I Expect You To Die 2 review: the most fun I’ve had solving puzzles this year – LLODO

But these hangups highlight how well Schell’s overall trial-and-error setup works. I Expect You To Die 2 is built around quick little loops of gameplay complemented by a bunch of random silly fun, and restarting is a chance to explore more pieces of a level. Your long-suffering mission control (voiced by Jared Mason) can offer some gentle hints over the radio, but rather than spelling out solutions when you repeat a level, he cuts down his lines so you can focus. Conversely, because you spend each level in one place, every prop offers a Chekhov’s gun-like hint at a later challenge that you can feel extra clever by averting.

I Expect You To Die 2’s puzzles generally have one solution, and a few parts focus a little too heavily on hitting control panel buttons in a given order. But the developers evoke the feeling that they’ve anticipated all kinds of little sequence-breaking tricks and virtual interactions, rewarding you with a visual flourish or some dialog. (The outfit mentioned above, for instance, will earn you a snarky comment from one character.) One of the sequel’s rare new features is a simple achievement system, which offers cryptic clues about its Easter eggs.

Even if you’re stuck, you’ll always have something to do in a level. And some actions overlap with the anti-frustration features. Without spoiling the encounter too much, one of my favorite moments in I Expect You To Die 2 involved realizing that I did not, in fact, have to indulge a villain’s monologuing.

I Expect You To Die 2 is only a couple of hours long, although if it follows the first game’s pattern, Schell will add a few bonus missions after release. But even at that length, it shows how solid the series’ formula is. I Expect You To Die wants you to fail, but it makes failure fun — and lets players feel like they’re in on the joke.

I Expect You To Die 2 was released on August 24th for the Oculus Quest, PlayStation VR, the Oculus Store, and SteamVR on PC.