One would have to live in a cave to not have heard of Goosebumps. Based on the works of R.L. Stine, they have become very popular and well known through the television program of the same name. Kids of all ages love to be scared. At least a little. Especially when they know that things will all work out in the end. This interactive 2 CD package will not disappoint them. Based as a continuation of the story One Day at HorrorLand, it is one year later, the moon is full and Lizzy meets up with you, scared and desperate for your help. Before you know it Lizzy, like Luke, Clay and her parents, are back in the grips of HorrorLand with you close in tow.
The action starts in Werewolf Village where Lizzy explains what this place is and what to expect. The boys, Luke and Clay, are found in stocks and are desperate to be released. The howling of wolves can be heard and that can't be a good thing. Exploring the shops of the village will reveal various objects that can be picked up and used or kept in the hip-pouch found at the bottom of the screen. Be sure to visit all of Werewolf Village before moving on to HorrorLand Plaza. In this way Lizzy will still be around to hint and suggest things as you explore. Visit the Butcher Shop, The Antique store and take a look into the well. This is also where the Riddle Wall can be found that will provide cryptic clues for a fee. Be sure to examine the garbage cans. A quick jump into one reveals the vast underground that exists under the park. Use the mouse or the cursor keys to navigate the maze and the space-bar to open and close the many gates. Reaching the other end of the maze will take you to another part of the park, if you survive. Press the space-bar at the sign for the area of the park reached to go back to the surface. After seeing all there is to see, move on to HorrorLand Plaza and be sure to visit the Museum, as it will provide the brightest clues. A movie theater will provide some entertainment as will the Doom Slide, tickling the owl and more of the garbage cans. Assistance for navigating the mazes can be found in the various books scattered here and there. Head back to Werewolf Village, locate Lizzy and move the game ahead with a thrilling chase involving a werewolf and you as bait. Then lose Lizzy again before ending up back in HorrorLand Plaza. On to the Bat Barn where another puzzle leads to a crossroads. Choose either of Valley of the Kings or Vampire Village. Luke, Lizzy then Clay will all be found again before the end of the game.
Escape from HorrorLand is probably just the thing for all those kids who are big fans of the Goosebumps series. HorrorLand is the diabolical creation of one demented Madison Storm who just happens to love hearing children shriek in terror. Victim of a miserable childhood, he doesn't see why any other child should be happy. Lizzy and her family have only one hope of ever escaping the park and that's you. Only by exploring and solving puzzles will the exit be found. Clues and hints are hidden all over the park and a riddle wall will provide cryptic clues, for a fee. Coins and trading cards can also be collected to create a high score, but are not essential to finishing the game. The trading cards also offer clues which can be viewed from the Scores screen. A map of the park is also available for consultation, one for every main area of the park. Be sure not to miss the video portion included at these stops.
The non-linear aspect of this game means that the player is free to explore the park in any order. Viewed in the first person with a full seamless 360 degrees panoramic view created with detailed miniature 3-D sets, state of the art computer graphics and dramatic special effects, one gets the feeling of being right in the middle of the action. Live video action sequences also add to the realism as the player is addressed directly, handed objects and even given a costume to wear. Special cameo appearances by the likes of Jeff Goldblum and Isabella Rossellini add a special "star" quality to the game. Thousands of "hot spots" enable the player to interact with objects and learn more about where the family members are hidden and what to do next.
An options screen can be reached by pressing the Esc key. From here a game can be loaded, saved or restarted. Continue with the current game or check out your score. From the score menu, see how many coins have been collected, or turn over the trading cards and read the back for a clue. The About option will provide the credits for the game as well as information about the Goosebumps Fan Club. Quit is also an option for those too scared to continue.
Installation is remarkably easy as is the uninstallation of this game. All aspects are handled by the dedicated programs and removal is complete. The latest version if DirectX is installed for the special 3D effects of the game. This might require that a new or latest version display driver be obtained for your system. The installed version of this game uses about 1/2 MB of hard-disk space and the game must be played from the CD ROM.
Written by Glenn Soucy
| Graphics: | 92% |
| Sound: | 90% |
| Music: | 85% |
| Gameplay: | 85% |
| Interest: | 80% |
| Overall: | 87% |
Dreamworks Interactive.
| Technical Support: | 206-635-7134 Monday through Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm Saturday 9:00am to 3:00pm PST |
| Hint line: (USA Only) | 1-900-288-KLAY $0.75 per min |
Internet Support: Dreamworks Interactive
Technical Support
Web site: Dreamworks Interactive
Outside North America:
Contact your local Microsoft office.
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