Developer Hiding Spot presents Beacon Pines, an indie-adventure game that markets itself as a cute and creepy adventure set within a mysterious book. It’s Winnie-the-Pooh meets Twin Peaks.
Beacon Pines – Story
You take control of Luka VanHorn, a young deer whose mother has mysteriously disappeared. Beacon Pines has had some strange occurrences around the town and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the townsfolk. Luka joins his friends on a journey to uncover the disappearance of his mother and the conspiracy that threatens the titular town.
Beacon Pines – Gameplay
Throughout the story, you gather Charms. These are words that you can use at a Turning Point to exert influence over the story’s outcome. I thought this gameplay mechanic was a unique and satisfying way to tell a narrative. It was exciting seeing how many different ways the story could end prematurely. At first, I thought the replaying of chapters would feel tedious; however, as you go down the “wrong paths,” you learn more and more about the town and the mysteries you’re trying to unravel. The game encourages exploration as the Charms can be hidden behind objects to interact with or unlocked through conversations with Beacon Pines’ locals.
RELATED: Wayward Strand Review
Music and Audio
One of my favourite parts of Beacon Pines was the narrator. A narrator who can keep the reader engrossed throughout a story can be difficult to achieve. Fortunately, the narrator delivered the story in a captivating way that kept me invested in the story and characters. The soundtrack was brilliant and definitely fit the aesthetic of the game even during its wholesome and heart racing moments.
The Verdict
Beacon Pines is a wonderfully crafted adventure game with a twisted yet heartwarming story. The way the narrative is told is extremely captivating in a way I haven’t experienced before. I’m excited to see what Hiding Spot games are able to achieve if they keep expanding on this storybook-adventure genre that they’ve pioneered.
