water fountains, books and other items in the library it is very responsive and adds to the immersion of the environment. Also, the VHS sounds and effects felt much more realistic also.
My main frustration I had with the game was that if you missed something in the puzzle of the VHS, you often had to start over. While I did not mind the puzzles that required multiple plays to pick different options to solve them, it was when something small was missed and starting over that was frustrating at times.
My play throughs took longer than the first Amanda the Adventurer, which I did not mind, but if you happen to meet your end, I would encourage you to hit continue from the main menu, instead of ‘new game’ as that is not something that is clear.
You dive much deeper into the lore of the Hamlen Entertainment Company and the cult that is behind them. You learn more about the disappearances of children and Rebecca. Amanda the Adventurer has in-depth puzzles, solid performances from the voice actors and great lore.
There are signs within the Kensdale Public Library that encourage patrons to read or to read more. I fully support this message, to not only read more but also to support your local libraries.
Amanda The Adventurer 2 is exclusively available on Steam.
Score: 4.5/5.0
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