Scratches Review
27 March 2006 | By Alexandra Jeffreys
There is a good mix of problem solving and just stumbling over things that keeps the game interesting if you're not so cerebrally inclined
Ooooo some things are creepy. Things that go bump in the night, unexplained rashes, and now, the game Scratches. Put simply, Scratches is a point and click adventure game that has you exploring an old mansion. You're a hot shot author who has gone and purchased an Blackwood Manor with the profits from your latest horror novel. Desperate for inspiration and ambiance, you go down to visit your latest real estate acquisition. This is where you discover that the maintenance on this property has been severely neglected, not only that, but this run down Victorian heap of wood holds more than its share of secrets.
Like so many writers before you, you're not immune to procrastination, and the fact that this house is oh so creepy works well into your horror writing, so you have plenty of excuses to go poking about in rooms rather than writing.
Unfortunately, dammed near anything can distract a writer into poking around, a strange piece of lint, an old receipt, a sock you thought you lost last Christmas. However such random exploration does not hold a wanna be horror game player in thrall, and this is where Scratches initially falls down. It all feels a bit pointless to start off with, and you're not quite sure why you're doing all this investigating. It may even make you feel like you should be off to do some work. Hang in there though, about halfway through things start to pick up and get seriously creepy and interesting.
Like so many point and click games, camera, or lack thereof is a major issue in Scratches. Hallways that would be obvious if you had any control of the camera suddenly become mysterious and hidden, and the static environments soon all become rather samey. Point and click is a great idea in theory, but too many developers use it as an excuse to create smaller environments without paying proper attention to the fact that it creates as many problems as it solves. Having to click around several times in order for your character to go around a single obstacle due to the viewpoint issues is intensely annoying.
The second most important element of this game would have to be the puzzles. These are pretty decent, it is also nice that you don't have to strictly stick to a particular order of events in order to progress through the game. You do have to complete certain objectives in order to get to the next section of narrative, but those objectives can be completed in any order. There is a good mix of problem solving and just stumbling over things that keeps the game interesting if you're not so cerebrally inclined, but still offers somewhat of a challenge.
Graphically, like so many point and click games, Scratches is excellent. Textures and graphics have been combined expertly to create a creepy atmosphere. A good job has also been done in not simply making this a stumbling about in the dark sort of experience. There is a fine line between atmosphere and dim rubbish, and Scratches walks the line well. This is good, because much of the game play involves paying attention to the little things, the details scattered about the house.
The devil is in the details, and the details are the backbone of this game. Depending on how observant you are, this could be a jaunt in the park to finish, or a hellish nightmare that you wish would end. Certain items are very important indeed, and you miss entire chunks of the game until you find them.
The audio is to be complimented however, as both the score and the voice acting do wonders adding to the atmosphere of the game. Sound effects are also put to good use to draw you into the twisted dark world of Blackwood Manor, and they make it hard for you to escape without a little scarring of the psyche.
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| T'was a grey and overcast day... | The algae grew in the pond... |
Like so many writers before you, you're not immune to procrastination, and the fact that this house is oh so creepy works well into your horror writing, so you have plenty of excuses to go poking about in rooms rather than writing.
Unfortunately, dammed near anything can distract a writer into poking around, a strange piece of lint, an old receipt, a sock you thought you lost last Christmas. However such random exploration does not hold a wanna be horror game player in thrall, and this is where Scratches initially falls down. It all feels a bit pointless to start off with, and you're not quite sure why you're doing all this investigating. It may even make you feel like you should be off to do some work. Hang in there though, about halfway through things start to pick up and get seriously creepy and interesting.
Like so many point and click games, camera, or lack thereof is a major issue in Scratches. Hallways that would be obvious if you had any control of the camera suddenly become mysterious and hidden, and the static environments soon all become rather samey. Point and click is a great idea in theory, but too many developers use it as an excuse to create smaller environments without paying proper attention to the fact that it creates as many problems as it solves. Having to click around several times in order for your character to go around a single obstacle due to the viewpoint issues is intensely annoying.
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| Macabre sights greeted the unwary visitor... | Every nook and cranny held a secret... |
The second most important element of this game would have to be the puzzles. These are pretty decent, it is also nice that you don't have to strictly stick to a particular order of events in order to progress through the game. You do have to complete certain objectives in order to get to the next section of narrative, but those objectives can be completed in any order. There is a good mix of problem solving and just stumbling over things that keeps the game interesting if you're not so cerebrally inclined, but still offers somewhat of a challenge.
Graphically, like so many point and click games, Scratches is excellent. Textures and graphics have been combined expertly to create a creepy atmosphere. A good job has also been done in not simply making this a stumbling about in the dark sort of experience. There is a fine line between atmosphere and dim rubbish, and Scratches walks the line well. This is good, because much of the game play involves paying attention to the little things, the details scattered about the house.
The devil is in the details, and the details are the backbone of this game. Depending on how observant you are, this could be a jaunt in the park to finish, or a hellish nightmare that you wish would end. Certain items are very important indeed, and you miss entire chunks of the game until you find them.
The audio is to be complimented however, as both the score and the voice acting do wonders adding to the atmosphere of the game. Sound effects are also put to good use to draw you into the twisted dark world of Blackwood Manor, and they make it hard for you to escape without a little scarring of the psyche.
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| Amongst the decay and ruin... | The truth will out... |
SCRATCHES VERDICT
It is clear that the developers of Scratches did their research, and the result is a rather authentic horror experience. Is it seriously Scary? Depends on your personal scare threshold. This is definitely a game with atmosphere and storyline. While certain point and click issues have not been fully resolved, this game does a better job than many others, and has used the advantage of having static environments to excellent effect. These three days spent poking about and discovering the dark secrets of Blackwood Manor might not stay with you forever, but they will at least add some interest to your evening.
TOP GAME MOMENT
Turning all the lights off and slipping into the dark Gothic world of Blackwood Manor, quickly becoming lost in the twists and turns of the halls, following the slightest clues and holding my breath with anticipation. I maintain that the squeaky sounds emanating from my room were the result of the cats fighting. I do not scream. Really.
