I recently had the pleasure of playing the platformer/puzzler Little Nightmares, as it’s currently available on Xbox Game Pass, and it quite a bit of fun. This game has been out for several years, initially being released in 2016, but the look and feel of the game hold up to current standards. With a very dark and potentially disturbing storyline, this game has a good deal to offer fans of creepy games.
Feel of the Game
The game’s lighting and sound match perfectly with the macabre narrative. These components cause the platform-style gameplay to be elevated to another level. Fantastically dark elements lend themselves seamlessly to this adventure.
Ghoulish enemies lurk, to offer steady streams of panic and dread for the hero, as you push forward to the inevitable outcome. The enemies are bizarrely disproportional and move awkwardly, in a way that catches the player off guard and almost begs a deeper explanation than the game offers – leaving more to the imagination.
Gameplay
The gameplay is fun and challenging, more than a traditional platform-style game. This is partly because of the menacing atmosphere and the need to keep safe from ghouls around every corner. Some areas become very dim, if not altogether dark, and pathways get narrow.
Additional challenges and achievement opportunities add depth to the game and offer reasons to replay chapters – including hidden items and objectives. I found that going through chapters a second time, after I had finished the game, revealed things that I had missed the first go-round.
Drawbacks
As for cons, there are a couple of minor drawbacks that can be a little bit of a nuisance but don’t detract from the game overall. Lengthy load times constantly shifting camera angles were the shortcomings I noticed. There is not much to any given level, in terms of real estate. All “maps” are fairly small and limited, so there isn’t much territory to explore. For this reason, I would expect the load times to be quicker than they are. On the other hand, there is a good deal of graphical detail to each level, including shading and character movement. This can be a major cause of loading delays – making this a forgivable sin. Constant shifts in the camera angle were seen to be a nuisance, as the view is always swaying back and forth. There is good reason for this, as it pertains to the storyline, but it makes moving through levels a challenge.
In summary, this game has a lot to offer the player and is defiantly worth running through at least once. The visual and auditory elements are a great addition to the storyline and add an element of fear to the experience. The cons aren’t great enough to deter from the game as a whole.
The sequel to this game, Little Nightmares II, released on February 11th, 2021. Now is a great time to play the original, and catch up on the story. This one is well worth the play, for fans of the genre as well as anyone just looking for a different gaming experience.