Haunted Lands

A retro action platformer could be very successful under certain circumstances. But it unnecessarily tortures players and does not forgive them anything. The very frequent repetition of the same passages due to the extremely strict conditions in the game is frustrating.

If one game in my reviewing career has left me divided, it is Haunted Lands. The vibe, graphics and setting, much taken from its source of inspiration Dangerous Dave and the Haunted Mansion, all speak to me. But the game seems to think it's too cool for casuals like me. It deliberately throws up a difficulty and accessibility wall to keep out the plebs, like a bouncer at an exclusive members-only club. It may well be the highest score I've ever given to a game that I personally struggled to enjoy. Yet despite that, I can clearly see its appeal to others. And to be honest, I'm perfectly fine with that. Haunted Lands is made for a niche crowd, the kind of players who are willing to get chewed up and spit out, only to stand back up and do it all over again.

A gritty, old-school platformer that tests your patience but rewards your persistence.

You may either love or loathe Haunted Lands, all based on your tolerance towards a game design philosophy that leans towards making a game difficult for the sake of it, “because that was the style back in the day”. It can either be a throwback to how much you used to struggle and overcome challenges in Ghosts n’ Goblins, or it will act like a reminder of why accessibility has been one of the best features implemented in gaming over the past few decades.