Alyssa [ complete ]

[Berri]

( 2014 Indie Game Maker Contest Entry )

( CONTEST PROFILE | RMN PROFILE | TUMBLR)

Let me take a moment to thank you for peeking at this thread! I'm flattered.

I hope I don't waste your time.

I'm Berri, and this will be my first big project with RPG Maker VXA.
That said, critique would be lovely. I'd like to do my best to make a product that people can enjoy, so please!
Let me know what you'd like to see in Alyssa so that I can try to make you happy! (also there's this contest thing and doing my best for that would be swell.)
 

" At a glance, Alyssa is a story about a girl... Alyssa.
Living a spoiled life with her loving mother and father, cared for by house keepers William and Eleana, about to celebrate her anniversary... That Alyssa. 
On the surface, Alyssa is a girl whose family is about to be taken away from her. She's a girl who has until midnight to stop that strange demonic visitor from taking her happy life away from her.
She's that Alyssa.
 
But if that's who you think Alyssa is, then you're quite wrong. After all, there's more to a story than what you can see. Especially when it's a story about Alyssa. "
 
Okay, but enough being cryptic. Alyssa is a short rpg game starring some girl who calls herself Alyssa. Others call her Alyssa too. It seems to be her name. You play Alyssa as she struggles through a bizarre birthday, completing puzzles and defeating demons with only your wits and hidden talents to help you. But as that cryptic summary suggested, there is more to this seemingly normal survival horror rpg than meets the eye. Alyssa is part survival horror, part rpg battle, and mostly a mystery. If you want to find the truth then you'll need to look hard, collect clues, and unlock the "real" ending of Alyssa. 
 

 

• Affection meters that influence the story’s progress.
• At least 5 puzzles that move the story forward
• A mystery story that you must piece together.
• 3 planned endings that reflect the mystery clues you uncovered (or didn’t uncover)
• Moe Scribble Art. Sorry.
• Blood spatter. 

 

 

• Yanfly Scripts
• Celiana Tiles
• Galv's Scripts
• Yami Engine & Scripts
• Purchased Tilsets ( Zombie Survival, Royal, Modern )
• Music by Scythuz & From RPGM Resources ( Adventure, Inspirational, DS/+ )

 

[Simon D. Aelsi]

Hm... Seems interesting... but way too scary for me.

Also, welcome to the boards!

 

[Berri]

Thank you so very much for the welcome. I'm sorry that it seems scary. 

Update with two new screencaps

 

Family photo with a WiP frame. I need to find some elegant photo frames for inspiration.

The purple tint stays on for most of the game, so I'm still playing around with it in search of the perfect balance.

I've also finished Alyssa's "health bar" and got it working. She can now die if you good. Sorry, Alyssa.

 

[Simon D. Aelsi]

Wow, neat! It seems scary... but f nothing's going to pop out at me, I suppose I could give it a try!
Eve

 

[C-C-C-Cashmere (old)]

That purple tint is a bit strong. Not just the colour, but the lack of definition between objects when it's on. It'd be cool if you could have a strong purple tint but still be able to see all the details of the map, kind of like my avatar. I'm not sure whether that would require more than an overlay or tint, though. It's just that there's not much contrast between objects in your game so I have to kind of squint really hard to see what's happening.

Looks pretty atmospheric though, and I really like the art. Feels kind of... macabre. If that's the word.

 

[Skyfrid]

Don't usually play "scary" games, but I might try this one out. Nice Job

 

[Clord]

I somehow feel that your current avatar is a big hint.


Actually I realized it by just reading this thread that your character is not entirely a good guy. This is probably one of those "evil twin sister" like deals. For example demon acting as twin sister or she just gets possessed.

 

[Berri]

That purple tint is a bit strong. Not just the colour, but the lack of definition between objects when it's on. It'd be cool if you could have a strong purple tint but still be able to see all the details of the map, kind of like my avatar. I'm not sure whether that would require more than an overlay or tint, though. It's just that there's not much contrast between objects in your game so I have to kind of squint really hard to see what's happening.

Looks pretty atmospheric though, and I really like the art. Feels kind of... macabre. If that's the word.

Ahah, that's it. I felt like something was off, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I agree that it seems to be the contrast. And I'd never thought about using an overlay! I'll give that a try. It might add more to the atmosphere too. Thanks for the tip!

Don't usually play "scary" games, but I might try this one out. Nice Job

Thank you! I'm doing my best to make it scary, but since this is my first crack at a horror game it might just be corny. 

I somehow feel that your current avatar is a big hint.

Actually I realized it by just reading this thread that your character is not entirely a good guy. This is probably one of those "evil twin sister" like deals. For example demon acting as twin sister or she just gets possessed.

Ohohoho. I'm excited to hear theories already. I hope the reveal isn't disappointing in comparison.

If it helps, my avatar is actually the heroine of my horror novel. But I will admit that there are some hints there regardless.

 

[Berri]

After a long while of forgetting to update...

Alyssa is down to the last 5 map scenes and puzzles. I'm going to be releasing a demo on Saturday. Sorry for vanishing off the face of the forums.

 

[Vallar]

Looks quite cool in all honesty. You did a good job with the UI.

The art is definitely well done and I really like how you did the map. 

Good luck, this is a project that is worth playing for sure.

 

[Simon D. Aelsi]

Definitely! Except that.... I don't do jump scares very well.  Hell, MY OWN scare me! x__x

I really hope there won't be any sudden jump scares here... ^___^

 

[Berri]

Thank you all for waiting! The official demo is up. You can download it here.

I'm sorry if it's glitchy. I think I caught all of the bugs, so let me know if I missed any.

 

[Clord]

Okay. I will play and tell my opinion about the demo.


Edit: Quite good even if it doesn't really feel like a horror game.

 

[Vallar]

Interesting, I clicked the link and it sent me to my own Box account rather than a download link... is that supposed to happen?

 

[Berri]

Okay. I will play and tell my opinion about the demo.

Edit: Quite good even if it doesn't really feel like a horror game.

Oh dear, so I missed the mark entirely. That's a bummer. Thank you for trying it, though!

Interesting, I clicked the link and it sent me to my own Box account rather than a download link... is that supposed to happen?

No, it wasn't. This is the link: https://app.box.com/s/8iuumxss6ex3q5afdwnj

You might need to wait a moment for the download prompt.

 

[Simon D. Aelsi]

Oh dear, so I missed the mark entirely

Don't let just ONE opinion tell you how you did...  Nothing personal Clord, I mean if it was ANY one person...  

Like, for my game demo I got several feedbacks and most of them said the same thing, yours included.... wait for a few more opinions and feedbacks and see if they say the same thing.... THEN you'll know if you missed the mark or not!

 

[Vallar]

Thanks for fixing the link, Berri. 

I checked the game out, and I have to say the atmosphere at first felt as if... "OK... this is no horror game" then when the first "Alyssa" whisper came out I was like WOHA! I should pay more attention to the game!

I have got to admit, I wasn't scared while playing... I was apprehensive. I liked the art very much, it is very well done and the music does match the locations/setting. I was amazed by the voice acting present too, kudos for that . Heck Always Sometimes Monsters didn't have voice acting

Some of the dialogues could use a pass/polish (but I bet that is your plan after the meat of the game is done). 

I really enjoyed the game and I liked the way you introduced that puzzle XD. My competition entry is using the exact same puzzle so hooray for that (now I know I did something right at least ).

I have found some bugs/spelling mistakes and I listed them in the spoiler tag just in case anyone else doesn't want to spoil the fun of finding things for the first time. 

Spoiler

First, at the starting cut scene... the black edges seem to cover the majority of the photo. The only thing that really appears is the girl and the other two people are barely visible... perhaps increasing the "hole" in the black frame would produce a better effect? Or did you do that on purpose?

At the starting scene, I had to hit "Enter" about 3-4 times after "isn't that right" for the next sentence to advance. 

When the scene ended and the girl woke up, I was able to walk on the lower part of the bed normally (from right side of the bed) but it seems there is a hidden invisible wall just next to the left side of the bed. 

Reading the entry about Demons there was a missing "." (period) at the end of the third sentence and after the last word "them"

At the "music" room in the house, where there is a piano, a violin and a harp... you can walk over the piano from the around the chair (left side or right side of the chair).

The text when the demon reveals himself "I'm a demon and I have enter into" think you might have missed an "ed" there.

When heading into the gallery and using the picture on the top right of the room; the description reads "A picture of a beautiful women" not woman.

I can exit any room by just walking to the exit, except for Alyssa's room, I have to use the door.

I died at the room with the chairs and the game just froze... there was no loading, nothing... just a black screen. 

 

All in all, at first I wasn't too engaged but after things got messy, it wasn't easy to stop playing it.

 

Hope that helps

 

Good job and good luck! ^_^ Keep going!

 

EDIT: I agree with Iron Croc; no disrespect or offense meant. But it is always better to judge based on a statistic basis in things like these. And a game being "horrifying" is subjective. For me it was an apprehensive based experience. 

 

As an example some people find STALKER games horror games while others think it is really no more than an action game with dark atmosphere... just give it a few more hours/days for people to leave the opinions.

If the majority states it is not a horror one, then well... you may need to address that, if not... then you are on the right track.

 

[Berri]

Thank you very much for the comments! I'll keep those in mind. And super thank you for finding those bugs! I'll have them fixed right away.

I'm glad you liked the voice acting, since my plan is to go back through and record a few more sounds after the dialogue has been polished. 

I'll do my best for the final release!

 

[Clord]

I didn't mean to sound harsh. I was just voicing my personal experience with the game demo.

 

[Berri]

No no, it didn't sound harsh to me at all. It's helpful to know that the direction I was going in wasn't very effective. Now I have some time to fix it!