Not all spooky season journey has to scare you. From iconic favorites such as mystery-solving cartoons to delightful stories such as Over the Garden Wall, many spooky-season titles provide fun without needing causing fear. Moreover, a growing library of eerie-charming titles featuring autumn atmosphere, but not the sleep-with-the-lights-on level of horror. Gloomy Eyes was released in the fall, and acts as an outstanding comfortable choice to the truly terrifying releases of this year.
An Original Collaborative Solo Journey
Labeled as a single-player cooperative puzzle game, Gloomy Eyes pairs up a undead youth named Gloomy and a living girl known as Nena as they begin an adventure to return daylight to their shadowy realm. Their design evokes collectible figures combined with the characters from a stop-motion animation. Their light-complected and heavy-lidded aesthetic is influenced by the visual style of Tim Burton’s films, and the narrative is a archetypal all-ages journey. These two develops an enduring friendship over the course of the game’s multiple stages as Nena attempts to prove to her priest uncle that, hey, possibly living-impaired beings are actually good.
Original Gameplay Systems
The “self-coop” description stems from the game’s environmental puzzles. When Gloomy and Nena cross paths, players alternate between the recent allies to overcome obstacles and move forward through the levels. Since he's not alive, Gloomy cannot pass through the brightness of a streetlight, while Nena will get snatched up by loitering creatures unless a beam is directed on them.
They have to work in tandem — well, players control them in tandem — to complete stages. Nena may move or temporarily shut off illumination to clear paths for Gloomy, while the thoughtful character will utilize his supernatural ability to shift around objects in the surroundings, creating paths for Nena.
Captivating Level Design
The brain-teasers evoke memories a bit of The Gardens Between, in the fashion the stages are floating, model-like structures that the camera rotates in coordination with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are quite fun, leading the companions around a carnival and through a spooky mansion, amid other locations. There’s a “diorama view” feature that permits you to view from afar and spin the areas, both for appreciate the artwork and hunt for ways that may not have been clear.
Minor Issues and Complete Adventure
Here lies one of the sole hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other games with a fixed perspective, it’s not always clear where the characters may or may not travel. Players might have to just bump into a few random items to determine which ones are interactable, as the game doesn't always indicate.
Nevertheless, those small challenges don't hinder of a spooky-cute good time. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with about a few sessions worth of brain-teasers. Later levels combine minor hidden movement and dynamic sequences with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes progresses to a satisfying — and slightly unexpected — ending.
Accessibility and Conclusion
Those steering clear of the frights of terrifying releases ought to experience Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Switch console, PlayStation 5, PC, and Microsoft console, and is available at a reduced price for a discount on online stores.
The spooky-cute adventure is out now on multiple platforms and offers a enjoyable option for players in search of autumn enjoyment without the terrifying moments.
