Fear The Spotlight Review

Fear The Spotlight marks the inaugural entry in Blumhouse Games’ ambitious venture into the gaming industry. Developed by the talented husband-and-wife duo, Bryan Singh and Crista Castro of Cozy Game Pals, this title masterfully blends the essence of 90s survival horror classics like Clock Tower and Alone In The Dark with a contemporary horror narrative.

The game follows Vivian Singh, a timid high school student, who, along with her rebellious best friend Amy Tanaka, sneaks into their school one night to conduct a séance in the library. What begins as an adventurous night quickly turns into a harrowing ordeal as the girls are transported to an alternate reality of their school, now a charred and desolate ruin. Vivian must navigate this eerie environment, find Amy, and evade a menacing entity that stalks them through the scorched corridors.

Prepare for a suspenseful journey—equip your flashlight and steel your nerves, because if there’s anything to fear, it’s Fear The Spotlight.

Retro Horror

What initially drew me to Fear The Spotlight is its nostalgic homage to 90s survival horror games, particularly Clock Tower and the original Alone In The Dark series. While it may evoke memories of Resident Evil and Silent Hill, Fear The Spotlight distinguishes itself with minimal combat, focusing instead on puzzle-solving and stealth mechanics.

In the game, you play as Vivian, navigating an alternate version of her school. The primary objective is to locate your best friend Amy and escape, though not necessarily in that order. True to the survival horror genre, much of your time is spent finding ways to exit areas, typically by solving locked-door puzzles.

The developers have ingeniously designed various methods to solve these puzzles. One notable example involves diverting power from the gym to the main building. This ongoing puzzle is particularly satisfying, requiring you to open several areas in the gym using simple circuit puzzles to redirect power and unlock doors. Thankfully, these puzzles are straightforward and do not require complex circuit board equations.

The puzzles are engaging and enjoyable, striking a balance between challenge and accessibility. They are not overly complex brain teasers that leave you stumped, nor are they so easy that they become boring. Instead, they are thoughtfully spaced out, encouraging exploration and advancing the narrative seamlessly.

The game also features a robust stealth mechanic, requiring players to evade the primary antagonist, the anthropomorphic Spotlight monster, reminiscent of Pyramid Head from another recently released critically acclaimed horror game. Combat is not an option against this creature as it depletes your lung capacity, necessitating the use of inhalers to replenish it. Running out of breath results in restarting from the last checkpoint, which is a pretty interesting implementation.

The game includes several impressive set pieces that leverage retro systems to create a creepy atmosphere and build tension. One standout sequence involves printing a transparency sheet in the computer lab using floppy disks. Players must endure the lengthy loading time and physically transfer the disk to the printer, all while avoiding the Spotlight monster. Very cool!

It’s All In Your Head

Fear The Spotlight is a concise game, taking approximately 3-4 hours to complete, including bonus content after finishing the main campaign. Despite the relatively short playtime, the narrative is well-crafted, drawing players into the friendship between Vivian and Amy, as well as the tragic backstory of the students who have perished.

Although you cannot retain the files and documents you collect as part of the codex, they provide valuable context and backstory, enriching the game’s world-building. The game excels in creating genuinely creepy moments without relying on jump scares. Instead, it builds tension through atmospheric storytelling, particularly in later stages where the line between psychological and actual threats blurs.

However, Fear The Spotlight is not without its flaws. While the checkpoint system generally enhances gameplay, the auto-save feature can be a double-edged sword. There are instances where an auto-save can place you in a precarious situation with no option to revert to a previous save.

The stealth mechanics effectively build tension, but Vivian’s limited movements can lead to fatal situations if you find yourself in a tight spot. A dodge button could have mitigated this issue, but its absence serves to maintain the game’s tension, especially during close encounters with the Spotlight monster.

I do appreciate Fear The Spotlight for having such a tight story and respecting our time without any unnecessary filter, but it feels a little short, and there were a few more story beats I felt could’ve been explored. Yet that is the story the developers of Cozy Game Pals wish to tell, and they’ve definitely told it well.

Verdict: Buy It!

Fear The Spotlight is an impressive debut title from Blumhouse Games, and I commend them for taking a chance on Cozy Game Pals’ unique premise. This game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia for 90s survival horror, and beyond that, it delivers a compelling story that kept me engaged from start to finish. While I wished it were longer, the developers told the story they wanted to tell and executed it exceptionally well.

The release timing of Fear The Spotlight is perfect, coinciding with Halloween, making it an ideal festive choice for horror enthusiasts. It’s a quick, affordable horror experience that can be completed in one sitting, offering both creepy vibes and a nostalgic nod to classics like Clock Tower and Alone In The Dark.

I thoroughly enjoyed Fear The Spotlight with all its quirks and nuances. I eagerly anticipate future offerings from Blumhouse Games and hope this success inspires Cozy Game Pals to create more narrative-driven horror titles. They have demonstrated a clear talent for this genre, and I look forward to seeing what they develop next.

*Fear The Spotlight was reviewed on the PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.