Mike Dawson is back in this creepy sequel. After having an alien implanted in his brain by the evil "Ancients", aliens from another universe bent on enslaving the human race, he wakes up to discover he's the number one suspect in the murder of his ex-girlfriend. Apparently Mike, or you as you play the role of Mike Dawson, blacked out for some time the night of his high school reunion and during this time your, Mike's, girlfriend, Rita, was murdered. This is where the game picks up.
The graphics are inspiring at the least and, at its best points, frightening. There is an eerie ambience about the worlds you move through and this is further reinforced by the use of an ominous score. You'll meet some strange individuals in the real world, and some stranger creatures in the "Dark World". You'll befriend some odd beings and question your trust in characters more familiar to you. From a plot perspective, the game is an absolute treat.
And, let's not forget that this is a fully interactive game. Each and every action you take and character you speak with has an impact, sometimes irrecoverable, in both worlds in the game. There's no promise that you'll reach a million different endings, but you'll definitely appreciate the breadth
of the story as you experiment with different responses and interactions.
You start out as Mike Dawson waking up in your own bed in your home town at your mother's house inviting the town's sheriff in for some questioning. He thinks you're the number one suspect in Rita's murder and unless you can start remembering what happened the night of your high school reunion, this is not going to change. From here, your path becomes apparent: start retracing your steps, speaking with the town's residents, talk with your psychiatrist and undergo hypnotherapy; in short, do whatever you can to remember what happened that night.
You'll also find that the majority, and that's not to say all, of the town think you are quite crazy with your ramblings about the "Dark World" and the "Ancients". You will need to revisit the Dark World and transport items and information to and from the normal world to convince everyone, including yourself, that you're not just crazy.
In all, I give this game a 4 out of 5 rating based on plotline, graphics, music and general ambience. There are a few points where the gameplay becomes monotonous; but, save often and you'll have no trouble.
Good luck and pleasant dreams!
