Haunted House is the epitome of clichéd action. This fun, albeit annoying endeavour is excellent for newcomers to the rogue-like genre. Veterans, on the other hand, will be underwhelmed by straightforward action and entry-level simplicity.
This spooky rogue-like was developed by Orbit Studio and published by Atari. Moreover, there are plenty of stealth mechanics that add some depth to the action. However, the repetitive nature of the core gameplay loop ensures that this is best enjoyed casually.
Haunted House tells a creepy tale.
I love ridiculous and outrageous stories. Yet, if this is the approach you are going to take, I want everything to be OTT and unnecessarily silly. Thankfully, this is exactly what you get in this ghostly experience. However, the unbelievable nature of the plot doesn’t undermine the action. Instead, it complements the strange theme and never outstays its welcome.
You control Lyn Graves, the precarious niece of legendary treasure hunter, Zachary Graves. This adventure-seeking child is determined to follow in her uncle’s footsteps. Yet, the moment she enters his house, her world is turned upside down! Unfortunately, supernatural forces have captured her friends and family, and Lyn must piece together a broken urn to save them. Unsurprisingly, this is easier said than done.
A simple gameplay loop.
In classic rogue-like fashion, the gameplay loop is easy to understand. Effectively, you are tasked with exploring each area of a procedurally generated house. Within each room, you must complete tasks to unlock the doors. En route, you’ll encounter ghosts, traps, treasure, and collectables. Moreover, there are side quests to complete and death is all but assured.
If you die, and you will, your body is sent to the lobby of the mansion, and you must begin again. On top of this, your coins and items are destroyed and only your gems and collectables survive. Luckily, it is the gems that truly matter! This in-game currency is used to improve your health, lantern power, stamina, item slots, and stealth ability. Consequently, the more you explore and the more gems you discover, the better you become and the easier each run becomes.
Stealth is the name of the game.
Haunted House focuses primarily on a stealthy approach. Each ghostly apparition can be annihilated if they don’t spot you. However, if they are aware of your presence, they’ll chase you and cause damage. Unfortunately, if this happens, you are likely to die and this was frustrating.
On top of this, to make matters worse, there are traps and furniture that hurt you and make noise. Accordingly, you must stay in the shadows whilst planning your route across every room. Moreover, you are tasked with completing an array of tasks, and this makes matters worse. Subsequently, some tactical nuances must be considered throughout.
Haunted House looks pleasant.
Though I wasn’t blown away by the graphics, Haunted House was pleasant enough. The character models were attractive and the animation was smooth. Alongside this, the lighting added depth to a straightforward approach. Furthermore, each unlocked area was unique and this prevented boredom from kicking in.
The audio enhances the creepy nature of the game. The sombre soundtrack was complemented by the unusual sound effects. Additionally, I liked the weird and wonderful noises of your ghastly foes. Consequently, though it wasn’t original, it was fun and well-considered.
Excellent controls.
The simple-to-understand control system makes Haunted House a cinch to play. Thanks to the concise tutorial, newcomers will have this mastered immediately. Moreover, responsive inputs ensure that you stay one step ahead.
As the action is procedurally generated, no playthrough is the same. Yet the repetitive gameplay loop was a concern. Subsequently, this is best enjoyed in short bursts. What impressed me, though, was the volume of collectables and the mountain of side quests. As such, there is both replay value and longevity.
Haunted House is a good indie title.
Atari publish some great titles. However, Haunted House doesn’t quite hit those heights. Its simplistic approach and repetitive gameplay loop hold it back. Yet, it is still a good indie title and ideal for anyone wishing to test the genre. Accordingly, I liked it and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you save the day? Find your friends and uncle, banish the ghosts, and become a hero.
