Title: Slender: The Arrival
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: Horror
Developer: Blue Isle Studios, Parsec Productions
Publisher: Blue Isle Studios, Midnight City, Majesco Entertainment
Release Date: June 20, 2019
It’s the sunny, Summer month of June… and/or July. Why, what could possibly be better than a port of a game based on old creepypasta? And that’s what Blue Isle Studios’ Slender: The Arrival is; a port of an older game (which they originally made in 2013) to the Switch. So how does it hold up?
So you’re Lauren. And you’re going to find your lost friend Kate, who disappeared mysteriously as she was selling her house. Said house is conveniently located just outside of some spooky-ass woods, which you’re going to have to explore if you hope to find Kate.
But who cares about that noise. We’re here for the Slenderman and his mighty mindbending A-pose of dominance.
I’m going to be honest, here. I didn’t care about Slenderman in 2012-2013, and I sure as hell don’t care about him or his jumpscares now. All I’m saying is, don’t be surprised that I’m taking this particular tack. This is a game from 2013. And it hasn’t aged a day. At least, as far as indie titles go.
One thing it is, though, is dark. And I don’t mean that in the good way. I mean that in the “I’m severely annoyed because they expect me to adjust the brightness of my entire setup just to see anything” way. I tend to leave my brightness low so as to keep my eyes from being blasted by constant bursts of light while playing games that are made to be seeable.
I’m not really going to hold this against the devs, as this was an early title for them. But I have to call it like I see it. Or rather, am unable to see it most of the time.
They’re going to get top marks for this. Lots of great ambient noises, static, footsteps off in the distance, and the like. Great stuff for a horror game. It’s a walking simulator with horror elements. Full stop. It is flat out not my bag.
You would have to be trying to screw up the controls in a game like this. Though I’m not exactly sure why I’d ever want to narrow the beam on the flashlight.
Chances are, if you like Slenderman, you’re going to ignore anything I said, and really enjoy Slender: The Arrival. Otherwise, you’ll probably be like me; thoroughly unable to enjoy it. So the recommend really only goes to those that like the Slenderman.
“Slender: The Arrival is great for those that are fans of Slenderman and probably horror too. All else need not apply”
Final Score: 2.5/5
*We were provided a copy of this game for review*
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