REVIEW: Fear the Spotlight is a retro blast

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As a gamer who grew up with the original Resident Evil tapes spinning on my Sega Saturn, I must say that Blumhouse’s foray into the gaming world with Fear the Spotlight has truly struck a chord with me. The game’s retro-inspired horror vibes take me back to the days of pixelated terror and cassette tapes mysteriously going missing.

Blumhouse, known for horror movies, has ventured into the gaming world for the first time with their survival horror game titled “Fear the Spotlight“. In this game, players assume the character of Vivian, who together with her friend Amy, sneak into Vivian’s school under cover of night to conduct a seance. However, things take a turn when Amy is snatched by a powerful beam of light (the main focus of the game), and Vivian embarks on a mission to locate her.

Starting from there, players assume the character of Viv and delve into the school in search of their friend and uncover the origin of the mysterious supernatural force. In essence, Fear the Spotlight is a fantastic retro-styled survival horror game, making it an excellent choice for those less accustomed to the genre’s intricacies.

Fear the Spotlight has a great retro feel with modern comforts

Fear the Spotlight” draws inspiration from ’90s survival horror games, and true to that era, its graphics and gameplay have a distinct ’90s feel. However, despite maintaining a fantastic retro ambiance, it manages to feel refreshingly modern. It retains all the classic old-school charm, but avoids the usual old-school awkwardness. If you’ve ever played original games like Resident Evil or Silent Hill, you’ll instantly recognize the nostalgia, yet appreciate its contemporary refinements.

The cool, retro ambiance makes “Fear the Spotlight” an ideal choice for contemporary gamers yearning for a glimpse of 90’s gaming, all while offering a potent blast of nostalgia to seasoned players.

What I enjoy most about “Fear the Spotlight” is its fantastic, well-balanced gameplay. It offers intriguing puzzle-solving moments, immersive atmospheric exploration, and during spotlight scenes, it transforms into a skillful stealth game. However, these elements never linger for too long. I will always recall how swiftly I grew tired of “Slender: The Arrival” due to the continuous stalking. After approximately 30 minutes, I was too weary and uninterested to play it again. Unlike “Slender: The Arrival“, “Fear the Spotlight” never overuses its mechanics, regularly switching up moods and gameplay styles to maintain the game engaging, enjoyable, and frightening.

This game isn’t burdened by the intricate challenges typically found in survival horror genres, such as managing resources like health and ammunition. While it does offer additional health and puzzle-solving items, it doesn’t involve the delicate inventory management that can often require conserving bullets to avoid zombie encounters, taking damage instead because there might not be any ammo nearby and hoping for a save point to prevent having to replay several hours of gameplay upon death. Thankfully, such frustrating situations are absent from this game.

Instead of claiming that “Fear the Spotlight” is more accessible than authentic retro horror games might be an oversimplification, as it fails to acknowledge and account for the challenging and often frustrating elements that have become synonymous with the survival horror genre over time.

Fear the Spotlight is a solid game and lots of fun

At the close of play, what truly matters beyond design and gameplay is: Did I enjoy myself? To that question, the response is affirmative. I had an enjoyable experience with Fear the Spotlight. It was a thrilling, brief survival horror game that serves as a delightful throwback to retro gaming or simply offers a chilling good time. Additionally, it retails at only $20, making it a budget-friendly choice and an ideal length for completion within a weekend.

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2024-10-25 21:27