Not all Halloween horror experience has to terrify players. From well-known tales such as Scooby-Doo to endearing shows like Over the Garden Wall, many Halloween-themed favorites are enjoyable without causing fear. There’s also, a growing library of spooky-cute releases with autumn atmosphere, though lacking the truly terrifying degree of horror. Gloomy Eyes was released in September, and stands as an outstanding comfortable option to the deeply scary games of this year.
An Original Single-Player Cooperative Adventure
Labeled as a “self-coop” problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes teams up a undead youth called Gloomy and a mortal child known as Nena as they begin an adventure to restore sunlight to their gloomy environment. Their appearance is similar to stylized dolls mixed with the characters from a Laika film. The fair-toned and heavy-lidded style borrows heavily from the look of Burtonesque cinema, and the narrative is a quintessential family-friendly tale. The pair builds an unbreakable bond over the span of the game’s 14 chapters as Nena attempts to show to her priest uncle that, you know, possibly zombies aren’t half bad.
Original Gameplay Systems
The innovative label comes about from the game’s world-based challenges. After Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, gamers switch among the budding companions to overcome obstacles and progress through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy is unable to traverse through the brightness of a lamppost, while Nena may be grabbed by wandering undead except if a light is directed on them.
They have to collaborate effectively — actually, players control them simultaneously — to complete stages. Nena could adjust or temporarily shut off lights to create passages for Gloomy, while the thoughtful character will utilize his supernatural ability to shift around items in the environment, creating ways for Nena.
Immersive Level Design
These challenges bring to mind a touch of The Gardens Between, in the fashion the levels are floating, diorama-like constructions that the camera pans around in conjunction with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ worlds are quite fun, guiding the duo around a carnival and through a spooky mansion, among other locales. The game includes a “diorama view” button that allows you to pull back and spin the levels, both for appreciate the designs and hunt for paths that may not have been apparent.
Small Issues and Complete Gameplay
This represents one of the sole problems with Gloomy Eyes. Like other releases with a locked camera, it’s not always clear where the heroes are able to move. You may need to just bump into a few random items to discover which ones are interactive, as it’s not always intuitive.
Nonetheless, those minor challenges don't obstruct of a ghostly-charming good time. Gloomy Eyes runs on the short side, with approximately three to five hours worth of puzzles. Subsequent stages blend together light sneaking and dynamic sequences with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes progresses to a rewarding — and slightly unforeseen — conclusion.
Accessibility and Conclusion
Players steering clear of the scares of intense horror games won’t want to miss Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Nintendo Switch, Sony system, PC, and Microsoft console, and is presently discounted for a quarter off on digital platforms.
The spooky-cute adventure has been released on several consoles and provides a enjoyable alternative for fans seeking spooky entertainment minus the fear factor.
