FueledtocommemoratethespookyGrandPrix, thiscartracingremasterintroduced a brandnewtrackthatscreamedHalloween.
Thetrackshines a spotlightonNinacortex.
NeocortexisGothicnieceorisshehisdaughter?
Eitherway, Nina's nightmareis a gatewayintothecharacterswarpedimagination.
Literally, theracecommenceswith a levitatingkey, unlocking a gate, sendingracerson a petrifyingpathmadeupofdecrepitwindmills, darkwoodsand a mansionmodeledafterNina's twistedpersonality.
Onhisquesttocollectthemasteremeralds, missingpieces, Knucklesfindshimselfglidingthrough a mountainrangewherethehilltopsorshapedlikejack o lanterns, thesettingsuninthebackgroundandtheilluminatedpumpkinheadsgivethelevelandatmosphere.
That's creepyyetcool.
Uh, onemoreleft.
ThesamecanbesaidabouttheLevelsthemesong, A Ghost's PumpkinSoup, whichcomplementsknuckles, fearlessattitudeandtheeeriesentimentofHalloween.
Mhm, thisnostalgicjamrecapturedthemagicofclassicthree D platformerwithseveralthemedworldstoexplore.
OneoftheareasthatHatKidtravelstoisSubConForest, whichiscrawlingwithcreaturesrightoutof a campfire.
StoryoffwithSceneStealerissnatcher, a mysteriousfigurewhoalwayshas a contractready.
You'llhavetomake a fewdealswiththisdevilishcharactertoprogress, requiringHatKidtodo a varietyoftasks, thecreepiestofwhichtakesHatGirltoQueenVanessa's manner, whereyou'llbehidingunderfurnitureinfear.
Itallculminatesin a bossbattleagainstthesnatcherwhoshouldhavewornhisthinkingcapwhenhemessedwithhatKidnumberfiveCreepyCastle, DonkeyKong 64 youknow?
Yeah.
Uhhuh.
Who?
Uhhuh, Yeah, secondonlytothe D.
K.
rapCreepyCastleisthemosthorrifyingpartofthis n 64 games.
Withgravestonespoppingupand a giantKremlindemontryingtosnatchyouaroundeveryturn, Thischallengeonlyamplifieseverythingthatmakes a traditionalmindcartride.
ConsideringthatGrantIldais a wickedwitch, itmakessensethatoneoftheworld's inherlayerwouldhave a Halloweentheme.
Thishauntedmansionisoverrunwithstrangecreaturessuchas a slumberingghost, livinggravestonesand a ghostlyhandthatplaysthepipeorgan.
It's notallgloomanddoom, however, mumbojumbogetstotryoutarguablyhismostadorabletransformationspell, turningyouinto a pumpkinthat's smallenoughtoflushdownthetoiletpumpkinbanjokazoo.
WewouldfitinwellwiththepumpkinbrothersfromMoodyMazeMarshinukulelenumberthreevaletsyardshovelKnightShovelKnightis a lovelettertothesidescrollingplatformsoftheeightbitera.