Fear The Spotlight Presented a Spooky, Charming Retro Adventure

ign.com:

The first of Blumhouse Games’ newly announced slate, Fear The Spotlight promises throwback horror with a more approachable take on PS1-era horror gameplay designed for non-horror fans to enjoy. Set on the night of a break-in gone wrong, this story follows two high schoolers on a night they won’t soon forget as they unravel their school’s dark past.

Fear The Spotlight follows a trend that has yet to get old in that it looks a lot like an updated PS1 game. Chunky character models wearing low-resolution textures and a CRT filter might have you believe that this is a lost game from the late ‘90s. But don’t let its homage for bygone games like Silent Hill or Resident Evil mislead you – Fear The Spotlight is no hollow nostalgia trip. Wandering around the school’s dim halls reveals a free camera, modern lighting systems, and most importantly, modernized controls.

Sunnyside High can get pretty spooky after hours. The high-pitched whir of security cameras and exaggerated creak of every door make everything just a bit more tense; you never know who or what could be around the next corner, with almost certain detention threatening any misstep. Ducking below desks to avoid the watchful eye of a rotating security camera or running from room to room exploring empty halls feels smooth and responsive. Overall, Fear The Spotlight seems intent on avoiding a lot of the pitfalls that hold its predecessors today, instead letting its story and mechanics shine in their own right.

That story shows immense promise. The half-hour demo I played followed two girls: Vivian and Amy. The picture of a perfect student, Vivian’s hesitant approach to their quest to break into the school’s library and perform a seance using a Ouija Board-like Spirit Board paints her as the goody-two-shoes foil to the rebellious and morose Amy. This punky goth kid is constantly pushing Vivian outside of her comfort zone. Meanwhile, something’s not quite right with Amy, but it’s hard to care… Her dynamic with Vivian was so