14 DAY TRIAL // What’s an escape sequence without a few Quick Time Events thrown in to spice things up? Someone trips and my character needs to help them get up. So I push E just as the flash for it appears on the screen. Another obstacle requires another key press. Finally, I need to use the mouse to execute a final escape as our little group is running down the stairs.
But this is not the end, I have to decide which way we move through this abandoned house. And, then, after a final big scare, the children are out in the small garden, terrified but alright. Ting, who’s able to see spirits, knows that the family that lives in the house is standing in the doorway, unable to follow.
A few bullies call the three kids cowards but they quickly catch on that something isn’t quite right and back down. How can someone live if there’s a supernatural presence always around, even a kind one? Especially if a child cannot convince adults of what he’s experiencing.
Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open is developed by Cellar Vault Games and published by Chorus Worldwide Games. I played a preview of it on the PC using Steam. The full game will arrive this year and will also be available on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The title uses adventure game concepts and is set in a role filled with supernatural elements.
Players will take on the role of Ting, a young girl with a powerful special ability. She can see spirits that exist around her, including Xiu, a ghost in search of peace. The game’s universe is filled with supernatural elements and players will have to decide which spirits to engage with and trust.
Mechanically, Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open uses a relatively classic adventure structure. Players directly control Ting, and there are sections where she will tell other kids how to move or when to hide to escape a threatening spirit. But, most of the time, they will move freely through locations, opening new paths, solving puzzles, and finding characters to interact with.
There are also Quick Time Events, in the preview designed to capture the tension of an escape. It works well but I hope that they are not overused in the full experience. Puzzle and stealth are better fits for supernatural ghost stories.
The demo is pretty short but it suggests a big focus on conversations. Ting might have a spiritual ability but she is still a kid, even if one who’s cool in the face of pressure. It will be interesting to see what role her parents and other adults play in her narrative.
Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open has a unique presentation. The world is 3D, allowing players to freely move from room to room, but all characters are 2D paper outlines, inspired by the Joss-Papercraft of Southeast Asia. The concept is striking and is a good idea for a story where many of the characters are spirits. The sound section of the presentation is equally good.
Conclusion
I liked the exploration and character interactions featured in the preview version. But the gameplay needs to be more varied to keep me engaged. Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open needs to avoid adding too many QTEs and has the potential to mix horror and exploration in interesting ways.
A preview key was provided by the publisher
