Fight the Things That Go Bump in the Night in 'Illuminator'

Light and shadow have always played a vital role in artistic mediums, and last year saw the emergence of several games that utilized light in profound ways. 'Alan Wake', 'Amnesia: The Dark Descent' and 'Lost in Shadow' not only steeped themselves in ghostly atmospherics, but also used light as a core gameplay mechanic. This week, we'll take a look at several shadowy games that will leave you crying for your flashlight.

Bedtime-bound children understand the terror of monstrosities hiding in the dark, and for years have insisted on protection via the revealing power of the night light. Indie game 'Illuminator' (PC only) manifests these childhood fears by making them core gameplay elements. You control a young boy, awoken in the middle of the night by unsettling moans throughout the house. So you set off to explore with only a trusty flashlight to combat the evils that lurk in the dark. You'll come face-to-face with a number of roaming ghouls, and dispatching them will allow you to progress through a dimensional portal to other infested houses. To defeat ghouls, you need to let your flashlight charge while it's turned off. Hitting the C key will turn it on, blasting monsters with a quick flash of obliterating light. Additionally, there are a variety of other helpful items throughout the house, all of which can be manipulated with the X key. Nightlights can be plugged into walls to illuminate small sections, Christmas lights can be strung up, and doors can be closed, allowing you to hide in a room while you catch a breather. The game successfully creates a cute yet spooky atmosphere with its combination of retro, NES-style graphics and a taxing difficulty level. If you, too, used to panic when the lights went out, fighting the things that creep in the night may be a way to confront childhood trauma.
Download 'Illuminator' here

Fight the Things That Go Bump in the Night in 'Illuminator' originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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