Post streaming Review

There isn’t anything other players have said that you don’t know, Okay maybe this bug with the Bibles in the fireplace that I used to get +16 bibles. Seems like this is one book that couldn’t be burned, (best bug in the game so far). You won’t find this in video because I didn’t record it but I have been playing the game offline for 4 more hours after and I’m LV 19. I knew there is more to this game and I’m doing best to find the ending and after watching the trailer video it motivated me a day ago to keep going.

The enemy encounter rate it way too much at the beginning of the game making it hard to live, I think I died like at least +500 times But I’m a souls player, RPG dev and bug tester. so I’ve been grinding to my hearts content with my knife ( because I can’t find other weapons) and now that knife kills everything that looks at me crooked eye ( which is all the monster). The problems these days is these RPGM games don’t challenge the player in combat and the theme… I love it, I guess a little AI-y art but I’m going to look pass that.

I wish I knew where I was even going, I when from Town→ House with the girl locked in directional fix on → Farm→ Trailer park→ 4 way junction → Mill→ swamp → 4 way junction → Town → Farm with bloody message: help → Cave with the Red obsidian stone. So Im currently lost and need help. If you want to help me live you can come to my twitch Monday, Wednesday, Friday @4pm EST and we can finish this together if you ever have the time.

I tried this out (the jam version to be fair to the other jam entries) but I could not enjoy it much. As I understand it it's a new developer and it definitely shows. It functions, but there's nothing to hook you in. I tried to be patient and see if there was a story in here but after wandering around the forest, then some swamp and finally a cave without any story or event happening I gave up.

I don't want to be mean to a new dev, but hopefully the next points can help you improve. We've all been new once, and this was functional which is already a first step!

• It's a cute touch to replace HP/MP for a heart and cross symbols.
• I nearly praised the maps after the new game area (which is a mishmash)...until I realized they're all sample maps XD There's nothing wrong with using them, but you have to adapt them to your needs.
• The maps are large and empty. Since the project is not encrypted I looked round, and the entire starting forest has only one chest with a weapon and the exits.  This is a big no-no: either have small maps with few finds, or big maps with many finds. Having large maps for no reason and then adding in random encounters is inviting the player to get bored.
• The first enemy is a bat with batman's face? Okay then. Not very horror-y.
• In general I get you say this is meant to be a horror game and it tries with the ambience but it's so basic as a rpg basic template there's nothing scary about it (that I saw, I could have missed stuff further on).
• Got poisoned with no way to cure it and no antidotes, so that's my run over. Even if I run away the poison never leaves. Either have a recovery spot, have poison disappear at end of combat or give antidotes.
• Gameplay is a bit dull (so far). there's not much to do, or any place to rest, so its escape galore, not engaging. 

Some suggestions:

• Pick a hook for your game (a story, an ambience, a gameplay feature, anything) and try to excel at that. Having one strong aspect will help engage the player than a functional but bland overall. 
• As stated before: switch your approach to the maps. If you don't want exploration and items, make them much smaller and moodier.
• IF you want horror you might want to add some ambience besides the tint and the rain (which is a start).
• Give the player some clear goals. I know I had to visit someone but tat promptly got lost after minutes wandering around lost with no input.
• Related to the maps: big maps=make less random encounters. They're not fun or interesting and combat is functional but eh. It just bogs you down.
• Take your sample maps and chop them down for parts or just the bits you need: you don't have to use them as they come.

Anyway, I hope this helped a bit and good luck in your projects.

This is the very first game I've ever made.