Originally posted by JetBlackScarab:

"I personally enjoyed the experience and I encourage anyone who is willing to give it a chance and more importantly if you are first getting into VR Horror, and are skidish to playing VR horror games to at least take this game on in the ringer. You won't be disappointed, I know I wasn't and I haven't even beaten the game yet as of this review."

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[Levels based on a 1/10 score]

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[Based on gameplay with] ⌨️🖱/(🎮)-HTC Vive

🕹[ Mechanics]

The mechanics are mostly problem solving and scripted events so for the ones expecting a different scare "every time" might be a bit saddened to hear this but what I can say is don't let that discourage you from enjoying the story and lore of the game.

The gameplay overall definitely needs some tweaking with how fast stamina runs out in the game, with no clear indication of a stamina bar I find it kind of meek that it wasn't visually implemented so the user doesn't break their controllers in the process. The best way I can say it is you'll be moving at a snails pace. Not sure if that was in the case for a short story or what but again if you can look past the imperfections it is a really interesting story piece. Mixing a bit of humor and horror into it. Kind of sad that the game couldn't pump up the gore factor of the game to really get you startled but the jumpscares are obviously noted as red flags throughout the game if you haven't been spoiled from anyone recording it before.

Really, I wish there was more of a loosened chain over the game than a choker what is there that is present. If you have a open mind about horror, this is a childlike facade draped over a bunch of Jason Voorhees. You wish you can go faster in your mind but what you get is a slow moving monster chasing you while you wear lead boots from time to time.

👨‍👩 [AI/Difficulty]

The AI have more of a "If we can't see you we can't get you" mentality. Weird I know but I won't judge, like how I had a whole ripley moment merely a few feet away with the stamina as a sockpuppet walked past me on a circle path. I think if I was to rate this game overall by its difficulty it would be a easy/lite title for getting into VR Horror. Definitely a lighthearted entry piece into the genre.

💻 [Artstyle]

The artstyle is where this game excels at, and the fact during your adventure you will have a companion throughout the game to help encourage you and guide you along this magical journey. I think that's the biggest plus, because many times even as children we normally have a imaginary friend or a stuffed animal or toy to hold tight to to feel safe to bring that courage out of us. And even in more hands on horror we always need a friend there to reassure us to bring us back to reality. Its a very empowering move that even though most of the game is a scripted event cascade the puppet responds to yes and no questions by shaking your head up and down or side to side. I found myself throughout the game ready to listen to Scout and make appropriate decisions even before she calls them out in the game.

And let me tell you the hours I have put into the game, I took notice to red flags that were present where you know something is bound to happen. If you are into horror and have seen the tropes this game pulls every single one. But just go with me here instead of watching it, you're living it, interacting with it. Finding secrets and hidden lore behind the creation of the puppets. Don't get me wrong, for horror the game is pretty tame. But I think that is the charm, it eases you into the experience than locking you in, cranking it to 11, and saying good luck.

🎧 [Music]

The music is delightful I wanna say the rhyming is more a treat than anything else. And that too has lore behind the creation of the handymen. Its not something that is apparent but the atmosphere alone is a nice touch to how the game looks and feels at times. Not trying to hold your hand but when you need a gentle push in the right direction.

🎬 [Synopsis]

You play as an up and coming journalist investigator looking into the plague of disapperances of people circled around Mortimer's Handymen and the studio linked to the accidents and fires that happened there. Along the way you will encounter Mortimer himself and his band of handymen. But not is all as it seems; the building is plagued with mutated and experimented rats and animals, there are bodies of humans bound and gagged in bodybags and treated as cattle, Torn and misused puppets are on gurneys as if they are being operated on. And as you enter this fated studio building, you see walls molded and rotten, scaffolding ripped from the overhead ceiling, pipes in disrepair. And a lone puppet stage in the distance of a open lobby inviting you to come closer as the ill fated Mortimer sits there motionless with a puppetmaster, with his face covered to greet you. What's the worst that could happen right?

📋 [Conclusion]

I think Hello Puppets scratches the itch to any new up and comer horror fanatic. It should at least be a title to dip their toes in. If you are a heavy and I mean HEAVY horror fanatic genre this would be more of a light chuckle than a full blown scream session. But I personally enjoyed the experience and I encourage anyone who is willing to give it a chance and more importantly if you are first getting into VR Horror, and are skidish to playing VR horror games to at least take this game on in the ringer. You won't be disappointed, I know I wasn't and I haven't even beaten the game yet as of this review.

This reviewer was sent a key to this product for review

[h1] Hello Puppets! [/h1] [quote=JetBlackScarab] [i] "I personally enjoyed the experience and I encourage anyone who is willing to give it a chance and more importantly if you are first getting into VR Horror, and are skidish to playing VR horror games to at least take this game on in the ringer. You won't be disappointed, I know I wasn't and I haven't even beaten the game yet as of this review." [/i] [/quote] ==================================== [Levels based on a 1/10 score] [table] [tr] [th]👨🏻‍🏫 Difficulty:[/th] [th]<====||======>[/th] [/tr] [tr] [th]👨‍👩 AI:[/th] [th]<===||=======>[/th] [/tr] [tr] [th]🕹 Gameplay:[/th] [th]<===||=======>[/th] [/tr] [tr] [th]🎧 Music:[/th] [th]<=====||=====>[/th] [/tr] [tr] [th]💻 Artstyle:[/th] [th]<==========||>[/th] [/tr] [/table] ==================================== [Based on gameplay with] ⌨️🖱/(🎮)-HTC Vive 🕹[ Mechanics] The mechanics are mostly problem solving and scripted events so for the ones expecting a different scare "every time" might be a bit saddened to hear this but what I can say is don't let that discourage you from enjoying the story and lore of the game. The gameplay overall definitely needs some tweaking with how fast stamina runs out in the game, with no clear indication of a stamina bar I find it kind of meek that it wasn't visually implemented so the user doesn't break their controllers in the process. The best way I can say it is you'll be moving at a snails pace. Not sure if that was in the case for a short story or what but again if you can look past the imperfections it is a really interesting story piece. Mixing a bit of humor and horror into it. Kind of sad that the game couldn't pump up the gore factor of the game to really get you startled but the jumpscares are obviously noted as red flags throughout the game if you haven't been spoiled from anyone recording it before. Really, I wish there was more of a loosened chain over the game than a choker what is there that is present. If you have a open mind about horror, this is a childlike facade draped over a bunch of Jason Voorhees. You wish you can go faster in your mind but what you get is a slow moving monster chasing you while you wear lead boots from time to time. 👨‍👩 [AI/Difficulty] The AI have more of a "If we can't see you we can't get you" mentality. Weird I know but I won't judge, like how I had a whole ripley moment merely a few feet away with the stamina as a sockpuppet walked past me on a circle path. I think if I was to rate this game overall by its difficulty it would be a easy/lite title for getting into VR Horror. Definitely a lighthearted entry piece into the genre. 💻 [Artstyle] The artstyle is where this game excels at, and the fact during your adventure you will have a companion throughout the game to help encourage you and guide you along this magical journey. I think that's the biggest plus, because many times even as children we normally have a imaginary friend or a stuffed animal or toy to hold tight to to feel safe to bring that courage out of us. And even in more hands on horror we always need a friend there to reassure us to bring us back to reality. Its a very empowering move that even though most of the game is a scripted event cascade the puppet responds to yes and no questions by shaking your head up and down or side to side. I found myself throughout the game ready to listen to Scout and make appropriate decisions even before she calls them out in the game. And let me tell you the hours I have put into the game, I took notice to red flags that were present where you know something is bound to happen. If you are into horror and have seen the tropes this game pulls every single one. But just go with me here instead of watching it, you're living it, interacting with it. Finding secrets and hidden lore behind the creation of the puppets. Don't get me wrong, for horror the game is pretty tame. But I think that is the charm, it eases you into the experience than locking you in, cranking it to 11, and saying good luck. 🎧 [Music] The music is delightful I wanna say the rhyming is more a treat than anything else. And that too has lore behind the creation of the handymen. Its not something that is apparent but the atmosphere alone is a nice touch to how the game looks and feels at times. Not trying to hold your hand but when you need a gentle push in the right direction. 🎬 [Synopsis] You play as an up and coming journalist investigator looking into the plague of disapperances of people circled around Mortimer's Handymen and the studio linked to the accidents and fires that happened there. Along the way you will encounter Mortimer himself and his band of handymen. But not is all as it seems; the building is plagued with mutated and experimented rats and animals, there are bodies of humans bound and gagged in bodybags and treated as cattle, Torn and misused puppets are on gurneys as if they are being operated on. And as you enter this fated studio building, you see walls molded and rotten, scaffolding ripped from the overhead ceiling, pipes in disrepair. And a lone puppet stage in the distance of a open lobby inviting you to come closer as the ill fated Mortimer sits there motionless with a puppetmaster, with his face covered to greet you. What's the worst that could happen right? 📋 [Conclusion] I think Hello Puppets scratches the itch to any new up and comer horror fanatic. It should at least be a title to dip their toes in. If you are a heavy and I mean HEAVY horror fanatic genre this would be more of a light chuckle than a full blown scream session. But I personally enjoyed the experience and I encourage anyone who is willing to give it a chance and more importantly if you are first getting into VR Horror, and are skidish to playing VR horror games to at least take this game on in the ringer. You won't be disappointed, I know I wasn't and I haven't even beaten the game yet as of this review. [quote] This reviewer was sent a key to this product for review [/quote]