The Midnight Walk is a horrifying clay-sculpted stroll from the makers of Lost in Random

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Although the name MoonHood might not ring a bell, the skill within this team is indisputable. Originating from the creators of Fe and Lost in Random, they’ve ventured out on their own from their previous studio Zoink, embarking on a fresh development journey. Their inaugural project, The Midnight Walk, carries much of the essence of Lost in Random, even down to an eerie ambiance fashioned entirely with clay. Shacknews recently had the chance to preview it.

In “The Midnight Walk,” we follow the story of “The Burnt One” and his companion, a strange, lantern-less creature called Potboy. They embark on a lengthy trek along the ominous path named after the game itself – “The Midnight Walk.” This isn’t your typical sunlit stroll; it’s a perilous journey filled with eerie terror, manifested through its gloomy environment and terrifying creatures lurking to attack unwary travelers. By lighting candles with matches or solving puzzles, new paths reveal themselves. The duo’s adventure will ultimately culminate in a showdown against “The Dark Itself,” an enigmatic adversary whose backstory unfolds as you progress through the game.

In The Midnight Walk game, the importance of senses is emphasized from the start as players are asked to imagine attaching their eyes and ears to their character’s head. Throughout the game, players will often be instructed to close their virtual eyes by pressing the shoulder button, allowing them to focus on listening for clues about what actions to take next. These cues might include auditory signals directing attention towards key items. However, closing one’s eyes can also serve as a means of evading threats, since some creatures only manifest when observed. This results in a gameplay mechanic where not seeing something can make it disappear, much like the concept “out of sight, out of mind.

During this journey, sound plays an essential role too. Apart from using sounds as clues for locating specific items or enemies, these adversaries can also sense your presence through sound signals. In certain regions, you’ll frequently be prompted to “tread softly” due to the fact that some opponents react to footstep noises. Additionally, the chilling screams of creatures such as the flaming-mouthed Crawlers contribute significantly to the eerie atmosphere, but they can be tactically avoided by leading them to another location with lit candles.

In The Midnight Walk, the tactile sensation is experienced with one of its commonly used items: matches. These matches serve to illuminate candles, paving the way ahead, yet they behave as they would in reality. Holding a match for too long will cause it to burn the player’s character, increasing the tension during candle-related puzzles. While burnt matches going out may not seem significant in a well-lit town, the sudden plunge into darkness while navigating a dark cave can evoke an unsettling atmosphere.

The Midnight Walk intends to blend scary scenes with playful moments, often featuring the companion character Potboy. Potboy is quite sprightly and sometimes engages in games like hide-and-seek or skips ahead after receiving a treat. His friendship will significantly contribute to the game’s storyline, but he also offers assistance by solving certain puzzles. For instance, he might dash forward to construct a bridge for players to cross or remain close when it’s time to light a row of candles.

Beyond the game’s terrifying elements, players can find relief when needed, for early in their adventure they’ll stumble upon a house nicknamed “Housy.” This sanctuary will serve as a respite and a storage place for collected items. Interestingly, Housy will also be a traveling companion, standing on two legs and tagging along during the Midnight Walk.

Similar to Lost in Random, developer MoonHood is creating a whimsical horror experience reminiscent of classic Henry Selick films. Notably, this horror genre aligns particularly well with a Virtual Reality (VR) setting. Excitingly, The Midnight Walk isn‘t just a first-person adventure game, but will also be fully playable within VR, immersing players in its unique and eerie world.

Exploring The Midnight Walk promises a wealth of discoveries. As we delved into it, we realized that the initial candle-lit scenes, the introduction to Potboy, and certain Crawler stealth segments were just the prologue. With creators Olov Redmalm and Klaus Lyngeled painstakingly designing each environment and character using clay and puppets, and Unreal Engine bringing them to life, it’s shaping up to be an exciting adventure. The journey begins on PC, PlayStation 5, SteamVR, and PS VR2 on Thursday, May 8.

This sneak peek is derived from an initial computer version that the development team experienced through a virtual, private Discord meeting. However, please note that the completed product may still undergo changes.

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2025-04-04 20:28