Not each spooky season adventure must frighten players. Starting with well-known tales for example Scooby-Doo to charming series like Over the Garden Wall, plenty of Halloween-themed staples are enjoyable without causing fear. Moreover, a increasing selection of ghostly-adorable games with autumn atmosphere, yet without the sleep-with-the-lights-on degree of horror. Gloomy Eyes arrived in the fall, and acts as an superb comfortable option to the deeply scary releases of the current season.
A Unique Collaborative Solo Quest
Labeled as a single-player cooperative brain-teaser, Gloomy Eyes teams up a zombie boy called Gloomy and a mortal child called Nena as they embark on an mission to return daylight to their shadowy realm. Their appearance evokes stylized dolls blended with the puppets from a animated feature. Their pale-skinned and heavy-lidded appearance is influenced by the appearance of Tim Burton’s films, and the story is a quintessential all-ages tale. The pair builds an enduring connection over the course of the game’s multiple stages as Nena tries to prove to her priest uncle that, hey, perhaps living-impaired beings are actually good.
Original Puzzle Mechanics
This unique description comes about from the game’s world-based challenges. After Gloomy and Nena meet, you’ll swap among the recent allies to solve puzzles and progress through the areas. Being a zombie, Gloomy cannot pass through the illumination of a streetlight, while Nena will get snatched up by wandering undead unless a light is directed on them.
They have to work in tandem — well, you’ll use them in tandem — to advance through areas. Nena may move or briefly disable lights to open routes for Gloomy, while the thoughtful boy will use his zombie strength to rearrange obstacles in the environment, creating routes for Nena.
Immersive Environment Creation
These challenges evoke memories a touch of The Gardens Between, in the way the levels are suspended, model-like constructions that the perspective moves across in conjunction with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ worlds are very enjoyable, taking the duo around a carnival and through a spooky mansion, including other locations. Players can use a “diorama view” button that allows you to pull back and rotate the levels, both to appreciate the designs and look for paths that may not have been apparent.
Small Issues and Overall Adventure
Here lies one of the only difficulties with Gloomy Eyes. Similar to other releases with a static view, sometimes it's unclear where the heroes are able to move. Players might have to just bump into a multiple different items to discover which ones are interactive, as clues aren't consistently provided.
Nonetheless, those minor obstacles don't hinder of a eerie-adorable enjoyable experience. Gloomy Eyes runs on the short side, with roughly several hours worth of challenges. Later levels combine subtle stealth and exciting moments with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a satisfying — and moderately surprising — ending.
Availability and Conclusion
Players shying away from the terror of terrifying games ought to experience Gloomy Eyes. The game is out on Switch console, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox, and is presently discounted for a quarter off on online stores.
This charming title has been released on various systems and offers a enjoyable option for fans seeking Halloween fun minus the terrifying moments.
