'The Path' a unique, creepy indie game

— -- "If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise." Perhaps Belgian designers Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn were humming this line from the famous children's ditty while creating The Path, a wonderfully strange downloadable computer game that serves as a contemporary retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

But Tale of Tales' independent game is certainly not for everyone. It's a slow-paced adventure with no fighting, little dialogue and when you attain the game's sole goal, you die. In other words, Halo fans need not apply.

If you're in the mood for something different, however, The Path is it. Whether it's really a game — opposed to a short piece of interactive fiction — might be a worthy discussion. It's an entertaining and thought-provoking digital diversion nonetheless.

Six sisters, ranging in age from 9 to 19, live in an apartment in the city. Their mother sends each of them to visit their bedridden grandmother, who lives in the deep woods, but instructs them not to deviate from the path. You select which girl starts the journey and you return to the apartment to pick another girl once you reach your destination. Eventually you'll play as all siblings.

Despite a warning about lurking wolves, to get the most out of this 220-megabyte download you'll intentionally veer off the road to grandma's house and roam about the huge forest. In it, you'll find temptations, dangers, wonders, choices and consequences — including special story elements for each of the girls. You'll collect more than 150 items, encounter haunting apparitions and visit places such as a well, tent, scarecrow and bogs. Granted, this is a vague description of what you'll explore and experience in this dark game, but it would spoil the adventure for you to give it all away here.

Once you arrive at grandma's house, the perspective changes from third person to first person. Will you head straight to her bed or discover hidden rooms and messages? As with the outside, most activities in the game are entirely optional and voluntary, ensuring no two games play exactly alike.

While the game doesn't contain a recommended age rating, aside from the macabre theme there are some mild sexual themes and violent imagery (though more suggestive than graphic) so it's probably more ideal for a teen than a child or tween. That said, The Path was designed to be very accessible. You can play with the keyboard, mouse or game pad, and interacting with items is as easy as letting go of the controls when up against an item or creature.

It would be remiss not to mention the game's atmospheric graphics — including occasional hand-drawn images that scatter across the screen, colors that change depending on what's happening, and smooth animation. There's also a haunting soundtrack performed by Jarboe (hear a clip from Safe Song at thepath-game.com).

If The Path sounds intriguing to you, check out the two-minute trailer at the official website for a good taste of what's in store. Be sure to approach this short horror game as an experimental interactive narrative rather than a typical video game with clear goals and rewards, and you won't be disappointed.

Contact Saltzman at gnstech@gannett.com.