bored
great survival horror and what you would call "mascot" horror. i really appreciate the fact that this game didn't tried to have deep lore and stuff like that and this game didn't tried to blend into fnaf or poppy playtime type of games. for me "my friendly neighborhood" is how you should do mascot horror games – fun and wholesome while also having tense moments.
save rooms and inventory management really got me a feeling that i'm playing some old school horror game and i mean it as a compliment. level design in this game is also great in my opinion. there's a lot of backtracking but i wasn't annoyed becouse of that – all of these levels are so well designed that i didn't minded walking again to some places. my only complaint is combat, it felt a little clunky at times but at the same time i was really obsessed with these guns shooting with letters. this idea seems unserious at first but it blends great into the actual world of the game. puzzles were also well done – not to easy nor to hard, especially i really loved that one with board game, it was just excellent in my opinion.
"my friendly neighborhood" isn't a big aaa game or something that will blow your mind but it still manages to give great and memorable experience. a lot of people say that mascot horror genere is dead but it isn't and this game is a proof of that. mfn shows that there still can be awesome mascot horror games that aren't a cheap ripoff of what we've seen before. this game is really a breath of fresh air and i wish that more people would've played this.
save rooms and inventory management really got me a feeling that i'm playing some old school horror game and i mean it as a compliment. level design in this game is also great in my opinion. there's a lot of backtracking but i wasn't annoyed becouse of that – all of these levels are so well designed that i didn't minded walking again to some places. my only complaint is combat, it felt a little clunky at times but at the same time i was really obsessed with these guns shooting with letters. this idea seems unserious at first but it blends great into the actual world of the game. puzzles were also well done – not to easy nor to hard, especially i really loved that one with board game, it was just excellent in my opinion.
"my friendly neighborhood" isn't a big aaa game or something that will blow your mind but it still manages to give great and memorable experience. a lot of people say that mascot horror genere is dead but it isn't and this game is a proof of that. mfn shows that there still can be awesome mascot horror games that aren't a cheap ripoff of what we've seen before. this game is really a breath of fresh air and i wish that more people would've played this.
MFN is good. Cool concept that doesn't outstay its welcome. Voice acting and the atmosphere are really good. Game play is so-so, nothing ground breaking but got the job done. Overall fun, short, atmospheric as hell, and has replay-ability.
I was surprised by My Friendly Neighborhood: delighted to find an array of tightly-designed classic survival-horror systems that knocked me on my ass more than thrice. The attention to design detail took me back to the likes of Code Veronica, where Resident Evil placed a slightly higher priority on puzzle solving and multi-complex backtracking.
Played on the Survival difficulty — one step above normal — I found this precise level design that delivered a perfect blend of exploring every nook for ammo, piecing-together puzzles across the interlinking map, and the careful resource management of combat scenarios (where you ask if it’s better to shoot or run). I even got that sort of perverse-joy when I died after not saving for nearly an hour. Like, “Alright, let’s go!” Of course, I proceeded to make that same mistake a few more times at different intervals in a way that managed to elongate my five-hour run into nine hours, but I was happy (and very tense).
The Neighborhood might not make everybody want to be a neighbor, but the precise love for the “behind the scenes of Sesame Street” evoked a deep sense of affection for this lifelong Muppet fan. Each set piece evoked a unique sense of time and place just outside the margins of some of my oldest memories. It’s unlike anything I’ve played in another mascot horror game — or any other game at all. It’s not quite gonna earn a ton of nine-out-of-ten scores from most critics, but I think Destructoid got it right when they gave it an eight-point-five.
Played on the Survival difficulty — one step above normal — I found this precise level design that delivered a perfect blend of exploring every nook for ammo, piecing-together puzzles across the interlinking map, and the careful resource management of combat scenarios (where you ask if it’s better to shoot or run). I even got that sort of perverse-joy when I died after not saving for nearly an hour. Like, “Alright, let’s go!” Of course, I proceeded to make that same mistake a few more times at different intervals in a way that managed to elongate my five-hour run into nine hours, but I was happy (and very tense).
The Neighborhood might not make everybody want to be a neighbor, but the precise love for the “behind the scenes of Sesame Street” evoked a deep sense of affection for this lifelong Muppet fan. Each set piece evoked a unique sense of time and place just outside the margins of some of my oldest memories. It’s unlike anything I’ve played in another mascot horror game — or any other game at all. It’s not quite gonna earn a ton of nine-out-of-ten scores from most critics, but I think Destructoid got it right when they gave it an eight-point-five.
Interesting setting and characters but gameplay left a lot to be desired.
Very interesting take on mascot horror and a breath of fresh air!
I have played several Mascot horror games like Poppy Playtime, FNaF, Bendy and more recently, the controversial comical Garten of BanBan. Although most of these games (spot the odd one out) are good and create the right paths for their mascots to shine, MFN tried something new, where the puppets are not haunted per se, they're not truly evil even.
Without spoiling the story, MFN brings a new perspective to a saturated market. The gameplay is also quite fun and is HEAVILY based on classic Resident Evil, meaning there's a lot of backtracking, picking up key items to use on doors all the way on the other edge of the map and ammo and backpack management.
A sort of modern callback to traditional horror mixed with the new industry.
I have played several Mascot horror games like Poppy Playtime, FNaF, Bendy and more recently, the controversial comical Garten of BanBan. Although most of these games (spot the odd one out) are good and create the right paths for their mascots to shine, MFN tried something new, where the puppets are not haunted per se, they're not truly evil even.
Without spoiling the story, MFN brings a new perspective to a saturated market. The gameplay is also quite fun and is HEAVILY based on classic Resident Evil, meaning there's a lot of backtracking, picking up key items to use on doors all the way on the other edge of the map and ammo and backpack management.
A sort of modern callback to traditional horror mixed with the new industry.
a breath of fresh air for a genre of games that has nothing. fuck banban, fuck poppy playtime. play tf outta this game
A great resident evil clone with a tongue-in-cheek premise of resident evil but instead of zombies in a mansion it's sesame street, with a nice story and not-too-obtuse puzzles and fun survival horror mechanics
Great horror experience, won't say any spoilers play it for yourself its fantastic!
The concept of taking a beloved children's property and twisting it isn't anything new. But what I think makes My Friendly Neighborhood more appealing than games like FNAF and Bendy is the earnestness and love for what inspires it.
You might be surprised that the combination of Sesame Street meets Resident Evil doesn't show a cynical nature for the entertainment industry it satirizes. From its inclusion of Arlo to its more tender moments with its original characters there is a clear respect that shows this was made by fans.
While it's not the scariest game it also showcases strong elements of the horror genre. Its studio backlot setting contributes to this feeling by being just as much iconic as any mansion or castle. This especially when looking at its interconnected layout and a strong focus on puzzles.
If any of this sounds appealing to you I implore you to give the neighborhood a visit.
You might be surprised that the combination of Sesame Street meets Resident Evil doesn't show a cynical nature for the entertainment industry it satirizes. From its inclusion of Arlo to its more tender moments with its original characters there is a clear respect that shows this was made by fans.
While it's not the scariest game it also showcases strong elements of the horror genre. Its studio backlot setting contributes to this feeling by being just as much iconic as any mansion or castle. This especially when looking at its interconnected layout and a strong focus on puzzles.
If any of this sounds appealing to you I implore you to give the neighborhood a visit.
There is trouble afoot in the neighborhood,
To repairman Gordon this is understood,
Armed he stood with letters and lessons of good,
He's a friendly reminder to those that should.
To repairman Gordon this is understood,
Armed he stood with letters and lessons of good,
He's a friendly reminder to those that should.
Context: I only watched this game, I did not play it, but in lieu of an actual good way to get access to games I count full playthrough videos as an equally valid playthrough. It's like renting a movie but it's still your favorite story you saw all year.
Resident Evil & Silent Hill came out after Alone in the Dark, and I think that's a useful thing to keep in mind when the temptation to invoke Five Nights At Freddy's passes through anyone trying to talk about this game. The priming of puppets as potentially malicious forces does owe something to those games, but where those games exist for more commercial pursuits, My Friendly Neighborhood actually tries to talk about things. Either brilliantly or accidentally, it uses children's show "what did we learn" voicing to talk about these things, but if I've learned anything from watching denser stories about empathy bounce off the skulls of sycophants, that's kind of where you have to meet a lot of people who play games if you want to ask them why we let malicious forces do things to us that no one likes.
Resident Evil & Silent Hill came out after Alone in the Dark, and I think that's a useful thing to keep in mind when the temptation to invoke Five Nights At Freddy's passes through anyone trying to talk about this game. The priming of puppets as potentially malicious forces does owe something to those games, but where those games exist for more commercial pursuits, My Friendly Neighborhood actually tries to talk about things. Either brilliantly or accidentally, it uses children's show "what did we learn" voicing to talk about these things, but if I've learned anything from watching denser stories about empathy bounce off the skulls of sycophants, that's kind of where you have to meet a lot of people who play games if you want to ask them why we let malicious forces do things to us that no one likes.
It's a mascot horror game that remembered to actually make a fun video game! How revolutionary!
Jokes aside, this is a fun time. Inventory and resource management is fun, the combat is simple but it works, it's polished and looks good, and it's generally quite well paced. Asides a few confusing or frustrating parts near the end, a fun survival horror game. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but I bet the next game these guys make is gonna be dang good.
Jokes aside, this is a fun time. Inventory and resource management is fun, the combat is simple but it works, it's polished and looks good, and it's generally quite well paced. Asides a few confusing or frustrating parts near the end, a fun survival horror game. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but I bet the next game these guys make is gonna be dang good.
Love that this game follows Muppet logic and all of these puppets having sentience is presumably a normal thing
Hours 4.5
Normal Difficulty
Good Ending
This game wasn’t bad, I expected more horror though. It was like resident evil except all of the zombies wouldn’t shut up. There was a few light scares though but no jump scares if I remember right. Gunplay wasn’t great and you can just run through the game with just the wrench anyway
Normal Difficulty
Good Ending
This game wasn’t bad, I expected more horror though. It was like resident evil except all of the zombies wouldn’t shut up. There was a few light scares though but no jump scares if I remember right. Gunplay wasn’t great and you can just run through the game with just the wrench anyway
This is the only mascot horror game that doesn't feel like cheap shit.
This caught me at a great time I really had a blast playing this game. It plays like a low budget Resident Evil which is a total positive in my book, it especially takes a lot of inspiration from RE7. You wander around the studio complex avoiding the puppets, solving puzzles, filling in the map as you find items, and managing your inventory. It doesn’t hide its clear inspiration and just embraces it, and even has some fun references. The game is definitely not scary but it has a cool vibe and the plot, while pretty thin, is actually pretty charming which I didn’t expect. I felt compelled to do all the optional content to make sure I got the true ending because I wanted to see a good ending and it was well worth it.
Very charming survival horror game, but good lord, if I was Gordon I would've plucked my ears out.
aaah!
This review contains spoilers
J'ai adoré le jeu mais avant tout si vous cherchez un jeu d'horreur effrayant : fuyez. MFN est un super survival horror, mais le "horror" n'a pas vraiment sa place, et là est son grand problème. Le jeu est un excellent hommage à resident evil, et a surtout pour lui une excellente direction artistique avec un concept poussé tellement loin et tellement travaillé, que nous sommes instantanément plongés dans son univers. Le gameplay est fun, les zones amusantes à parcourir et parfois assez complexes pour nous donner un peu de mal, et l'histoire est franchement très intéressante, et passe un super message à mon sens. Cependant voilà, le jeu ne fait absolument pas peur. J'ai peut-être avancé un peu prudemment pendant les 30 premières minutes, et je me suis certainement fait surprendre par 1 ou 2 screamers, mais le reste du temps, je n'ai absolument pas eu peur. Et tout ça est dû à l'ambiance très colorée et aux scènes très burlesques que le jeu nous balance tout le temps. Et c'est à la fois son plus grand point fort et son plus grand défaut. D'un côté, le fait d'avoir les marionnettes qui racontent des conneries parfois un peu glauques en boucle avec une voix un peu drôle nous permet de nous mettre dans l'univers sans problème et nous fait bien marrer, de l'autre ça inhibe totalement la sensation de peur. Pas une seule zone sombre, avec des mobs un peu plus effrayants, pas un seul moment où l'on n'a pas envie d'avancer, bref, un jeu qui ne fait pas peur. Mais le délire est tellement poussé et le gameplay est assez bon pour qu'on en ait pour notre argent, d'autant plus que le jeu rajoute plein de contenu post game, comme des cheats codes assez wtf, et plus récemment un très bon mode survie dans une mise à jour gratuite.
Le seul truc qui me rend très triste (attention spoiler) c'est de ne pas avoir élaboré plus que ça l'idée du "unfriendly neighborhood", qui est le seul moment dans le jeu où j'ai ressenti de l'appréhension et un peu de peur. C'est vraiment le temps de 10 minutes, un bossfight et c'est fini, alors que ça aurait pu être une super dernière zone, ne serait-ce que d'1h30, afin de justifier la classification "horreur".
Bref, ça fait du bien de voir un jeu de mascot horror plus travaillé que la majorité, et qui est vraiment quali, offrant une expérience très fun, mais il ne fait pas assez peur à mon goût.
Le seul truc qui me rend très triste (attention spoiler) c'est de ne pas avoir élaboré plus que ça l'idée du "unfriendly neighborhood", qui est le seul moment dans le jeu où j'ai ressenti de l'appréhension et un peu de peur. C'est vraiment le temps de 10 minutes, un bossfight et c'est fini, alors que ça aurait pu être une super dernière zone, ne serait-ce que d'1h30, afin de justifier la classification "horreur".
Bref, ça fait du bien de voir un jeu de mascot horror plus travaillé que la majorité, et qui est vraiment quali, offrant une expérience très fun, mais il ne fait pas assez peur à mon goût.
How the hell is this small little 5 hour long children's horror game one of the best survival horror games I've played in years?
Oh my god I absolutely adored this game from start to finish. This game is classic RE survival horror from beginning to end, and it absolutely nails it. Classic RE is almost like a pseudo-adventure game, with you needing to constantly solve environmental puzzles to advance, while also dealing with managing your resources (ammo, inventory, health). MFN completely understands that, with a gameplay loop that is both incredibly fun, while also at times tense.
I wouldn't say this game ever scared me, but that is absolutely not what this is going for. It is looking to be a modern day Gremlins, where it is an introduction for younger children to get into the horror genre. This just takes it one step further, and also is introducing children into the world of classic survival horror, and it absolutely nails that aspect. Atmosphere was top notch, and the music was great as well.
The puppets are mainly the star of the show here. I loved them. I thought they were all incredibly charming, and there were many points where I stopped to listen to them complete their dialogue because it was so funny. The added puzzle mechanic of being able to help the boss enemies was incredibly charming, and made me smile every time.
The only real issue I had with the game was in difficulty. There was never really a point in the game where I had to worry about my health or ammo, and I was playing this on the highest difficulty available to me (Veteran). I understand that this is a gateway survival horror game, but I did wish that I struggled a bit more. If the higher difficulties were unlocked at the beginning, I would have absolutely jumped on those.
Overall, I absolutely adore this game, and it is a crime it is not more popular. Both Szymanski brothers have yet to miss for me.
Oh my god I absolutely adored this game from start to finish. This game is classic RE survival horror from beginning to end, and it absolutely nails it. Classic RE is almost like a pseudo-adventure game, with you needing to constantly solve environmental puzzles to advance, while also dealing with managing your resources (ammo, inventory, health). MFN completely understands that, with a gameplay loop that is both incredibly fun, while also at times tense.
I wouldn't say this game ever scared me, but that is absolutely not what this is going for. It is looking to be a modern day Gremlins, where it is an introduction for younger children to get into the horror genre. This just takes it one step further, and also is introducing children into the world of classic survival horror, and it absolutely nails that aspect. Atmosphere was top notch, and the music was great as well.
The puppets are mainly the star of the show here. I loved them. I thought they were all incredibly charming, and there were many points where I stopped to listen to them complete their dialogue because it was so funny. The added puzzle mechanic of being able to help the boss enemies was incredibly charming, and made me smile every time.
The only real issue I had with the game was in difficulty. There was never really a point in the game where I had to worry about my health or ammo, and I was playing this on the highest difficulty available to me (Veteran). I understand that this is a gateway survival horror game, but I did wish that I struggled a bit more. If the higher difficulties were unlocked at the beginning, I would have absolutely jumped on those.
Overall, I absolutely adore this game, and it is a crime it is not more popular. Both Szymanski brothers have yet to miss for me.
I thought the game was trying to tell me a thing but then I chose an ending that it apparently didn't want me to pick. Good shoot though
Mascot horror isn't exactly a field that inspires confidence of quality. From the well known jump scares of Fnaf to the absolute wastes of time cash grabs like Garten of BanBan you don't have to go far to find utter garbage. Its thankful then that MFN is a pretty solid entry into the survival horror genre.
The quiet atmosphere and stellar art design are standout features of the game. With dark unused backlots and sets combined with the bright and loud puppets screaming and hollering provide an off putting and jarring atmosphere. The level design is well built to encourage scrounging giving you a solid experience turning your survival brain on and combing the maps for any advantage you can find. Not only that but figuring out the games combat, while annoying, can be satisfying in its own right.
The problems are pretty surface level and can be felt immediatly in your first hour. The gunplay is not accuracy based and relies on an rng damage system which is clunky and doesn't encourage repeat play. The constant shouting and yelling of the puppets works for the first hour but very quickly becomes annoying especially with some stages having 4-5 puppets all shouting at once.
I think I've debated for the last fifteen minutes whether MFN is a 3.5 or a 3. A part of me wishes I could give it a 3.25 but I think that's a cop out. Overall after thinking on it I'm settling on a 3. It's a good game and worth your time!
The quiet atmosphere and stellar art design are standout features of the game. With dark unused backlots and sets combined with the bright and loud puppets screaming and hollering provide an off putting and jarring atmosphere. The level design is well built to encourage scrounging giving you a solid experience turning your survival brain on and combing the maps for any advantage you can find. Not only that but figuring out the games combat, while annoying, can be satisfying in its own right.
The problems are pretty surface level and can be felt immediatly in your first hour. The gunplay is not accuracy based and relies on an rng damage system which is clunky and doesn't encourage repeat play. The constant shouting and yelling of the puppets works for the first hour but very quickly becomes annoying especially with some stages having 4-5 puppets all shouting at once.
I think I've debated for the last fifteen minutes whether MFN is a 3.5 or a 3. A part of me wishes I could give it a 3.25 but I think that's a cop out. Overall after thinking on it I'm settling on a 3. It's a good game and worth your time!
Pour one out for the homies wishing they could make a mascot horror like
David Szymanski's brother can
David Szymanski's brother can
My Friendly Neighborhood is a fun and inspired survival horror title that's fresh and surprisingly great, but stops just short of being an all-time survival horror classic.
I bought My Friendly Neighborhood during the Fall Steam Sale and went into the game mostly blind. The phrase "mascot horror" is mostly associated with poorly-designed Amnesia or Slender clones, so hearing that this game was a survival horror first-person shooter heavily inspired by Resident Evil and developed by the brothers of DUSK developer David Syzmanski had me extremely interested. The game wears its Resident Evil influences on its sleeve, and as a huge fan of the RE series, I felt right at home.
This game looks and sounds very nice. The game's script and set design are absolutely brimming with dark comedy and charm. Areas are well-themed, varied, and very pleasant to look at, with strong visual landmarks and intuitive looping design making the constant backtracking almost a non-issue. One refreshing thing about the game's script and visual design is how restrained the horror elements are. Many lesser "mascot horror" titles lean into the easy and boring route of making cartoony characters bloodied monstrosities, but MFN's tone is surprisingly close to its Jim Henson origins in a way that really makes it stand out and benefits its themes and narrative. I feel that this would be a good introduction to the survival horror genre for younger players who may not be able to handle RE or Silent Hill.
The game only has a few weapons, though all of them are extremely creatively designed and thematic to the setting. Melee hit-registration is somewhat wonky, making the basic wrench somewhat unreliable given how fast some of the puppets are. However, the Stenographer and the Novelist are both a treat to use, and the game's inventory management and Crimson Head-inspired duct-tape mechanic make combat and traversal through previous areas a constant and engaging question of what to use, when, and where.
It's worth noting, however, that MFN isn't perfect. While area designs are intuitive, your limited inventory and the thorough exploration the game demands to finish required puzzles mean that you will be spending just a bit too long for comfort in most of the early game areas. While the dialogue from basic enemies is hilarious, and a great means of signaling nearby threats to the player through audio, it's also fairly repetitive, and you'll be pretty damn tired of their constant yapping by the end if you're playing in a single sitting. And, of course, like any Resident Evil game, the final areas leading up to the game's conclusion are a pretty deflating end to a game that starts with a lot of promise.
In all, I would describe My Friendly Neighborhood, while flawed, as a hidden gem, and I give it a strong recommendation as a survival horror fan.
I bought My Friendly Neighborhood during the Fall Steam Sale and went into the game mostly blind. The phrase "mascot horror" is mostly associated with poorly-designed Amnesia or Slender clones, so hearing that this game was a survival horror first-person shooter heavily inspired by Resident Evil and developed by the brothers of DUSK developer David Syzmanski had me extremely interested. The game wears its Resident Evil influences on its sleeve, and as a huge fan of the RE series, I felt right at home.
This game looks and sounds very nice. The game's script and set design are absolutely brimming with dark comedy and charm. Areas are well-themed, varied, and very pleasant to look at, with strong visual landmarks and intuitive looping design making the constant backtracking almost a non-issue. One refreshing thing about the game's script and visual design is how restrained the horror elements are. Many lesser "mascot horror" titles lean into the easy and boring route of making cartoony characters bloodied monstrosities, but MFN's tone is surprisingly close to its Jim Henson origins in a way that really makes it stand out and benefits its themes and narrative. I feel that this would be a good introduction to the survival horror genre for younger players who may not be able to handle RE or Silent Hill.
The game only has a few weapons, though all of them are extremely creatively designed and thematic to the setting. Melee hit-registration is somewhat wonky, making the basic wrench somewhat unreliable given how fast some of the puppets are. However, the Stenographer and the Novelist are both a treat to use, and the game's inventory management and Crimson Head-inspired duct-tape mechanic make combat and traversal through previous areas a constant and engaging question of what to use, when, and where.
It's worth noting, however, that MFN isn't perfect. While area designs are intuitive, your limited inventory and the thorough exploration the game demands to finish required puzzles mean that you will be spending just a bit too long for comfort in most of the early game areas. While the dialogue from basic enemies is hilarious, and a great means of signaling nearby threats to the player through audio, it's also fairly repetitive, and you'll be pretty damn tired of their constant yapping by the end if you're playing in a single sitting. And, of course, like any Resident Evil game, the final areas leading up to the game's conclusion are a pretty deflating end to a game that starts with a lot of promise.
In all, I would describe My Friendly Neighborhood, while flawed, as a hidden gem, and I give it a strong recommendation as a survival horror fan.
I've been here since the demo, and I gotta say that this turned out great! The gameplay is way more involved than you'd ever expect, and it stayed fresh and fun until the very end. My boy Arlo did a great job playing Ricky, and my favorite part of the game was just hearing the Muppets yapping hilarious things in the background. This is objectively NOT a cheap mascot-horror game capitalizing on crazy ARGs and lore and baby jump-scares and whatnot. It's a miracle in this day and age, honestly.
The game was spooky and the Jam Solvent Puzzle is nonsense. Story was good and all but the best part of the game is the theme. Everybody sing it now!
FIVE, SIX SEVEN, EIGHT!!!!
TAKE SOME TIME, YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD
SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ALL YOUR FRIENDS ARE HERE TO LEARN AND PLAY
SO COME ON DOWN, YOU KNOW THE WAY
COME ON AND LEARN WITH US TODAY
ITS ALWAYS SO FUN IN THE FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD
FIVE, SIX SEVEN, EIGHT!!!!
TAKE SOME TIME, YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD
SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ALL YOUR FRIENDS ARE HERE TO LEARN AND PLAY
SO COME ON DOWN, YOU KNOW THE WAY
COME ON AND LEARN WITH US TODAY
ITS ALWAYS SO FUN IN THE FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD
I really liked this game! I've always been a fan of the aesthetics of puppets and other such "childish" things, so the rise of mascot horror has been a bit of a double edged sword for me because while there's more of that stuff than ever, sadly a lot of it is cheap trash made to pander to kids and screaming streamers. Thankfully, this was not that.
Maybe the bones of it are a generic "spooky haunted location" story we've all seen a million times, but it's handled with such heart that it feels fresh all over again and like a story worth telling. Maybe I'm just stupid but I went into it unspoiled and was almost caught off guard by some of the things that happened... in particular having the option to express a bit of kindness, and thus make the world a bit better, was really satisfying.
The game does a lot with a little and it's great at using small touches of personality to make you feel for the puppets- it's incredible how just a tilt of the head can suddenly bring out so much humanity if done right. I didn't expect to get so invested in Gordon's story either but he was a very well realized character and I fell in love with him as much as the marketable mascot characters. My favorite was the scene in the movie theater, which is going to stick with me. These moments of softness are a great contrast to how unsettling the environments are (especially towards the end) and the twisted dialogue of the babbling enemies you face in between.
The actual gameplay is pretty clean- nothing groundbreaking but I don't think that a game needs to reinvent the wheel to be fun. I've never been a fan of survival horror because I don't like having to manage extremely limited resources but this game is pretty well paced in terms of how it doles stuff out to you and it's easy to get around if you're strategic about how you use the duct tape (which lets you permanently stop an enemy from respawning). The forced backtracking is a bit annoying, but the map isn't intolerably huge so I can forgive that.
The final boss was a letdown but the game is otherwise the perfect length, satisfying but not too long. Would love to see more of these characters in the future though!
Maybe the bones of it are a generic "spooky haunted location" story we've all seen a million times, but it's handled with such heart that it feels fresh all over again and like a story worth telling. Maybe I'm just stupid but I went into it unspoiled and was almost caught off guard by some of the things that happened... in particular having the option to express a bit of kindness, and thus make the world a bit better, was really satisfying.
The game does a lot with a little and it's great at using small touches of personality to make you feel for the puppets- it's incredible how just a tilt of the head can suddenly bring out so much humanity if done right. I didn't expect to get so invested in Gordon's story either but he was a very well realized character and I fell in love with him as much as the marketable mascot characters. My favorite was the scene in the movie theater, which is going to stick with me. These moments of softness are a great contrast to how unsettling the environments are (especially towards the end) and the twisted dialogue of the babbling enemies you face in between.
The actual gameplay is pretty clean- nothing groundbreaking but I don't think that a game needs to reinvent the wheel to be fun. I've never been a fan of survival horror because I don't like having to manage extremely limited resources but this game is pretty well paced in terms of how it doles stuff out to you and it's easy to get around if you're strategic about how you use the duct tape (which lets you permanently stop an enemy from respawning). The forced backtracking is a bit annoying, but the map isn't intolerably huge so I can forgive that.
The final boss was a letdown but the game is otherwise the perfect length, satisfying but not too long. Would love to see more of these characters in the future though!
1 muppet killed hahaha
2 muppets killed hahaha
3 MUPPETS KILLED HAHAHA
I LOVE COUNTING THE MUPPETS I MURDER
2 muppets killed hahaha
3 MUPPETS KILLED HAHAHA
I LOVE COUNTING THE MUPPETS I MURDER
I wish the zombies from Resident Evil would teach me how to count by shoving my arms down my throat.