The original Fisherman’s Tale was a clever puzzle game that used a recursive lighthouse as a problem-solving core. Now, in the sequel, you assume the role of the daughter of a famous fisherman. The cluttered basement is stacked with several elaborate dioramas. When you were a kid, your dad used these to tell elaborate and very funny stories. And the game is made up of those stories.
The writing is extraordinary, combining ludicrous off-kilter humor with a brooding morbid atmosphere that bears little resemblance to The Ruins of Edith Finch. The game effectively tells meaningful anecdotes about your parents and yourself without compromising on puzzle quality.
The puzzles are great, offering equally wacky solutions with wacky scenarios. Whereas the first title worked mostly in a recursive environment within a lighthouse, the sequel is all about solving nautical puzzles using different “kinds” of hands. Need to cut a rope but all you have is a normal human hand? Simply remove one end and insert a crab claw to cut the rope. There is only a handful There are many different types of equipment that make the puzzles interesting.
Notably, the normal hand can still be controlled even when removed, so it can slip through vents if needed, and the hook hand allows it to climb walls. All of the attachments are standard, but since you can only hold two with your own hands, it’s up to you to decide which combination works best for you. The puzzles are never too difficult, but creative enough to make you think.
The environments are detailed and incredibly vibrant. Each individual level and basement “hub” you complete paints him one of the best-looking PSVR2 titles ever. This is furthered by a great soundtrack featuring a great original score and some excellent sea shacks.
The PSVR2 makes games look great, but the PSVR 2 Sense controller leaves me feeling a bit underwhelmed. Attaching the hand can be a pain as the round base of the controller tends to get in the way, and the control of the detached hand is less precise with respect to rotation and movement in certain directions.
But that’s a pretty minor issue in the big picture, and Another Fisherman’s Tale is just as worth your time to read as the first.
