:pumpkin: In the spirit of Halloween, I decided to play (For the umpteenth time) Scratches; The Director's Cut. I have decided that this must be the eeriest, creepiest game ever made. I say that because I have played it several times before and know exactly what is going to happen when, and I still don't want to open the doors or go into the scary rooms. It is a really wonderful game.

Unfortunately, Scratches didn't do it for me, but any of the Last Half of Darkness games, will make me jump anyday.

Ana

Scratches -- I still sweat when I think of the closet in the "museum." The game had to drag me there, kicking and screaming.

It was going down to that cellar that did me !!!!

I agree The Haze, it's top of my list as a truly hair-raising game and Mad, the cellar's my favourite, reluctant, 'don't make me go in there' part of it!

:ghost: I really have been thinking about this and I've decided that my nerves are caused by all the doors. Every time I open one (And there are lots of doors!) I'm sure there is something evil on the other side. Of course my rational mind knows otherwise, but deep inside I think there may be a new part of the program somewhere and I still perspire.

Didn't I read that Nucleosys broke up or folded or something? If so, it's a real loss.

Yes. Click here.

Truth is, I don't want something to jump out at me when I round a corner or open a door. The fact that Scratches elicited that kind of fear without actually doing the deed, is what made it a perfect, spooky, eerie chiller for me. The catlike creature in "The Last Visit" chapter was fine... just the eyes + a threat, but no actual attack.

You're so right, TheHaze... it truly is a wonderful game.

Gee, Becky... what a shame the creators are calling it quits. They sure knew how to deliver. Ah, well... Carol Reed 6 is near; as well as a few goodies from the UK!

BET... I'm currently in Last Half of Darkness... at the beginning. I know it's been years since the series began, but I jumped in & bought all three from WRF earlier this month. It's a different kind of spooky for me, but spooky nevertheless. Am relying fairly heavily on the WT, but am still enjoying thus far.

My issue with doors and Scratches was that every time I tried to open one in the game, my computer would hang for a solid minute. A lot of "suspense" was caused by my slow PC! But Scratches is a great game.

There were a couple of elements about Scratches, other than the plot itself, that truly scared me--or more accurately, gave me the most unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach as I played that game.

The first was the use of the ambient sound effects, especially the ticking clock that got louder and softer as you moved toward and away from it, and the rustling wind when wandering around behind the house. Small things, but they definitely helped immerse you in the story and make it seem as though you were experiencing it, not merely playing a videogame.

The second was all the really ghoulish and macabre paintings in the house. I dunno if anyone else noticed it, or looked closely at them, but there's a few in there that are really creepy. I couldn't help thinking that the owner must've been a real crackpot, and that I wanted to get the hell out of there as fast as possible.

It was attention to small details like that that really impressed me about Augustin's game. IMO, Scratches is right up there with the Dark Fall games and Barrow Hill at the top of the horror adventure genre.

Now, you didn't hear this from me, okay but Agustin has a new blog http://www.slightly-deranged.com/ that he announced here and he says:

Ah, dear Pollo... I can see you already beat me to it. These news travel way faster than expected

Thanks for sharing it with Gameboomers, I actually made a post about it myself today. I'm also glad to hear you're all still enjoying Scratches!

Yes, news travels fast! Thanks for stopping by, Agustín.

scratches is definately one of the scariest games i have played. the setting alone was scary and i have yet to complete it

the only way I could ever finish scratches was to finally just turn off my speakers

haha turning on the lights might be better also