Solitude DEMO

[Hangman 2]

Solitude

 

 

Optional:

Abstract: Explore a spooky mansion while encountering demons.

Genre: Thriller/Puzzle

Average Demo Time: Demo time can range from 15 minutes, to and hour depending on how fast you find everything and solve puzzles

Game Progression: This is going to represent about 20% of the actual game so far.

Recruitment: Writer. Maybe Artist. Maybe Musicians.

 

 

Required:

Story / Setting / Purpose:

There is not much of a story in the game, as I am working out the ways to implement them. The setting is a large Gothic mansion, and the purpose in the demo is to find the a way to free the girl you find in the first screen.

 

Character Bios:

There are currently only three characters in the game. The first is ‘Regi’ whom the player controls. Backstory is yet to be finalized. The other two are NPCs. One, a nameless girl whom is seen in the opening screen, and the other is a set of black phantoms that are encountered throughout the mansion.

 

Credits:

Malign Chords-  Patrick de Arteaga.

Ancient Dungeons- Celianna

Kha’s Awesome Lighting effects- Khas Arcthunder

Victor Basic Engine- Victor Sant

Scene Combine- Efeberk

 

If your work is used and I didn’t list it, contact me and I’ll add it.

 

Screenshots:

 

Features:

Combine items to solve puzzles

Hidden puzzles to uncover more story

Emphasis on exploring to progress

 

 

Download:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/hea02nl32nwmmcm/Solitude+DEMO.exe

 

Known Issues:

No known issues aside from text/selections being hard to see against the darkness.

 

[PowerBurger 49]

I love horror games! I'll give this one a try this weekend if I have time.

 

Would you mind a review once I'm finished with it?

[Hangman 2]

I love horror games! I'll give this one a try this weekend if I have time.

 

Would you mind a review once I'm finished with it?

Of course I would love for you to leave a review!

[PowerBurger 49]

My apologies, school and work has been super busy from one day to the next! Not to mention other business involving family and friends as well.

 

I'll try my best to make room for this within the next two days! It's not a guarantee, but I'll make an effort, haha.

[PowerBurger 49]

Alriiight! Happy late Christmas!

 

My apologies once again, I completely forgot this existed. However, a review is what I promised, and it is what I shall deliver!

 

I played this game for almost two hours, although after thirty minutes of no progress after the Wine Cellar, I gave up.

 

- Audio -

 

This game has one consistent track over the course of the game, save for one room in particular. Surprisingly, it doesn't get old. The only real flaw is that this track is too quiet, which makes your other track and sound effects a tad too loud.

 

Speaking of loud, the music noticeably gets louder in the Corridor. I'm not sure if this was intentional or not. 

 

- World -

 

There's no doubt in my mind: Your atmosphere is incredible. It's what kept my interest and encouraged me to keep playing. While the lighting could be slightly brighter, it's very good for a horror game. I especially loved the thunder in the dining room. 

 

Unfortunately, as per most horror demos, the atmosphere is too consistent. It gets old after a while. Also, atmosphere aside, this game isn't scary. The only actual event that I saw happen was a figure running past me in a hall.

 

There is some hint toward world-building with the book collection as well as the girl, but it could be vastly improved.

 

- Plot -

 

Perhaps I didn't get far enough, but as far as I'm aware, there wasn't much of a plot other than "save the girl."

 

- Characters -

 

The only real character who got any interaction was ol' Ralph here. He seems like your stereotypical horror protagonist for the most part. I don't have much to say about him other than that, admittedly.

 

- Gameplay -

 

This was where the game was definitely lacking.

 

The biggest complaint I have about this game is the lack of direction and cues. It took me forever and a half to find the wick as well as the first key, and I had to tear down the mansion to find them. It felt like hide and seek, to be honest. I kept hoping for some direction, some clue as to where I needed to go. It's the main reason why I stopped playing. 

 

The lack of cues is especially apparent in a few areas. There's also a combination door, the entrance of which looking like most other locked doors in the game. If I didn't know it existed, I probably would have torn my hair out trying to find it, assuming I found the code in the first place. The worst of it, however, is at the start of the game. If I hadn't pressed Z by accident, I wouldn't have known how to pull the barrel, essentially trapping me in the first room.

 

As RPG-Maker games have graphical limitations, it's up to the developer to think of clever ways to implement clues in order to guide the player. The game doesn't have to be easy, it just needs to avoid frustrating the player due to lack of control and/or direction.

 

- Other Criticisms -

 

You're allowed to save from the menu at anytime. If one is allowed to do that, what's the point of having save locations spread throughout the game?

 

The font is slightly irritating at times to read. I got used to it, although I would change it in the future. 

 

- Errors -

 

The combining system is a little buggy. I had to close and re-open the menu again for it to work properly.

 

There's a few graphical errors here and there, such as the top of the stairs and the shadows at the exit.

 

A hallway of floor tiles lack the step sound effects. 

 

- Conclusion -

 

Overall, I enjoyed it for around an hour, then it quickly became a chore. It's alright for a demo, and it's relatively bug-free(I think), it just has a few critical flaws is all. It makes the whole thing feel more incomplete than it should be. I'll give it a 5/10. 

 

Again, I'm so sorry that it took almost half a year for me to get back to this. Happy New Year, and I hope to see more from this game!