Not each spooky season experience must frighten players. Including beloved classics such as Scooby-Doo to charming series including Over the Garden Wall, plenty of autumn-inspired staples are enjoyable without raising your heart rate. Moreover, a growing library of eerie-charming titles including autumn atmosphere, but not the sleep-with-the-lights-on intensity of horror. Gloomy Eyes arrived in the fall, and serves as an excellent comfortable choice to the truly terrifying games of the current season.
A Distinctive Self-Coop Adventure
Described as a solo collaboration brain-teaser, Gloomy Eyes pairs up a undead youth called Gloomy and a living girl known as Nena as they embark on an quest to bring the sun back to their shadowy world. Their appearance is similar to collectible figures combined with the puppets from a Laika film. The light-complected and baggy-eyed appearance draws inspiration from the look of Burtonesque cinema, and the plot is a classic family-friendly tale. The pair forms an strong friendship over the span of the game’s numerous levels as Nena attempts to prove to her priest uncle that, hey, perhaps living-impaired beings can be friendly.
Original Puzzle Mechanics
This unique term originates from the game’s interactive problem-solving. When Gloomy and Nena meet, players alternate between the budding companions to solve puzzles and advance through the levels. Since he's not alive, Gloomy is unable to traverse through the light of a light source, while Nena can be captured by wandering undead except if a beam is shone on them.
They have to collaborate effectively — actually, you’ll use them together — to finish levels. Nena could adjust or briefly disable lamps to open routes for Gloomy, while the intellectually curious youth will employ his undead power to rearrange obstacles in the environment, revealing routes for Nena.
Engaging World Building
The puzzles remind me a touch of The Gardens Between, in the fashion the levels are suspended, miniature constructions that the view rotates in conjunction with your heroes. Gloomy Eyes’ worlds are quite fun, leading the friends around a carnival and through a haunted house, including other places. There’s a “diorama view” option that permits you to pull back and rotate the stages, simultaneously to enjoy the visuals and look for ways that may not have been obvious.
Small Hiccups and Overall Adventure
This represents one of the only difficulties with Gloomy Eyes. Similar to other titles with a static view, it’s not always clear where the protagonists may or may not travel. Players might have to just bump into a several various objects to determine which ones are interactable, as it’s not always intuitive.
Nevertheless, those slight obstacles don't hinder of a spooky-cute good time. Gloomy Eyes has a compact length, with about three to five hours worth of challenges. Subsequent stages integrate subtle hidden movement and action elements with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a fulfilling — and slightly unforeseen — conclusion.
Release and Final Thoughts
Gamers steering clear of the terror of terrifying titles should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Nintendo Switch, Sony system, computer, and Xbox, and is presently discounted for a discount on digital platforms.
Gloomy Eyes is out now on multiple platforms and offers a enjoyable alternative for gamers seeking spooky entertainment without intense scares.
