Hotel626 inn have a sweet dreams

With the Video Game industry commanding a healthy sector in the entertainment industry, horror games just sound like a winning combination. Like thar be gold in them thar hills! Unfortunately, we've ended up with long running-epics like Resident Evil and the like. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not knocking the Resident, it just isn’t scary. Most of the games out there just aren’t scary. Bloody? Yes. Scary? No.

Silent Hill was the first game that freaked me out beyond words, and part of that little show had to do with the long, dark hallways in my basement and the spooky stairwell of my apartment! Still. Scary game? Love to see it.

Doritos, the hallowed master, the lovely snack goodness that has absolutely nothing to do with scary whatsoever, has heard our cries and released Hotel 626 as part of their live it, love it, like it experience.

Hotels have always been spooky. I don’t know if it is the years of motley clientele or the potential for absolutely horrific events that are quickly sanitized with casual indifference. I suspect it is the long hallways, the murdered children, the long winters that lead to one helluva spooky place. Not since the Overlook has a hotel captured absolute terror. Enter www.hotel626.com, an online game that is more an experience than a game. Hotel 626 is a true nightmare that any horror fan should not only experience -- they should try to endure it.

Hotel 626 is something of a cross between "Paranoia" and "The Ring," with all the terror of Kubrick’s "The Shining," sans gushing elevators and spooky chick in the tub. Hotel 626 will definitely leave an impression.

Hotel 626 can only be accessed in evening hours between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Do yourself a favor and play this at about 3 in the morning. Make sure everyone else is asleep, the lights are off, and there is no possibility of being interrupted. Trust me. This is something you want to experience alone. It will scare you that badly, and it does so in such a delicious way! The game instructs you to put your head phones on and adjust your volume. Do this without fear of the annoying screaming photo. The only thing jumping in this game is your heart -- into your throat! Fill out the guest registry and you are whisked off to your room.

I won’t provide any spoilers here. The game uses a shaky cam approach. While not a fan of shaky cam (honestly it is something like the poor man’s 3D and has been woefully overdone in Hollywood), I must say it couldn’t be done here any other way and the producers use it with glee and to maximum effect. The game functions with your mouse as a pointer. All mechanics of the game center on the mouse, so don’t worry about going through a contortionist fit to make this work. Be sure to pay attention. In fact, play the game a couple of times. The level of detail is amazing, and the imagery is wonderful, a real credit to a company that took the time to give a damn and offer a fun and exciting product.

Give www.hotel626.com a spin. You will not be disappointed. If you are a true fan of horror (and not a sissy), then you have to play this game. Oh, and before I forget, be sure to plug in your nightlight BEFORE you play the game. Once you get under your covers, you won’t want to peek your head out again.

Enjoy! As they say, you’re room is ready.