For anyone who doesn't know, The Bridge Curse is a series of horror games based on the Taiwanese thriller movies of the same name. Created by Taiwanese developer Softstar Entertainment, each game tells the story of a different curse that has infected a university in Taiwan. Both the movies and the games take inspiration from classic Taiwanese ghost stories and urban legends to tell the stories of the students (and a few others) who get mixed up in the hauntings.

Although the game contains easter eggs and shout outs to the other game and to the movies, The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication has a self-contained story and can be played as a standalone game without the need to play the first game or watch either movie first. Taking place at a different school from the first game, the setting and cast of characters is unique and, although there are elements of the movie present throughout the game, it tells its own story without directly following the movie's plot. This means you can go straight into playing without the worry that you might be missing something from other parts of the series.

A Movie Turned Horror Game

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication sets its tale at Wen Hua University, a school rumored to have been built using feng shui in such a way as to suck in evil spirits and trap them there. Three film students and one investigative reporter find themselves in the Da Ren building, the heart of this rumor, after midnight on a day perfectly aligned for a haunting. The game plays out in first-person perspective, with the player taking on the role of each of the four protagonists, following each character through one chapter before the finale in Chapter 5. As you explore the building, you gradually learn more about the curse and its origin along with the history of the school.

As might be expected from a game based on a movie, The Bridge Curse is a rather cinematic experience, with linear play as you follow the plot from beginning to end. It manages this quite well, with excellent timing both in the progression of the plot and in the mechanics of the minigames, creating a great feeling of suspense at appropriate times to enhance the horror game atmosphere. The art uses a somewhat simple style, but it includes a lot of small details that only add to the atmosphere, such as just the right amount of decay or disrepair to make the scene perfect without being too perfect. The character movements look great, especially when it comes to the ghosts, and there are several places where the visual effects really shine. Great use of light and shadow also helps pull the player's focus and set the mood. The sound is done well, and though the English language voice acting is a bit cartoony, it's of high quality and the cartooniness adds a level of silliness that goes well with the tone of the lighter moments in the game.

Exploration with Puzzles and Challenges

Although much of the gameplay involves simply exploring your surroundings and reaching checkpoints to advance the plot, there are also various puzzles and mini games scattered throughout the game to keep things interesting, so the game doesn't just walk you through the spooky atmosphere with little to do. Most of the puzzles are fairly simple but not so simple as to be uninteresting, and a few may take a little bit of time to work out depending on how familiar you are with various puzzle types.

The minigames vary from being very forgiving to rather challenging for the skill-based games requiring good timing, but there's a decent autosave system with well-placed checkpoints, so you can keep trying without losing all of your progress on some of the more difficult challenges. Each of the puzzles and minigames goes well with the theming and helps contribute to the creepy atmosphere, with some of them (looking at a certain ballerina) that could leave a lasting impression as icons of this game.

Each of the five chapters can be completed within an hour or two depending on how much you're exploring, with the final two chapters at about half the length of the others, so the game is fairly short. However, it uses excellent storytelling and manages to pack a lot of lore into that time, both in straight plot and through the examination of various collectibles scattered through each chapter. The puzzles and challenges connect with the story well, making for a rather immersive experience.

Story-Focused with Forgiving Checkpoints

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication uses a system of checkpoints to save your progress automatically while you play. Once a checkpoint has been reached, you can exit to the menu and reload previous chapters at the available checkpoints in order to reexplore them for anything you've missed, but cut scenes can't be skipped and some of them are rather long, so if you bounce around between chapters, you'll either have to sit through them again or walk away for a moment to give them a chance to play out.

Since the game has both English and Chinese audio options, I personally used repeat cutscenes as a chance to listen to the other set of voice actors.
I enjoyed the acting in both languages, though some of the scenes are a little over-the-top comedy-wise.
With the story-focused gameplay and forgiving checkpoints, the game is a bit more on the fun, silly side than the intense horror side, but there's a lot to enjoy for fans of Asian horror and of games with a strong creepy atmosphere and a focus on story.

Quick Reference

The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication is a Taiwanese horror game with linear play.
Though the second in a series, it can be played as a standalone game.
Best played in a poorly lit room that's free from distractions.

Strengths:

• Interesting story with Taiwanese ghost lore.
• Excellent atmosphere.
• High-quality art and sound.

Weaknesses:

• Long cut scenes that can't be skipped.