Sorry but this is clunky, graphics are really sub par and objectives are not clear. Entered in a cave, saw a statue bleeding, got eaten, turned around, got eaten, don't know if I have to click on something or not, got eaten, don't know if I have to use a key or a button on my controller, got eaten...
No way to change resolution, no options, nothing.
Animations are really small, swimming arms are like a cramped dance, enemies "kill" you but it's just a freeze and a "go back or quit" menu splashing over the game in two huge black rectangle blocks.
I paused the game right at the beginning, then I started again the game and the menu (still huge black rectangle blocks) stayed visible while I could play again.
The game tells you how to use a compass, and then you lose it like 3 minutes later. The game doesn't tell you anything else about the interface (I don't need help for puzzles, but I can't solve puzzles if I don't know what key to use or IF I need to use a key at some moments...)
The prices cancels a bit out those problems, but that's not enough. It's a great work, nonetheless, that's true. Devs worked hard it seems even if that's probably not a lifetime project.
Also, the reviews here feels completely biased. Either devs themselves, friends of them or...? They talk about great music (2 notes synthetic 2 resonant instruments music...) they talk about great graphics (...), and some only played 12 minutes (like me...) and gave it thumb up and made it a great game. Feels fishy to me. 12 minutes, it's the time you feel you don't like the game, not the time you feel you LOVE IT AND IT'S GREAT!!!
So I don't know. I can't not recommend this game, because of the price, you can make your own mind and ask for a refund afterward if you want.
But I can't recommend it because it's just not finished, has no user interface understandable, and is very clunky.
To DEVS :
- Creating new menus with options might be too much work I suppose. But maybe try to work a bit on the existing ones? Black rectangles vs anything else : anything else is better.
- Your sound effects are interesting, dig deeper. For now it's metallic and low quality sounds sometimes (the Creature feels like it's heavily compressed or worse : midi...) so try to find a free sounds databank and browse?
- I understand working on graphics take a lot of time, especially if you are just 1 or 2. So I wouldn't say work on it. Same on animations. But you might try working on death scenes so it doesn't feels like "Hey, it's not a problem, I'm just in a game, no fear here!". Even a fade to black would be better than a freeze. I'm 8bit games generation and even then there was a try. Try!
- Maybe clean up some bugs, because having to restart the game when stuck in the pause menu might be a game breaking game if the game doesn't save.
- I'm sorry for the bad review. But honestly, all the good reviews gave me high expectations. I would have bought this game though, because it's my kind of games, but when I see good reviews like that, and I see the result, I'm not pleased as a customer.
Giving thumbs up for yourselves or asking friends to do it is fine, but don't overdo it, people WILL play WILL have a bad experience. So ask for something objectives, like "the graphics are not great, music is a bit repetitive but ambiance is great".
- At the end, I am curious on what you can do, with this game or with an other. That's why I won't ask for a refund, consider it like a Paypal donation.
- Take care.
