I Expect You To Die 2 Reviews
I Expect You To Die 2 is a fabulous second stab at the spy thriller genre in VR, even if it's a bit short.
Sequels are often expected to be bigger and better, but sometimes a good sequel is just more of what made the original geat. I suppose I would have liked to see Schell Games push the mechanics and missions further, but ultimately I’m satisfied to play another round of cleverly designed spy puzzles. It’s not particularly ambitious, but it’s consistently good from beginning to end. If you liked the original, there’s absolutely no way you won’t like I Expect You To Die 2.
A series of darkly comic spy-themed VR escape rooms that revel in their ability to kill you in inventive and unexpected ways.
For all the similarities, I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar exceeds its predecessor in terms of tone. The first title was a cheeky game with a biting wit to match its great puzzles, but this sequel really outdoes itself, crafting even more ludicrously operatic scenarios all the while seamlessly integrating the humor into the gameplay experience. If you don’t have the patience or interest to sit through overlong monologues or sequences with a slow burn, you can just rush past them and the game adapts with you, but not before letting out a few extra jokes for good measure.
From a fantastic opening credits scene performed by Puddles Pity Party to its final exciting moments, I Expect You To Die 2: The Spy and the Liar delivers exactly what fans of the first game have come to expect - a campy spy adventure with increasingly deadly stakes, dramatically elaborate puzzles, and lots of physics objects to pretend to eat or simply throw across the room. For anyone with a fondness for James Bond stories or 1950's noir - and access to a VR headset - The Spy and the Liar is a fantastic choice.
Despite these annoyances though, I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar is one of the best VR games of 2021 so far. The smart, funny Bond-inspired writing, the meticulous attention to detail, the masterful use of Oculus’s VR controls, and the well-designed missions had me … well, glued to my seat the entire time. It may not change much from the original, but I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar once again delivers a thoroughly-enjoyable VR experience from start to finish.
Making fantastic use of the VR medium, I Expect You To Die 2 picks up where the original left off, in the most literal sense possible. Sure, it may not be treading any new ground and is somewhat on the brief side, but even when viewing it as an expansion to the original, it still offers a stellar experience for all comers. Rest assured, that mission isn't firing any blanks.
I Expect You To Die 2's half dozen hours is easily one of the best ways to introduce somebody to VR. It's funny, well written, nausea free, and incredibly engaging at every turn. Regardless of which VR headset you have, this one needs to be in your library -- it's a must have.
I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar expertly blends Hollywood thrills with VR's best escape rooms, but quickly loses its novelty after beating six incredibly short levels.
In many regards, I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar is a good continuation of what made the first game special: great level design, a funny spy story, and great pick-up-and-play gameplay. It doesn't do much to evolve in any meaningful way, but it doesn't need to. The great, albeit short, stages are a lot of fun to solve, but they can be frustrating to repeat as you trial-and-error your way through to the final credits. If you loved the first game, this one is sure to please.
I Expect You To Die 2 brings another round of the same spy puzzles set in new environments. Still good, but it could be better.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
There are few seated VR games that I would recommend more than this, with great acting, a fun script and brain-teasing puzzles. Live the life of a super spy - who never moves from one spot - you'll either have a blast, or get blasted.
I Expect You To Die 2 is a very hilarious VR puzzle game that doesn't quite have much competition. It offers beautiful graphics, quality level design, great controls and rich interaction with the environment. Unfortunately the game time is quite short, most of the time you'll be trying to return to the point where you died, and even then the game can be finished within two hours. Fortunately, the game offers additional challenges, so even after successfully finishing the game you will be motivated to revisit the levels and complete all the tasks that await you. A big detriment is the lack of subtitles, which make the game a bit difficult to play for not very proficient English speakers, as you have to rely only on your hearing to understand the instructions.
Review in Czech | Read full review
I Expect You To Die 2 is a fantastic VR escape room experience that plays up the thrilling spy movie genre in the best possible ways. With an incredible voice cast, a show-stopping 360° intro sequence, and exciting puzzles that will really make you feel like a big screen secret agent, I Expect You To Die 2 belongs in every VR library. So, what are you waiting for, Agent? Stop Zoraxis’ evil plan for world domination — we’re counting on you!
This is by far my favourite escape room styled VR game. The humour used throughout the game keeps you smiling even through various deaths. You need no prior knowledge of the franchise however both games are worth picking up if you haven’t already. It is comfortable to play for all experience levels and leaves you frantically searching for the next clue. I highly recommend this game Therefore I award I Expect You To Die 2 a Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
I Expect You To Die has officially become one of my favorite VR franchises, and yet again I’m sitting here super excited and wanting more. Somehow Schell has outdone themselves creatively in every way and I can’t wait to see what kind of crazy stuff they get me into next.