Plushies: Horror game

Being a child is not easy, especially when it comes to telling what’s dangerous and what’s not. Hence, children depend on their parents to learn about the world and how to approach each type of situation, even if many of these things can be learned in solitude as well. Fear is a big factor in the life of most children, which is especially true when it comes to darkness and monsters living in the closet.

Plushies: Horror game is a simple game designed in Flash that allows you to experience a bit of a thrill and maybe have a few scares every now and again, although it doesn’t feature a disturbing story or anything of the sort. As such, the fear is only temporary, and the surprise goes away after the first jump scare, making the rest of the game a bit annoying and repetitive.

There are multiple levels to choose from, and almost every one of them has a different gameplay mechanic you have to make use of in order to come out alive. Since the game is in 2D, the movement is a bit annoying and boring sometimes, especially since it’s always dark and you can’t tell where’s your going. While the darkness technically amplifies the atmosphere, that’s not the case here, unfortunately.

The goal is to avoid the plushies by running away when you are getting near them, although it’s pretty difficult to understand the algorithm. Other than that, you also have to find keys by searching the furniture, which is achieved using point & click mechanics. They are not very accurate, on the other hand, which makes it difficult to enjoy the mini-puzzles and actually increase your frustration level.

As for the graphics, Flash is certainly not the best engine for a horror game, but it certainly had better days than in the game at hand. Hence, it looks very awkward and devoid of any detail, which is a minus in a game that supposedly has to create a thick atmosphere. The sound effects are repetitive and basic as well, but at least they can get a rise out of you the first time around.

In the end, Plushies: Horror game has nothing special in regards to atmosphere or gameplay, so it’s only scary if you are easily startled by loud sounds and colorful imagery. Other than that, it barely features a story or anything creepy enough to be disturbing.