Letters From Nowhere 2 Review [iOS]

Rating:

The folks over at G5 have been busy creating the sequel to Letters from Nowhere, which will soon be winging its way to the iOS platform, and we’ve had the chance to test the iPhone version out to give you the low down on what we think.

So here goes nothing…

The original game told the story of a woman, Audrey, whose husband Patrick didn’t meet her from work and after he fails to show up at home that night, she starts to receive letters from someone unknown and begins the search for her missing beloved. Without being too spoilerish, it ends with her meeting the spirit of a Postman who says he can help her find  her husband.

This direct sequel opens with a comic book style introduction explaining that Audrey has been missing her husband for a month, that she is desperately searching for him and offering background to his disappearance. It then introduces the Postman’s spirit whose father, 50 years previously, put together a group of men to search after people started going missing. The search led the men to an eery house, which is believed to be full of evil spirits and the party entered never to return – this is where the Postman believes that Audrey’s husband is.

The gameplay is simple enough: the player has a list of items that you need to find to be able to move on., and between each area, you receive new parts to the story. So as you move through the game you will get closer to solving the mystery behind the woman’s missing spouse, in the usual point and click style. In each interactive area there is also a hidden black cat and 3 stamps to find, adding a further collectible element, which may sound easy but it is surprisingly tough.

The game is interesting and allows you to become involved enough with the characters to want to keep playing and ‘help’ them along on their mission. The items in each scene aren’t too hard to find, but if you’re having trouble the lovely developers have given us a handy hint button, which will point out what you might be missing – a refillable feature that can be used over and over. Bonus! Some of the mini-games can appear quite difficult, however, but with a little perseverance they’re simple enough to crack, and if you’re finding it a little difficult then you can always wait for the ‘skip metre’ to fill up and swiftly move onto the next scene. No messing around if you haven’t got the time or just plain can’t be bothered.

If you’ve played the original game you’ll notice that there are a few different features. Firstly, there is a new mode of play, Puzzle Mode, which allows you to unlock and play all the mini-games that you have played throughout the main story. Another addition is the hidden black cats, which are not an essential part of game progression, but if you are a completist, they add further challenge. Finally you will see some new mini-games in this edition than didn’t appear in the previous game, which means the sequel avoids the feeling that you are just being given the same product again, and there is freshness despite the same central premise.

So to conclude, this game is fun and simple to play. You can just pick it up and don’t have to worry about what’s happening, but it isn’t so easy that you feel like you aren’t getting a challenge. If you like hidden object games then give it a try: it’s a good story, easy to play, there’s a young blonde and the ghost of a dead Postman. And if that doesn’t spell a good time to you then you don’t know what you’re missing.

http://youtu.be/fIx_pMJPRuw

Letters From Nowhere 2 is available to download from June 21, 2012.

Letters From Nowhere 2 iOS Scoring
Gameplay
Easy to pick up and play, good time killer but can get repetitive. Depending on styles you like to play there is a chance you can feel like you are just doing the same thing over and over.
Graphics
The comic book style intro and cut-scenes are easy to follow and look good. The scenes have a lot happening in them that they have to be drawn well or items just get lost in the background.
Sound
Non-intrusive backing music lets you concentrate on what’s on the screen but is in keeping with the spooky theme of the game. Voice acting isn’t brilliant but tells the story well.
Replay Value
If this is the style of game you like the fact that you already know the story won’t dissuade you from starting the game again. There are also parts that if you have missed them the first time round, you can try finding them on the second run through.
Presentation
Well presented little game, the main menu shows what the game has to offer. However the in game menu leaves a lot to be desired and doesn’t add anything to the overall product.
Overall
Easy to follow story and well presented scenes. There isn’t anything that jumps out at you as overly brilliant but this sequel is a well put together game that will give you hours of fun.

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