The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication

Developer: Softstar Entertainment
Publisher: PQube
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (Reviewed), PC
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $24.99 USD – Available Here

Overview

It’s always interesting to see how different a horror game from another culture is handled. Sure, many horror fans are familiar with Japanese developed horror games that have taken inspiration from Western films and of course plenty of Western horror games, but few of these happen to feature some of the unique horrors that can be found from Eastern cultures. Such is the case with The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication. Created by Taiwanese developer Softstar Entertainment as a standalone sequel, this horror game looks to deliver some different kinds of scares steeped in Taiwanese mythology and ghost stories. Does this different approach to horror make the title worthwhile now that it has arrived on consoles?

Story

There have always been rumors about ghosts haunting the halls of Wen Hua University, likely due to historic killings that happened on the premises long ago, but when a student film looking to retell the horrors of these killings starts making a stir online when their trailer features a ghostly hand out of nowhere, it draws the attention of an investigative journalist looking to learn more about the school during the dark of night, hoping to find clues as to what happened there and the origins of the chilling film trailer. The story then shifts to three film students looking to make their own mark in the haunted halls by filming a horror movie of their very own, only to find that the horrors are all too real when they find themselves separated by ghostly hands and pursued by unspeakable terrors as they all try to survive the night and perhaps find out why this university is a hot spot of supernatural activity.

Set in Taiwan, players will notice quite quickly how heavily steeped in the culture the game is and how much Taoism plays a factor into the supernatural aspects of the premise. Full knowledge of Eastern mythology isn’t necessary to get the most out of this horror game but it will help players to understand some of the deeper meanings behind the various terms used when explaining the events that happen at the school and the numerous pieces of lore that are scattered throughout each chapter. That being said, it is nice to note that The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication tells a very solid horror story that is weaved between four different character’s viewpoints as the happen throughout the game, sometimes simultaneously, all of whom experience their own horrors and hauntings that are not only quite scary at times but very interesting as well since it always feels like there is a sense of tension in the air, even when just messing around with a friendly ghost dog.

In fact, the various ghost encounters are some of the best parts of the game as players must find themselves dealing with a terrifying game of red-light green-light with a ballerina or sneaking through a location with an undead girl that can literally see behind herself because her head is hanging on by a thread. As for the characters themselves, the three film students have a solid feeling bond even if a certain mustachioed man is way over the top and the journalist also is handled quite well with her own segments. The horror title feels like it manages its time well and doesn’t overstay its welcome, clocking in at a bit over six hours for those who really want to search for as much lore as possible, culminating in some satisfying reveals that still keep some mysteries up in the air for a potential continuation of the horrors experienced here. 

Gameplay

Played entirely in first person, players will spend most of the game navigating the halls of the university searching for the next clue to the mystery or piece to the current puzzle blocking their path. Some of the characters will be provided with a mystical lantern that plays a pivotal role in the game since it is used in multiple ways, such as uncovering hidden secrets from the past, a way to temporarily stun an attacking ghost, or even a tool to dispel supernatural shadows. While exploring players, as mentioned before, will find plenty of different rooms that contain optional pieces of lore that range from simply basic collectables or pieces of lore to secret items that can unlock unique interactions at certain points.

Similarly, the game’s various puzzles are presented in a way that makes them feel challenging but fair. Rarely did it ever feel like a puzzle was thrown up as an obstacle meant to stall for time or frustrate players, instead they have just the right level of balance between being tricky but solvable at the same time. This means that the game has found a real sweet spot for making sure that players feel rewarded for conquering a puzzle using the context clues given without having something directly spelled out for them, though that doesn’t mean that there aren’t a few real challenging ones that might stump players for a bit.

As mentioned before, one of the best parts of the game is when players have to deal with a direct confrontation with the many ghosts. The ballerina sequence easily stands out as a personal favorite and perhaps even the best moment of the entire game thanks to how tense players will feel while dealing with the red-light green-light mechanics and how unnatural the enemy feels. Other encounters range in quality and some have their own puzzles involved as well, meaning players need to solve something or take certain actions in an effort to survive. While carrying the mystical lantern the player can survive being attacked one time by using the lantern to stun them before having to wait for the lantern to recharge. If they are caught again before, then it’s game over.  It is worth noting that the enemy AI is a bit on the weaker side here, especially when it comes to ducking under tables as they simply cannot do it. The final boss can crush them, though oddly enough the finalencounter’s AI seems to be the worst of them all, making it so players almost have to go out of their way to get damaged unless they end up getting lost while running away.

Audio & Visuals

It must be said that Softstar Entertainment has put a lot of effort into making sure the designs of the ghosts are as impressive and detailed as possible. There’s a reason we keep coming back to saying how impressive these encounters are after all and part of that is due to how gruesome or unnatural they appear, really driving home the spooky factor. The character models are also handled decently well while the school itself is packed with little details that makes me wish there was more to interact with at times.

As for the voice work, the English voice actors handle their roles well enough and do match the passion of a solid B-Movie performance but it does feel like playing with the original Chinese dub with subtitles is the best way to go. Not only do the performances feel more authentic but they also help highlight a certain over-the-top character’s personality a bit better. There’s not much in the way of background music outside of key locations but this helps with the overall eerie feeling of exploring the haunted halls as there are plenty of spooky noises used to great effect to help nail the atmosphere.

Overall

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication delivers an unnerving ghost tale that doesn’t overstay its welcome and provides plenty of scares and puzzles along the way. The English voice work isn’t quite up to snuff with the original Chinese dub and the enemy AI is a bit lackluster which makes most of the pursuit challenges too simple but thankfully this is balanced out by a satisfying puzzle difficulty and some wonderfully horrific ghost designs.

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