Oscura Second Shadow Review

Oscura Second Shadow sees the guardian of the light return for more creepy platforming, as he attempts to stop a mysterious winged beast from plunging his world into enteral darkness.

The game world of the Driftlands is a gothic, creepy, but strangely beautiful place in which almost everything is a threat to Oscura. From grinding cogs, to poisonous neon pools, to the various disfigured inhabitants of the world, players will need to stay on their toes if they want to reach the next checkpoint unharmed. With Oscura's light to guide them through the silhouetted environments, the game has a suitably menacing quality that makes the world that much more threatening.

Fortunately, Oscura has the power to slow down time. By collecting the broken shards of the Aurora Stone he can replenish his hour glass meter, making safe passage over dangerous terrain or past deadly enemies possible. In a game where placing a foot wrong means instant death, it's a good thing that one of the standout features is the control system, which is as responsive and well-suited to touch screens as any I've seen (it's up there with League of Evil in that respect).

With only 20 levels, Oscura Second Shadow feels shorter in comparison to other platformers, but it's certainly a case of quality over quantity here. There are a number of smaller collectible cogs spread throughout each level (most of them hidden down a Super Mario-esque secret passageway), though most will be picked up on the first playthrough, so replay value really isn't this game's strong point.

Still, Oscura Second Shadow is a mesmerizing game that will consume players while it lasts thanks to its spooky art style, terrific touch controls, and classic platforming action.