Kona Chameleon?
Northern Québec, 1970. A bizarre mist – the Brume – is disconnecting a rural mining village from its quiet reality and disrupting the balance of nature. But where is it coming from? Step back into the role of Detective Carl Faubert and dive deeper into the surreal mysteries of Kona. Make your trek through the snowy landscapes of Northern Canada and discover that you are not entirely alone. Find other stranded people – both victims and survivors of a devastating avalanche – and uncover the hidden dark truth of the Brume.
I have to admit that I missed out on the first Kona game back in 2017, but after my time with its sequel, I’m quite tempted to pick it up. That being said, I didn’t know what to expect from the game. Even though it’s a sequel, you can get the gist of the story without having played the first one, though I’m sure it would help in the long run.
Kona II has your character Detective Carl Faubert trekking across Québec’s incredibly snowy areas. You will find refuge at times like in certain buildings which push the story forward, though these can be even more treacherous as its hard to tell if what Carl is seeing is real or if he has in fact, lost his mind. It’s a great psychological thriller with some impressive moments that had me on the edge of my seat. I won’t spoil those moments for you, but there’s definitely something intriguing to be found here.
The game can be completed in roughly 4-6 hours, so it’s not the longest out there. But trophy hunters will need to complete the game on Survival mode which can be a bit challenging as you fend off the Brume and Canada’s icy surroundings. The controls are easy to get to grips with and I was impressed with the overall design.
The visuals are a step up from what I’ve seen of the original game, but it does still have some issues with it’s animations that look a little stiff. Despite this, the game looks good and its performance seemed solid throughout. The voice-acting was believable and the soundtrack really adds to the atmosphere.
The Verdict
I didn’t want to reveal too much about what I saw in Kona II: Brume because it’s really something you need to see for yourself, regardless of whether you played the first game or not. I will say that it surprised me throughout and had me hooked to the end, which naturally sets things up for the next instalment. Personally, I can’t wait for it.