Blumhouse Productions, founded in 2000, is a master of the horror franchise, starting with the low-budget Paranormal Activity series and more recently adapting Five Nights at Freddy’s. But they have now moved into the gaming scene, working with various partners.
One of these, and the first to be released under the Blumhouse Games label, is Fear the Spotlight, made by Cozy Game Pals, a husband-and-wife team. They have an impressive pedigree, having worked on games like The Last of Us, Journey, and Uncharted 4.
This game, however, harks back to the era of old-school retro survival horror and puzzles. Let’s dive into Fear the Spotlight.
Vivian and Amy are two high school girls who decide to break into their school at night to perform a seance in the library. Of course, this is never a good idea, is it? It all goes pear-shaped, and Amy is transported into a hellish realm, leaving it up to Vivian to save the day. As Amy progresses, she uncovers dark secrets about the school and its past.
But Fear the Spotlight also provides a story about young adults and the problems they experience. I like the story and the writing a lot, and I think it will find an audience in the teen market and remind players a little of Life is Strange.
The gameplay is heavily influenced by old-school horror games, like those found on the PS1. Yet there isn’t any combat and instead it is the stealth which is key. You’ll need to hide in the shadows or behind objects to avoid the monsters that stalk you. This mechanic works well, and even though I’ve been playing many stealth-like games recently, it feels fresh here. Be warned, though: if you’re caught, you have one chance to escape. Get caught again, and it’s game over. There’s also an asthma mechanic to manage, requiring you to use inhalers when your breathing becomes erratic.
The puzzles don’t disappoint either. Some of those found in Fear the Spotlight work as fetch quests, while others are more observational, requiring you to carefully examine your surroundings and any objects or documents you find. There are also logic puzzles that can be complex, but never frustrating. In fact, I loved the variety and challenge of the puzzles.
The game is a definite throwback to the low-polygon games of the original PlayStation era, with low-resolution character models and textures. However, unlike those older games from years gone by, movement is free-flowing without fixed cameras or tank controls. It also boasts impressive lighting effects that would have been impossible on the original PlayStation.
Further to that, the soundtrack is excellent and menacing, perfectly complementing the jump scares. The voice acting is also solid, particularly for the lead roles.
Fear the Spotlight is relatively short to play through, taking around 3 to 4 hours to complete, but it makes the most of that time. It’s impressive that it has been developed by just two people, and the old-school visuals will appeal to a certain audience. Yes, the stealth elements can be frustrating at times, but the sound design is excellent, and the puzzles are enjoyable.
It means that Fear the Spotlight is a strong start for Blumhouse Games.
Buy Fear the Spotlight on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/fear-the-spotlight/9nw2s9t1gh7x
