The first title of the Pajama Sam franchise, Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It’s Dark Outside, was first released in 1996, introducing players to the world of a young boy named Sam. We meet Sam as he’s being tucked into bed for the night. The tone takes an immediate turn as his mom says goodnight and turns out the lights. Sam, like most young kids, is afraid of the dark and all that his imagination tells him resides in it. Aspiring to be brave like his superhero idol, Pajama Man, Sam decides to face his fear, personifying it as a villain named “Darkness”. After donning his Pajama Man mask, cape, lunchbox, and trusty flashlight, Sam begins his search for Darkness and quickly finds himself falling through a portal into the Land of Darkness.
No Need to Hide When It’s Dark Outside is a lovable, humorous, and continually entertaining point-and-click adventure game. As the player, you guide Sam on his quest to challenge Darkness. You face daunting foes like sentient trees and quirky, soon-to-be friends like a rusty mine cart and boat that doesn’t know how to swim. The game takes you through various locations as you try to retrieve Sam’s gear he needs to take on Darkness (that he loses within seconds of descending into the Land of Darkness), as well as several puzzles and challenges he must complete to progress further through the game. The game is enjoyable the first time around, and changes each time you play it, as alternative paths for Sam's lost items are generated with each play through.
The game has seen several re-releases in its lifetime. It was first released in October of 1996 and received a reissued in 1999 as well. In August 2008, the game was re-released for the Wii by Majesco, with a new name: Pajama Sam: Don't Fear The Dark. However, it was only available for a limited amount of time due to legal problems concerning the port's development. In December 2012, the game was ported to iOS by Nimbus Games under the title Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide. In February 2022, the Nintendo Switch version was released, followed by a Playstation 4 version as well. However you choose to play, it’s great to see that a 90s classic like this is available on various platforms, and keeps the attention of developers 30 years later.
I’ve been playing games in the Pajama Sam franchise for nearly three decades now, and No Need to Hide When It’s Dark Outside will always hold a special place in my memory. The dark, cozy setting also adds to the appeal, and the ambient, jazz-style soundtrack is great. After all this time, the game’s overall concept and the humorous character of Sam stand the test of time. Now, getting to cherish the game all over again through the eyes of my son as he plays it, I see the series as not only a junior adventure game, but truly something for anyone of all ages looking for a unique game.
Pajama Sam: No Need to Hide When It’s Dark Outside is available on various platforms, including PC (Steam), mobile (Android/iOS), and consoles (Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5). I highly recommend giving this title a try, and experiencing this 90s gem for yourself.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PC
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