Little Nightmares - Secrets of the Maw - The Residence review

What will happen?

Warning: the article in question may contain spoilers on the Little Nightmares plot and in particular on the DLC: Secrets of the Maw. We recommend reading only to those who have played Little Nightmares and the first two episodes of the DLC: The Depths and The Hideout.

We have come to the end. The latest DLC from Little Nightmares - Secrets of the Maw, "The Residence”Definitively concludes the events relating to the Fuggiasco. In the first two episodes, The Depths and The Hideout, the Fugitive not only managed to survive the horrors of the Maw, facing one of the most particular characters in the universe created by Tarsier Studios, or the aquatic Granny of the underground, but at the same time she discovered some interesting details about the history of the funny and curious Nomini.

In the latest DLC, available from 23 February, our young protagonist will find himself face to face with the Lady of the mansion. The Lady, it won't make his life easy. Thanks to the help of a real mini army of shadow enemies, which can only be faced with the torch, he will try in every way to put a spoke in the wheel. The truth is getting closer and closer, between lethal puzzles and nightmare illusions, we will finally be able to shed light on the mysteries of the Maw and on our mysterious Fugitive.

Beware of the library

In this mini adventure, from even more raw and dark tone, we will be alone. No help, no nominations to save and recruit from our ranks. We will have to rely solely on our strengths and abilities. After sneaking behind the Lady, we will find ourselves in a huge bookstore, a place full of charm but also of many dangers. Between traps and shadow creatures, our protagonist will have to face different puzzles and put together the pieces of the puzzle in order to finally discover the truth.

Unlike the two previous episodes, the level design of - The Residence - appears to have been more accurate. The proposed environmental puzzles, compared to previous episodes, bring a slightly higher level of difficulty. It's not just about pushing a simple lever, finding the key, or overcoming an enemy. Between timed levers, hidden passages, play of light, pressure switches and fast enemies like never before, we will have to think a little more to bring the level to resolution. Nothing very complicated is clear, but in our opinion The Residence offers that rate of challenge, even if with some defects inherited from the two previous chapters such as the lack of inspiration of the puzzles, superior.

To give us more "worries" we will think the enemies, real ones nightmare illusions with childish features, who will not hesitate to hunt us as a group. 2/3 at a time, they will use the darkness in their favor, hiding behind (and even under) objects. As we pass, they will pop out and start chasing us, hitting us at the first useful opportunity. To defeat them, we can only count on the torch, a very recurring element in Little Nightmares. Using the right analog stick, in Luigi's Mansion style, we will be able to direct the flashlight towards the enemies. By illuminating them, for several seconds, they will dissolve into nothingness.

However, we will have to be rather quick, not only in the movements, but also in being able to quickly orient the torch, while avoiding that the enemies get too close to us. In fact, from a long distance, the difficulties themselves are relatively low, it is just a matter of avoiding obstacles and making sure that the jet of light hits the shadow creatures. More difficult, however, is the close combat. 2/3 enemies moving in different directions, getting them too close automatically means leaving our skin behind.

A worthy conclusion

Little Nightmares' third DLC - The Residence - is certainly the most successful episode of the pack. As was to be expected, the episode in question manages to give that something extra, not only in terms of the atmosphere, which manages to put tension on us and make us be on the lookout for from start to finish, but also in terms of weft. In fact, small elements are added, albeit very significant, not only in reference to the epilogue of this additional package but also in relation to a possible, almost probable according to Tarsier Studios, continuous events. The biggest flaw, inherited from the main game, is the duration. Too skimpy. Our adventure will flow quickly, in about 45 minutes we will reach the end credits.

If indeed in the future there will be a continuation, we sincerely hope that Tarsier Studios will work more in terms of overall duration and on the environmental puzzles certainly not very inspired.

NB the final grade is for the entire Secrets of the Maw package.