Reviewed By Arielle
Here is a link to the playlist of this game play:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFgWlynmlfmeEAyaTPUscqwse6v8loTRY
WARNING: This article will contain spoilers, reader beware.
The evening was calm, serene, and seemingly normal…As a delivery person you are doing what has been requested of you. Little do you know what is awaiting…
Emily Wants to Play Too is a first person survival horror game created by Shawn Hitchcock and released on December 2017. Throughout the game you are trying to find your way through Central Evidence, and “play” with Emily and her friends until seven am. In this game you really must think your way through it to make it. For some, it may be easy but for those who get easily jump-scared it may be a little more difficult. I realize that this is a game, and as hard as it may seem there is always a way to beat it. In this game, similarly to the first you must last until the morning, yet there are outstanding differences that make this game stand out from its predecessor. In the first game Emily Wants to Play, we are introduced to a puppet called Chester, a Clown called Mr. Tatters, a porcelain doll called Kiki and of course, our main antagonist Emily. But in Emily Wants to Play Too, we are introduced to three new characters, Greta, Weasel and Max.
While the game is simple in its idea, play with Emily’s friends and survive until seven am, it requires you to think through certain levels. In this game the levels are more diverse, and there is more map room to work with that makes it challenging and more fun if you ask me. Also, If you have played the first game, then you are no stranger to the white boards trickery. When you are told certain directions in the game play and there is a smile on the white board it is telling you the truth. BUT, if you read the whiteboard and it is telling you to do something and there is a winky face at the end it is a lie! The game wants you to think your way through and know the characters well. There is no cheat sheet, there is no man in a dark alley way to give you clues. In this game paying attention matters! Pay attention to the characters, your surroundings, and to the notes! Everything means something in this game its not there by coincidence. Emily Wants to Play Too holds some very important clues/secrets that make the game satisfying to play and even more satisfying to finish. Upon starting the game, you play as a sandwich delivery person who gets back from partying to get ready for work. While sleeping he encounters nightmares and is jolted awake by his alarm. Then the real hell begins…HE NEEDS TO DO THE DISHES! No, I’m just joking, but if you are like me and hate doing the dishes you will understand why this is hell. Upon finishing his due chores, he can then leave for work, but wait…something isn’t right…The power is shut down and you need to find a way to get it back on. I will give you a little assistance here since I know I had some trouble with this. There is a key card you will need to find that opens the patio door, look at the clock in the newly appeared hallway and pick one of the numbered pieces of art that is in the hallway upstairs according to the number that is on the clock on the first floor. That key card will give you access to leave. Upon coming to Central Evidence you get locked in and must retrieve four key cards to gain access to each area. This is where the fun begins, for others it will be horror, but for me its fun. Like I have stated previously in this article, this game requires you to think through certain levels. Nothing is said blatantly as “this is what you must do to survive.” This is honestly a smart tactic to take. Consider all you have in this game: Jump scares, the unknown fear of something coming at you, the joy of finding Emily (that’s a big one for me) and the level of accomplishment you get when finding an Easter egg and/or secret in the game. All of these are used to drive the players motivation to not only finish the game but to show that no matter what you can beat anything you put your mind too! Remember, "There is always a way out" Shawn Hitchcock 2018
Now to get into something that happened during my experience playing this game. At the end of the game, you will notice that one of the characters will try to, trap you to say the least. Greta will set the building on fire and you must find your way out. At first when I played through this level (which is the very last one) I thought that you had to beat the clock and get out before the fire got too bad. Since at first, I couldn’t find a way out and would continually get stuck in the fire, I assumed it was a glitch and contacted Shawn Hitchcock on twitter he stated that there was no glitch, so I did a follow up lets play of the ending and I felt so dumb…Not only did I take my time to find if there was anything I could use to my advantage, I ALSO MANGED TO ESCAPE. So, I want to publicly apologize to Shawn for assuming it was a glitch, instead of taking my time with it. So With all of that being said, this game is wonderful! It makes you think, it keeps you on your feet and gives you a true sense of accomplishment. Its not a game that will give you everything on a silver platter just because it is “a game” I feel as if very few games now a days will challenge you and make you feel powerful and helpless at the same time. It’s a very weird yet satisfying feeling! Would I recommend the game? Yes, if you like a heart pounding exciting game that keep you engaged, go for it and let me know what you think!!