Developer: MANGLEDmaw Games
Publisher: DreadXP
Platform: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Tested on: PC
Amanda the Adventurer – Review
All sorts of ARG, analog horror, and turning children’s media into creepy content are still as popular as ever within the horror genre. This has inadvertently spread onto video games, and today we are looking at Amanda the Adventurer, a pretty obvious spoof of ‘Dora the Explorer’ with a horrifying twist. This is the debut title of indie publisher MANGLEDmaw Games, who worked together with publisher DreadXP, a publisher known for picking out promising horror devs. So you know we’re in for a unique experience.
Story
The protagonist of this game is Riley Park, a young woman who unexpectedly inherits the house of her aunt Kate after said aunt tragically and suddenly passes away. The house itself is nice enough, but in the attic, Riley finds a mysterious TV with a VHS tape next to it. The VHS tape is an episode of an animated cartoon called Amanda the Adventurer, a pretty average edutainment program at first glance. Nothing about this VHS tape is average, however. Amanda seems to speak directly to Riley, and Riley’s responses influence the tape’s content. As more tapes are uncovered, the episodes get progressively more disturbing, with the real world also being influenced. Suddenly, the simple choice of watching a children’s cartoon might get Riley killed unless she can uncover the truth behind the show’s tragic history.
Graphics
Amanda the Adventurer has pretty simple but effective graphics. The game is presented in a simple first-person perspective, though a majority of the time you’ll be looking at a TV screen to watch the tapes. The fictional series that shares its title with the game is animated in a very creepy 3D CGI style that reminds us of old edutainment games of our own childhood. Everything about it from the facial expressions to the animations looks a little stilted and unnatural, though this is obviously on purpose. It enhances the creepiness. People with sensitive eyes should be aware this game relies pretty heavily on glitch and distortion effects too.
Sound
The sound design of the game is also completely in line with its theme, with childish jingles made scary through some clever editing. The game manages to use unsettling sounds around the attic to create a very creepy atmosphere despite the entire game taking place in one room. What stands out most though is the voice acting. Amanda and her companion Wooly are both fully voiced when watching the tapes, with the actors putting forth amazing performances that really make the game memorable. These same cast members manage to bring the characters to life in a delightful way.
Gameplay
Amanda the Adventurer is a short horror experience that doesn’t take a lot of time to complete, but you’ll be motivated to play through it multiple times. That’s because this is one of those games where your decisions and actions alter what happens and there are different paths to explore, with a ‘true ending’ hidden behind the right choices. The game starts identically each time. Riley explores the house she inherited from her aunt Kate until she happens upon the mysterious tape in the attic. Watching it will give you the first episode of the titular cartoon, set in the kitchen. At various points, Amanda will prompt you to type in an answer for her or point to items on the screen.
Whether you follow the instructions obediently or try to make Amanda’s life hell, things quickly get very scary. Use what you see and hear in the tapes to solve puzzles around the real world in the attic, which allows you to find more tapes. Different tapes can become available depending on your choices. You’ll also get information you can use in subsequent playthroughs or even to uncover the hidden history of the Amanda the Adventurer cartoon. The game does not have a bunch of jumpscares, relying more on the atmosphere and the fact that this is a cartoon made disturbing to make you constantly feel on edge. Some of the puzzles can be a little obscure while others are almost too simple, but the game is popular enough that a ton of guides and tips can be found online for those who do want to reveal the full story. We highly recommend it, since the game does feel very short and incomplete if you only play through it once.
Conclusion
Amanda the Explorer is a short but effective little horror game that might contain a lot of cliché tropes, but manages to execute them in a way that keeps us engaged. While it takes some puzzle work, the underlying plot is honestly rather interesting and we enjoyed the overall creepiness of this one. It’s a good start to what is shaping to be a series of games.
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