Not every spooky season journey has to scare players. Including iconic favorites like Scooby-Doo to endearing shows such as Over the Garden Wall, many autumn-inspired titles provide fun without raising your heart rate. Moreover, a increasing selection of eerie-charming titles featuring Halloween vibes, but not the keep-you-awake intensity of terror. Gloomy Eyes debuted in the fall, and serves as an superb relaxing alternative to the truly terrifying titles of this year.
A Distinctive Self-Coop Quest
Known as a single-player cooperative brain-teaser, Gloomy Eyes pairs up a zombie boy named Gloomy and a mortal child called Nena as they start an adventure to bring the sun back to their gloomy environment. They look is similar to stylized dolls blended with the characters from a animated feature. The fair-toned and baggy-eyed appearance is influenced by the look of Burtonesque cinema, and the narrative is a classic family-friendly tale. These two forms an unbreakable bond over the course of the game’s multiple stages as Nena strives to prove to her priest uncle that, look, maybe zombies aren’t half bad.
Original Gameplay Systems
The “self-coop” description comes about from the game’s interactive problem-solving. After Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, you’ll swap among the budding companions to solve puzzles and progress through the areas. As an undead, Gloomy can’t walk through the illumination of a streetlight, while Nena may be grabbed by loitering creatures except if a beam is directed on them.
They have to collaborate effectively — actually, you’ll use them simultaneously — to complete stages. Nena could adjust or temporarily shut off illumination to open routes for Gloomy, while the open-brained boy will utilize his supernatural ability to move items in the world, revealing ways for Nena.
Immersive Environment Creation
These challenges remind me a little of The Gardens Between, in the way the areas are suspended, model-like constructions that the camera pans around in sync with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are highly entertaining, taking the companions around a fair and through a ghostly building, amid other locales. Players can use a “diorama view” button that allows you to zoom out and rotate the areas, both to enjoy the designs and search for ways that may not have been apparent.
Slight Issues and General Experience
Here lies one of the sole hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Similar to other titles with a locked camera, it’s not always clear where the heroes may or may not travel. Gamers could require to randomly encounter a few random elements to determine which ones are usable, as it’s not always intuitive.
However, those slight obstacles don't hinder of a eerie-adorable good time. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with approximately a few sessions worth of puzzles. Later levels blend together light stealth and dynamic sequences with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a fulfilling — and moderately unforeseen — ending.
Accessibility and Final Thoughts
Players shying away from the terror of fear-inducing releases ought to experience Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Switch console, Sony system, Windows PC, and Xbox, and is currently on sale for 25% off on digital platforms.
The spooky-cute adventure has been released on various systems and delivers a delightful choice for players looking for Halloween fun without terrifying moments.
