Right then, I’ll reply properly to your very detailed feedback. ❤️
As for the scares, the atmosphere can feel oppressive and unsettling, particularly due to the audio, the sound effects and the odd unexpected encounter, but as you’ll have seen, it’s not a game based on jump scares, nor is it purely a horror game.
- As for the frustration of exploring the same environments over and over again, I grew up playing games like "Simon the Sorcerer", "Monkey Island" and similar titles, so this was never an issue for me as a player. It may seem as though some objects appear at random, but that’s never the case; they appear as the various storylines unfold, and I’ve tried to ensure that the player knows exactly where to look for the next clue, even if it wasn’t there before. These clues are left by someone who’s been helping you throughout the game, and who, in fact, helped you escape from the psychiatric hospital. 😼
- You don’t need to light all the fireplaces and candles in the game, but:
- Lighting the fireplace will help you see which houses you’ve explored (you can see if smoke is coming out of the chimney from the outside).
- Leave at least one candle lit; this will allow you to light cigarettes at any time, even if you run out of matches.
- There’s no way to open the initial dialogue with your brother, but don’t worry – it was more about the storyline than it was practical for the game.
- There are several copies of the book *How to Convert Letters into Numbers* in San Vicente; try to remember the formulas – you’ll need them if you keep playing.
- As for the subplots, they are ‘independent’; the main one is "An ancient curse" (if you’ve realised that you have to perform a sort of ritual in three different locations, you’re already well on your way), and the rest deal with events that took place in San Vicente in the past. When you resolve a subplot, your Depression, Horror and Madness stats will improve.
- From what you’ve told me and the items you have, you’re stuck at three points:
- Look for the torch in the old mine.
- Make your way past the spikes in the slaughterhouse towards where you want to go (a crate, if I remember correctly); just keep an eye on your health and carry some bandages just in case...
- There are only two warehouses in the game, and if you already have the axe, the only one left to open is next to Chusé’s house.
- And finally, I’m thinking of developing a paid, downloadable version of the game for Windows. I’m working on making the map show your current location when you’re outdoors, and on the inventory system. I reckon simply adding ‘read’ at the end of notes or letters that have already been viewed might do the trick… I also want to add atmospheric events outdoors so that the map isn’t so monotonous…
Having said that, I know it’s a very long and difficult game (I only know three people who’ve managed to finish it), but if you fancy it and my hints are any help, I’d love for you to see the ending after all the time you’ve spent both playing and writing your comments.
❤️ A HUGE THANK YOU for the feedback; it’s exactly what I’m looking for to help me improve the game. ❤️