My Beautiful Paper Smile

Prepare yourself for a very uncomfortable time with My Beautiful Paper Smile. A truly spectacular game, this title follows a child who has been raised in a facility that requires him to wear a large smile forever. Is that as creepy and horrible as it sounds? Yes. This dark adventure game has the protagonist venture out to run away from this corrupt and terrible system that is suffocating its people and refusing to let them feel the emotions that they need to. If you are looking for another spooky game then this is without a doubt something you’ll be interested in.

Gameplay

This game functions a little like Paper Mario in that it’s a 2.5D game that lets you move around the map from a fixed angle. Set in a world where a mad king wants every child to smile, you play as a member of the Joyous, a selection of children who are forced to bear a smile that never fades. The objective of the game is simple; get the hell out of that place and try not to get killed while you’re at it.

Adventure through this world while avoiding the Authorities. You must run away and dodge all sorts of terrible things to figure out how to escape. With a healthy helping of combat and puzzles, there is rarely a dull moment in this title thanks to the overbearing but shockingly well-done atmosphere. You must hide in the shadows, but be careful as a faceless monster that hides in the shadows alongside you will get you.

This game has a heavy reliance on stealth with some decent puzzle solving. If you are looking for a game that will spook you while providing an incredibly engaging story, then this is definitely for you.

Art Style

An astounding art style that evokes a memory of games like Sally Face, the startlingly smooth hand drawn characters. This engrossing story has been fantastically realized in black and white, with incredible use of depth, lighting and motion. I was absolutely blown away by how impressive everything looked.

Music and Sound Design

The music and sound design of this title make for an astoundingly good ambience. You may be walking around but you may bump into a stack of plates and knock them over, creating a noise that could get you heard by your enemies lurking around the corner.

The noises, and sometimes lack of noise, is startlingly engaging. You regularly find yourself sat on the edge of your seat, sweat beads dripping down your face as you desperately try not to make a sound near your computer screen, lest a monster hears you. That is engagement that you cannot buy.

Pros

• Fantastic Gameplay
• Awesome visuals
• Splendid atmosphere
• Brilliant music
• Impeccable writing

Cons * I do wish it was longer (Personal preference)