Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review

Teamwork is always essential in accomplishing challenging tasks that lie ahead.

Game Info

  • System: PlayStation 4
  • Publisher: Electronic Arts
  • Developer: Coldwood Interactive
  • Release Date: June 19, 2018

Unravel Two: Official Reveal Trailer | EA Play 2018

Who it Caters to

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review
In our everyday lives, much of our responsibilities seem to mostly rely on the individual, with that one person handling a certain task while others handle their own. This sort of method works when the amount of workload is much less and the burden isn’t going to affect anyone in a significant way. However when tasks start to pile up and work must be done, teamwork is the most effective way to clear up all the paperwork from one's desk and have the freedom to pursue other endeavors. So what’s the point behind all of this?

Unravel Two is a game where teamwork is imperative in successfully completing the tasks ahead, whether the challenge be small or large. While you can certainly run through the game solo and feel a sense of accomplishment, that feeling is amplified when you have a friend, spouse or member of the family play alongside you on this incredibly fascinating adventure. Everything that you loved from the first Unravel is drastically improved to provide players with a more immersive experience, with unique puzzles and platforming challenges that are sure to stimulate the mind. Not only that but the strong feeling of immersion is much higher in Unravel Two, as you begin to feel more attached to Yarny and his partner as they work together to solve whatever problem life throws at them. Unravel Two is a spiritual journey that takes you beyond the surface and into a world that’s full of magnificent details, with fun and exhilarating gameplay to further compliment the game’s overall charm.

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review

What to Expect

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review
If you’ve played through the original Unravel, then expect to fall in love once again with the sequel, as there’s a lot more to discover in a world full of vibrant color and detail, and plenty of platforming obstacles to overcome. The most notable addition, of course, to Unravel Two is having the opportunity to use a second Yarny on your adventure, which will assist you along the way to solve well designed puzzles. Not only that but Unravel Two allows you to play co-op and take the beloved adventure to an entirely new level of excitement, where now you and your partner can plan, think and overcome whatever hurdles come your way. It’s certainly easier to have someone assist you during some scenarios but Unravel Two can be cleared quite easily with just you alone at the steering wheel, and to be quite honest it felt a little more satisfying towards the end. While solving a problem with a teammate is rewarding, tackling something really demanding and being able to successfully overcome it with your own hard work is just as gratifying if not more. All of the abilities that Yarny came equipped with in the original are still very much there, such as being able to swing, propel, ascend, lasso objects, and tying knots on certain objects to create bridges to carry certain items over. All of this put together and you have a brilliant title that captivates you with its simple style, but mesmerizes you with its charming characters and attention to detail.

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review


Gameplay

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review
The whole task of Unravel Two is very simple: work with your new Yarny partner to tackle puzzles and hop over platforms to reach the end goal. On paper, it all sounds quite simple that is, until you hop into the game and realize that you need to actually think things through carefully. There’s a lot of planning that you’ll need to work around since some puzzles may look easy on the surface, but will require that you have your second Yarny ready to move forward. The control scheme is very easy to wrap your head around and doesn’t demand much of your brain power, so therefore all of your attention can solely be placed on finding solutions. It’s hard sometimes to stay focused because frankly Unravel Two is such a lush and vibrant looking game that you’ll often just sit there and let the tranquil ambience just sink into your soul for a while, before you embark on your adventure again. That’s perhaps the greatest selling point about Unravel Two in that, despite its challenging platforms and cleverly designed puzzles, you’re in such a relaxed state most of the time. There’s isn’t any sort of fast paced high tempo music to raise your attention levels, it’s just simple background noise that’s alluring and satisfying.

The moveset as we said before isn’t entirely new from the original but with the addition of the second Yarny, all of these moves have a lot more depth than before and add new elements of gameplay. So for example, in the original Unravel much of the burden was placed solely on one Yarny to get everything done, whereas in Unravel Two, you can use the second Yarny as an anchor point to make climbing up walls for example, much easier. Navigating is definitely smoother and requires less effort but the challenge of using the extra Yarny correctly is where much of the fun (and stress) begins. The reason we bring up stress is because you’re now working with someone else who may have a different way of maneuvering around the game, and so, communication is somewhat important.

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review
Being able to talk through how to navigate your way around a certain obstacle is so pivotal because any sort of miscommunication can lead to some pretty daunting, but truly amusing moments. Timing is so crucial when using one Yarny as a swing to get to the next platform, since one mistimed approach can lead you to a quick death or in most cases, having to restart the puzzle all over again. It’s taxing for sure, but as we said earlier, the reward of completing it all is reassuring. There are hints that can be used quite frequently should you ever find yourself stumped and not know how to solve a puzzle, so the game really never really feels too overwhelming. This new hint system is very robust and will help players who are perhaps new to the series find their footing and enjoy the game in a lighthearted manner.

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review


Honey's Gameplay Consensus:

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review
In the end, Unravel Two is a title that is very pleasing not only to the eye but also to the mind as well. Its stimulating puzzles and tricky platforms can offer up a lot of gameplay value for those new to the game, but also those familiar with the series. Everything feels a lot more responsive than the last title and the seven incredibly detailed levels always bring a new element of freshness every time. It’s not long by any means, but just absorbing yourself in it all and working together to tackle problems with a friend is truly a blessing. We also liked that you can customize the color of your Yarny to add a little bit of personal touch as you played through the game. This is, of course, a small little feature but it really made the game feel genuine and we could connect more with Yarny as we traversed through each level.

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review

Honey's Pros:

  • Incredibly detailed levels. Breathtaking.
  • Challenging puzzles that can be tackled alone or co-op
  • Of course the added option of co-op is the major selling point.
  • New hint system really helps when you’re in a pinch.

Honey's Cons:

  • Wish there were more levels to play through. Felt quite short in the end.

Honey's Final Verdict:

That about does it for Unravel Two! We hope you found this review to be insightful and informative, making your purchase decision a lot easier. Be sure to follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest game related news from around the world, and of course hit us up on Twitch to catch us playing all the latest titles live!

As always, for all things sweet, with news straight from Japan, be sure to keep it locked here on Honey’s Anime.

Unravel-Two-logo-Unravel-Two-capture-500x281 Unravel Two - PlayStation 4 Review

Editor/Writer

Author: Rob "NualphaJPN" B.

A passionate fan of gaming, writing, journalism, anime, and philosophy. I've lived in Japan for many years and consider this place to be my permanent home. I love to travel around Japan and learn about the history and culture! Leave a comment if you enjoy my articles and watch me play on twitch.tv/honeysgaming ! Take care!

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