Preview The Sinking City 2: IGN France's First Impressions After 2 Hours of Gameplay
Credit: Frogwares

Preview The Sinking City 2: IGN France's First Impressions After 2 Hours of Gameplay

Alexandre Alexandre Jollier
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In brief

After 2 hours in the flooded streets of Arkham, IGN France discovers a The Sinking City 2 that is radically different from its predecessor: a third-person survival horror in the vein of Resident Evil, focused on combat and survival rather than investigation. Developed on Unreal Engine 5, the game impresses with its chilling atmosphere, detailed graphics and tense gameplay, with a release planned for this summer on PS5, Xbox Series and PC.

Over a solid two hours spent in the flooded streets of Arkham, IGN's journalist got to try The Sinking City 2, the Lovecraftian sequel from Frogwares. Farewell to the point-and-click investigation of the first installment: here we shift to third-person survival horror in the vein of Resident Evil, with an emphasis on combat and survival. At the heart of the story, Calvin Rafferty, an adventurer of the mystical, sees his companion Faye fall into a mysterious sleep after a failed ritual. Arkham, plagued by a supernatural flood (in the 1920s), is a vile semi-open world: crumbling mansions, submerged markets, abandoned hospitals, which you traverse on foot or by boat, with waters rising in real time, thus blocking access to certain areas.

Gameplay Very Focused on Tension According to IGN

Inventory limitations force you to make agonizing choices: rare ammunition for period rifles, or improvised bladed weapons? The journalist fought the Slither, those horrors that puppeteer corpses, slug-like creatures as thick as an arm that spit blood, with the flayed faces of corpses. The combat is visceral, deliberately clunky, with the AI surrounding you like a predator. An optional investigation system remains available, but to explore and survive, you'll need to scavenge resources within this ambient nightmare.

What About the Graphics and Sound?

Developed on Unreal Engine 5, the graphics are stunning according to the journalist: oily reflections on the water, putrefied flesh rendered in abominable detail, a chillingly perfect atmosphere. The sound, the lapping of water and muffled screams, all send shivers down your spine. Frogwares is taking a rather bold gamble by shifting toward action gameplay, moving away from the investigation focus of the first installment. Release is planned for this summer on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.

After these 2 hours, I can't wait to drown deeper into this aquatic madness.

The Gentlegamer, IGN France

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Frequently asked questions

What is the major change compared to the first The Sinking City?
The game shifts from point-and-click investigation to third-person survival horror in the style of Resident Evil, with a much stronger emphasis on combat, survival and resource management rather than solving investigative puzzles.
How does the rising water work in the game?
Water rises in real time in Arkham, dynamically blocking access to certain areas and forcing the player to adapt their progression and routes between mansions, markets and submerging hospitals.
What kinds of creatures will players face in The Sinking City 2?
The game features Lovecraftian creatures such as the Slither, slugs as thick as an arm that puppeteer corpses and spit blood, creating visceral and gut-wrenching fights.
What graphics engine does The Sinking City 2 use?
The game is developed on Unreal Engine 5, offering detailed graphics with oily reflections on the water and a graphically faithful depiction of rotting flesh, reinforced by a chilling atmosphere.

Key takeaways

  • The Sinking City 2 abandons point-and-click investigation for a third-person survival horror centered on combat and resource management.
  • Arkham is a dynamic semi-open world where the water rises in real time, blocking access to certain areas and forcing the player to adapt their strategy.
  • Visceral fights against Lovecraftian creatures like the Slither offer constant tension, with the AI surrounding the player like a predator.
  • The graphics developed on Unreal Engine 5 impress with their gruesome details and chilling atmosphere, reinforced by immersive sound design.
  • The limited inventory forces agonizing choices between scarce ammunition and improvised melee weapons, intensifying the survival experience.

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