Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
Publisher: NIS America
Genre: Survival Horror
Format: Nintendo Switch, PC, Playstation Vita
Released: October 28th 2016
I am pleasantly surprised with this game. On the surface I wasn’t expecting much, a bit of darkness and controlling a little girl who is bound to be helpless. This all changed with the tutorial alone. Possibly the greatest tutorial in any game. I’m not going to spoil it because I want you to play it for yourself. The game has a very simple plot but it draws you in instantly. The map is pretty big and it’s filled with creepy crawlies and itty bitty kitties. Never have I seen a game make mundane objects interesting. For example vending machines making alien like noises.
The world is full of little details which add up to a great experience. There are a load of side quests to go along with the main plot which gives a little taste of the worlds lore little by little. Along with the side quests there are plenty of collectibles which have bizarre descriptions to them. There are plenty of different enemy types some who are easy to avoid while others you need to assess their behaviour patterns or use a little of your cunning. There is a stamina meter which can be an annoyance however it’s implemented pretty well.
The meter depletes very slowly unless you are being chased. A nice little feature which adds to the horror element. To combat running away being the only solution to escaping there is a hide system. Plenty of objects like bushes and advertising boards can be used to hide your presence however you need to make sure that you pick the best side to hide or you’ll be monster chow.
I can’t stress that it is worth searching everywhere, there are so many hidden horror elements waiting for you to stumble across them. There are very few jump scares which is a huge plus. Any good horror game doesn’t need to rely on jump scares. A good horror game needs a tense atmosphere and a sense of unease. Yomawari Night Alone has this in trumps.
I will be giving Yomawari Night Alone a solid 8/10. There are some issues like finding specific items and it being easy to get lost at certain stages but there are so many positives to this game…………… Just look out for the manhoooooooooollllleeeeeeesssss!!!!!!!!
I'm a scared little girl in a scary little world. - Mamushi
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