The Talos Principle 2: A Comprehensive Review

After almost ten years, Croteam has finally released the sequel to its critically acclaimed adventure puzzle game, The Talos Principle. Many fans had eagerly anticipated a follow-up, eager to explore the consequences of their choices at the end of the first game and delve deeper into the captivating world crafted by the developers. However, since the original game deviated significantly from Croteam's usual Serious Sam adventures, not many expected a continuation of the story. Therefore, when The Talos Principle 2 was announced in 2016, it generated a great deal of excitement, despite taking another seven years to be launched.

The long wait has now come to an end, and for numerous gamers, it will have been well worth it. The Talos Principle 2 largely delivers everything that fans of the first game had hoped for: more engrossing, challenging puzzles that have been enhanced, refined, and expanded upon. Even those who typically do not play puzzle games will likely enjoy Talos 2 because the puzzles are well-presented, mentally stimulating, and generally accessible. Furthermore, similar to its predecessor, the game envelopes players in a mysterious narrative that keeps them engaged, even if the difficulty of a puzzle or two seems momentarily insurmountable.

Nevertheless, the story in the first game surpasses the one in Talos 2 in terms of its captivating nature. Few narratives can rival The Talos Principle's account of the complete annihilation of humanity. However, Talos 2 manages to engage players effectively as well. The game revolves around AI-driven robots, designed to preserve the knowledge, history, and consciousness of humankind. These robots unexpectedly receive an invitation to a mysterious island adorned with enormous technological structures of unknown origin. This sets off an adventure spanning 20 to 40 hours, featuring approximately 132 puzzles of varying complexity that need to be solved.

The first thing players of Talos 1 will notice is that the second game is now situated in the real world rather than an intricate simulation. In the city of New Jerusalem, robots have constructed a civilization comprising a thousand individuals, each with their own distinctive personalities and perspectives on humanity. Engaging in frequent dialogues, primarily of an existential, moral, and philosophical nature, can be a bit of an adjustment after navigating the Simulation as a solitary figure in the first game. Nonetheless, it is rather pleasant to have some companionship this time around, and certain players may even develop a slight attachment to specific individuals.

However, some individuals may find the dialogues, texts, and audio logs unappealing. While the story itself is captivating, it is often intertwined with philosophical musings that can be tiresome and induce boredom. Fortunately, a significant portion of these can be skipped, but the repetition can still become monotonous. Additionally, it is difficult to believe that a society of robots, supposedly an extension of humanity, is predominantly comprised of philosophers and individuals who resolve conflicts in a calm and rational manner. It is hard to imagine that not a single robot on the expedition deviated from their objective to take a swim or explore a fox den, something that a non-professional human gathering would likely include.

Regarding the puzzles themselves, the developer has expanded upon the mechanics utilized to solve them. They have reintroduced gadgets from the previous game and introduced new ones that are equally enjoyable. For example, there is a gravity manipulation mechanic that requires navigating the world from unconventional angles, such as sideways or upside down. Teleportation, body swapping, and numerous laser-based puzzles also feature prominently in The Talos Principle 2. The puzzles vary in difficulty, with some requiring quick thinking and others necessitating a break and a fresh perspective. Overcoming particularly challenging puzzles provides players with a sense of accomplishment and boosts their confidence, motivating them to tackle more.

The puzzles in The Talos Principle presented a considerable challenge, particularly for individuals who were not accustomed to playing puzzle games. The level of difficulty often resulted in frustration, leading to numerous forum discussions where players shared their perplexed and disheartened experiences.

Croteam has slightly reduced the level of difficulty in Talos 2, allowing players to solve almost all puzzles with sufficient time and determination.

Only a few puzzles will truly impede a player's progress. However, scattered throughout the game's various zones are "keys" that can be found to unlock and instantly complete any such puzzle.

Each location features a total of eight primary puzzles to solve, accompanied by eight keys. Additionally, there are two additional puzzles available as backups in case any of the main puzzles prove to be too challenging. Consequently, while the number of keys is limited, the likelihood of players becoming completely perplexed and unable to progress is extremely slim. As frustration starts to mount, it can provide immense relief to simply utilize a key and continue forward. Nevertheless, some purists may feel reluctant to use a key and bypass a puzzle. For such individuals, it would have been advantageous to incorporate a hint system instead of solely marking a puzzle as complete and guiding players along their way.

The game features a diverse range of locations, each offering breathtaking vistas that players will surely appreciate. Croteam has created a truly stunning world for The Talos Principle 2, showcasing towering monuments, snow-covered mountains, watery marshlands, and lush forests. Players will encounter animals and birds that bring life to the environment, a stark contrast to the empty Simulation world.

Although there is a tram system to transport players across different zones, the robot protagonist must navigate each area on foot. Some locations require long treks, and while most puzzles are contained within designated areas, a few are hidden in the game world. These hidden puzzles often necessitate considerable backtracking, trying different solutions, and experiencing failure multiple times. The addition of a fast travel option between discovered locations would have been greatly appreciated.

The save system can be problematic at times. Specifically, actions performed in the game world, outside of the puzzles, are not saved. This means that all the effort put into solving the world puzzles is lost if the player dies or exits the game. While this is mostly an inconvenience, it becomes frustrating towards the end of the game. In Dystopia and Utopia, there are eight more challenging puzzles that require a lot of backtracking and testing different solutions. However, a single mistake, like falling off a bridge, results in game over and all progress being reset. This can lead to frustration and no breaks are allowed once the endgame begins, even if it takes an hour to figure things out.

It is highly likely that gamers who enjoyed The Talos Principle will also appreciate its sequel. The sequel provides a similar experience in a more cohesive manner. The puzzles are more accessible to non-experts in the field while still providing a satisfying challenge. Most players, even those who do not consider themselves puzzle enthusiasts, will not have to skip many puzzles. Although the philosophical discussions can be lengthy, most of them can be skipped or ignored. Ultimately, any complaints are minor when compared to the captivating adventure and puzzle experience offered by Croteam in The Talos Principle 2.

The Talos Principle 2 offers a captivating journey that pushes the boundaries of the mind through its intricate puzzles. Building upon the philosophical concepts and visually breathtaking landscapes of its predecessor, this thought-provoking sequel introduces an array of even more mind-bending challenges.

Pros Challenging but solvable puzzles

Beautiful environments

Engaging story

Cons Story becomes long-winded

No fast travel system

Missing a hint mechanic

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am excited about the release of The Talos Principle 2. I have been a fan of the original game since its release in 2014, and I have been eagerly anticipating the sequel. I am particularly interested in seeing how the game's story continues, as the first game left off on a cliffhanger. I am also curious to see how the game's puzzles have evolved, as the puzzles in the first game were some of the most challenging and rewarding that I have ever encountered.

Overall, I am very impressed with The Talos Principle 2. The game is a worthy successor to the original, and it builds on the strengths of its predecessor in every way. The puzzles are more challenging, the story is more engaging, and the graphics are more beautiful. I highly recommend The Talos Principle 2 to anyone who enjoyed the first game or who is looking for a challenging and rewarding puzzle game.