Developer: Tarsier Studios
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: THQ Nordic
First of all, I was surprised to hear that a DLC for Reanimal had come out. We had played the base game and loved it, so when we heard about this DLC, we were interested from the get-go. Reanimal is a horror adventure game developed by Tarsier Studios and published by THQ Nordic. Reanimal – The Prisoner is the first chapter in a three-part Expanded World DLC, bringing two new characters and another story set within the same dark world.
The DLC is set in a post-war setting where you can play as either The Prisoner or The Soldier. I really like the idea of this DLC, especially how it dives into another part of the lore within the Reanimal universe. Of course, the game’s lore can be a little confusing at times, as it isn’t always straight in your face and is instead left more in the background, but I really enjoy how it makes you want to figure things out for yourself.
When it comes to the gameplay, I really liked how the DLC introduced new mechanics through the tools each character uses. One has a camera, while the other has an axe. The camera in particular was fantastic and felt really unique. You can use it in several different ways, from stunning enemies to using it to open stomachs and even teleport from one place to another. These little additions made the gameplay feel different enough while still feeling like Reanimal.
The multiplayer side of things is also extremely handy, as you only need one copy of the DLC to play with a friend through Friend’s Pass. We had no issues getting Friend’s Pass working, which made jumping into the DLC together really easy.
The DLC can be completed in around 60–90 minutes, but it does some of the things the base game did extremely well. The build-up to certain scenes, the intense chase sequences, the overall atmosphere, and the visuals are absolutely stunning. Just like the base game, the atmosphere never really falls short. It’s dark, grim, creepy and extremely gory, but somehow it all works so well together.
I also really enjoyed the new boss encounter. It brought in some variety with the characters we were facing, while also bringing back a familiar face that we were definitely surprised to see. It almost felt like déjà vu!
There was also a puzzle-solving section in the subway station that seemed to completely fly over our heads. We got the first and last letter fairly easily, but the middle letter made absolutely no sense to us. Maybe we were just overthinking it, but we were definitely stuck there for a while!
Unfortunately, there were several performance issues throughout the game. There were multiple moments during combat and, more noticeably, during a specific chase scene where the frames would suddenly delay or even pause in place. Because of this, we experienced quite a few deaths and had to redo areas that could have easily been beaten if it wasn’t for the weird frame skips, lag and delays. I’m not entirely sure if this was a Wi-Fi issue, although I highly doubt it, but it was definitely something worth mentioning. I really hope the optimisation is improved because it did take away from some of the more intense moments.
Another little thing that got quite frustrating was the control sensitivity. I was using a keyboard and mouse, and aiming at certain things in the game felt a bit whack. It was never as accurate as I wanted it to be, which became especially annoying during certain events where you needed to react and evade quickly.
Reanimal does a great job of creating an environment that truly grabs you in. It’s like watching a creepy story slowly unfold, making you more and more curious about what is actually going on. The gameplay is fun, although it can be a little aggravating at times due to some finicky controls and performance issues. Still, I absolutely love the fact that this DLC brings us back into the same world but with new faces and a new story to uncover.
This is only the first chapter in the three-part Expanded World DLC, and I really liked the cliffhanger it left us with. Having played and loved the base game, I think this is a great start to what’s coming next, and I genuinely can’t wait to see where the story takes us. I just wish the optimisation was a lot better. Overall, Reanimal – The Prisoner is a great little addition to an already fantastic game, and I’m excited to see what comes next!
Using the friend pass, we were able to test out the game and Moody. The other player had the following to say about the DLC: “I loved Reanimal so much and was so happy when we got the DLC. The length of it was really nice as we were able to finish it in one sitting. It was fun to play through together, even with a couple of glitches along the way. I just wish the story wasn’t so confusing and that they explained things a bit more, especially how it connects to the first game. I feel like I understood some parts, but there were still so many things that left me wondering what was actually happening. Other than that, I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for the other DLC chapters to come out!”
Reanimal – The Prisoner is a great start to the Expanded World DLC. Between the creepy atmosphere, intense chase sequences, unique new mechanics, and the return to a world we already loved, there was a lot to enjoy. While the performance issues and confusing story did take away from the experience at times, we still had a lot of fun playing through it together. If you loved Reanimal and are looking for more of its dark and unsettling world, then Reanimal – The Prisoner is absolutely worth checking out!
Overall: 8/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
