Gameplay: “Another Fisherman’s Tale” takes players back into Bob’s whimsical, yet emotionally deeper world with a more complex narrative and a wealth of innovative puzzle mechanics. This sequel expands on the original with new gameplay features like detachable and controllable hands, allowing for creative puzzle-solving across its charming, story-driven adventure. Bob’s journey explores themes of love, loss, and freedom, delivering a more profound experience while incorporating fun and challenging mechanics.

The most notable addition is the ability to detach and control your hands, which you’ll use to solve puzzles by navigating tight spaces, pulling levers, and grabbing items remotely. This mechanic, along with swappable hand styles like a hook for climbing and a claw for snipping, keeps the gameplay varied and engaging. There’s also a new head-launching ability, which lets you shoot your head forward to gain a better vantage point, adding an extra layer of creativity to the puzzles. While controlling detached body parts can feel disorienting at first, it soon becomes an enjoyable and central part of the experience.

Puzzles aren’t particularly difficult, but they are consistently inventive and rewarding. The game strikes a good balance with its hint system, providing timely assistance without being overbearing. Overall, the four-hour playtime feels satisfying, with no filler content—an improvement over the original’s shorter runtime.

Immersion: Bob remains the heart of the game, with the voice of Augustin Jacob bringing warmth and depth to the character. This time around, Bob’s story is more emotionally engaging, making the narrative as essential to the experience as the puzzles. The storybook-like charm from the first game is still present but with greater narrative complexity and character development.

The linear chapter-based structure of the game works well, offering distinct set pieces that keep things feeling fresh. Though the game isn’t open-world, the cleverly designed environments ensure the experience remains captivating throughout. While object interaction is basic, it doesn’t detract much from the overall experience, as the focus remains on Bob’s journey and the unique puzzle-solving mechanics.

The game’s aesthetic is appealing, with its cartoony style translating well even on the more limited hardware of the Quest 2. The combination of thoughtful level design, a sweeping score, and well-acted characters makes for an immersive and emotionally resonant adventure.

Comfort: “Another Fisherman’s Tale” features standard comfort options, making it accessible to most players. However, there are moments that may cause slight discomfort, especially when the game shifts your POV, shrinks you down, or turns you upside-down for dramatic effect. While these moments are rare and brief, they may cause some players to feel uneasy. Still, the game remains largely comfortable, with these moments being the exception rather than the rule.

Final Verdict:

“Another Fisherman’s Tale” builds on the original with more engaging puzzles, a longer and more emotionally complex story, and unique mechanics that set it apart from other VR titles. While the game maintains a linear structure, its creative puzzle design and captivating narrative make it a delightful and thought-provoking experience. Fans of the first game and newcomers alike will find plenty to enjoy in this imaginative and heartfelt adventure.