The long-awaited third installment of the Little Nightmares series has finally been released this fall, and with it came one of the greatest letdowns Supermassive Games has delivered.
From lacking game mechanics to an underwhelming story, fans feel that the game was a major step down from the extensive success of the second game, and a betrayal of the expectations set by the first. Long-time fans of the series and newcomers alike agree that Little Nightmares 3 simply did not deliver much satisfaction.
One of the most common complaints is the lack of interesting mechanics. In the previous games, puzzles and elaborate problem-solving were a necessity to completing the first two games, with unique solutions to each problem that teach the player to interact with the world around them to find the answers they need.
However, in the third game, we find that most problems are solved with the same solution, using the two characters available to us. There isn’t much with the environment to work with, resulting in each puzzle feeling repetitive and lacking the creativity and thought of the first games.
“They were so basic, a toddler could do it,” said OH senior Kaitlyn Russel. “It’s just moving boxes, jumping around, and maybe shooting a few beetles.”
In its failure to capture the wonder and mystery of Little Nightmares 1, a hole was left in the hearts of longtime fans when faced with a less-than-satisfactory result. The first game, while not typically regarded as better than its prequel, enticed fans with its environmental storytelling, guiding the player through the experience of traversing a world clearly not meant for them.
Yet, when placed in the setting of the newest installment, the attempt to tell a compelling story ended up falling flat. The story fails to capture the compelling nature of the first two, resulting in a bland, empty tale that fell into the shadow of its predecessors.
There’s a debate to be had beyond just the Little Nightmares series, about the preservation of a series’s legacy when more and more games or movies are released. In the case of Little Nightmares 3, with the game being sold to a new company, the necessity for a third installment at all can be put into question.
Many fans feel as though the game feels disconnected from the first two games, lacking familiar settings and characters that linked the first two installments.
“It was a cool idea, but it’s not the same characters or the same setting. The third game just didn’t come out as well,” said OH senior Shannon Mercado.
Despite its initial disappointment among most fans, with a DLC on the horizon for next year, we can wait with optimism that it will revive the charm and love for the series old and new fans alike can enjoy.
My name is Pierre Vargas, I am a senior at OHS and this is my first year as a journalist and go by any pronouns. I am an artist, I particularly enjoy drawing cartoons, and I participate in art club and independently. You can email me through 42fifty@sd308.org and putting my name in the subject line. Feedback regarding our publications are encouraged!!
I really liked little nightmares 1 because that was the only one ived played but should I try then 2nd and 3rd one out.