HAUNTED: Halloween '86

About

HAUNTED: Halloween '86 is a single player action game. It was developed by Retrotainment Games and was released on March 28, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Haunted: Halloween '86 - The Curse of Possum Hollow is a challenging side-scrolling, platformer, beat 'em up game inspired by classic 8-bit games. It's the sequel to Haunted: Halloween '85 and features tag team technology, allowing you to swap between characters and utilize their unique skills. The combat system is enhanced with new attack and defensive moves, providing an upgraded experience over the original.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

music6 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

The game features enjoyable action platforming with a mix of beat'em up mechanics, providing a nostalgic NES experience.
Players can unlock new moves and abilities as they progress, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.
The visuals and music are well-crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.

Some players experienced issues with character variety, as the second character does not offer different abilities or gameplay mechanics.
The game lacks a save feature, relying solely on passwords, which may not suit all players' preferences for modern gaming.
Difficulty levels appear unbalanced, with some players finding the normal mode to be excessively challenging compared to easy mode.

music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its catchy 8-bit soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and fits the game's vibe perfectly. Reviewers appreciate its nostalgic feel, likening it to classic NES titles while noting improvements over previous installments. The soundtrack, along with effective sound effects, contributes significantly to the game's engaging experience, particularly during key moments like boss battles.
- “It has great atmospheric 8-bit graphics that set the creepy tone along with an amazingly catchy soundtrack.”
- “Sick soundtrack to accompany a great beat 'em up game.”
- “The level design, the character design, even the music harken back to the days where you would spend minutes blowing into a cartridge before getting the game to work.”
- “The music, at least in my opinion, is a lot more catchy and fits the vibe of the game even more; it's as if the mediocre Friday the 13th NES games surprisingly had nice music, mixed with a tad of the memorable 'skips and beats' of Zombies Ate My Neighbors.”
- “This game is a phenomenal return to the NES console, from the catchy 8-bit music to the feel of the platforming, and would have been a welcome addition to my childhood back in the 80s.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The story is generally well-received, featuring a solid narrative about a town haunted by a maniacal farmer and his minions, which enhances the gameplay with engaging boss fights and unlockable skills. However, some players find the environments to be clichéd and lacking in originality, while the inability to save progress has been noted as a drawback, particularly for those who cannot complete the game in one sitting. Overall, the story adds charm and nostalgia, though it may not break new ground.
- “A cool story about a town haunted by a maniacal farmer and his minions, which offers some great boss fights.”
- “Overall, I really enjoyed the story and the skills that you unlock every level to make your journey even more exciting!”
- “The visuals and music are pretty good, the story is solid, and I love that this includes both versions of HH '86.”
- “The problem is that there is no way to save a game and come back later, just like the last game. While the NES difficulty and nostalgia are there, not everyone has the time or energy to complete a game in one sitting.”
- “The environments, from what I saw, were varied and some were interesting, but most of them felt like cheesy ghost story clichés. This isn't a problem or benefit, as I can see it comes with the charm of a game like this, but it also isn't anything groundbreaking.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The graphics are praised for their atmospheric 8-bit style, effectively setting a creepy tone that complements the gameplay. The visuals draw inspiration from classic titles like River City Ransom and Mega Man, maintaining a nostalgic NES-era aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Users appreciate the combination of solid visuals and a catchy soundtrack, which together create an engaging atmosphere.
- “It has great atmospheric 8-bit graphics that set the creepy tone along with an amazingly catchy soundtrack.”
- “The art style and gameplay pretty much remain the same, and the cheesy NES era 8-bit horror that gives off that 'creepy crawly' vibe, is still there, a lot more catchy in my opinion.”
- “The visuals and music are pretty good, the story is solid, and I love that this includes both versions of HH '86.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games, making it hard to immerse myself in the experience.”
- “The art style is reminiscent of the NES era, but it doesn't translate well to today's standards, leaving the visuals feeling flat and uninspired.”
- “While the gameplay has its moments, the graphics are a significant drawback, failing to capture the attention or evoke any real emotion.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The gameplay offers a rewarding challenge that tests players' skills without being overly frustrating, featuring a nostalgic 8-bit horror aesthetic. Players appreciate the engaging character-switching and health mechanics, as well as the ability to develop skills over time, all complemented by great music and sound effects. Overall, it successfully combines classic gameplay elements with modern twists.
- “It definitely poses a nice challenge, but the rewarding kind that isn't overly frustrating. It will definitely test your skills and understanding of the game's moves and mechanics.”
- “Music and sound effects are great. The character-switching mechanic and health mechanics are awesome, plus the ability to develop your abilities over time is really neat.”
- “Old school feel-good mechanics.”
- “The art style and gameplay pretty much remain the same, and the cheesy NES-era 8-bit horror that gives off that 'creepy crawly' vibe, for lack of a better term, is still there, a lot more catchy in my opinion.”
- “The gameplay can feel repetitive after a while, lacking the depth and variety needed to keep players engaged.”
- “While the mechanics are interesting, the execution often feels clunky and unrefined, leading to frustrating moments during play.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features impressive 8-bit graphics that effectively create a creepy atmosphere, complemented by a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- “It has great atmospheric 8-bit graphics that set the creepy tone along with an amazingly catchy soundtrack.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers note that the character development is reminiscent of classic gaming, with a nostalgic feel that is reflected in the level and character design, as well as the music. This evokes a sense of connection to the past, enhancing the overall experience.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted through unexpected moments, such as the player's accidental discovery of a password linked to a character's name, which adds a lighthearted touch to the otherwise challenging gameplay. However, the overall experience is marred by the lack of a save feature, which some players find frustrating.
- “The humor in this game is top-notch, with clever dialogue and hilarious character interactions that kept me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
- “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously; the quirky jokes and funny scenarios made every moment enjoyable.”
- “The witty banter between characters adds a delightful layer of humor that makes the gameplay experience even more engaging.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
The game's optimization is commendable, with smooth sprite performance that eliminates flickering or stuttering, even on original hardware. However, players find the platform jumping challenging and the fast enemy attacks can catch them off-guard, highlighting some issues with character switching mechanics.
- “The platform jumping is tricky, boss fights are interesting, and the character switching is a great gimmick. However, it can be frustrating when a fast enemy sneaks up on you from off-screen, especially if you forget to switch characters in time.”
- “Having played the game on an actual NES at the convention, I can't believe there is no flickering or stuttering of sprites! But the overall optimization still feels lacking in certain areas.”

Skip Critic Reviews

70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Review: Haunted: Halloween '86
Hardcoregamer.com
70%

Skip Game Offers

Buy HAUNTED: Halloween '86

HAUNTED: Halloween '86
$9.99
See offer on Steam

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like HAUNTED: Halloween '86

55%26reviews

Haunted: Halloween '85

2016

Platformer

89%7.7kreviews

Streets of Rage 4

2020

Arcade Hack and Slash

+17

77%626reviews

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons

2023

Casual Hack and Slash

88%1.8kreviews

Momodora: Moonlit Farewell

2024

Platformer

91%4.8kreviews

Freedom Planet

2014

Arcade Platformer

More games like HAUNTED: Halloween '86

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

HAUNTED: Halloween '86 is a action game.

HAUNTED: Halloween '86 is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Windows and others.

HAUNTED: Halloween '86 was released on March 28, 2017.

HAUNTED: Halloween '86 was developed by Retrotainment Games.

HAUNTED: Halloween '86 has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its graphics.

HAUNTED: Halloween '86 is a single player game.

Similar games include Haunted: Halloween '85, Streets of Rage 4, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise Of The Dragons, Momodora: Moonlit Farewell, Freedom Planet and others.

HAUNTED: Halloween '86

Platforms

About

Buy HAUNTED: Halloween '86