Originally released by Microids for digital download, Still Life 2 has been a long time coming to retail stores but thanks to Iceberg Interactive it's shortly due for release.  Iceberg Interactive and Microids are key names in adventure game titles and the offering of Still Life 2 only supports this.  A stunning sequel to the original Still Life (which itself was fantastic), it finally lays to rest some of the key questions which were left unanswered after Still Life's cliffhanger ending.

Still Life 2 offers gameplay on three levels.  As the main character - Vic McPherson - you get to play in both the past and present.  A series of flashbacks take you back to 2005 so we can finally learn what happened after the end of Still Life.  These aren't dull lengthy cutscenes either but interactive scenes where you need to act in order to move the game forward.  You also play as Paloma Hernandez (pictured left), a journalist who gets kidnapped by the serial killer Vic McPherson is trying to find.  Again, no lengthy cut scenes here to follow her plight but a much more involving and engaging style of gameplay that keeps the content gripping and exciting throughout the game.

The story behind the game is that Vic McPherson is, once again, on the trail of an elusive and vicious serial killer.  Vic clashes with feisty journalist Paloma Hernandez who is reporting on the case but the two have to form an alliance of sorts when Paloma is kidnapped and manages to contact Vic for help.  Although there are several locations involved in the game, the bulk of the gameplay occurs in an creepy old house where the cellars are more like dungeons and underground bunkers leave plenty of hiding places for the killer.

The game is full of twists, turns and surprises and couldn't be described as anything less than a thriller.  It is almost reminiscent of the film 'Saw' in some aspects, particularly in terms of some of the dilemmas the characters are presented with, although thankfully it lacks the extreme gore.  Hours and hours of gameplay, hundreds of objects and tons of puzzles are thrown into the mix.  The puzzles vary from being very straightforward to quite complex.  In addition, some scenarios are timed so save often: it is actually possible to die on Still Life 2 and if you can make it through the game without this, you're a genius.  The sound effects and music are extremely atmospheric and at times chilling. The result of all these combined factors is an intensely unnerving experience but an absolutely fantastic game.

Given the five year gap between the two games, you would expect various improvements in terms of sound and graphic quality and both have been amply delivered.  The graphics are much sharper and the detail is good.  They've struck a nice balance between graphic detail and game performance, clearly understanding that it doesn't matter how fantastic a game looks if the average computer can't run it! 

This is a really superb effort from Microids, showing that they continue to lead the way in incredible adventure games and Iceberg Interactive are an excellent choice to deliver it firmly into the retail market.  It would seem that the wait for this sequel was entirely worthwhile.

**Review by Donna Haw**