Not all artistic indies need to be a big metaphor. Like most Amanita projects, Happy Game is full of vivid imagery, but I’m not sure it’s symbolic of much. What does it all mean? I’m not really sure. You are encouraged to slice, tear, grind and torture the monsters under the horrified gaze of the game’s young protagonist. Interestingly, as Happy Game progresses, it’s not just the monsters you come across that get more disturbing – the things you do to them get more extreme as well. Finally, the atmosphere of the last dream is downright oppressive, with a muted color palette, heavy music, and some truly grotesque creatures that are all too ready to do horrible things to you. The second dream amplifies the juxtaposition between the merry and the corrupt, serving up smiling faces, happy hearts, and killer flesh-eating rabbits. The game does a fantastic job of steadily increasing goosebumps – the First Nightmare largely focuses on weird toys, which are weird enough, but not this off-putting. You have to guide the child through three disturbing dreams, usually while chasing something important to him (a ball, a stuffed rabbit, a puppy). Happy Game stars an unfortunate melon-headed child who is plunged into a land of nightmares after being visited by a mysterious dark force. Note: This is an opinion piece, and therefore not as detailed as a full, graded review would be. Does Happy Game live up to the Amanita games of the past or has all the bloodshed left it a little anemic? Of course, nervousness for itself isn’t that exciting. Blood, Dismemberment and all kinds of gross and spongy stuff – Happy Game goes there, and then some. From Botanicula and Chuchel’s director Jaromír Plachý, Happy Game delivers the accessible point-and-click fun that Amanita is known for, while also making up the dark undercurrent that their games often have up to 11. That said, when the talented folks at Amanita Design (Machinarium, Creaks, Samorost) decide to do the candy-colored horror, you sit down and take note. That’s basically the premise behind the hit series Five Nights at Freddy’s after all. Games that mix the cute and seemingly kid-friendly with horror aren’t necessarily anything new.
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