How do you make a puzzle game about the puzzles, while also making people care about the puzzles?
How do you make a game focused on finding solutions to tricky problems but also weave through a story that drives the player forward?
How do you make an innovative sequel to a critically acclaimed first game?
These are the challenges Croteam is facing with the development of The Talos Principle 2.
At the PlayStation Showcase earlier this year, Sony announced the sequel to what I would call ‘confused furore’. A small but vocal group of individuals prodded the people next to them in excitement; while the people being prodded were left confused, having never even heard of the first game.
Quest Daily was invited to play a preview build of The Talos Principle 2 and I jumped in to check out what Croteam has puzzled together this time.
This preview will contain no story spoilers, but I will make observations on themes and gameplay elements from the first 6 hours of the game. If that sounds like too much for you, avert your eyes now!
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For the uninitiated, The Talos Principle was released in 2014 and flew well under the radar. On the surface, it was another puzzle game in a long list of puzzle games. But those who took a chance on the game were rewarded with puzzles that were layered and complex, with elegant solutions that were incredibly satisfying.
But it was The Talos Principle’s ability to make you care about why you were solving those puzzles that made it so fulfilling. It was a moving game, which is quite unique for the genre.
I remember putting the game down for a month after getting stuck on a particularly tough puzzle; but I couldn’t stop thinking about the story, and it eventually pulled me back in. With a fresh perspective, I found I could now solve that same puzzle within a few minutes.
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From the moment I launched the sequel, I felt like I was being taken back in time. The introduction felt extremely similar to the first game; like greeting an old friend.
As is typical for the puzzle genre, the game begins with some easy introductory puzzles to reintroduce you to the mechanics – and introduce some new tools. Similar to the first game, each puzzle you complete rewards you with a Tetris-type block; which are used at the end of each section to complete another puzzle.
The difficulty ramps up as more puzzle elements are introduced. Standing in your way are force fields, buttons that need to be activated, doors that need to be powered, lasers that need to be diverted.
As I started to get into a rhythm of solving puzzles, I began to wonder if perhaps the developers had scaled down the difficulty, to increase its appeal to a wider audience. That thought was wiped away as I hit a particularly tough challenge of directing a laser over a wall. I knew what I needed to do. I knew what tools I needed to use. But how, I had no idea.
This is what I love about puzzle games. You’re given breadcrumbs in previous puzzles and know you have the tools to solve the next one; but how do you put it all together in the right way?
I found the puzzles to be varied, challenging, and most importantly, fun. Once again the game was drawing me in and making me care about finishing these puzzles; each completion granting not only the next Tetris piece but also unravelling a little more of the story.
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In the first game, the story unraveled around you as you played, primarily through computer terminals that would challenge your character with written prompts. Subtle, but intriguing. Alongside this, the narrator Elohim, would speak to your character, telling you not to listen to the person communicating with you through the terminals. You had to make up your own mind who to listen to.
In The Talos Principle 2, the story is slightly more overt. I don’t say this as a negative, but they are certainly telling the story in a more deliberate manner. You’re a bit more of an active participant this time around and you’re even able to contribute to the story yourself in some ways. I’ll say no more than that so as to not spoil it, but it is fun.
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Thematically, the first game was at its core a philosophical debate about religion. The sequel so far, seems to be a bit more of a social commentary, delving into topics that have challenged — and are challenging — humanity. In saying this, there are still clear undertones relating back to the original premise which is unpacked and expanded upon in the first few hours of the game.
What I always liked about The Talos Principle is that it was unexpected. A friend said to me, “Hey, there’s a cool puzzle game I’m playing. I think you should check it out”. I was fresh off a replay of the Portal games and jumped in, expecting cool puzzles and not much else. What I wasn’t expecting was to feel like a participant in a deep and moving philosophical debate.
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The challenge now for Croteam is that the fanbase has expectations of what the sequel should be, something the first game didn’t have to worry about. The good news is that, from what I’ve played, they’re meeting those expectations head on. They’re once again crafting a game where I care about the puzzles; a game where, if I have to put it down for a month to refresh my mind, I know I’ll be back to finish it.
The Talos Principle 2 releases on November 2nd on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. You should check it out.
