Prison life is brutal and even more so if you just happen to be an inmate in Carnate Island’s moldy, dilapidated facility that is also the center of some supernatural force that is slaughtering everyone in sight. It’s also the place where a prisoner named Torque comes to face his demons, literally, and fights not only for his survival but also to reveal the truth about himself. Yes The Suffering was a scare ride into a dark and violent underworld and its sequel, The Suffering: Ties That Bind paints a familiar picture once again only this time hell is unleashed out in the streets of Baltimore. 

Depending on how you played the original game, since The Suffering allowed you to choose between being good, neutral or bad, Torque is either an innocent man or the fiend that murdered his wife and two kids. Picking up directly after the first game, Torque finds himself being transported from Carnate Island to Baltimore where he discovers that the prison isn’t the only place overrun by demons. Questions begin to arise. If the prison wasn’t the center of demonic activity then what is causing these malefactors to run amok in the city streets? Why is the spirit of his dead wife unable to find peace? What is his connection to a group, headed by a scientist named Jordan, called the Foundation that is so interested in him? Worst yet is an inmate named Blackmore that seems to be linked to the events that lead to Torque’s arrest and the murder of his family.

These are things that come to light as the game progresses and, as Torque. you might fight through the urban landscape in search for answers. The game tells its violent and chilling tale through flashbacks that reveal more tidbits about the man and the events that led to his arrest and imprisonment. Guided by his dead wife, pieces of the puzzle come together but along the way you will once again run into others in need as well as much stronger versions of demons from the first game. You will still be able to pick your alignment, whether you choose to help a person in need or help slaughter them without mercy - it is entirely up to you. Of course, your actions will have a consequence that will determine the ending you’ll receive.

Innocent or guilty, though, Torque is a killing machine that knows how to use a lead pipe as well as a Molotov cocktail and a shotgun. The enemies he’ll face will be very familiar so expect to fight the demons that will try to jab you with lethal injections or evil inmates - that died on the electric chair - attempting to fry you. Luckily you’ll come across a number of weapons such as Colt pistols, shotguns, grenades and even an M-60. Even the odd choice of a Tommy gun and a Grease gun are available again. There are enough weapons in this one to even the score.

Very little has changed from the last game. In fact, the gameplay is identical in every way so you can still switch between third-person to first-person with the press of the D-pad. You’ll still have a flashlight to light darkened corners and filling up the Insanity Meter means Torque can still transform into a really strong supernatural beast. Really just about the only thing that changed is the fact that you’ll also be facing The Foundation’s armed security detail and the setting is now beyond the prison and island setting. The good news is that the fact that the game plays identical to the first and that isn’t a bad thing at all if you enjoyed The Suffering. Then again the confines of the prison gave the game a disturbing, claustrophobic feel while the island itself really seemed dangerous.

Torque even discovers the same phantom presence that is Doctor Killjoy, who appears on various screens as a projection from hell that seems to be enjoying Torque’s suffering. The beast form is back again but Ties That Bind seems to force players to use it often throughout the game. Not that it’s a bad thing, since you’ll find it easier to slaughter multiple enemies more quickly, but having to rely on the monstrous form to break through weak walls gets old quickly. Remember the frustration that you get from swinging through hordes of enemies that attack you at once only to accidentally swing your bladed-arm right through an innocent inmate in the first game? Well, the same type of accident happens here if you’re not careful and it’s upsetting if you want to play the game as a good guy. 

On the graphical front, Ties That Bind is a pretty decent-looking game with Ok environments and good character models. Once again the game is a visual bloodbath with Torque soaking up the red stuff when he unloads a shotgun into an enemy at close range. Blast an enemy up close and you’ll blow out a limb or a head, all of which results in a geyser of blood. This game isn’t for the squeamish ... or a gamer that is easily frightened by creepy images. The game is good at disturbing gamers with quick images of demons or death and it all works well with the scary tone of the game. The enemies are nicely unique and since Stan Winston Studios (creature design studio that created the dinosaurs for the Jurassic Park movie among many others) is once again handling the creature designs. why wouldn’t they be magnificently cinematic?

As for the game’s sound, the score is really good and sets the mood to perfection. The highlight of the game is its voice acting that sees Michael Clarke Duncan (of Sin City and The Green Mile fame) as Blackmore and the wonderful Rachel Griffiths (of HBO’s Six Feet Under) as Jordan. The brief flashes of disturbing images are accompanied by loud creaks and you’ll know when a demon is nearby because you’ll hear the hissing. The gunshots don’t pack much of an impact this time around, not even in first-person view.

In the end, The Suffering: Ties That Bind is another trip into the wonderfully frightening and violent dark corners that made us love the first game so much. With no real change in the gameplay, this is still a romp worth taking if you liked the first game or are looking for a good fright. I recommend playing the first game before diving into this one to get a better understanding of the full picture, but do put this one on your holiday wish list.

Gameplay: 8.0
Identical to the original, Ties That Bind brings us more carnage, frights and more puzzling questions. The good or bad choices are also back but the action is hot and you’ll love every bullet-filled minute of it. My only complaint is that the game relies on the beast transformation as its main gimmick.

Graphics: 8.5
The city environment is a nice touch and there are areas within the game that are more disturbing than others. Torque still looks good in action and he still gets soaked with the blood of his enemies, so if that kind of thing is too much for you this isn’t the game you should be playing. 

Sound: 8.0
The game’s score is cinematic and good at setting the overall mood of the game. Even the sound effects are pretty good, although guns don’t have that sharp retort heard in the first game. At least the voice acting is good with top-notch performances by Griffiths and Duncan.

Difficulty: Medium
The enemies with knives for limbs are still something of a threat but when multiple enemies start piling into the room that’s when you’ll be dying a lot. The monster with guns for limbs is also a tough opponent you’ll be facing.

Concept: 8.0
Your choices determine the outcome of the game so expect multiple endings that will have you playing again. There are journal pages to unlock and they are read aloud. The most appreciated feature, though, is the fact that the game identifies your save game from the first game so you’ll get to pick your alignment from the start to coincide with the ending of your first game.

Overall: 8.5
Playing with the same tools as the first game but sporting a new territory, The Suffering: Ties That Bind is more of the same and, if you enjoyed it the first time around, that’s a very good thing. The story is still scary and still a bit confusing but the action is good and that makes this a fun ride worth taking.