Everything is detailed and pleasing to the eye. The environments that you’ll explore are presented in a 2D isometric view, and they look great. Since exploration is my favorite aspect of horror games, I really liked this approach, as it gives me plenty to do while moving towards my next goal. Much of what you can investigate is optional, and usually rewards you with more story background, items or even a side quest. Some locations in later parts of the story might be blocked off, but much of the streets and surrounding areas near your next destination are all open to exploration. Each chapter has a specific destination to travel to, but you can generally walk around the town somewhat freely. The entire game is spent searching the streets of your hometown, with several key locations marked on your map. Thanks to that subtle approach of storytelling, Yomawari: Night Alone’s biggest strength is able to shine, which is the exploration.
All of this leads to a great build up that turns into quite an intense chase sequence. You’ll find old crumpled up notes left by the girl, as well as some of her belongings. The best example of this was in one of the earlier chapters you’ll find billboards warning about the dangers of a cliff ahead and a girl who went missing in the area. You can also find various newspaper clippings, notes, and items on the ground that don’t aid you in progressing but give some insight to an event that happened. Much of the happenings of the area you’re exploring are told through optional billboards that you can read to give some background. Instead, each chapter gives you an objective, as well as having its own theme. Yomawari uses very few short cutscenes throughout the entirety of the plot. It’s a sad and dark tale that is told in a very subtle way. The way the story is presented is probably one of the highlights for me. If she ever wants to find her loved ones, she’ll have to carefully sneak by them or she may end up like the spirits she’s trying to avoid. Hostile spirits of the dead, as well as a few horrifying monsters, now walk the streets. Unfortunately for her, something is amiss. Throughout her journey to find them, she must follow the trail left behind by her loved ones as she travels through many different locales in her hometown. Yomawari: Night Alone is the story of a unnamed young girl who is frantically searching for both her missing sister and her dog. How does it stack up to the rest of the titles in the genre? Now another 2D horror experience, Yomawari: Night Alone has arrived. Much to my initial surprise, the moods created by 2D horror can be just as effective, and sometimes even moreso, than their more recent 3D counterparts. Ever since the 2012 release of Lone Survivor, I’ve become more and more interested in what kind of experiences and moods can be accomplished by this type of game. 2D survival horror games seem to be something that are becoming commonplace in my gaming adventures.