The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication PS5 Review

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication PS5 Review – A Tense but Uneven Campus Horror

I approached The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication with no prior knowledge of the games or films, allowing me to dive in completely blind. Judging by its cover, it was clearly a horror title, but beyond that, I had no expectations. What I discovered was a fairly standard yet enjoyable addition to the horror genre.

Set at Wen Hua University in China, the game unfolds over the course of one eerie evening, centering on three film students who are working late, recreating the chilling tale of a 1960 murder that took place on campus. Having already worked on another ghost story linked to the university, that video goes viral when a ghost is captured on-screen, which draws the attention of a reporter who arrives on campus to interview the students that fateful night. Each character takes on the lead role, with the game broken up into sections that follow each characters journey over the course of the night as they battle enemies and solve the mysteries behind the murder and another disappearance that occurred at the university.

The university setting itself is suitably atmospheric, cultivating a sense of unease even if it doesn’t consistently deliver genuine fear. Occasional jump scares punctuate the exploration, but the most unsettling moments come from the enemy designs, which are a standout feature. One particularly disturbing foe is a grotesquely thin nurse with a dangling head who scuttles across ceilings to pursue you. She chases you backwards, the sound of her feet padding towards you and her guttural groans amplifying the tension. She’s one of the creepiest enemies the game has to offer.

Another standout adversary is a mannequin ballerina, whose smooth dance moves clash with her unsettling design, make for a truly chilling encounter, especially as you must freeze when she looks your way—a challenge heightened during a performance involving multiple mannequins, where you’re not able to move or even touch any of the mannequins, which teleport close to you as she dances. In contrast, the doll ghost brings a touch of quirky humour to the experience, laughing maniacally and even drawing sympathy from one character upon its defeat. While these lighter moments—also occasionally present in cutscenes—are entertaining, they can sometimes undermine the sense of dread, creating a tonal imbalance that clashes with the game’s horror elements. Is it trying to be funny or scary? Because it fails to blend both together seamlessly.

“Puzzles are scattered throughout the game and are mostly straightforward, often offering fresh takes on familiar concepts such as Sudoku, spot-the-difference, and sliding puzzles”

From a gameplay perspective, The Bridge Curse 2 offers a mix of exploration, stealth, and puzzles. You’ll uncover hidden notes and other secrets while exploring and will encounter tense stealth sections where avoiding detection is key. You’ll need to crouch under tables, time your movements, and use distractions like thrown objects or magical elements to distract enemies. These segments effectively build suspense and lead to some intense chase sequences. For example, in a second encounter with the creepy nurse, you must find and reuse electrical components to unlock doors and reach the exit—all while she’s in pursuit.

Puzzles are scattered throughout the game and are mostly straightforward, often offering fresh takes on familiar concepts such as Sudoku, spot-the-difference, and sliding puzzles. As usual, solving one puzzle is required in order to find parts for a later puzzle, which is always part and parcel of a game in the horror genre. The Anima lantern featured is a central gameplay mechanic, serving multiple purposes: revealing hidden information, repelling enemies, and dispelling the ominous Qi—a thick smoke blocking paths and doorways. While the lantern ties into both the gameplay and overarching story, it feels underused considering its pivotal role in the plot, with only two characters taking control of it.

The characterisation is somewhat hit-and-miss – mostly miss. Doc, in particular, comes across as a stereotypical quirky ’90s surfer-dude and quickly becomes grating. The other three characters (A-Hai, Richie and reporter, Sue Lian) though more grounded, feel underdeveloped, and Sergeant Huang, while not a playable character, also has a large role, but has no more characterisation than the others. The English voice acting localisation is passable but inconsistent, with performances often sounding wooden and lacking environmental context. At times, it even seems as though the voice actors are in different rooms or using mismatched microphones, which can break immersion.

While much of the gameplay feels familiar to the genre, there are some unique elements. Befriending the quirky doll ghost and occasionally teaming up with an AI-controlled companion adds layers of interaction and attempted banter. The first-person perspective is further enhanced by natural animations of hands and body movements during cutscenes, creating an immersive experience that makes you feel as though you’re truly inhabiting the character as opposed to floating limbs. Each character also has a mobile phone, and despite the supernatural events, the game thankfully avoids the cliché of phones losing signal—well, mostly.

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication PS5 Review Summary: Thrills and Flaws in This Campus Horror Sequel

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication delivers a solid horror experience with a branching narrative structure and inventive gameplay elements that keep you engaged. It always maintains forward momentum, offering variety without ever feeling repetitive or dull. While it doesn’t revolutionise the genre and has its flaws, it remains an enjoyable option for fans of atmospheric, story-driven horror games.