Not each autumn fright adventure has to scare players. From beloved classics such as animated detectives to delightful stories such as Over the Garden Wall, many Halloween-themed titles are enjoyable without needing causing fear. There’s also, a growing library of spooky-cute releases featuring spooky themes, yet without the sleep-with-the-lights-on level of fear. Gloomy Eyes was released in the fall, and acts as an outstanding comfortable alternative to the truly terrifying releases of the current season.
A Unique Single-Player Cooperative Quest
Known as a single-player cooperative problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes unites a undead youth called Gloomy and a human girl known as Nena as they embark on an mission to restore sunlight to their gloomy environment. Their appearance evokes stylized dolls mixed with the figures from a Laika film. Their pale-skinned and tired-looking aesthetic draws inspiration from the appearance of Tim Burton’s films, and the plot is a classic family-friendly journey. The duo builds an enduring connection over the span of the game’s numerous levels as Nena attempts to show to her religious guardian that, you know, perhaps the undead are actually good.
Innovative Gameplay Systems
This unique description stems from the game’s world-based challenges. When Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, players alternate between the recent allies to solve puzzles and progress through the stages. Since he's not alive, Gloomy can’t walk through the light of a light source, while Nena will get snatched up by wandering undead except if a beam is focused on them.
It's necessary for them to collaborate effectively — well, gamers operate them simultaneously — to finish levels. Nena could adjust or momentarily deactivate illumination to clear paths for Gloomy, while the open-brained youth will employ his undead power to move obstacles in the environment, opening up ways for Nena.
Engaging World Building
The brain-teasers evoke memories a touch of The Gardens Between, in the fashion the stages are hovering, diorama-like structures that the camera moves across in conjunction with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are highly entertaining, taking the duo around a amusement park and through a ghostly building, among other places. The game includes a “diorama view” button that allows you to zoom out and spin the levels, both for enjoy the visuals and search for ways that may not have been clear.
Small Issues and General Adventure
And that’s one of the sole hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Like other titles with a fixed perspective, it’s not always clear where the protagonists are able to move. You may need to randomly encounter a few random items to determine which ones are usable, as it’s not always intuitive.
Nevertheless, those slight challenges don’t get in the way of a ghostly-charming good time. Gloomy Eyes has a compact length, with approximately three to five hours worth of puzzles. Later levels combine minor stealth and action elements with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a rewarding — and moderately surprising — ending.
Accessibility and Conclusion
Those avoiding the scares of fear-inducing releases should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Switch console, Sony system, computer, and Microsoft console, and is presently discounted for a discount on digital platforms.
This charming title has been released on multiple platforms and delivers a enjoyable option for players in search of autumn enjoyment minus the intense scares.
