Virtue's Last Reward Makes Me Afraid of the Dark

A while back, I posted a review of a game that I absolutely loved. It was the only review that I've done on my blog, and the reason for it was because I had to. It was so amazing that I couldn't let it go without giving it the justice of a glowing recommendation.

Here is the link if you want to read it: http://jeremymab.blogspot.ca/2011/01/9-hours-9-persons-9-doors-review.html

The sequel came out recently, and once more I find myself staying up late playing the game into the wee hours of the morning and not realising hour many hours have passed.

I'm also scared to turn off the lights after I'm done playing the game.

The story, for those of you not initiated, is about nine people who are kidnapped and put in a secret location to play a game called "The Nonary Game." Similar to the first game, it revolves around the number nine. The goal relies in the bracelets that the players have. Each has a number on the face, and the goal is to get that number up to 9 so that that person can escape.

The way to get more points is by playing another game within the game called "Ambidex." The ambidex game forces pairs of the players to choose to 'ally' or 'betray' the other person in their group. If both partners ally, then they both gain points. If both betray, no one gains points. But, if one person allys, and the other betrays, then the one who betrayed gains points while the one who allied loses points.

I know what you're thinking: "Well, so what if you lose points, you'll gain them back later." I say to thee, losing points is the worst thing that can happen, as if you reach zero points, you die. Trust is an important factor in the game.

Now you're probably thinking "Why is it so hard to trust everyone? They're all stuck in the game together, so why not everyone choose ally?"

It's because of two factors: One: the person who kidnapped everyone, aptly named Zero like the first game, is amongst those playing the game. Someone in the group is the person who kidnapped everyone and put them in the game of death they're playing. And Two: There's a killer on the loose, who may not be Zero, nor anyone participating in the game. The person you pair with could be out to kill you, and if you ally while they betray, then you'll be put in a position where you could die.

The killer on the loose is what is so far getting me. I've played a few hours so far, and gotten a few of the bad endings. People have started to die, and not as part of the game rules where their bracelet went to zero points. Someone's going around and stabbing people.

The music changes when people start dying, and because some of the music is recycled from the previous game it makes all those old feelings come back. I get tense when the music changes, I frown when something happens that confuses me, and when the players are in a room examining bodies I can't help but think that the killer could be right behind them and is going to stab them in the back when they're not looking.

The feeling of tension and like something is just around the corner is better than any horror movie I've seen. I'm two steps away from jumping at shadows, and I swear if someone opened my door randomly while I was playing the game my heart might leap out of my chest from fright.

It's that good at pulling you in. Or at least me.

I'm not finished the game, so this isn't the review of it, it's just a retelling of the feelings I have so far. I'll do a full review after I'm done, and since I've explained a little bit of the gameplay already I won't have to with it.

For now I'm going to enjoy a game that truly scares the shit out of me.