Still Life 2
Encyclopedia
Still Life 2 is a 2009 computer adventure game
by Microïds
. It is a sequel to the 2005 game Still Life
, and follows on from the characters and themes of 2003's Post Mortem.
The game follows FBI Agent Victoria McPherson in tracking down and stopping a serial killer. Gameplay has moved with the killer, known as the East Coast Killer, to Maine
. The game uses the same storytelling device of switching back and forth between two player characters as its predecessor. The second character is one of the killer's victims, journalist Paloma Hernandez, who has been covering the East Coast Killer's crimes, making the game switch between investigation and survival.
A short introduction to the game was posted on August 31, which covers the dates of October 2 and 3, 2008 in the game. It states that on the evening of October 2 the body of a missing person was found on the side of Highway 201
, near Jackman
. The video which had been sent to the police and the media identifies the killer as the East Coast Killer. McPherson sees Hernandez reporting on the killing on TV and later arranges a meeting. Paloma is abducted and she wakes up on October 3 in the killer's dilapidated house.
The East Coast Killer allowed Hernandez to call McPherson with clues to the location of the house to trap and kill her, a plan he formed with an ex-marine and former FBI agent Hawker who had been dismissed when McPherson refused to back his claim that killing an innocent person had been justified at the time. Despite being successfully ambushed, McPherson managed to turn the tables and saved herself and Hernandez, but not before nearly a dozen police officers and a rookie FBI agent were killed.
Through a series of flashbacks, it was revealed that the Chicago Killer was Richard Valdes who turned out to be the grandson of the man Gus was following through Prague
.
computers.
On August 31, another set of screenshots of the cinematic and in-game views were released. The official game series website opened on 19 September, on the same day the release was pushed back from November 2008 to the first quarter of 2009. In late October some high resolution images of Vic McPherson and some in-game screen shots were posted.
On December 8 Microïds and GameCo launched a machinima
contest, where fans created their own trailer for Still Life 2, using exclusive supplied material. The winner, out of over 120 entries, was announced on January 15, and the winner's and the runners up's trailers were posted on the Still Life website. The winner will also have their name listed in the game credits.
In February and March 2009 more screenshots, an introduction video, and in game footage of the game were released. The website also features videos of some of the makers of the game speculating on the identity of the killer.
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
by Microïds
Microïds
Microïds is a French software brand belonging to Anuman Interactive that publishes and develops video games. In recent years the company's collection of brands and game licenses has grown since being a part of MC2 France...
. It is a sequel to the 2005 game Still Life
Still Life (video game)
Still Life is a 2005 computer adventure game by Microïds. While not sharing its name, Still Life is a sequel to Post Mortem. A sequel, Still Life 2, was released in 2009. The game has since sold 240,000 copies worldwide....
, and follows on from the characters and themes of 2003's Post Mortem.
Plot
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. The game uses the same storytelling device of switching back and forth between two player characters as its predecessor. The second character is one of the killer's victims, journalist Paloma Hernandez, who has been covering the East Coast Killer's crimes, making the game switch between investigation and survival.
A short introduction to the game was posted on August 31, which covers the dates of October 2 and 3, 2008 in the game. It states that on the evening of October 2 the body of a missing person was found on the side of Highway 201
U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 in the U.S. state of Maine. US 201 begins in Brunswick. It follows the Kennebec River from Gardiner, Maine, to The Forks where it pulls away from the town and runs into the north woods. Route 201 ends in Sandy Bay Township, where it enters Quebec, Canada at...
, near Jackman
Jackman, Maine
Jackman is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 718 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
. The video which had been sent to the police and the media identifies the killer as the East Coast Killer. McPherson sees Hernandez reporting on the killing on TV and later arranges a meeting. Paloma is abducted and she wakes up on October 3 in the killer's dilapidated house.
The East Coast Killer allowed Hernandez to call McPherson with clues to the location of the house to trap and kill her, a plan he formed with an ex-marine and former FBI agent Hawker who had been dismissed when McPherson refused to back his claim that killing an innocent person had been justified at the time. Despite being successfully ambushed, McPherson managed to turn the tables and saved herself and Hernandez, but not before nearly a dozen police officers and a rookie FBI agent were killed.
Through a series of flashbacks, it was revealed that the Chicago Killer was Richard Valdes who turned out to be the grandson of the man Gus was following through Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
.
Development
There was controversy surrounding the first Still Life in its lack of an ending. Still Life ended without revealing the villain, setting up a finalé which, for some time, was not made. However, on 6 December 2007, Microïds announced the development of this game, which was released in April 2009. Development was started in June 2007 by Gameco Studios. The game is also being developed for Apple MacintoshMacintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
computers.
Preview trailers
In June 2008, a teaser video and screenshots were posted online. The video explores an abandoned mansion with a woman screaming in the distance. The end of the video showed a then-tentative release date of Fall 2008. In November 2008 a second trailer was released.On August 31, another set of screenshots of the cinematic and in-game views were released. The official game series website opened on 19 September, on the same day the release was pushed back from November 2008 to the first quarter of 2009. In late October some high resolution images of Vic McPherson and some in-game screen shots were posted.
On December 8 Microïds and GameCo launched a machinima
Machinima
Machinima is the use of real-time 3D computer graphics rendering engines to create a cinematic production. Most often, video games are used to generate the computer animation...
contest, where fans created their own trailer for Still Life 2, using exclusive supplied material. The winner, out of over 120 entries, was announced on January 15, and the winner's and the runners up's trailers were posted on the Still Life website. The winner will also have their name listed in the game credits.
In February and March 2009 more screenshots, an introduction video, and in game footage of the game were released. The website also features videos of some of the makers of the game speculating on the identity of the killer.