It's ya boy, the ADHD Gamer, back with some more video game ADHD-ness to bring to your lives! Halloween is fast approaching, and I've been playing a handful of spooky games that definitely fit the season. With that being said, here are the spooky games I'm playing with my thoughts and impressions on them. These will definitely get you into a spooky mood! There's a little something for everyone here - adults, kids, anyone who likes video games.
If you're new to the ADHD Gamer series, keep in mind that these aren't full reviews, just mini, more digestible-sized ones.
The Silent Hill 2 remake is finally here! I've been excited about this since its announcement back in 2022. I never played the original PS2 title, but I did play the HD collection on my Xbox Series X. Straight away, the remake addresses the fixed camera angles of the original, opting for an over-the-shoulder third-person view, very similar to the recent Resident Evil Remakes. I really love this new camera angle... I feel that the fixed angles, while cool, just didn't age well and felt clunky. Having a third-person view changes the game drastically. It makes you feel like you're actually there in the town, in the action and not just witnessing events unfold. Graphically, this game is phenomenal - it looks almost photo-realistic in some parts and is absolutely stunning. I really admire the fog technology present here in the game.
There's also a 90s graphic style that you can turn on and off. This feature adds some fuzziness, which I really appreciated here. I feel like that game also shines greatly in score and sounds. The creatures look and sound freaky when scurrying around on the ground. The score actually sends shivers down my spine and honestly makes me love the experience even more. If you're a Silent Hill fan, this remake is a definite purchase. They've put a lot of love and care into this while still keeping the core game that everyone loves alive.
ADHD SCORE: maintaining hyper-focus.
If you want a game that literally oozes Halloween vibes, this is for you! Everything about this game from, visuals to sound and score to environments, is a love letter to the Halloween holiday! Players control a pumpkin-headed man on Halloween, and with an owl and a crow as their guides, players find themselves going through various puzzles and 3D platforms to defeat humanity. The gameplay is pretty fun here and it has smooth combat - Jack can engage in melee combat using a shovel, scythe, and magic sword.
Satisfying controls and great platforming are also present here. What's even more impressive is that this was developed by one person, Nicolas Meyssonnier. Honestly, Nicolas, incredible job mate. I do love the Halloween vibes here - colors are vivid, ranging from orange, purple, red and green - spooky sounds and spooky (not scary) environments that ooze a love for the season. This game is a true gem that is incredibly charming!
ADHD SCORE - hyper-focus all the way through Halloween and info dump as much as possible to anyone who will listen.
Kicking it a little old school here, but what's a Halloween without some form of Scooby-Doo? First Frights is an underrated gem on the Nintendo DS! This game not only looks great on the console with its 3D character models, but it plays surprisingly well.
You have your beat 'em up levels, chases and boss fights on top of some basic puzzle solving which I appreciated. This game accurately captures what we love about Scooby-Doo from the dynamic between the gang, Scooby and Shaggy’s dynamic together, and, of course, catching ghouls and ghosts... which, more often than not is someone under a mask! First Frights oozes charm and Halloween spirit in its beautiful colors: orange, purple, blue, green, basically what you'd expect to see for Halloween. Not only does it have a nice soundtrack that seems fitting for Scoob, but it also has pretty decent voice acting.
ADHD SCORE - Play till completion!
Well, that's it for my list. I hope these are now on your radar for Halloween! What games are you playing to get into the season of screams?
