Haunted: Halloween '85

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Haunted: Halloween '85 is a single player platformer game with a horror theme. It was developed by Retrotainment Games and was released on October 30, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Haunted: Halloween '85" is a retro-style NES game with side-scrolling, platforming, and beat 'em up action. Originally released in 2015 as a homebrew game for the original NES, it has now been released for PC while maintaining its 8-bit pixelated graphics and original hardware restrictions. The sequel, "HAUNTED: Halloween '86 " features the return of Donny and Tami to take on even more powerful haunts.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game successfully captures the nostalgic feel of classic NES games, with engaging gameplay and charming graphics that harken back to the retro era.
Boss battles and level design provide a mix of challenge and variety, keeping the gameplay interesting and rewarding for players who enjoy retro difficulty.
The controls are generally tight, allowing for enjoyable platforming and combat mechanics that evoke the classic feel of old-school gaming.

The platforming mechanics can be frustrating due to slippery controls and unfair enemy placements, leading to a hit-or-miss experience.
There is no save feature or continues, forcing players to complete the game in one sitting, which can be tedious and discouraging.
Some aspects of the game, such as level design and enemy placement, feel janky and reminiscent of the weaker outputs of the NES era, detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The gameplay is a mix of challenging platforming and combat mechanics that can be both engaging and frustrating, with tight controls and a depth to the combat system that rewards skillful positioning. However, some players find the gameplay repetitive and occasionally unfair, with issues in platform detection and movement that can hinder the experience. Overall, it offers a nostalgic "Nintendo hard" challenge reminiscent of classic titles, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its simplicity and occasional design flaws.
- “With its challenging and engaging gameplay, players can enjoy countless thrilling hours of fun.”
- “The gameplay, while some platforming can rarely be nerve-racking, is tight, as well as the controls, with excellent control and combat mechanics.”
- “Its mechanics are consistent and function perfectly well when compared to other titles of a similar nature, even if it takes a little bit to fully understand your punch and uppercut hitboxes.”
- “The gameplay is pretty full, so the whole game is kind of a slog.”
- “The punching mechanic is suspect in places, as is the platform detection, and the game suffers from 'sliding' to a stop when you are moving, making platforming difficult if you want to place your jumps.”
- “The game design features some unfair situations, and by today's standards, the repetitive gameplay reminds me of times before everyone mastered copying Nintendo.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising their nostalgic appeal reminiscent of retro gaming, while others criticize them as rough and lacking polish. Although the aesthetic draws inspiration from classic titles like Double Dragon and River City Ransom, the overall execution is seen as janky and underwhelming, particularly in character design and visual quality. Despite these shortcomings, the game is noted for its ability to run on original NES hardware, adding a unique charm to its presentation.
- “The graphics are simply stunning and harken back to the glory days of retro gaming.”
- “The art style reminds me strongly of Double Dragon and River City Ransom on the NES.”
- “It's a little janky, the controls feel slippery, the graphics are pretty rough, character design is meh, and it's got a few sections that feel cheap.”
- “It's not trying to break any sort of mold or dazzle you with graphics that push the NES hardware to its limits; because yes, it can be played on an original NES, which is pretty cool.”
- “Imagine River City Ransom with worse combat, controls, bosses, graphics, and music.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is described as a retro-inspired soundtrack that evokes the feel of classic NES games, fitting the game's atmosphere well, though it may be considered unmemorable. While some users appreciate its catchy and creepy vibe reminiscent of horror titles from the NES era, others find it less impressive compared to the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a solid complement to the game's aesthetic, despite mixed opinions on its originality and impact.
- “Retro, Halloween, great music, and great controls.”
- “The soundtrack is cool, sounds like Nintendo but it's a bit more amped; you can tell it's newer than the original NES games, but it's not a bad thing.”
- “The game's OST is interesting and definitely gives off that catchy, classic retro kind of creepy feel that you'd expect from horror-style games during the NES era.”
- “I'm not a huge fan of the music, but the sound effects will make you think you're playing an NES game.”
- “It has a solid soundtrack that, despite being ultimately unmemorable, fits the atmosphere that the game is going for very well.”
- “Imagine River City Ransom with worse combat, controls, bosses, graphics, and music.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of polish, with users noting janky controls, rough graphics, and mediocre character design, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character progression made the experience feel linear and unengaging.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its effective recreation of real-life elements, contributing to an immersive experience. While the soundtrack may not be particularly memorable, it complements the overall ambiance well, enhancing the game's intended mood.
- “The atmosphere and recreation of actual things from real life in NES form is one of the great things about this game.”
- “It has a solid soundtrack that, despite being ultimately unmemorable, fits the atmosphere that the game is going for very well.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Haunted: Halloween '85 is a platformer game with horror theme.

Haunted: Halloween '85 is available on PC and Windows.

Haunted: Halloween '85 was released on October 30, 2016.

Haunted: Halloween '85 was developed by Retrotainment Games.

Haunted: Halloween '85 has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

Haunted: Halloween '85 is a single player game.

Similar games include Oniken, Primal Light, Rosenkreuzstilette, 8BitBoy, Cursed Castilla and others.

Haunted: Halloween '85

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