Spooky or Coincidence?

[Random Dent]

*SPOILERS*

Just finished the game. Interesting, perhaps a *tiny* bit underwhelming, but pretty good nonetheless. My question is concerning one specific scene though:

In my playthrough--and I did it in one sitting, so it all kinda blurs--I think it is the first time you find a panel that goes behind a wall, you see that first map that draws out the first set of secret panels. Well just to the right of that, there is a small cross againt the wall. As soon as I picked it up, the light bulb that was on goes out. Assuming this happens to everyone.

My question is, this just a coincidence? Does anyone have any real, concrete theories as to yes, this house is haunted, or otherwise? We know the girls were trying to contact spirits, but does the game tell us either way? (And I know you find that letter in the beginning about how lights go out and stuff, but from what I can remember, this was the *only* time a light went out for me, some flickered occassionally).

[Agent47_1757]

I never picked up the cross :( but there were other times when lights came on by themselves as I entered certain rooms, I think especially in the basement. None ever turned off though, that would have scared the crap out of me.

[Random Dent]

I think it is pretty agreed upon that there is not anything overtly supernatural taking place, and any odd happenings can be chalked up to coincidence. I personally would love for it to either be much more ambiguous, or even just basically admit that yeah, this house, kinda spooky. The WHOLE game is fairly off, so you really are waiting for some kind of perverted twist. When it never comes, I personally felt a bit underwhelmed.

[Athena]

Originally posted by Random Dent:

*SPOILERS*
As soon as I picked it up, the light bulb that was on goes out. Assuming this happens to everyone.

Assumption correct, it's probably what many regards as the "one" clever jump scare, since it's effectivly something that is only fueled by your own pre-ception of what a big empty house during a storm will lead to.

I didn't noticed the cross on my first playtrough, did after resuming to see if I missed something on the subplots, jump in my seat for the first proper time after being a nervous wreck for the most of the game, the house is just creepy in general.

[Athena]

Originally posted by Random Dent:

The WHOLE game is fairly off, so you really are waiting for some kind of perverted twist. When it never comes,

Oh something perverted did happen, which I'd rather not write much about due to the heavy subject matter.

But if wondering what the balls I'm talking about, try and uncover more about Oscar and Terry.

[Dinerenblanc]

Originally posted by Random Dent:

I think it is pretty agreed upon that there is not anything overtly supernatural taking place, and any odd happenings can be chalked up to coincidence. I personally would love for it to either be much more ambiguous, or even just basically admit that yeah, this house, kinda spooky. The WHOLE game is fairly off, so you really are waiting for some kind of perverted twist. When it never comes, I personally felt a bit underwhelmed.

It's memorable in the way that it's so normal. They did a great job distracting us with the eerie side story, but the writer wants the conflicts of Sam to the bread and butter of the narrative, and it worked out rather well. Many people will find her story relatable. It's the human aspect of the story that's supposed to stand out, not the ghosts.

[abby]

The cross is the "pee-your-pants" moment in the game (and maybe the pentagon room, too, if you're as creeped out by that as I was) but maybe it was just the old wiring ;).

[Random Dent]

I'm aware that lots of people think something pretty sinister happened between Oscar and Terry, although I'm not sure there is quite enough for me to make any concrete theories. Yes there are some weird things (the age timeline next to the safe, etc). But picking up a cross and your bulb going out is weird too, and people agree that eh, it's nothing.

I appreciate the plot, the risks they took, the gameplay, all of it. Top notch. I just wish it had, honestly, some supernatural touches, or something. I *wanted* this going into the game--it is what made me first interested many weeks ago. I would have adored watching Sam and Lorie's ghost hunt grow weirder and weirder until it gets just downright unexplainable, even if it is just a subplot. As is, it doesn't go far.

[pigeonhammer]

I think that developing the ghost sub plot too much would have distracted the audience from the core story of Sam's coming of age. The writer probably realised early on that they had to make a choice about where they wanted the core focus of the story to lie, and so they chose to make it about Sam.

It was the correct decision, in my opinion. The sub-plots about Oscar and the general atmosphere of the house created a sense of foreboding. It was more of a figurative plot device though, because the literal sense of anxiety stemmed from the character fearing for her sister's safety.

It does make you wonder though about whether other developers will draw inspiration from this game. Perhaps we'll see more first person haunted house games at some point down the road as a result :)

[Random Dent]

True, but also, I'm not asking for very much more than what is already there. I don't necessarily want to see shadows, or blood. For example: seeing Sam's ghost report, then asking how tall Uncle Oscar was, was brilliant. I wanted maybe a bit more of that. Just to add more layers. Even if through Sam and Lorrie, they *think* the house is haunted, when it really isn't, would have been cool. I don't know.

While I don't fully agree with it, I get where people are coming from with the bait and switch. Look, whether it is so throw us off or keep us interesred, there ARE things in the game deliberately there to keep us, in some way, spooked. I don't just mean it being a dark empty house. Tons of cracks and creeks--some downright LOUD--lights go out when looking at crucifixes, there was an whole ghost-contact room set up!! They put these in here, I didn't just walk in "expecting" scary, (though I sort of did want it). So for them to ultimately go no where with it, even if it doesn't serve their main plot, does feel a bit....maybe like lost potential?

[Angry Nord-Grunge Syndicate]

Dodgy lights are explained in electricians report, it's in library, if i remember correctly

[RMJ]

You dont really need ghosts or anything, i think they capture very well how big houses are spooky. if you ever been in a big house like that when weather is bad and all alone.

Strange noises and light flickering. It can be quite spooky.

[Random Dent]

If dodgy lights and a big empty house were all of the things in the "spooky" deparment they threw at us to ultimately mean nothing, I would feel better about it. But there's more than that. Eurogamer's review put it perfectly:

"The second hook is more problematic. Although Gone Home is really about piecing together the personal lives of your family members - especially Sam's - it frames itself as a spooky mystery on a dark and stormy night, and employs a few cheesy devices to keep the tension high. The thunder crashes outside and ominous music broods as you pick up dark hints about the building you're in; it was inherited from a strange great-uncle and is called "the psycho house" by Sam's schoolmates. Perhaps it hides a secret? Well, it does, but it's not really the secret the game's atmosphere is selling."

I didn't go in expecting ghosts or hauntings--the game set that for me, beyond just the setting. Then they didn't deliver. That's all I'm saying. And i quite like what is there instead; it's just...not what I feel like I was being sold.