Not each Halloween horror experience needs to terrify you. From well-known tales like mystery-solving cartoons to endearing shows such as Over the Garden Wall, many Halloween-themed titles offer entertainment without causing fear. There’s also, a growing library of eerie-charming releases including spooky themes, though lacking the sleep-with-the-lights-on level of fear. Gloomy Eyes was released in the fall, and serves as an superb comfortable alternative to the truly terrifying games of this year.
A Unique Collaborative Solo Journey
Labeled as a “self-coop” puzzle game, Gloomy Eyes teams up a living-impaired child named Gloomy and a living girl named Nena as they begin an quest to return daylight to their gloomy realm. Their design is similar to stylized dolls combined with the characters from a animated feature. The light-complected and tired-looking appearance draws inspiration from the look of Gothic fantasy movies, and the plot is a quintessential all-ages adventure. The pair builds an strong friendship over the course of the game’s numerous levels as Nena strives to prove to her priest uncle that, look, maybe the undead are actually good.
Innovative Problem-Solving Features
This unique label comes about from the game’s world-based challenges. After Gloomy and Nena cross paths, you’ll swap among the recent allies to solve puzzles and move forward through the areas. Since he's not alive, Gloomy can’t walk through the illumination of a lamppost, while Nena will get snatched up by idle zombies without a light is shone on them.
They must cooperate closely — actually, gamers operate them together — to finish levels. Nena could adjust or momentarily deactivate lamps to create passages for Gloomy, while the thoughtful character will utilize his supernatural ability to shift around obstacles in the environment, opening up paths for Nena.
Captivating World Building
These challenges evoke memories a bit of The Gardens Between, in the manner the levels are suspended, model-like designs that the camera rotates in conjunction with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are highly entertaining, taking the duo around a amusement park and through a ghostly building, among other locales. Players can use a “diorama view” feature that allows you to view from afar and spin the levels, simultaneously to enjoy the artwork and search for routes that may not have been obvious.
Small Hiccups and Complete Adventure
And that’s one of the only hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Like other games with a fixed perspective, it’s not always clear where the heroes are able to move. Players might have to simply collide with a few random items to discover which ones are interactive, as it’s not always intuitive.
Nevertheless, those small speedbumps don’t get in the way of a ghostly-charming good time. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with roughly a few sessions worth of puzzles. Advanced areas combine minor hidden movement and exciting moments with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes advances to a fulfilling — and somewhat unforeseen — ending.
Availability and Summary
Gamers steering clear of the frights of terrifying titles ought to experience Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Switch console, PlayStation 5, PC, and Microsoft console, and is presently discounted for 25% off on digital platforms.
This charming title is available on several consoles and delivers a delightful option for players seeking spooky entertainment minus the intense scares.
