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Garten of Banban 6 is ironically named as the episodic franchise comprises 5 chapters. However, this shouldn’t surprise anyone as this series makes little sense, and you simply roll with the punches. Though this off-the-cuff style may annoy some people, I love the surreal gameplay and the silly but horrific storyline. Accordingly, if you love chapters 1-4, you’ll cherish getting your teeth into chapter 6.
This horror adventure title was developed by Euphoric Brothers and published by Feardemic. Moreover, it has some strange puzzles that rarely make sense. This should have been an annoying design quirk, but I loved the bizarre nature of the gameplay. What’s more, there is a real horror edge that keeps you on your toes and makes your heart pound.
Garten of Banban 6 has you guessing who is a friend and a foe.
Garten of Banban 6 follows on from the madness of its predecessor. The hero is a father who has lost his child in kindergarten. Consequently, he must search the lost levels to find clues to reunite with his offspring. This is no easy task as the world is huge and the Naughty Ones hide in the dark. These manic little bastards love to scare the crap out of you and one false move is all it takes.
Every episode explores a random region of this hectic world. Yet, this one is uncomfortably big and shrouded in darkness. To make matters worse, there are small rooms to explore and plenty of puzzles to complete. Each of these problems requires a logical mindset and great situational awareness. If you creep into the dark or you miss a glimpse of a naughty one, you’ll regret every second.
Keep on moving.
Previously, Bittergiggle has been your enemy. However, this horrendous mascot has changed its allegiance and now wants to help you on your quest. This was a strange twist that took me by surprise. I didn’t mind as any help in this dank dark world was always welcome.
If you wish to complete your quest, you’ll need more than a weird friend on your side. Instead, you’ll have to upgrade your drone and flick switches to get the lights on. Your drone is the perfect tool that keeps you safe and the Naughty Ones at arm’s length. Though this tool isn’t always the go-to solution, it helps you to keep on moving from section to section.
A tough game to review.
Garten of Banban 6 is a brutal game to review. Much of the action makes little sense and you require plenty of context from the previous episodes to make the most of it. Additionally, I can’t talk about many of the elements without ruining the gameplay or sounding like a deluded fool. Subsequently, you’ll have to believe me when I say the jump scares are cliché but enjoyable.
On top of this, the puzzles are testing but not impossible. The inclusion of darkness and the fear of getting caught ramps up the difficulty setting, but everything is achievable. The hardest part of this title is the navigation. Walking narrow and poorly lit pathways is enough to make you scream. However, it is the risk of getting leapt on by a deformed mascot that really got my heart pumping.
Garten of Banban 6 needed longer in the oven.
This series is renowned for its low-quality visuals. The games feel rushed and the end product is somewhat shite to look at. The characters are glitchy and the cinematic is poor, to say the least. Furthermore, the textures are lacking and render distances are almost non-existent. I didn’t mind the latter issue as it enhanced the claustrophobic experience and increased the feeling of fear. However, the rest of the issues were unfortunate and should have been ironed out before release.
The audio is unbelievably creepy. The developer has combined moments of silence with awful ear-splitting sounds to great effect. Exploring the sinister and dark world was eerie at the best of times. Yet, when you combine the ominous soundtrack and creepy sound effects, you get a skin-tingling result.
Sluggish controls.
Sadly, the rushed edge isn’t exclusive to the graphics. No, the controls are loose and have a sluggish nature. This isn’t too problematic, but there are moments where accuracy is essential. Annoyingly, you’ll have to adjust your approach to overcome these moments. This was disappointing as it should have been avoided altogether. Had some minor tweaks been made, the control system would be vastly improved.
Though you are free to explore within reason, it is a linear game. Additionally, once you’ve experienced every jump scare and weird moment, I’m not sure there is a reason to return. Consequently, Garten of Banban 6 lacks replay value and longevity.
Garten of Banban 6 is good, but it is flawed.
Garten of Banban 6 is the best of a bad bunch. Though I’ve enjoyed the series, it lacks modern polish and the clichéd weirdness isn’t as appealing as it should be. Despite its flaws, this is the best game in the series and lovers of the franchise will adore every bizarre moment. However, if you have never played a Garten game, you will not want to start with this title. I have my reservations and my doubts, but I still recommend buying it here! Can you survive and find your child? Solve the puzzles, explore the world, and steer clear of the darkness.
