What has passed was the prologue 

A confused past has been left to us. Messages echoing eras of self-destruction and disillusionment were left among enigmatic puzzles. Only one voice reverberated during your journey: Elohim. And you challenged it, only to discover in the end that... it was all just a simulation. In Talos Principle 2 you'll discover what the truth is. But the truth, well... it will be what it needs to be.

Masterfully developed by Croteam, the same company that produced Serious Sam, and published by Devolver Digital, Talos Principle 2 will put you in front of humanity's biggest questions, while making you solve a few puzzles. The game will be available on November 2nd for Playstation, Xbox, PC and Mac.




Welcome, 1k

Awakened from a simulation, you meet someone similar to you for the first time, an automaton called Neith.  Neith promptly gives you the nickname 1k, as you are the thousandth human being to wake up from the simulation. It's a bit strange for you to be called human since your mechanical body doesn't deceive you about your robotic nature. Even with so many questions, you head in the direction she indicates, which leads you to a kind of meeting where many like you are gathered. 

Overshadowed by a flash and surrounded by countless robots, you are greeted with the conclusion of a long and hopeful plan, the founding of the New Jerusalem. Little by little, you discover that this robotic society is more human than it seems. The result of the ultimate human effort (as we know it), this society is trying to organize itself to prosper but above all, to persevere. Natural and energy resources are a daily agenda; citizenship is an achievement; affections are balanced, as much as the Stoics would have liked. The ideal future seemed to be building in front of them, but not everything was as it seemed.




An unexpected messenger appears and brings with him the chaos of thought. He reminds us that countless existential questions are being crushed by the blocks that build this perfect future. The creators are no longer present because they have run away from their work. Something isn't right and you, 1k, could be the beginning of the end. The last answer. 

Sound confusing? well... thank you. That's what the Talos Principle is all about: disorder. Beyond well-thought-out puzzles and pleasant graphics, this is a game designed to make you think about the big questions of existentialism. What is it to be human? What is the role of faith? Is eternity good or bad? 

By putting you in front of these questions, the game gives you one of the most profound experiences you'll find in the games industry. I particularly feel that I offend the franchise when I use these terms, you know? "Industry, franchise"... Talos Principle is a work of art that deserves a special place in gaming history. The first game, by its nature, is already a beautiful experience, with a level of depth and contemplation rarely seen in the setting. In Talos Principle 2, I witnessed what I wouldn't have thought possible: the deepening of those issues in a game that preserves their essence, but innovates in a disruptive way compared to the previous game. 

By putting us in contact with other robots, we are introduced to other ways of thinking, and new ways of dialoguing, through resources such as a social network, as well as generating an immersive sense of community, albeit simulated. We are introduced to an original world, which lays the foundations for all creation as if we were playing in God's playground.




And speaking of God, Talos Principle 2 dialogues deeply with religious aspects, especially Christian philosophy. From the beginning, with our contact with Elohim, to the symbolism of the settings, speeches, and even the numbers of the robots (yes, just like us, who are number 1000, each robot has its number stamped on its chest). The game puts you in a contemplative atmosphere that elevates the experience, as if we were part of that context in a real way, because the doubts and questions that arise dialogue with us in an intimate way. 

If you're philosophically inclined and are willing to immerse yourself in an experience that can transform the way you think about yourself and the world, there are no better games than the Talos Principle. The second game doesn't depend on the first to be understood, but I recommend starting in order because it will deeply enhance you. Be open to dialogue with yourself and you'll realize the power of the Talos Principle.




The pleasure of working perfects the work 

Talos Principle 2 is the work of a passionate genius. More modern and creative puzzles make us solve problems like children encountering those little boxes of shapes in the right places for the first time. Complex from start to finish, the game brings new and familiar mechanics and builds demanding gameplay without being boring. Fun without being silly. As much as it is perceived as a puzzle game, I understand the Talos Principle as a philosophically immersive narrative in which its challenges serve the purpose of showing us what we are. 

The game will demand creativity, it will irritate you, it will make you feel like an idiot and at many moments it will instill in you the feeling: this is impossible. It's broken, it's buggy. There's no way.

But there is. There always is. 

That's the secret. Thinking about how when the show doesn't seem to be. Accomplishing the impossible, as you will sometimes do, will show you that many of our barriers are of our own making. 

With each puzzle solved, the feeling of "I can do it" becomes greater. And it wraps itself around the narrative, which points out that our creators know this. The team at Croteam, best known for Serious Sam, that comical and euphoric game, shows us their versatility, but above all, the commitment and passion of developers who see themselves as artists and not producers. 

Despite the game's conceptual perfection, there were some technical problems during gameplay. Loading times, when present, tended to be longer than usual for games these days. I also noticed some problems with the textures, such as tearing and poor definition of lights and surfaces. I didn't notice any other bugs/glitches during my gameplay.




The beautiful is the useful

Visually speaking, Talos Principle 2 is a well-executed piece of work, with beautiful graphics, despite the aforementioned flaws. The world-building is convincing and transports us to futuristic world concepts, paradisiacal. The buildings are imposing and show the power of the creators, while the ruins present a beautiful contrast between what is and what was.

The puzzles also have a very pleasant visual appeal, with vivid, color-saturated lighting. Overall, the game's visual experience is pleasant but somewhat generic. 

The soundtrack also helps to build the game's atmosphere, as do the characters' lines, which are convincing and very human (after all, conscious robots are human, right?...RIGHT?!).




These thematic and narrative constructions add to the game, even if in a basic way, and manage to build the ideal atmosphere to make up the experience.

For this review, Talos Principle 2 was played on PC via Steam.

Thanks to Devolver Digital for providing the key that made this content possible.