A VR Legacy That Still Beats
Born as a multi‑award VR trilogy narrated by Colin Farrell (French voice: Tahar Rahim), Gloomy Eyes today trades the headset for a cozy-horror adventure/puzzle game in dioramas. The soul of the project remains intact: a world plunged into darkness, where a zombie boy (Gloomy) and a human girl (Nena) challenge the established order to bring back the light.
The Story: When Night No Longer Rises
In the city of Darkwood, the light has been out for years. The inhabitants, terrified, obey authorities ready to do anything to maintain control, even to hunt the zombies blamed for plunging the world into darkness. Gloomy, a quiet zombie boy, hides in the twisted‑tree forest, far from human torches. His encounter with Nena, a curious and brave human, pushes the boundaries: together, they learn to turn the world—literally—by manipulating miniature sets to reveal passages, hidden mechanisms, and secrets. Guided by a narrator who weaves their destiny like a tale, they trace back the thread of an ancient imbalance. As the puzzles unfold, their bond grows stronger and the adventure takes on a gothic romance. To reignite the dawn, they will have to confront the certainties of a city frozen in fear… and prove that a zombie and a human can, in their own way, bring back the light.
Rotating Dioramas, a Duo to Make You Think
The best idea of this porting/reinvention: each level is a rotating diorama, which we study from every angle to reveal switches, secret paths, and small environmental mechanisms. We alternate between Gloomy and Nena, each with their own little strengths, to solve clever puzzles without ever tipping into brain‑teaser overload. The pace is short and efficient (a few hours), all served by an omnipresent narrator who carries the story forward.
A Burton-esque Artistic Direction That Grabs You
Visually, Gloomy Eyes ticks that box of “macabre yet cute”: miniature volumes, bluish lighting, twisted trees, and precise little animations. There’s a constant urge to stop the camera to take a shot. The artistic touch remains the number one argument, just as much for VR veterans as for those discovering the universe today.
A Respectful Adaptation, with a Few Limitations
Not everything is perfect. The camera sometimes lacks freedom in the busier dioramas, making a lever or a passage a bit fiddly to grab. And while the gameplay layer clearly enriches the experience compared to VR, the puzzles remain accessible: don’t expect The Witness; here we’re in a cunning narrative stroll.
Accessibility, Formats and Edition
The “cozy horror” positioning translates to no gore or jumpscares, making the game suitable for a broad audience; the PC edition is offered at 24.99€, with soundtrack as a DLC if desired. On consoles, you find the same content and the same “playable story” philosophy.
Gloomy Eyes achieves its transformation: from a short poetic VR piece to a sensitive and elegant puzzle‑adventure, carried by a universe instantly endearing. A few camera hiccups and a gentle difficulty do not dampen the magic. To be devoured in one sitting, like reading a gothic children’s book on a stormy evening.
The Test
Gloomy Eyes
+ PROS
- The rotating dioramas and the overall readability of the level design.
- A sumptuous art direction, “cute yet dark,” perfectly coherent.
– CONS
- A camera sometimes capricious depending on the angle and density of scenes.
- Puzzles that favor atmosphere over brain‑teasers (depending on your expectations).
