The Sinking City 2 Review: Ukrainian Cosmic Horror

Frogwares' Lovecraftian action-horror game, The Sinking City 2, has been reviewed, highlighting its grim tenacity and pulp paperback charm, despite some frayed edges. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC. The review details an immersive scenario within a campy horror hospital's prosthetics lab, where the player must find a preacher's flayed face to impersonate a smart doorbell. Amidst the theatrical gore, stark X-rays of soldiers' injuries from Frogwares' native Ukraine are prominently displayed, featuring details like fingers amputated after severe burns, limbs lost in mine explosions, and toes torn off by shell fire. These clinical intrusions offer a poignant contrast to the game's otherwise theatrical horror elements.

The Sinking City 2 is characterized as a pulpy action horror game, reminiscent of beloved PS3-era titles, and is driven by scrappy ambition, Lovecraft fan fiction, and wonderfully unhinged scenario design. The game presents a variety of unique puzzles and challenges, including one that requires players to identify which talking jarred brain is lying, and another involving a scavenger hunt to repair a crane for moving a rotting whale carcass. Furthermore, players can expect gunfights set against the backdrop of a siren pop star's fan meet-up that devolves into a battle royale, showcasing the game's commitment to bizarre and engaging gameplay scenarios. The game's narrative and setting draw heavily from the cosmic horror themes popularized by H.P. Lovecraft, blending psychological dread with visceral action.

Developed by Frogwares, a studio based in Ukraine, The Sinking City 2 incorporates elements that reflect the resilience and struggles of its home country, as evidenced by the inclusion of soldiers' injury details. This integration of real-world context into a fictional horror setting adds a layer of depth and gravitas to the game's overall experience. The game's design philosophy appears to prioritize creative and unconventional problem-solving, encouraging players to engage with its world in unexpected ways. The review suggests that while the game may have some imperfections, its ambitious scope and unique thematic blend make it a noteworthy entry in the action-horror genre, appealing to fans of Lovecraftian lore and unconventional game mechanics.