In the Actor's Story in Layers of Fear (2023), players will want to track down the flashlight in the first chapter. The Actor can use the flashlight to light his path and get a better view of the environment through the story, as well as a tool for defense and utility. As the main echo chasing the Actor is incredibly aggressive and capable of breaking through doors, players must acquire and become familiar with using the flashlight.
Where to Get the Flashlight in Layers of Fear
After progressing through the pirate ship stage segment in Layers of Fear (2023), follow the chalk arrows on the floor through the door to the hallway with the curtain. The color will fade from the game as players approach the curtain. Behind the curtain, players can find a narrative letter on the table to the left from a carpentry company about a wooden box 'large enough to fit a grown man' and a radio on a stool to the right that can be turned off.
Further down the room on the left, there is a chalkboard similar to the one in the Actor's cabin that, when flipped over, reads 'Be ready to go back,' hinting that players should turn around and head back the way they came.
Open the door that just moments ago led to a full stage set to find it now leads into a small room lined with metal shelves, a table covered in film reels, and a suitcase at the far end. As players approach the table, the case will open, revealing the flashlight - interact with it to pick it up.
How to Use the Flashlight in Layers of Fear
Like the lantern in the Painter's Story, the flashlight is the Actor's primary defense throughout the story and can be used to dispel the echo when focusing the light. The echo in the Actor's Story is more aggressive. It appears with much greater frequency than the echo from the Painter's Story, so players will want to be sure not to overheat the flashlight and leave themselves unprotected.
The light can also be focused on certain mannequins throughout the story that will cause them to move, revealing new pathways or uncovering secret collectible items (including keys). There are many segments where players must balance defending themselves from the echo while using the flashlight to move mannequins to create the path for escape, so be sure to monitor the meter on the player HUD.
Layers of Fear (2023) is available now on PC, PS4/5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X