What is GamerDad?
Games are fun and excellent bonding tools. At GamerDad, we believe in Gaming with Children.
Note: GamerDad is intended for Parents.
Email Us, Visit our FAQ, learn About Us, Bookmark us now and join our message board. We update daily!
|
Buy something from Amazon using this link, and GamerDad gets a percentage!
|
|
Home >
Review Archive >
Video Games
> Results: Scratches
|
by Michael Anderson
June 20, 2007
Cancel my vacation plans to that old Victorian manor!
Reviewed for PC.
|
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us
| Buy This Game
Scroll down for our Kid Factor.
Scratches is a traditional point-and-click adventure game that tells the tale of a writer who has had a very successful debut novel, but is in a long-vacant Victorian manor because he is having problems writing an ending to the follow-up. The game takes an interesting approach to exploration ﾖ instead of clicking the edge of a static picture, you actually have a full panoramic view from your current location and can click on anything within your field of view. And there is plenty to see ﾖ as with any good adventure game, there are mysteries to solve and puzzles galore. One of the things I liked best about Scratches is also a criticism ﾖ it is a fairly small adventure of limited scope and ambition. This is not an epic adventure, but a tight story that works well and keeps you engaged from beginning to end. And for the very low price, it is a great bit of interactive entertainment that I heartily recommend to anyone who enjoys a nice scary adventure.
Scratches is a horror mystery, so it not be surprising that it can get pretty scary at times. In fact, each night in the manor the main character has some very creepy experiences that leave him wondering what is real and what is his imagination. The audio tracks ﾖ from the environmental sounds to the voice acting to the soundtrack ﾖ are superbly done and make for some very creepy atmosphere. The visuals are very well done and immerse you well within the manor. There is plenty of detail and you are never left trying to figure out what you are examining. There are shocking moments and plenty of dramatic tension throughout.
I let my kids watch a bit of me roaming around early in the game, and the atmospheric music alone was enough to scare off my younger son ﾖ and I was walking through empty rooms in full daylight! Adventure games often play like movies, and this game is definitely the equivalent of a PG-13 movie. Just reading the wild letters and diaries and seeing all of the references to terrible slaughters are enough to keep this from the younger crowd ... then you get to visit the crypt. Without spoiling the story ﾖ because the entire point of this game is unfolding the story yourself ﾖ you should know that what makes me recommend this game for teens and older is that everything about the story presumes that age and maturity level, and that breadth of experience. All of the discussions occur between adults and there is much talk about insanity and alcohol use. If you think that your kids are ready for R-rated horror, then they are ready for this, but if they are likely to get nightmares from having things pop out at them and seeing weird occult-ish items, keep them away.
Comments? Chat about it in our forums!
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us
| Buy This Game
Home >
Review Archive >
Video Games
> Results: Scratches
|
Best Games of 2006!
Read the GamerDad 2007 Holiday Guide!
Visit the GamerDad Store and Buy Stuff!
Advertisement
|
|
