The Fall Part 2: Unbound

I think what gets me most about the first part of The Fall was how well it set itself as an emotional dilemma and the idea of AI being in control of human life. The Fall 2 however is more about AI itself overcoming it's own ambitions through use of trickier set up like puzzle games usually do. Unbound mostly sets itself apart from the first game by being episodic in it's story and puzzle solving. While three new AIs are center stage for the puzzles, thankfully the plot uses ARID as a connection between the three that doesn't feel forced in a blunt way. Thus each new main character we met gives newer perspective and aesthetic that simply wasn't in the first game. Due to these changes, the puzzles in Part 2: Unbound are far more interesting in the sense that they have personality behind each of them. It's not simply ARIDs problem to go to the next part of the game, but to work through the new AI behaviors and patterns that helps make each part interesting and memorable. From navigating individualism, servitude, and empathy as all different rule sets placed through each new AI the puzzles become rather transformative in a way that most puzzle games wish they can be, a form of storytelling. So not only does each new area have their own set of rules they also have different ways to solve their particular problems, especially when act 2 gets started. I can't say that everything in Unbound works particularly well though as the network area, and ARID's main parts aren't really interesting through out the game. Like there is certainly a need to continue the on going plot of the first game, but it's in a way that sorta falls on the wayside like the devs didn't want to touch on it too much. I understand why everything is placed the way it is, but it says something when the areas between each new AI are the weakest parts. Honestly, I was the most confused and bored whenever I hit the network ARID parts, and kinda wish I could've simply moved on to the next segment. There was some nice action points, but mostly due to how the game controls, they just didn't bring me the same joy as the puzzles would. Still I must say The Fall Part 2: Unbound did live up to my expectations, even if I didn't know that's what I wanted from it. It's very different from the first game, has a lot more emotional beats and character development, and honestly probably swung too hard in the other direction for some people. Despite all this, the ARID sections feel proof to me that focusing on the new AI was the key to making this game as great as it is, and it's ultimately what I like most about it. For fans of the first game, there is absolutely something here for you, but it is absolutely something you didn't know you wanted. For those newer to the series, you could honestly start here, but mostly I just want to express this game, like it's first, is quite a surprise. I am a surprise.