Worthy entry in the Zero Escape series, even if it is not as satisfying as the first.
Because this game is mainly about story, that's what this review will mostly cover, spoiler free of course. As far as the puzzles are, they offer a perfect challenge, not too hard, not too easy. The game also removes redundancy by making sure the player is greeted by new puzzle rooms with every choice, which is nice.
The story is definitely interesting. New mysteries are always around the corner, some bigger than others. By the end of the game, VLR will feel like a bigger game, as far as plot goes. The plot may be better, but I can't say the same for the characters. It's not that they are bad, in fact, I love some, especially Phi, awesome female character; the problem arises with dull dialogue. Characters will talk about things you already know that has been implied, or things that have already been said. It feels like they are talking to the player, not the other characters in the game, which can break up the realism of the story. It almost feels like the developers were afraid the player wouldnt understand what is going on. It's nice to clarify things, but only to a certain degree, otherwise, it becomes repetitive.
Besides dialogue, voice acting is great, and each character feels fresh and intriguing. The only other minor problem now, is a lack of emotional moments I would have loved to see. The game may consist of 24 endings, but there are only 9 important endings, the others are just game overs. Some of those important "character" endings don't feel as emotional as I would have liked, and don't do each said character justice. Don't fret though, some are pretty epic, with one in mind especially emotionally satisfying (but sad).
This game is great. It may not be as creepy as the first, but it is no short of suspenseful moments. Characters may not be as emotionally charged and tuned in with the player as the first, but the game makes up for it with a fantastic plot.