"Hey, have you heard about it?"

"About the Attic?"

"They say if you go up the Stairs, there is a way to reach Paradise - a place where all your wishes can come true."


Hello players!
Today the game is not really old, since it was made for the 2020's Kill the Cutie event. Halloween event. Little Maddie Dear is a RPG Maker MV game made by CrazyBabi & Marmalade, authors of some other games I liked and reviewed, but I'm going to mention just two of them: The Kaiju was my Childhood Friend and Errevale Fall, two game that are very different... and guess what? Also this Little Maddie Dear isn't like them!

In the game we play as Maddie, a girl looking to reach Paradise. Yes, Heaven... and the place is conveniently located in the attic of her house. But the problem is that her house is infested by various hideous monsters, and the only one that assists her is a talking stuffed toy. Well, not someone that can really help her, but a friend is still a friend!
The game has three possible endings and can be completed in about an hour.


Ok, little Maddie does not seem happy! Let's eat this... thing!

But let's focus on the monsters: some of these fear the light of Maddie's lantern, others are instead attracted by it, some creatures move in a set pattern, others will pursue the poor girl, some monsters will damage you others can kill with one touch. Also look out because some parts of the floor can also damage you!
Maddie has some actions that can help: she can Run, but not every opponent can be outrunned. Then she can Scream, stunning the monsters for some seconds, and the can also turn on and off her lantern, and she can also Rest to gain back some hitpoints. All these abilities cost Stamina Points. There is a way to get back all hitpoints and stamina, and this is using the mirrors that are also the save points, but their healing effect works only the first time! Oh yes, this isn't a forgiving game, there are few healing options (chest with heling items can be found... IF you survive long enough!) and they must be managed wisely of course!

Now the graphics: the game uses a mix of rpgmaker RTPs and custom art made by the developers, and as usual the result is very good: the game has its own identity and style, the locations are dark (maybe too dark!) rooms and corridors that looks like they came out from a nightmare, populated by bizarre creatures and monsters. And there are some custom slides/cutscenes to illustrate the salient moments of this short story. Music is from the RMN Music Pack and that's ok, for a simple and short event game that's prefectly fine, I guess!


Oh my god, what's this thing!!!

Final Verdict
Little Maddie Dear is a short 1-hour game that can be described as a sort of "survival horror" adventure game with levels filled with dangerous monsters. The gameplay is varied enough to keep the game interesting from the beginning to the end and the art is very good (surely one of the best aspects of this game)! A good event game for sure, challenging but really solid and well made!