Half Away

I admit it’s unusual for a developer to review their own game, but I feel the need to share an honest opinion and tell a bit of the story behind Half Away. The project began in June 2022, driven by overwhelming enthusiasm and limited technical skills. After six months of pre-production, we defined the core pillars of the game, which remained unchanged until its release. Initially, the idea was ambitious: three distinct environments, each with unique mechanics. However, over time, we realized we needed to scale back our expectations and focus on realistic goals. A turning point came at Be Comics in Padua in February 2024, where we became the first students from our school to present a project at a fair. The audience's enthusiasm motivated us immensely. By May, for Svilupparty, we added another area—the Twilight Islands—although finalizing it proved to be a challenge. In June, as school ended, the team was significantly reduced. Despite this, we rolled up our sleeves, tackling everything from programming to project management, even enduring the dreaded crunch that seems inevitable in game development. In November, we participated in the Radioamatore e Games fair in Pordenone. It was there we realized the project was both achievable and well-received by players. This gave us a much-needed boost, which we fully utilized in December, allowing us to create three entire areas within that month. The final project became an incredible learning experience for all of us. We managed to deliver a game that we feel is narratively and artistically satisfying, even if the gameplay might not be particularly innovative or groundbreaking. This project taught us so much. We hope Half Away resonates with you, and that, for better or worse, it leaves a mark on you as it did on us.

Beautiful narrative adventure, with graphics that originate from Slavic folklore and Japanese characteristics. The protagonist is Java, a little girl, without knowing how she wakes up in a mystical forest, a limbo inhabited by nature spirits. Java is confused and doesn't know how she ended up there, which is why she is helped and taught to use the gift within her, the ability to listen to the voices of plants and animals that no human is able to hear. To get out of this limbo she will have to offer her help to many benevolent spirits while others will ask her to solve puzzles. The journey will be long and the ending determined by his choices. I really liked the story, the soundtrack enriches the gaming experience a lot, and the wonderful graphics with strong colors and warm tones recall the 4 seasons. The plot is full of dialogues with spirits, showcasing Juana's simplicity and naivety contrasted with the wisdom of those who live in this mystical world. Some of the puzzles are easy while others are more difficult and sometimes require you to repeat them several times to complete them. There are 10 replayable chapters, because depending on the choices the ending changes, there are 4 of them all different. One thing I didn't like was the save system. The game automatically saves the progress, but only while we play the chapter if we don't complete it when we exit and reload there is no choice: "Continue" but it leads us to choose a chapter and from there we have to do it all again from the beginning. This is very frustrating because some puzzles are challenging and having to redo them is bad, we needed partial saves to be able to continue where we left off. I recommend it as a pleasant adventure but I hope for some improvements for the rescues. [quote]For more puzzle game reviews, news and everything puzzle-related, follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/25928931-Puzzle-Lovers/]Puzzle Lovers[/url] and check out our [url=http://steamcommunity.com/groups/puzzlelovers]Steam group[/url].[/quote]

Short experience with rich lore, but also some annoying sections that don’t always work as intended. The game follows Juna, who somehow ends up in Limbo. It turns out you were brought there because you are the only one capable of assisting the spirits in their fight against the dark monster. However, you have complete control over the outcome because you can reach one of the four endings within a few minutes of starting the game. Limbo is made up of several stages where you mostly walk around and some rare puzzles. These are frequently linked to characters who need your assistance, but the overall goal can be difficult to figure out. There is a hint, but it is quite basic and only reveals what you already know. A minor issue is that objects in the world are not marked to indicate their importance. You will see a button prompt appear, but only when you are close. Puzzles are not the primary focus because all will have to do is match a pattern and repeat notes. The bigger challenge comes in the annoying sections where you have to move the correct way. For instance, one stage features ghosts traveling left and right, and they start chasing you when you get close. After failing to beat it slowly, I simply ran forward, zigzagging between ruins. There was also one broken part in the desert, which has now been patched, and one part in an endless sea where you can get so lost that a level restart is required. Your character's remarks and chats with others appear as speech bubbles at the bottom of the screen. Characters have images with few expressions, but no animations. Although there are voices, they are gibberish and unrelated to the text. It is a nice touch, but the voices are too artificial and seem like they were played backwards. The game is more about the world, and you can use your special power, resonance, to hear a sound or a thought by approaching something and placing your hand on it. Despite the fact that nothing in the world points to such objects, you have a list of all available objects in every location. You still have to find them, but you will know what is still hidden. There are not many of them, and the most are encountered as the game progresses, so you should not have too much trouble. Locations are not that big and found objects stay discovered. Each objects exposes quite a comprehensive and informative entry about the world. Missing something is not that big of a concern because you may return to any unlocked stage from the level select menu. This is vital for acquiring other endings because one stage separates into two different stages. However, this happens just once, as the last two endings are found near the end.

[b][i]A story-driven, atmospheric, fantasy Adventure with puzzles and four endings. Help Juna escape Limbo.[/i][/b] Gameplay: https://youtu.be/CbYxG0In9Zs This is a touching story about a girl named Juna who falls ill and sent to Limbo. There, she gains the ability to hear the hidden voices of objects and connect with spirits. It's up to you whether she will return to life or remain there forever. The game features 10 colorful locations and 4 endings. Each location contains spirits and objects with which Juna can interact. Juna keeps a journal with a list of local landmarks. Once you find them in the game, you can read their descriptions and receive hints for completing the game. [u]You can read other reviews and subscribe to our curators. Welcome![/u] [url=http://store.steampowered.com/curator/25737869/] 5 minutes of game [/url]

Half Away è un gioco in cui ogni livello offre enigmi ben progettati, con una curva di difficoltà perfetta per tenerti sempre motivato. Lo stile stilizzato, la musica rilassante e la particolare narrazione rendono l'esperienza di gioco unica.

Although simple in its design, [i] Half Away [/i] is undoubtedly beautiful and original. From its inspired narrative based on slavic folklore and its stunning scenery, it is clear that this is a game that was made with a lot of passion and love, even though it does remains a little "unripe" in some of its parts. It makes for a simple, chill, one-shot experience that is sure to deliver with it's story and atmosphere.

un gioco sicuramente capace di stupire nel level design di molte aree e nel suo impatto visivo, colorato e molto vivace. prettamente basato sulla narrazione e ambientazione, porta rispetto alle premesse impostate, senza tuttavia voler stravolgere le carte dell'industria indie. i puzzle sono a tratti semplici, alle volte un po' inutilmente criptici, tuttavia, dopo un paio di minuti è facile immergersi e lasciarsi trasportare dal mondo di gioco, dalle musiche ai personaggi. gradito l'implemento di numerosi finali, che rendono personale l'esperienza di gioco e la rigiocabilità. ho incontrato dei piccoli bug, ma che da quello che ho visto sono in via di correzione, niente di gamebreaking consigliato se si è alla ricerca di un gioco narrativo e d'avventura non troppo impegnativo.

Mi è piaciuto. Interessante la storia con il finale che fa riflettere. Le ambientazioni sono luminose, colorate e rilassanti. Belle le musiche, consiglierei di aumentare il volume. Mi sarebbe piaciuto risentire i toni musicali del puzzle dopo averlo risolto, oltre a vedere i colori dell'arcobaleno. I puzzle sono un po' difficili se non sei allenato.

Che bello vedere il gioco finito! Ambientazioni molto coinvolgenti; worldbuilding più approfondito di quello che mi aspettavo; bello anche il quaderno: chi vuole saperne di più della trama lo legge chi no lo ignora. L’unica cosa che non mi fa impazzire sono alcuni puzzle che mi hanno richiesto molti tentativi per essere completati.

"Half Away" is a narrative adventure and puzzle game developed by the indie team Better Half Team, set in a vibrant realm inspired by Slavic and Japanese folklore. The game follows Juna, a young woman who wakes up in the Spirit Realm with no memory of how she got there. To return to the living world, she must embark on a journey filled with ancient mysteries, mystical powers, and encounters with both benevolent and enigmatic spirits. One of the most fascinating aspects of Half Away is the depth of its dialogues. Every conversation is masterfully written, offering an engaging narrative that captivates the player. Interactions with spirits and other characters are never trivial; instead, they enrich the storyline with emotional and moral nuances that invite reflection. The high-quality dialogue enhances the immersive experience, making Juna’s journey through Limbo all the more memorable. While there is no official information about the creator's sexual orientation, the development team's name, "Better Half Team," might hint at a reflection on the importance of one's "better half." This choice could be interpreted as a subtle nod to personal identity and self-acceptance—themes often present in works created by LGBTQ+ artists. In conclusion, Half Away delivers a deep and touching narrative experience, enriched by outstanding dialogue and a story that encourages discovery and contemplation. It’s a must-play title for anyone who appreciates well-written and immersive storytelling in video games.