Ever since the release of Until Dawn back in 2015, Supermassive Games have made a name for themselves as masters of the interactive horror experience. Its spiritual successor, The Dark Pictures Anthology, didn't let fans down, keeping their signature high tension and split decision making gameplay.
Following its predecessor, Man Of Medan, Little Hope manages to keep players on their toes with the stress of protecting a whole new cast of characters from encroaching death. However, these new responsibilities can prove a bit overwhelming. Here are some things to keep in mind while exploring the town of Little Hope.
Play The Character
Interactive storylines allow the player to take on many different characters, and sometimes they are in charge of decisions; some insignificant and others game-changing. This can be rather stressful, but if the player finds themselves at a loss, often time it's as easy as taking a step back and asking oneself, "what would this character do?"
It's important to take your time to get to know each playable character: their good and bad. Understand each of them and think about who is more likely to take charge and keep that weapon or if this character would be quick to point fingers instead of hesitating to accuse right away.
Don't Play To Win
Much like Until Dawn, The Dark Pictures Anthology isn't a traditional "video game." At times, the player may feel pressured to make a "winning" decision that doesn't feel quite right, all for the sake of trying to achieve the best outcome. Of course, getting out of Little Hope with all characters safe and sound is a great goal, but Little Hope and its story are meant to be dictated by a player's instincts rather than assumptions about the future.
While it may be hard at times, playing organically is more satisfying and will achieve more of a "true" and personalized/authentic experience in the end. Try and save the hunt for the "perfect end" for the second or third playthrough instead as the game is meant to be played multiple times.
Give Everyone A Chance
Everyone has their flaws and in a situation like the one Andrew and his classmates are in, stress and fear can easily shine a light on these flaws. Take a breather and remember how tense of a situation everyone is in; anyone would be even just a little agitated had they been in their shoes.
It can be easy to sabotage that character that's been getting on everyone's nerves, but try not to judge too quickly. Everyone deserves a second chance, and who knows, perhaps the road to redemption isn't too far for them.
Play With Friends
What better way to bond with friends than to share a harrowing experience with them? Little Hope has got fans and their best buds covered. Using the "Don't Play Alone" option, players can enjoy the game with friends; assigning everyone specific characters.
Aside from experiencing the game with good company, allowing different players to play certain roles helps the choices from being too "homogenous" and similar across the board.
Take Tutorials Seriously
Those first few instances in which a QTE (quick time event) pops up might be a bit of a trivial situation. Maybe it is a little funny seeing John completely mess up his dart game but think twice before goofing off completely.
These early QTEs are purposely trivial and mundane, allowing the player to get used to the controls and QTEs for later in the game when it really matters. Before long, you will be using that frivolous dart tutorial to save someone's life.
Respect Horror Tropes
Little Hope isn't immune to a good horror trope here and there, from trying to start a make-out session at the wrong place and the wrong time to "hey gang, let's split up!"
It's best to try to keep these cliches seen in horror films and games alike in mind, as recalling them every now and then might help the group avoid the mistakes that every horror film protagonist can't seem to resist making.
Take Your Time & Explore
It's easy to rush through a section, trying to move on to a (hopefully) less spooky area. However, it's important to fight through the fear and uneasiness and not rush through each explorable area, as taking the time to thoroughly inspect the surroundings can help flesh out the story.
Each section where the player is allowed to roam can be filled with loads of key items, collectibles, text hints, and even pictures to unlock vital premonitions. Although it may be difficult to venture out to the shadows for that one item sparkling in the background, it may prove worth it when piecing together the mystery of the town of Little Hope in the end.
Refresh Your Memory
Single sitting playthroughs aren't for everyone and sometimes after a long break, it can be difficult to remember where everything left off. It's a good idea to check out the menu, as the player can then review their bearings (their choices made up until that point), any uncovered secrets, pictures (premonitions), and their character's relationship with the others.
Replaying a certain premonition may be the ticket to swiftly avoiding a specific situation that may have lead to a character's untimely (and preventable) death.
Play With Subtitles On
This one might be a given for some players, but in this particular game, subtitles can make a huge difference in understanding the gameplay and story. With so many different characters and different variations of those characters (aka. their "doubles"), it can be tricky to quickly make the distinction between them or sort out each of their names.
Along with helping the player not miss a beat of the dialogue, the subtitles indicate which character is saying which line, making the distinction between Mary and Megan or Taylor and Tabitha much easier to recognize.
Face Your Fears For The Greater Good
There's always strength in numbers, so it's important for Andrew and friends to put their differences aside and try their best to work as a team. Look out for everyone and try to understand the bond between each of the characters.
Helping one another out and making small (or big?) sacrifices for the good of the team might get players far with character bonds and relationships (and perhaps with achieving the best ending as well).