STAGE 1 - ScaryGirl Review

ScaryGirl by Nathan Jurevicius

ScaryGirl is an adventure-platformer video game available on various consoles but I will focus on the PC version of this game to help me create my own video game. 

Play ScaryGirl here: http://www.scarygirl.com/world.php 

ScaryGirl isn't your typical platformer video game. Instead ScaryGirl features some unusually appealing graphics, interesting narrative and somewhat of a classic platform video game challenge.

Art 

Unlike old video games like Super Mario Bros and Donkey Kong, ScaryGirl has some quirky and strange goth-like art. The game shows major influence on its art-style from the graphic novel ScaryGirl. Overall the game uses a variety of different vibrant colours that complement each other and give the game vivid look. The unusual objects, characters and setting – theme – are very visual and imaginative. This peculiar art-style may be appealing for a young audience as it engages their young creative minds.

With quirky characters and objects, it almost reminds me of Alice in wonderland. The game strongly suggests this with the hole beneath the tree house which leads to rabbit, as if its re-enacting the scene where Alice falls down the rabbit hole. ScaryGirl's art-style is very colourful and peculiar but this is what makes the game unique and stand out from other typical platformers.

Story

ScaryGirl awakes

ScaryGirl begins with a short scene briefly showing the player ScaryGirl's memories. The players sees through the eyes of ScaryGirl. She's drifts away in rough seas then is about to drown but she is saved by an octopus which miraculously turns into man's head. ScaryGirl awakes from this dream confused and is left pondering about this mysterious man. This short scene is a great way to immerse the player into the game when they begin playing. 

ScaryGirl confused

Brief explanation of opening scene

Now ScaryGirl is on a mission to find pieces of her lost memories and discover this mysterious man. Likewise with mystery genre TV series and films, this mysterious man engages the player into the story, making them wonder who he is just like ScaryGirl. There are 16 levels in total with each level giving clues, answers and more damn questions! As we play the game, we are introduced to new characters. These characters help the player answer some of ScaryGirl’s questions not with dialogue but with illustrations. The art in ScaryGirl plays a very important part in the story because there is less dialogue and more visuals. This may be targeted to a young audience as their brains are still developing, it is easier to understand from illustration rather than verbal.

Challenges/Objective

Each level has a main problem/issue the player must face. He/she will have to find ways to solve this problem. While trying to do this, they will encounter obstacles they’ll have to pass. For example, level 1 – Escapade. ScaryGirl’s main problem in level 1 is the Shipwreck which blocks the path to her friend – blister the octopus. She finds help when she goes down the rabbit hole (see what I did there;) from Bunniguru who tells her what to do to overcome her main problem. An obstacle ScaryGirl stumbles upon is the massive egg. With the help of Bunniguru, she successfully pushes this egg and ventures off on her main mission. She finally reaches her solution for her main problem when she meets a big pink man who opens the path to blister the octopus.

A common challenge in platformers is having a system of points/score. In ScaryGirl, to gain points, the player can collect fish, gems, and treasures which can be found all-around the stage. These collectables contribute to your score and allow the player to reach new high scores and have more fun. I realised that this is specifically aimed at gamers who like to collect things and complete the game 100% – the achievers. Also, this is enjoyable for the gamer type – explorers – as the game features hidden treasures in some levels. I noticed that not only does this game force you to explore the stage but also the controls. There are places where treasures can't be reached with a normal jump but a special way of jumping.

New levels present new difficulties. In level 2 'submersible', new challenges are discovered like avoiding pink jelly fish, eels, puff up fish but the player is faced with the problem of being underwater. Oxygen becomes a major problem thus forcing the player to play a new way in order to beat the level. This can be appealing to people who like challenges?? New minor obstacles are added but still features collectables. I think the collectables show unity within the game??

Playing through the stage, things do tend to get a bit difficult with adding more challenges like the keys and find more areas to breathe for your player to live.

Game-play

The controls are simple and easy to remember. I'd describe the game-play of ScaryGirl like a usual platformer game. The player has to explore the stage and find answers to whom that mysterious man is. As I played, I did encounter some ridiculously hard levels and some bugs.

Visual instructions

While playing ScaryGirl I have encountered a bug in the game. Well, I think I have because I can't see my character. When I press the jump key, I can hear the sound effect but can't see my person.

Who's there? That's right. No one.

Had to restart level to see my character again.

Fixed bug by restarting level

In some levels things do tend to get ridiculously difficult. Like the damn bike level which had terrible mechanics and player movement. Just soooo bad. I died so many times because of those MASSIVE holes!! (No screenshots due to so many deaths)

Another level which involved fighting the bouncers of a club. The controls change and its like a street fighter game. The switch up is real. There are times where the computer wouldn't let me get up.  So to beat him, I had to spam the controls and never let him lay a hit on me.

Street fighter-like mechanics

These bugs and super hard levels were a major setback for me. Nevertheless the rest of the game was reasonably fun and enjoyable, If I were to rate this game on a scale of 1-10, it'd be a strong 5, weak 6.