Not each autumn fright experience has to terrify players. From well-known tales like animated detectives to endearing shows like Over the Garden Wall, plenty of autumn-inspired favorites offer entertainment without increasing anxiety. There’s also, a increasing selection of ghostly-adorable titles featuring Halloween vibes, but not the truly terrifying intensity of horror. Gloomy Eyes debuted in the fall, and stands as an excellent comfortable choice to the intensely frightening titles of this year.
An Original Single-Player Cooperative Journey
Described as a single-player cooperative brain-teaser, Gloomy Eyes pairs up a undead youth named Gloomy and a mortal child known as Nena as they begin an quest to bring the sun back to their dark, dark realm. Their design is similar to Funko Pops combined with the characters from a animated feature. The fair-toned and heavy-lidded appearance draws inspiration from the visual style of Gothic fantasy movies, and the story is a archetypal family-friendly adventure. The pair develops an unbreakable connection over the course of the game’s 14 chapters as Nena strives to demonstrate to her priest uncle that, hey, perhaps the undead aren’t half bad.
Original Problem-Solving Features
The “self-coop” term originates from the game’s environmental puzzles. Once Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, players alternate among the recent allies to solve puzzles and advance through the levels. Since he's not alive, Gloomy is unable to traverse through the illumination of a light source, while Nena will get snatched up by loitering creatures unless a lamp is directed on them.
They have to collaborate effectively — actually, players control them together — to finish levels. Nena could adjust or temporarily shut off illumination to clear paths for Gloomy, while the thoughtful youth will employ his undead power to move obstacles in the surroundings, revealing ways for Nena.
Immersive World Building
The brain-teasers remind me a little of The Gardens Between, in the fashion the stages are floating, model-like structures that the camera pans around in conjunction with your heroes. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are very enjoyable, taking the duo around a carnival and through a haunted house, including other locations. Players can use a “diorama view” feature that allows you to view from afar and rotate the areas, both to admire the visuals and look for ways that may not have been obvious.
Small Issues and Complete Experience
Here lies one of the only hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other games with a static view, it’s not always clear where the protagonists can and cannot go. Players might have to just bump into a few random elements to determine which ones are interactive, as it’s not always intuitive.
Nevertheless, those small speedbumps don’t get in the way of a ghostly-charming fun adventure. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with about several hours worth of puzzles. Later levels blend together light sneaking and exciting moments with the challenge completion, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a satisfying — and moderately surprising — finale.
Availability and Final Thoughts
Those steering clear of the scares of terrifying titles ought to experience Gloomy Eyes. The game is out on Switch console, Sony system, computer, and Xbox, and is currently on sale for 25% off on digital platforms.
This charming title is available on various systems and provides a pleasurable option for players looking for Halloween fun minus the intense scares.
