There has always been something a little creepy about 3D animation in kids’ shows, especially when they appear to be talking to you and telling you to go and fetch things from other rooms… Or was that just me? Welcome back to the world of Amanda The Adventurer and her (best?) friend Wooly the sheep. This time you are taken by a mysterious lady in a mask to a library where you find even more tapes featuring the titular character and even more creepy lore to unlock as you play. You play as Riley again, who for some reason hasn’t quite learned her lesson from the first game and continues to watch the tapes and seek out the answers to questions that should possibly remain buried. If you enjoy your horror with a little more puzzle than fear grab, this game and let Amanda and Wooly take you on a little adventure again.
ℹ️ Reviewed on PC | Review code provided by PR/publisher, this review is the personal opinion of the writer. Got unanswered questions about this game? Get in touch on X!
| Developer | MANGLEDmaw Games |
| Publisher | DreadXP |
Things I liked!
- The story | Like the first game (Review by Benny Hall here), the story is rich in lore, secrets, and mystery. Everything has a reason, and after you finish the main storyline, you should always go back and search for more. There is so much to discover, and without giving away any spoilers, what you thought was true in the first game might not be exactly what you were told! My advice is to take your time, grab a pad and paper and make notes. Think of yourself as a sort of paranormal detective as you unravel the mysteries of the tapes.
- Sound design | Wear headphones while you play this game. There are so many little extra noises that happen all around you that are delightfully eerie as you play. Was that a knock at your door? Was it something rustling in the empty space behind you? Or has Amanda perhaps left the confines of the game and is watching from a dark corner in your room? The voice acting is excellent again, and the Amanda the adventurer theme song while upbeat and happy on the outside, still has that undertone of wrongness about it.
Mixed & disliked!
- Puzzles | I didn’t find the puzzles as taxing as the first game, but were a couple of times when I was tempted to look at a guide when I was looking for a couple of the … [REDACTED]. Ok, ok, no spoilers, I get the picture. If you enjoy puzzles and have a bit of patience or, like me, get completely hyper-focused on solving them, you should be fine. However, there is a bit of a learning curve, so don’t expect to breeze through everything first time.
- Length | I would love a longer adventure than what I got. I feel like I just started to get my teeth into the meat of the mysteries surrounding the tapes when the game ended. C’mon, Developers, stop teasing us so much! Give us more!!!
CONCLUSION
Score: 80/100 – Amanda the adventurer 2 is such a fun horror game. It is just on the right side of the uncanny valley to be creepy while making you want to continue to explore the depths of the mysteries of the tapes. One of my only issues was again the length of the game; it just felt a bit too short. But other than that, I loved playing it.
Would you trust a kids’ show that talked back to you? would you let your kids watch something that called them by name? I personally cannot wait for the next instalment of this series, and I hope the developers bring it out soon… Amanda doesn’t like to be kept waiting after all.
I’m just a tall bearded bald Scotsman who loves games of every type. I’m a voice actor as well and have been for a few years now. I have an odd sense of humour.
