Not all Halloween horror adventure must terrify players. Including beloved classics such as animated detectives to endearing shows like Over the Garden Wall, plenty of spooky-season staples provide fun without causing fear. Moreover, a growing library of eerie-charming releases including autumn atmosphere, though lacking the truly terrifying degree of terror. Gloomy Eyes was released in September, and acts as an outstanding relaxing choice to the truly terrifying releases of the current season.
An Original Collaborative Solo Adventure
Labeled as a “self-coop” puzzle game, Gloomy Eyes teams up a undead youth known as Gloomy and a mortal child known as Nena as they embark on an mission to return daylight to their gloomy environment. They look resembles collectible figures combined with the figures from a animated feature. The pale-skinned and tired-looking aesthetic is influenced by the appearance of Tim Burton’s films, and the story is a archetypal family-friendly tale. The pair builds an strong connection over the course of the game’s multiple stages as Nena strives to prove to her religious guardian that, hey, maybe living-impaired beings can be friendly.
Creative Gameplay Systems
This unique term stems from the game’s interactive problem-solving. After Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, players alternate between the newfound friends to complete challenges and progress through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy cannot pass through the light of a streetlight, while Nena will get snatched up by wandering undead without a lamp is directed on them.
They have to collaborate effectively — in practice, you’ll use them simultaneously — to finish levels. Nena may move or briefly disable lamps to open routes for Gloomy, while the open-brained youth will use his zombie strength to rearrange items in the environment, revealing paths for Nena.
Engaging Environment Creation
The puzzles evoke memories a touch of The Gardens Between, in the way the levels are suspended, model-like designs that the perspective rotates in sync with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are highly entertaining, leading the companions around a carnival and through a spooky mansion, amid other locations. The game includes a “diorama view” button that enables you to zoom out and rotate the areas, both to admire the artwork and search for ways that may not have been clear.
Slight Issues and Overall Adventure
And that’s one of the sole problems with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other releases with a locked camera, sometimes it's unclear where the heroes may or may not travel. Gamers could require to simply collide with a several various items to discover which ones are usable, as clues aren't consistently provided.
However, those minor speedbumps don’t get in the way of a ghostly-charming fun adventure. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with roughly three to five hours worth of brain-teasers. Subsequent stages integrate light hidden movement and dynamic sequences with the challenge completion, as Gloomy Eyes advances to a satisfying — and slightly unexpected — finale.
Availability and Final Thoughts
Gamers steering clear of the frights of fear-inducing releases won’t want to miss Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Windows PC, and Xbox, and is currently on sale for a quarter off on game marketplaces.
Gloomy Eyes has been released on several consoles and delivers a delightful choice for players seeking Halloween fun without the intense scares.
