Welcome back to another GBHorror post! Let us keep this horror train going with another Impression post. Like my Impression posts on Pokemon Moon version, these posts are technically game review posts but without numbers or ratings. I instead write up my opinions whether good or bad, then give my final intake in the end. Little Nightmares was a particular game that I feel is capable of being talked about in a single post (my Pokemon Moon one is split into three parts, with part three coming at a later date). So please read what I thought of the little Indie game known as Little Nightmares.

*Game was played in its entirety, some spoilers may be written so you’ve been warned*

The Story: To start off, this game has a relatively confusing story to follow overall, but has a very basic concept. You are a little girl trapped in an unknown place, and you attempt to escape. This is the simplest observation one can get behind, but due to the games strong lenience towards visual pleasures and lack of speech to help you it does become an ominous and confusing universe to comprehend. But in all honesty this is what strongly benefits to game to its appeal and advantage. There is much for us to interpret and decide for ourselves. Also, it’s worth noting that the original name for this game was going to be “hunger”, which still holds credibility to a particular premise that foregoes the major moments in the game (basically cinematics). In short, you can either have fun with your analysis of what you think the overarching plot actually is, or you can just see it as a fun and simplistic title. Side note: There is a four-part issue comic tie-in to this game, and the possibility of a television series based on the game!

The Graphical Look: This game is a puzzle-platformer which is seen in both a side scrolling and three-dimensional environment. This means the game plays similarly to titles such as Inside, Limbo or even games like LittleBigPlanet. More similarly to LittleBigPlanet, which is also a 3D puzzle-platformer, this game uses its 3D environments to its advantage, giving itself more scope and eeriness to the objects of the confines. The camera will even change its view of critical moments to make the situation seem more unique, either by impressiveness or horror-esque realizations. There is a weird sense of perspective as well, your character who is obviously a little girl seems super tiny compared to the objects around her. This could be a way for the developers to represent that childhood feeling of seeming small and frail, but who knows. The enemies and creatures within the game are grotesque and monstrous. There is an impression with them that each have their own interesting tales to tell of how they got to where they are. The look of the whole game truly exceeds morbid surroundings, thanks in part to the three-dimensional presentation.

The Play: Generally, the gameplay is fair. There were times where sometimes the jumping and climbing felt a bit “floaty” but in the end these were only minor moments in the game. I originally thought that the game was being unresponsive to have my protagonist grab onto ledges or items, but I quickly realized that I was rushing to click the button and not allowing enough time for the game to get caught up with my actions. I will also add that when you first play this game there are many moments where the 3D environments would affect the perception of the placement of my character, sometimes I would fall off pipes or planks, even staircases, because my character was slightly off or too far to the edge in the 3D sense. Eventually, and fortunately, you are able to get used to these moments and progress the game normally. As for the puzzles, they are not incredibly difficult to solve, but at the same time are usually very involved in a fun way.

The Ending: Like with what has been said of the story, it is very confusing determine what exactly has been happening all this time, even right down to the very end. The essential “boss” fight at the end was probably the most entertaining, and the most terrifying, out of all the enemy interactions. And without spoiling the ending, it does continue a particular trend but leaves it up to, surprise surprise, interpretations. Once again I stress that this is in no way a bad thing, as this game was always meant to just be a creepy and visually impressive form of entertainment.

Overall: This is a fun and at times legitimately terrifying game for those who may want to get it. The gameplay is classic but with a twist of three-dimensional environments which makes it unique, the style is grotesque and twisted in a pleasant admiration, and the puzzles are fun and sensible. I recommend this game to anyone who either enjoys horror themed worlds or classic feeling puzzle-platformers. This game is available both digitally and physically for Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4 and Xbox One, you should check it out!

Thanks for another GBHorror2017 read! Check back tomorrow if you want to keep reading these around 1 pm.