In an industry pestered by calls to “think of the children”, Tarsier’s games are useful reminders that children can be utterly depraved in ways no coddling adult would ever dream. Later in Reanimal, the developer’s latest, strictly ‘co-optional’ horror game, two kids rip an eyeball out of a massive, sunken horse skull and shove it into what I sincerely hope is the eyesocket of a slumbering whale. Somehow, this is necessary to advance.
It’s the kind of thing that would only occur to children, because children do not reason like ‘we’ do, those disgusting creeps. They sense that they exist in a world that isn’t for them: a world of baffling laws, high shelves, and everyday monstrosity; a world they’re required to ‘grow into’ by means of repeated shedding and sprouting and subjection – milk teeth and pubic hair and doing your goddamn chores. So they instinctively come up with ways to screw with the system, twist its horrible logic against itself. Why not push a horse’s eyeball into a whale?
This post offers an intriguing perspective on Reanimal’s themes, especially in how it contrasts with the earlier works of Tarsier. It’s always fascinating to see how horror can evolve in video games, reflecting deeper societal issues. Looking forward to more discussions on this topic!
the more whimsical elements of Little Nightmares. It’s fascinating how Tarsier manages to blend childhood innocence with darker narratives, pushing boundaries in storytelling. This contrast not only engages players but also prompts us to reflect on deeper societal issues.