We have five seasoned participants who have each pulled out all the stops to make this the scariest Halloween ever, and after you see their amazing efforts I think you'll agree...
This odyssey begins with a trip to the Ali Cat Cafe for the fourth time in a showcase.
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| Ali Cat Cafe |
It's always nice to see the familiarity of the staircase at Ali's place, and it has been given a makeover to match the season. There's a tendency for players to focus wholly on Halloween during October, but Ali has included an Autumn tone throughout, and it looks so serene with the Playful Parasol at the centre. The colour of the Spring Flower Tables match beautifully with the Round Hedges and Potted Plants, and make me think of those magnificent golden skies you sometimes see at dawn or dusk - and surprise surprise there's exactly that with the Garden Grove wallpaper.
At the top of the stairs the Cider Bar can be found surrounded by Organic Tables and Produce Stands. The way that the Cider Bar has been enhanced is brilliant - it's gone from being a cool 3x3 sized decoration to an epic 5x5 creation. And its positive outlook contrasts well with the sinister scene adjacent. The Mad Scientist and Lab Assistant are hard at work perfecting their Frankenstein. It's strange to say this, but the Lab Coat Hanger and Spooky Fireplace give this area a weird homely feel. That's just wrong!
Downstairs the Autumn theme is continued with the Organic Stand and Tulip Box, another great example of Ali combining decor to form something bigger and better. Then there's a hint of Halloween with the Mummy pushing a Harvest Wheelbarrow. Yes you heard that right! It's an ingenious combination and has left numerous players (myself included) cracking up.
Now let's zoom in on the scene further along.
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| Haunted House area at Ali Cat Cafe |
Linking together the Haunted House and Trick-or-Treaters is something I do every year without a second thought, but I've never put them together side-by-side, and it works so well. But Ali has gone a step further by going to town with the front garden of the house. The Zombie Lovers are congregated on the front lawn, while an Evil Tree Spirit and Monster on Ice look on with fury at the amount of love being displayed by those zombies.
Meanwhile the Haunted House's occupants, the Drive In Diners, are making a swift exit down the drive. They obviously couldn't handle the ghosts and ghouls any longer and have opted to make their getaway. However the Train Conductor is puffing his whistle hard - he's not impressed that they're escaping without having given the Trick-or-Treaters any sweet treats!
Autumn is also represented at our next destination, Rubys Palace, who is appearing in a second showcase.
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| Rubys Palace |
In the left corner is a really jolly Autumn fair. The range of hearty goods available for purchase is staggering - the Farmers Market Stand, Organic Stand, Veggie Stands, Produce Stand and Veggie Displays are among the selections of organic offerings, making this quite possibly the most impressive market scene I have ever seen in the game. But Ruby has furthered her fair by including some apple themed activities for visitors. Whether you wish to indulge in the Cider Bar, go Bobbing for Apples or simply enjoy a drink at the Apple Festival, there really is something for everyone.
There is of course a spooky element to the Palace though. Across the way is Ruby's interpretation of the Haunted House, which places the Zombie Lovers in the back garden. Bella Beekeeper doesn't look fazed by any of the couple, the Floor Ghosts and the Wells of Spirits as she pursues a treat - this may be a result of the bravery she's accumulated having already stopped by the Haunted Clock Tower. Meanwhile out the front the Playful Parasol looks like she's about to be set upon by the Hungry Mummy. But the mummy is being pursued by the Trick or Treat Ghost!
Before we get caught in the chase, let's move up to the upper level, where there's a kitchen like no other in operation. There is action everywhere you look, be it the Witch's Kitchen, the Were Sushi Chef (slicing up who knows what) or the Lab Assistant and Witch Chef perfecting the evening's Bubbly Fountain. With Haunted Food Carts and a Haunted Butler prowling, the customers are sure to have an uncomfortable experience.
Elsewhere on the upper level, there's a party breaking out.
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| Party area at Rubys Palace |
It's easy to focus wholly on frightening designs, but Ruby has managed to portray a really fun and friendly Halloween party. The Costume Contest sees prizes handed out for the best dressed (or maybe that should be worst dressed?!) while the Monster Bash is at the heart of the proceedings as a group of Halloween misfits get into their groove with assistance from the Crooner.
And with the Singing Sisters, Violinist and Trumpet Player also in attendance, the monsters aren't the only one's prancing around. The Flamenco Dancers and Mexican Dancer are twirling into the night, making this a truly memorable Halloween. But of course not everyone enjoys jigging, and My Fair Gran-Gran falls into that bracket. Instead she is focusing on the buffet which includes a Candy Bowl Trick with a creepy green hand popping out. I'd be careful with that if I were you Gran-Gran!
Dancing is also present (if not as prevalent) at our third stop, Nibble and Noms.
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| Nibble and Noms |
This is the fifth occasion that Nibbles has featured in the showcase, and as she did last year for Halloween, there's a magnificent story to be had. You may recall a Cluedo style tale 12 months ago centred on a butler being transformed into a scarecrow, and now Detective Phoebe is returning to the scene of the crime to pay her respects on the anniversary of this most dastardly day. The interior has changed dramatically in the past year, and you can read a truly superb account of all the changes over on the Storm8 Forum.
Here I will pick out some of my favourite rooms. First of all, I love the reconfigured lounge ruled by the Vampire Waiter named Vlad. Red is still the dominant colour, but it no longer has a rich and warm feel. Instead there's a tension in the room as Vlad hands out homemade drinks from the Vamp Fountain whose contents are highly questionable.
Over in another corner is the kitchen, which has been overrun by witches. It's truly a Witch's Kitchen now with the Witch's Chef in charge of ensuring a sufficient helping of magic is sprinkled on every order. And then there's the Crashing Witch who has smacked straight into the wall. There's something quite hilarious about how Nibbles has described her predicament:
"Don't mind Mina on the wall, by the way; she's still working a few things out with her broom."Maybe she should consider displaying an L-plate?!
On to the next corner which once upon a time was a conservatory.
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| Laboratory at Nibble and Noms |
The lab was once a botanist's dream with so many lush and exotic flora for studying. Now a solitary Plant Monster is all that remains of that, with the chemical scientists taking over. The Mad Scientist, Mad Chemist and Lab Assistant have plonked down their Lab Experiment and Confection Labs as they pursue the perfect concoction for transferring the butler-scarecrow's soul into the disturbingly dormant Frankenstein. It's great to see the scientists being placed in a way that they really are serving a purpose - I tend to just shove them in a generic lab every Halloween, but Nibbles has taken great care to give them a proper scene.
And we finish off this whistle-stop tour with the last of the four corners, where there's something rather terror-inducing in the study. Located behind the rows of Coffin Bookshelves, the study has fallen into a state of disrepair over the course of the last year, with the windows boarded up with rotting planks. The fact that there's a Zombie Attack in progress on the other side would be noteworthy if it weren't for the hairy converse-wearing Werewolf in the middle of the study!
Understandably we're rushing away from Nibble and Noms before we become lunch, and luckily there is relative tranquillity to be had at Dingo Diner.
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| Dingo Diner |
This is a second showcase cap for Dingo Diner, and here we have one of the more organised Halloween restaurants in the community. Dingo has a couple of sleek dining areas, one of which is the section to the right. Here Spider Tables and Cobweb Chairs will keep any arachnophobes away. They may wish to hide in the kitchen since there's lots of action in here that you could try blending into. A Witch's Kitchen is in full flow, while the Mad Chemist and Lab Assistant are preparing some special dishes in their dedicated space. I really love the touches of elegance in this area courtesy of the French Lanterns and Fall Dividers - it may be Halloween but there's something really attractive about eating here.
On the other hand, the top corner is not a place you want to be. The Stone floor and Tombstone Tables convey a real coldness, as does the Grim Reaper who is inviting unsuspecting guests into the area. Within are the Coffin Couple and Count Dracula, all emerging from their respective coffins with attitude. Add in the Vampire Waiter and you've got fang city here. I really like how it contrasts with the more easy-going feel in the first zone.
On we go, and the outdoor space shows some Trick-or-Treaters preparing to enter a leaf-strewn graveyard. The Evil Tree Spirit, Fall Owl, Raven Tree and Fallen Trees have been cleverly combined, while the Brown floor tile is utilised to portray mud around the numerous graves. And if the Haunted Clock Tower wasn't enough to give you the heebie-jeebies then the Glass Chef and Holographic Greeter will - both do a great job of standing in for ghosts.
But it's the final section within Dingo Diner that I wish to focus in on.
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| Fine dining area at Dingo Diner |
This is a Halloween themed interior like no other. It takes the somewhat sedate dining space we saw earlier to the next level, with some high end dining, Halloween style. There's sophistication everywhere you look, from the Red Pattern wallpaper and Mirror Mirror to the Red Curtains and Candle Lamps. And the combination of Spiderweb Tables and Ghost Chairs keeps things light (quite literally!)
The characters in here are also well selected. Within the surroundings the guy pushing the Haunted Food Cart looks much more friendly, while the Violinist is right at home in this luxurious setting. But the award for most outstanding decoration combination goes to the Well of Spirits which are actually playing the Spooky Piano! It's easy to miss, and leaves me wondering just how Dingo even came to have the ghost tapping away at the keys.
In contrast to the fancy dining at Dingo Diner, you'll find that the last showcase entrant is making the bots camp out among the many dangerous beings.
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| Fat Bear |
Fat Bear is a Halloween specialist, and has not disappointed with this year's effort. In this fifth showcase appearance, Fat Bear has reproduced a few special features from last year, but has also came up with some superb and novel designs this time, meaning that we are looking at one packed out eatery. One classic is the Haunted Clock Tower which stands tall on the right corner with Desert Hounds flanking the entrance. Sited within a cemetery cordoned off with Graveyard Dividers, this is not an area I'd want to be taking a late night walk!
Hot-footing it out of there we find the refuge and safety of the S'mores Campfire and Camp Tent. I'd never have considered using these two decorations for Halloween, but Fat Bear has done an excellent job of placing them as the home of some very brave campers. The Trick-or-Treat Ghost, Evil Tree Spirit and Haunted Butler are just a few of the villains they may need to point their smoking marshmallows at, not forgetting the Grim Reaper who is perched on top of the tent!
If the campers do chicken out (who would blame them) then they could make a dash for the dusty saloon. The Haunted Floorboards and Vampire Waiter give it a bad rep, but the Spooky Piano and Gran's Phonograph do provide a nice backdrop, and the Spooky Candelabra ensures the room is well lit. In fact, Key West Gran-Gran can be found here with her summery outfit - she's very old and may be a little crazy, but at least she's a familiar face.
Next to this abode are two more areas which merit further inspection.
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| Kitchen and canteen areas at Fat Bear |
The Witch's Kitchen is certainly getting around in this showcase, but at Fat Bear there's additional help courtesy of the Witch Chef, Witch's Familiar and Witch's Cat. I'm not sure exactly which of these is in charge of the lunch service, but given that the cat is looking over the accounts for the restaurant it appears it may be her. Whoever's running rule the food being produced is first class, including Eyeball Stew. This is an old Fat Bear favourite which long time readers will know has sat undisturbed now for multiple years - and in fairness it looks like it's been neglected!
Adjacent to the witches is a canteen whose white tones suggest cleanliness and a high level of hygiene. But that just makes the Zombie Butcher an even more creepy sight. He's dicing various cuts of meat, although which animal they've come from is unclear. I strongly suggest indulging in the Salad Bar to balance out any unusual tastes from the meat, although since the Zombie Waiter is serving you're probably a lost cause. This is a relatively simple canteen, and yet it's one of the most disturbing Halloween designs I have seen in the game.
These showcases really do showcase some immense talent. And Halloween may just be the best platform for it. Be it Ali's terrific decor combinations, Ruby's comprehensive covering of certain Halloween and Autumn themes, Nibbles' inspired storytelling, Dingo's elegant twist on your typically gory Halloween or Fat Bear's incredible ability to pack in so much fantastic content, there's something really special about every one of these restaurants.
And there's something to be said here for Storm8's work too. Overall I've been quite critical of the quality of new additions for Halloween these past couple of years, but regardless at this point we've got a really strong and in-depth range of decorations for the occasion. Their decision to re-release so many of them at the start of October has paid off big time, with a lot of players appearing to happily spend real money in order to get that Halloween item they always craved, or to have a go at some of the discounted boxes.
Previous showcases
27/08/16 August 2016
02/07/16 July 2016
30/04/16 April 2016
14/02/16 Valentine's Day 2016
27/12/15 Christmas 2015
02/07/16 July 2016
30/04/16 April 2016
14/02/16 Valentine's Day 2016
27/12/15 Christmas 2015
I've rarely seen more excitement in the game than in the past few weeks, and it's been very enjoyable to watch on as players use their inventiveness to come up with some extravagant designs. For this reason I really hope the game's developers are similarly generous with their Christmas sales, and then we can have just as wonderful a showcase for the festive season.
For now it's a huge thank you to my five awesome neighbours who have allowed me to bring their diners to the world. Oh, and happy Halloween!
I love this blog!!! Keep up the great work!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, much appreciated! :)
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