In 1992, a Croatian development team by the name of Croteam was founded and their catalog of video games is one of the weirdest I’ve seen for a game developer. Their earliest titles were two sports games, Football Glory and Five-A-Side Soccer, and looking at the market trying to make a sports game that can set yourself apart from the big names like FIFA and Madden is difficult. In between those two they made Save The Earth which was based off a licensed Croatian children’s show at the time, and that too didn’t do very well because the majority of licensed games at the time were heaping piles of poo. If the Angry Video Game Nerd isn’t enough evidence for you I don’t know what is. It wasn’t until 2001 that they made their first landmark title, Serious Sam. A fast-paced shooter where what is basically the PG-13 version of Duke Nukem travels through time and fights an onslaught of weird creatures. It was a weird shooter, but was cool for the time and many people look back fondly on those original games. However, it was around the third or so entry that Serious Sam started to die out. The formula was starting to get old and what didn’t help was releasing it around the same time as games like Uncharted 3, Battlefield 3, Gears of War 3, Modern Warfare 3, Resistance 3, and Bulletstorm. That's a lot of number threes.
Croteam had specialized in chaotic shooters for years now and they couldn’t just do more of the same. Nobody wanted to play a game where you mainly just circle strafe around a large horde that runs at you, but doesn't do a lot to try and kill it's player as quickly as possiblle. It's like making award winning bread. Sure it’s good, but is it going to be good the fifth time you enter it into the same contest? While a majority of Croteam got to work on the fourth game a couple of devs at the company were trying to figure out what gimmicks they could add so the fourth entry wouldn’t be received harsher than the third entry. Spoiler alert, it did in fact do worse than the third game. These devs had the idea of incorporating puzzles in Serious Sam. Use the engine they had been working with all these years to create condensed puzzles. These puzzles were thoughtful and found unique ways to test the players despite a majority of what they were doing was running around, picking things up, and connecting them to other objects. When these devs had the rest of Croteam playtest these puzzles they received a kind of feedback they weren’t expecting. The playtesters wanted more of these well designed puzzles rather than see them mixed in with a Serious Sam game. They wanted to see the puzzles expanded into its own separate project, and that is when Croteam did something it had never done before. Make a full on puzzle game that revolved around connected gadgets from one point to another.
A small scale product developed in between Serious Sam 3 and Serious Sam 4. This product that accidentally came into existence is known as The Talos Principle, and it’s considered one of the greatest puzzle games ever made. An expertly designed experience with a narrative smarter than it has any right to be. A game that made its players question what it meant to be human. What is it that defines us as individuals? What is our ultimate goal and who do we abide by? There is no definitive answer to what makes us human and The Talos Principle made that clear by testing the player’s beliefs again and again. Finding ways to contradict their statements or shine new light onto the issues at hand. The Talos Principle was a miracle game for Croteam. It’s one of their highest rated games to date, and for a while it was a shame they wouldn’t go back to this newly formed IP. They would continue making mediocre shooting games, or that’s what we thought. After the mediocre release of Serious Sam 4, the developers decided to go back. Expand on what they had formed in 2014 and deliver what a video game sequel should strive for. They revealed their next project to be The Talos Principle 2 and the end result was magnificently beautiful.
The Talos Principle 2 released back in 2023 and despite not being the most financially successful game Croteam had developed it became their best game to date. Reception being higher than that of the original and restoring any good faith they had lost with Serious Sam 4. The sequel is more than just a reinforcement of the original’s mechanics. It was operating on a much grander scale with a more in depth narrative, themes, environments, and gimmicks. It found a way to follow up on what was an already perfect narrative, and it did so in such a way that it built new questions to be asked. Both of The Talos Principle games are masterpieces, and I’m so happy to have finally played them both. For the last week I’ve been binging these two. Started with the first, impressed by a long shot, and immediately started the second with high hopes. I’m excited to report that the sequel is in fact better than the first and has quickly become one of my all time favorite puzzle games. If I were to make a top ten list The Talos Principle 2 would definitely be on there. This is a must play even if you aren’t a fan of these sorts of games. There’s just so much which makes it compelling beyond the puzzle design. Today we're going to be talking about the sequel and why it’s so incredible. Spoilers ahead, so if you plan to play these games I do recommend doing that first. With that out the way let's get to work lass.
Story
The sequel takes place years after the events of the first game. Humanity is extinct. Terraforming the earth so much that global warming unleashed a virus from beneath the soil which would then rapidly spread throughout the globe. In a last ditch effort to preserve everything they have ever achieved whether that be science or history they worked on a project. A simulation they simply labeled The Talos Principle. In it a subconscious mind would be tested on whether or not it was human. Two defining characteristics were required of the subconscious individual. First was to have a form of critical thinking skills. This was done through a series of puzzles which would test the individual to see if they possessed enough creativity, patience, playfulness, and a handful of other traits. Second was to see if the individual possessed free will. The ability to choose and decide what is right or wrong. This was done by creating an intelligence named Elohim. A godly voice that would guide the individual and promise them eternal sanctum with a virtual heaven. If the individual were to deny Elohim’s gift and go against his demands they would be deemed fit. Thankfully, the subconscious mind succeeded in these trials and they were uploaded to a robot body in the real world. Walking onto the surface and planning to rebuild society.
The original robot that awakened named herself Athena and she set herself an ultimate goal from that point. To rebuild society and to manufacture nine hundred and ninety nine more robots just like her. During the creation of a new society Athena would leave alongside the first few robots she chose to come with her. The society became known as New Jerusalem and they spend their days honoring humanity’s past. Building structures similar to what mankind erected, practicing in the fine arts, researching, and more. They’ve learned to govern themselves properly and live in a world without chaos. No discrimination, crime, killings, theft, etc. A balanced society where everyone got along. You are the one thousandth robot to be created, 1K. On the day of your birth you walk amongst a crowd of people. Celebrating your creation and meeting the goal Athena had set all those years before. Everyone is getting ready to party when all of a sudden a purple being forms before them. This being goes by Prometheus, much like the one in Greek myth, and he has come to invite the robots to an island far off from their home. There he holds a flame and he is willing to give the flame to those who are able to overcome his trials. However, Prometheus is being held back by unknown reasons and quickly vanishes leaving everyone confused.
You’re called into a meeting with the mayor and a few key citizens of New Jerusalem. They fear the island and whoever lives on it may be a threat to their society. If they could generate a mass figure like Prometheus then who knows what else they have in store. Five robots are to be sent to the island to investigate what is going on. You are chosen to be one of these five robots, as the mayor believes since you were just born you have no political standings on what issues may arise from this mission and the info you discover. You fly off with the engineer Melville, the leading figure Alcatraz, your pilot Yaqut, and Byron, one of the first few robots Athena made. You touch down on the island to find a massive structure lying in the middle of it. There’s no way into the structure, but upon exploring different regions and solving puzzles similar to that of the ones in the simulation you activate a laser within a tower. This energy beam fires at the structure and this is how you learn to get in. You must activate three towers within one of the four corners of the world to open one of the entrances of the megastructure. There you can enter and figure out what exactly is going on. All while learning the past of this new found land and what occurred to your leader who disappeared all those years ago. Good luck 1K. You’re the only one who can.
Gameplay
In The Talos Principle 2 you’ll be solving a variety of puzzles similar to that of the ones you saw in the first game. The tutorial simulation is spent reminding you how the basic gadgets work and once you land down on the island the mechanics get wilder from there. The island has twelve big regions you’ll have to venture to, explore, and solve eight puzzles within them. Once done you do a tetromino puzzle, enter a tower, and activate one the energy laser you’re there for. The eight puzzles can be done in any order you want, but it’s recommended to do them in numerical order so you have a better understanding of how their mechanics work. The first three trials are spent getting you familiar with how a new gadget operates. Then the next five trials are spent testing your use of them in fun ways while also combining them alongside gadgets you may have used earlier. Gadgets come in numerous forms in The Talos Principle 2. One of the first is a converter that takes two laser colors and outputs the third option not being used. If you shoot red and blue through the converter it creates green. Red and green creates blue, and blue and green creates red. From there you learn how to combine different colors and output the results you need.
This is one thing I really love about The Talos Principle 2. There’s all these different mechanics, but what it comes down to is the arrangement of objects and lining them up so you can open the way towards your goal. The objective is simple, but how you get there will differ each time. Now some puzzles will have one specific solution, but just like the original game your solution might not always be the same as other players. Your arrangement of objects will differ and the order for which you solve the problem will differ too. Eventually you start learning new tricks and info on how to solve problems that seem difficult. It’s a game where you can feel dumb for a minute, feel a spark in your brain, know exactly what to do, and achieve it. You can have a puzzle with an inverter that converts red to blue and vice versa. Then an absorber that takes the color energy of a laser and outputs it without having it be fueled by anything. Then combine the two along with placing a block on a fan, then placing a reflector on the block, and launching into the air to make a floating reflection point. Create a string of lasers that miraculously open the goal forward. The game does this over and over, and never once did it get repetitive or confusing. It paces you into the challenge very well so that by the endgame you are a diligent puzzle solving king. Do this, open the megastructure, and hopefully you’ll unlock the truth of this mysterious land.
Thoughts
The Talos Principle 2 is a masterpiece in puzzle design, exploring its philosophical themes, and doing so in one swoop. It’s more of what made the first great, but on a larger and grander scale. I do want to talk about the first a bit seeing how I immediately started the sequel after finishing it. The changes that have been made since the original and how the second improves and what was a pretty perfect formula. The closest comparison I have for The Talos Principle games would be the Portal series. The first entry was deep down a puzzle game. The moment to moment loop of solving puzzles was never interrupted, you were always talked to by a voice outside your reach, and the game was just very simple. Escalating in difficulty overtime without pushing it too far or becoming too confusing. Then you have the second game which is bigger, but more cinematic and has the crazier in scale puzzles. I would even go as far to say The Talos Principle 2 is the harder game, but there is a reason why the pacing in the second game is much better despite it being the longer of the two. There’s a review by Indie Game Oasis that does a good job explaining the curve as well, but basically the game labels the order for which the puzzle should best be solved.
By doing this you introduce the players to a new mechanic with the first three and then pace them out with the harder trials. The original allowed you to solve puzzles in any order you want, but by doing this especially in the endgame it led to these weird curves. Where one puzzle could be extremely easier than the last or next one. There were also a lot of late game puzzles that just involved running back and forth to carry gadgets to the next room. It wasn’t too bad because the puzzles were still compact, but it did get annoying. The Talos Principle 2 not only fixes the curve but also condenses the size of the puzzles. Sure the areas you’re exploring are larger, but puzzles occur within these small stone boxes. Another aspect I love is despite the areas being larger and acting as if they’re these small open worlds you can still navigate around them easily. The game gives you a radar to know what direction is what and where to go, but you don’t even need to have this on. You can just follow the pathways leading to the puzzles in order, or look at the signs that are placed around. It reminded me of traveling along the highways in Fallout: New Vegas. Not even bothering with the UI and just absorbing the world around me. Paying attention to the vast fields and becoming one with the world. Being absorbed by the environment and feeling like a lost individual. The game is linear, but I love how you are just this small spec in a bigger picture. Trying to make sense of it all. Not just the plot, but your place in this realm.
Speaking of which, the game is a visual marvel. Comparing the original to the second is like day and night for me. The original aged like fine wine in looks, and The Talos Principle 2 is striking. It makes you wonder how Croteam, a team which has made visually simple games in the past, could make this. The Talos Principle 2 may just be one of the most visually beautiful games of the current decade. Then you think of the budget this game is operating on and how it’s less than that of a modern Triple A game. Outstanding what Croteam have managed to construct here. It’s a game with a ton of focus put into its style without sacrificing the substance. The puzzles are great like I said, taking interesting mechanics and stacking them on top of each other. Never too overwhelming or confusing in design. Always giving you a good clue of what to do, and if not you can just stare for a bit and eventually come together like a spark to the flame. The flame. It is indeed a major factor to this game and this is where we discuss the main narrative of the sequel. The Talos Principle already had an amazing narrative and trying to follow it up was tricky. In the first game you were the protagonist. You were the conscious mind that developed humanity as the game progressed and determined what your standing point was on certain issues. You would define what free will and thinking is, and it led to an end game choice of giving in to Elohim’s gifts or escaping. Choosing to live in a world despite the ruin and chaos before.
The ending to the original game was beautiful. It left the gates open to interpret what could have happened without being too detailed. It was concerning when The Talos Principle 2 showcased what happened afterwards as well as show us the protagonist of the first game has become an individualistic character rather than a player figure. However, the way they pulled it off was done rather well in my opinion and now new questions arise from the canon ending. The whole theme of The Talos Principle 2 is whether or not humanity deserves to be given an ultimate tool to help change the future even if said tool were to harm them. It’s made somewhat clear early on that New Jerusalem isn’t doing very well. The people are conflicted on whether or not they should stick to conservative opinions or progress. Harness more resources from the environment forging what they need, but risk ruining it more. Going outside their homes and exploring the world is a risk of placing themselves in danger. Continue to be weighed down by the past, but never move on as a society. The main cast does a good job questioning your beliefs on issues. Each with their own standings you can either reinforce or challenge. This game has dialogue choices that affect what occurs later in the story. What’s great is you’re never forced into thinking a specific belief or philosophy. The game is written in such a way where arguments are neither right or wrong. You have to decide what’s best. No one will tell you, and this leaves room for interpretation. The openess to question, uncover, and boil down an answer.
The myth of Prometheus was a wondrous myth to base this game around. I’m a sucker for Greek mythology, so expect me to ramble for a bit. When the Greek Gods decided to rebel against the Titans, otherwise their parents, one of the Titans decided to assist them. That was Prometheus, and upon doing so he gained respect from the gods. Serving alongside them and maintaining any order in the world. One day he forged a figure out of clay, and with Athena created a human. The creation impressed Zeus and soon he commanded Prometheus to create more of them. This was the start of mankind, but Zeus required two things of humankind. For them to do nothing but to worship the gods and offer sacrifices, usually themselves. Prometheus disagreed with this and decided to give mankind something that would allow them to grow on their own without the need of gods. He stole fire from Hephestus and gave it to humankind. Allowing them to expand rapidly, but with some chaos alongside it. Zeus got pissed, created Pandora and her box of sin and grief, unleashed havoc, and punished Prometheus for a while. It’s perfect they went with this myth. I won’t spoil too much, but there’s a character later on that shares the fear of these figures. Wanting to give society a tool that can change the world, but fearing they could use it for chaos. Destruction that led to the extinction of mankind centuries ago. They’re conflicted on what to do, consequences it’ll bring, and having to deal with these choices.
It’s why every questioning of beliefs in The Talos Principle 2 doesn’t have a correct answer. No one knows what the true answer really is. They’re afraid to make it in case a terrible result were to occur. It’s only by taking a leap of faith and accepting the negative consequences that we can move on as people. We can evolve as long as we take responsibility and know how to handle the great power in our hands. The Talos Principle 2 gets a strong recommendation if you could not tell by now. I was planning to make my reviews for both the original and sequel separate from each other, but decided to just score them together right now. The Talos Principle is a 9.5/10, a superb game with very few flaws that prevent it from being a masterpiece. The Talos Principle 2 is instantly a 10/10 for being incredible. It’s a near perfect video game and any problems I can think of would mainly revolve around people who aren’t a fan of puzzle games or want to play a title that requires good critical thinking skills. Please, I beg you to play this game along with the original. Heck, I want people to play more puzzlers. Lorelei and The Laser Eyes, Outer Wilds, Return of The Obra Dinn, Chants of Sennaar, the Golden Idol duology, etc. Puzzle games have become some of my all time favorites in recent memory, and The Talos Principle 2 being the fancy puzzler it is serves as a reminder that puzzle games are here to stay. Yeah, 10/10 for being absolutely incredible. Let's hope Croteam's next game can be as good as this one. Thank you so much for reading this review and hope everyone has an amazing day.
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