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After the death of his sister, Thomas collapses into a coma and wakes in a mind-bending dreamworld filled with strange objects, horrifying creatures, and constant danger. Though each minute spent in this place inches Thomas towards insanity, he must push ahead in order to learn the secrets of his sister’s death - and himself.
Let’s plays:
Half Dead is a horror-adventure game with a heavy emphasis on atmosphere and interacting with the environment. Inspired by games such as Witch’s House and Ib, Half Dead features an ever-changing landscape that inches towards insanity. With danger at every turn, you must use your wit to navigate this unforgiving place and stay alive.
MECHANICS
Half Dead’s story is driven by the player’s surroundings. Though there are flashbacks that tell Thomas’s story, it is up to the player to pay attention to surroundings and talk to NPCs to learn the full story. After all, it is Thomas’s mind you’re wandering through... (or is it?)
The main aspect that sets this game apart from other RPG Maker games is the SANITY health system. In Half Dead, health is shown through a sanity meter, and the lower your sanity becomes, the more distorted the setting will become as well. Previously harmless objects will begin chasing you, new, dangerous paths will open up, and npcs’ real motives may become more clear. This really increases uncertainty with the player, and adds to the creepy factor. Not only this, it adds a level of difficulty for players who’d like to play the game with very little health in order to see everything the game has to offer. Different choices you make can and will effect the ending you get, and may even cause chaos in your dream world.
The player will progress through the dreamscape by completing puzzles. Puzzles can range from simple “use item” events to complex events requiring different sanity levels, the help of NPCs, or even monsters.
One thing I have to say though - this game’s main goal is to be creepy and unsettling, with some genuinely scary moments, much like Ib. However, it won’t feature jumpscares, and won’t put too much reliance on blood and gore, although it will have some. One of my main goals is to make an intriguing horror game without following the cliches of past RM horror title.
I’m hoping to finish the game by spring of next year, but I’m very busy, so the exact release date will be flexible.
The main aspect that sets this game apart from other RPG Maker games is the SANITY health system. In Half Dead, health is shown through a sanity meter, and the lower your sanity becomes, the more distorted the setting will become as well. Previously harmless objects will begin chasing you, new, dangerous paths will open up, and npcs’ real motives may become more clear. This really increases uncertainty with the player, and adds to the creepy factor. Not only this, it adds a level of difficulty for players who’d like to play the game with very little health in order to see everything the game has to offer. Different choices you make can and will effect the ending you get, and may even cause chaos in your dream world.
The player will progress through the dreamscape by completing puzzles. Puzzles can range from simple “use item” events to complex events requiring different sanity levels, the help of NPCs, or even monsters.
One thing I have to say though - this game’s main goal is to be creepy and unsettling, with some genuinely scary moments, much like Ib. However, it won’t feature jumpscares, and won’t put too much reliance on blood and gore, although it will have some. One of my main goals is to make an intriguing horror game without following the cliches of past RM horror title.
I’m hoping to finish the game by spring of next year, but I’m very busy, so the exact release date will be flexible.
I'm really experimenting with parallaxing and how different effects can stir different emotions/reactions from the player.
IMAGES/SCREENSHOTS
As you can probably imagine, it's VERY difficult to have good screenshots without some major spoilers, so I had to make do with what I thought was spoiler-free.
A monster, patiently leaning against the wall until a later moment.
A monster, patiently leaning against the wall until a later moment.
DOWNLOAD LINK (V1.4)
Download link here:https://johndfg.itch.io/half-dead
Would LOVE critiques on ANYTHING
Just keep in mind that a lot is subject to change!
CREDITS
Story / Tilesets / Parallaxing / Eventing : Johntjess
Sprites / Character artwork : Joori
BGM / SE : Joori, Rupert Cole (rupertcole.co.uk)
Last edited:
. I believe I need to be at 2 health to proceed, however Thomas is at full Sanity and I can't figure out how to reduce it. The large skeleton is blocking the exit of the "Give it back" room, and I'm not sure how to lower my sanity by 2 points...any tips?
