Saying a horror game is cute might poo-poo on PHL Collective’s hard work, but Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is just that. A Nickelodeon-esque hide-and-seek, you play as Sloane Spencer, who, unbeknownst to her parents, is sneaking out with her mates past 9pm when there’s a clear curfew for the little brats. Setting up their own little secret club, they head to the library after hours, because they’re that cool, and end up uncovering some mysterious lore about the very town they reside in.
The Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine is the second best-selling book series of all time, after anything ‘written’ by the Kardashians, so it makes sense for there to be another tie-in. And, who else could helm publishing duties other than GameMill Entertainment? From Cobra Kai to G.I. Joe., these guys are the bollocks when it comes to childhood nostalgia. Alas, tie-ins have a history of being crap.
Whether Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is based on an actual story or not, I don’t know, but I can vouch for it as being a really fun family game. Initially believing it to be a Hello/Secret Neighbor-esque stealth experience, it’s more of an exploratory experience for kids to tiptoe around a sleepy town after hours, finding clues and the occasional jump scare. It’s all innocent stuff, though Sloane could be a little more selective with their friend group, as they frequently bolt without warning, stand around aimlessly offering no support, and, as you’ll find in the adventure, get themselves into a fair amount of trouble, and good ol’ Sloane has to bail them out.
The first hour involved a lot of backtracking and simple puzzle-solving. Clues are often found right next to the puzzle itself, as well as a hint system via a crystal ball, which doesn’t penalise you for using. In my experience, you can guess a lot of the solutions and experiment. On my two playthroughs, I’d done the same ‘method’ for a couple of puzzles where I’d simply guess/tinker with a rotating challenge and get in within seconds. Of course, I’m not the target audience, and my little one was able to work the majority of the solutions (with a spot of help) without it being too taxing.
Besides exploration and puzzle-solving, Sloane has a catapult to hand that can be used for combat (and puzzles!). The default unlimited option works for puzzles, though there are smoke, firecrackers, and strong pellets that distract and take out the enemies you will eventually encounter, some needing a few more hits. Combat isn’t necessary, however, as you can complete Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek without engaging in fisticuffs, though it does help when you encounter the mid-bosses that can’t be killed and will grab and shake you down. These diabolical sods can kill you in two hits, so if you aren’t packing snacks or first-aid kits to use between grabs, expect a game over and loading from the most recent save point.
Arguably, these mid-boss types spoil the casual element. Sure, you can take your time and learn the patterns, but for a younger audience, there’s a spike in the challenge. Additionally, there are two endings, and in fear of getting soft locked, I went commando and didn’t save for the last 30 minutes of the game, thinking I could load a save game from the title. You can’t. Your Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek game will either continue from your last manual save or an autosave that occurs after an important event. In my case, I’d reached the final boss, completed it the first time, then, after the credits rolled, loaded into the same boss without the option to undo my choices. In short, I created a new game to earn my Platinum, and to be fair, I enjoyed the experience as much as the first time.
Once again, Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is for a younger audience, yet I played one playthrough on my own and the second with my little girl. Combat is simple, as too are the puzzles, though they are well-suited (with the exception of the main baddies being a tiny bit trickier). My daughter’s reservations weren’t the puzzles, combat, or jumpscares (very few), however. Her beef was with Sloane’s useless friends and the fact that Sloane will be chased by baddies galore, and no matter how dire the consequences, should she find candy, her tone will immediately change and say, “Wow! Fascinating” irrespective of the item or danger. Mental. Overall, Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is a cute, lovable ‘horror’ game that’ll keep your kids at home and respect the curfews.
