Reanimal is a fantastic, atmospheric experience that doesn't fully capitalize on its co-op gimmick, but it will satisfy long-time Tarsier Studios fans who felt a bit disappointed by Little Nightmares 3.
Talking about a game like Reanimal can be a bit difficult from a story perspective, as I do believe the big appeal of the journey is peeling the narrative layers until you reach that big climactic reveal that will try to make sense of the visual horrors you'll experience during your adventure.
Rest assured, I was enthralled by the bits of story that kept me powering through every section, which became progressively more dreadful and suffocating. What I can say about the story is that you play as two siblings looking to escape a hellish reality. Throughout their journey, you'll also meet and try to save a few friends, all trying to leave a traumatizing past behind them.
The game is broken down into different sections. It's not particularly open-ended, but it does leave you with a neat sense of freedom, as you'll find a few passageways and optional rooms which will lead you to discover a plethora of cosmetics and other collectibles. It's still very much a linear experience at heart, so don't expect a lot of replay value once you finish the story, which should take you about 6 hours. Little Nightmares 2 did have a secret ending; however, I did not manage to trigger any optional or different ending cutscenes during my playthrough.
One thing I'll say is that the massive reveals towards the end will be filled with an aura of mystery, perhaps too cryptic for some. While that may frustrate players looking for a clear resolution, it invited a nice debate between the friend I was playing co-op with. I do wish it gave players a bit more closure and context, as trying to figure out what exactly was going on took me out of the moment more than I'd like to admit. Reanimal does have a Season Pass, which will include three DLC chapters that will expand on the story, so hopefully, they will clear up some of the eerie mysteries of its world.
So how does Reanimal play? Well, unlike previous Tarsier games, it has a dynamic camera perspective in order to accommodate having two players on the screen at all times. You and your co-op partner (be that a real human or the more than serviceable AI) will explore and tackle a set of very light puzzles as you traverse each section, looking for your friends and a way out. The puzzles never really reach the heights of other co-op-based games, but they are at least a way to force interactions and teamwork.
Reanimal is at its best when it makes you feel powerless and hopeless. An early section will see you try to escape a looming, large husk of a man, that exhilarating sense of desperation as you're trying to outrun him felt like an adrenaline rush that you wanted to keep chasing. Fortunately, the game has more than its fair share of these moments. There are times when you'll finally get to fight back; sadly, these are some of the lowpoints of the game. I won't spoil the specific setting, but the lowest point for me came during a section where you needed to shoot at incoming enemies; the targeting felt finicky, and aiming just didn't feel satisfying at all. It was also a somewhat long sequence, making it even more egregious.
Playing it solo just aggravated the controller issues. A few sections became a bit too convoluted with their control schemes, particularly towards the end of the game. It wasn't anything game-breaking or too frustrating, but it's something to keep in the back of your head if you're looking for experiences that aren't too mechanically demanding. It just surprised me and took me a few minutes to adjust.
All that said, Reanimal does offer the incredible Friends' Pass feature, letting you play the game co-op online with a single copy of the game. I didn't get a chance to test it out as it was not available during the review period, but I did have a friend come over and help me binge the entire game together. It's definitely the best way to experience Reanimal.
If you're looking to enjoy it on Nintendo Switch 2, I can safely say performance is solid. There are some weird dips here and there, particularly when things get too hectic, but it's nothing major, and that should not deter you from purchasing it on this platform if that's your intention. Handheld mode is a bit more stuttery than docked, but THQ and Tarsier confirmed a day one patch should solve these issues.
Overall, Reanimal is worth it if you're looking for a bite-sized horror experience that's best shared with a friend. The story is gripping, and while it leads to a perhaps not too satisfying conclusion, the journey is more than enjoyable, particularly with a friend.
Review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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