Faraway 2: Jungle Escape developed by Pine Studio, is the sequel to 2016’s first game, Faraway: Puzzle Escape which is part of a game series aiming to be a modern tribute to the Myst adventure game.
Faraway 2: Jungle Escape is in its heart a room escape game except it is set in an outdoor environment where we solve puzzles to acquire a square tablet in each level that opens the portal to escape. Like the first game, there are optional notes to provide a backstory to this adventure, with heavy emphasis on the optional. The story and notes part always felt a little disposable even in the first game. The notes aren’t always apparent and many times, I end the level without finding it all and yet, it never feels important enough to look for it except maybe breaking the clay pots strewn across the level and having an excuse to do that in search of what we could find further.
Faraway 2 mirrors its first game in terms of game mechanics and goals. However, where it does elevate itself is the bigger environments and more dynamic puzzles. While the environments are quite linear as it is touch and move forward to only accessible areas, when we get to look around the world has much more detail. The lush jungle or exotic setting gives it an appealing tone. While its normal to see elaborate monuments and structure in this game, Faraway 2 adds a little as well. For example, one level was on a tree as we climbed it from one level to the next solving the puzzles on the tree and opening secret passages through it while another level gave us access to a pyramid with resolving sculptures that rotate the pieces to create the pathway. It makes the world much more immersive.
At the same time, the puzzles themselves start off like the first game. It gives different puzzle types to open doors or secret spots to gather pieces to open the door. Some puzzles are quite straight forward to logically solve, others may require some thought and there were ever a few that I got through with trial and error and only saw the link or clue in the level as to what to do. What does up its game is that as we progress into the further levels, the puzzles start being dynamic, meaning there are moving pieces to consider and places that lead further. The puzzles escape from levers and buttons and go deeper into figuring out sequences and more.
Faraway 2 requires logic but nothing that is overly challenging to cause confusion. However, if you are stuck, there are always free hints available (in the free version, you need to watch an ad). With that said, much like the first game, Faraway 2 is a free experience for the first half (nine levels) and you will need to purchase the full game to complete it. Obviously, there are pros and cons to choosing to sell the game this way.
Overall, Faraway 2 is a worthy sequel. In many ways, it feels superior to its first game adding depth and beautiful environments, making it feel closer to its tribute, Myst. While there are still issues with the notes and the vague story, it’s immersive puzzles make it easily set aside without feeling like it was much of a loss in the experience.
Read the review of the first game here.