Goosebumps: Escape from Horrorland for Windows

For those interested in the game’s storyline history: this Dreamworks production directly sequels the continuity set down by the first Horrorland book written by R.L. Stine (“One Day At Horrorland”) ONLY. It is not connected to the low-budget (but wonderful) Goosebumps TV episode, and it thankfully ignores the sub-par Goosebumps 2000 “Return To Horrorland” book (which included all the stupidity that making such a decision of your own free will would imply). Obviously, it is also not connected to the ongoing Horrorland book series or its websites currently being produced, though I have yet to read any of these. I can definitively say, however, that what we have here is distinct from all other lines of Goosebumps because, instead of the raw, regressive “horror” that the books and TV episodes went for, this video game takes the plot into an “action thriller” direction (which I like, as it allows the characters to use common sense, learn, and take some control).

Getting to the “Escape From Horrorland” VG itself, I’d like to say this is one of my favorites of all time. To be fair, though, it might be better to call this an “interactive movie” instead of a “video game”, since you can go around with some freedom playing the games and checking out the scary sights. There is a main story being played out for you movie-style to eventually draw you back, but it’s one that you still participate in using your mouse cursor (which has been appropriately turned into a floating, creepy, disembodied hand).

It takes place one year after the events of Goosebumps’ “One Day At Horrorland”, with the family and friends of Lizzie Morris finding themselves whisked away from their home by … um … Evil Ticket Magic(™) … I guess??? It looks a lot better in the game than I describe it here. And just so we’re perfectly clear: the “friends” part I was talking about includes YOU, as Lizzie has decided to enlist your help. So you’ll be joining them, viewing and fighting your way through “The Nightmare-iest Place On Earth” from a 1st-person point of view (and, really, can it get any better than that?).

This creepy game is mostly puzzle-based with some mini-games on the side (though there are several comical action sequences with fairly good special effects). Unfortunately for your character, the residents of Horrorland don’t feel like pretending that the only actual Monsters here are a bunch of rubbery ghouls that drop at the first pinch and a few measly mutants like they did in book 1. There’s a lot of new “management” here that REALLY wants to meet you. On the plus side, the required puzzles are fairly easy, as the big draw is the main storyline. Basically, start by picking gross stuff up wherever you find it and putting it in your pouch by scrolling down to the bottom of the primary screen. Then just piddle around with that stuff whenever you come to an obstacle. The worst that can happen is you get whacked, your system screams while your screen flashes red (though this made me jumpy), and you suffer the horrible pain of … loosing a Horrorland token! Um … Yyyyyeeeah.

One more piece of advice in case you decide to get this game: I didn’t find the Horrorland sewer network entertaining at all. It’s not necessary to the main game, the monster running around down there is almost impossible to dodge, and since it would interrupt the story to let you jump ahead to whatever part of the park you want, all you can get out of it are a few tokens.