Right now, I’m just trying to get my heart to stop racing.
No really, it’s racing! I have NEVER been scared by a game
so much in my tenure with JA+. Oh
sure, I’ve played Amber, I’ve played The
Blackstone Chronicles, Dark
Fall, and even Phantasmagoria. And none of those prepared me for the creep fest
that is Scratches.

Just think of happy puppies and marshmallows before I head to sleep.
In my apartment . . . alone . . . since my roommate is gone for two
weeks. AAAHHHH!!!

Where’s my mommy?

So what about Scratches you may ask? You know that Randy has put it on his must play list
for next year? And that there’s a
great demo you can download to get a taste of the action from those
creepy Argentinean geniuses at Nucleosys?

Well, let’s set
the scene. You are playing as Michael Arthate, a successful British
novelist who is in the midst of finishing his
latest literary triumph but is having some trouble with the ending.
To aid in his endeavor, he purchases a mansion in the English countryside,
providing the perfect quiet atmosphere to complete his writing. But
wait . . . what is this about a strange scratching sound coming from
the basement? And what is with all the abandoned furnishings and
discarded journals?

Soon Michael begins to explore the grounds of Blackwood manor, and
discovers that things are most definitely not what they appear to
be, but when again, when are they ever in an Adventure Game? Combine
this with no power, no water, and no way to get out of there, and
well, we have the perfect setting for what is shaping out to be a
perfect scary way to spend those long nights this winter.

The graphics are gorgeous,
as you can see from the screenshot I’ve
presented here of the Greenhouse. They are amazingly atmospheric
without becoming overtly creepy. Outdoor environments have a kind
of watercolor shading to them. The walls are textured, the gravel
is gritty under my feet, and the dingy bathrooms make me want to
run for a can of Lysol. The sounds are sparse, but effective. There
were many times when my back left speaker would suddenly make a sound
and spin me around in a circle as if someone was actually there behind
me. And yes, there are footsteps. Rejoice!

The music in this game
is so well done. Not once did it feel oppressive or disjunct. When
things were creepy, so was the music. There were
times in my preview when I would run from the creepy room to a “safe” room
just the get the music to calm me down.

Unfortunately, I was only
able to play the first two days of the game, which I completely
devoured. I haven’t been this hooked
on a game since, well, I’m sure you all can guess since when.
There were a few places I wasn’t able to unlock before completing
the preview, and of course, I have a million questions. Please Nucleosys!
Don’t leave me hanging! When can I play the rest?

Turn up the speakers my
friends, turn off the lights, and cozy up with a cup of cocoa and
your trusty notebook. Scratches has my 100% “jump
out of your skin and cover your eyes” guarantee.

Is that thunder I hear outside?

Mommy?