Re: Asher [Supernatural/Horror?/Urban Fantasy]
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2014 2:53 am
Okay! I got through 6 endings so far, but I'll give my feedback.
I loved this game.
Maybe because I am also a library assistant! But I don't get any interesting patrons like the ones in Asher, hahaha. The atmosphere was fantastic. I always had a feeling that someone (or something...) was out to get me. The music really fit the mood well, so props for that. I also applaud you for the monochrome scheme that worked wonderfully,
Absolutely gorgeous. I don't think I can stress that enough.
Technical stuff (original download, so not sure if fixed now?)-
- I can't access the Bonus screen? I get an error anytime I try to:
On a semi-related note, have you read Jonathan Stroud's "The Bartimaeus Triology"? The line you wrote of "Demons and jinni were not all that different. Names had power of them, according to legend." It reminded me of the Bartimaeus book series because something along that said line is a crucial plot element. It's essentially centered around a young magician who (much to his later misfortune) summons a rather snarky djinn, and the whole plot kicks off because of the mishandling of names. The first book is called The Amulet of Samarkand, and is also an urban fantasy. I think you would enjoy it if you haven't read it already.
Speaking of names, where do the names of the cast derive from? I'm interesting in knowing since a majority of them has unique names.
Anyway, kudos! There is much more I want to say, but I'll save that for another play-through. A very beautiful game you made, so be proud!
I loved this game.
Maybe because I am also a library assistant! But I don't get any interesting patrons like the ones in Asher, hahaha. The atmosphere was fantastic. I always had a feeling that someone (or something...) was out to get me. The music really fit the mood well, so props for that. I also applaud you for the monochrome scheme that worked wonderfully,
and made a huge impact when there was the presence of blood. Like Tetrine's nightgown soaked in it. I was like "AHHHH!"
I really enjoyed the banter between Tetrine and Kalevel too. Not that I ship them or anything who would do that what am I talking about lalalalalalaThe Nell was fascinating. It's pretty cool that you can use it to travel, encode books, seal off demons, heal people, visit the dead, etc. It's kind of funny that Tetrine's brother knew more about it and was involved in demon affairs while she wasn't. I guess that was just to protect her.
The action commands were fun too. I kind of wish there were more of them, but maybe that would have distracted from the gameplay. Still fun though. Managed to escape Aya and Julius twice! Speaking of which, I actually liked Aya and Julius's characters, because of their "Bonnie and Clyde" dynamic. I wonder how they came to meet each other (since Aya is from a line of demon hunters, right?). They made great villains.
The ninth ending "Haunted" ending was amazing. In a good, scary way, because I was not expecting it. Especially the "NO NO NO" part. Freaked me out picturing our sweet, little Tetrine stumbling into a kitchen full of corpses. And some of those bodies were still alive.
It got hard for me to keep track of Asher's history, particularly all of the names of those who were affiliated with the Empress. I also go confused with the different family/demon lineage over who reigned/served/had special abilities the further the game went along.
Not sure how I feel about the first ending. Markiaus's feelings didn't seem fully reciprocated on Tetrine's part anywhere in the story. Maybe that's because of the memory erase thing, but it seemed a bit out of left field. I know it was meant to be vague...but it was almost too vague.
Lastly, the "fresh out of terror" line was classic.
Art:The action commands were fun too. I kind of wish there were more of them, but maybe that would have distracted from the gameplay. Still fun though. Managed to escape Aya and Julius twice! Speaking of which, I actually liked Aya and Julius's characters, because of their "Bonnie and Clyde" dynamic. I wonder how they came to meet each other (since Aya is from a line of demon hunters, right?). They made great villains.
The ninth ending "Haunted" ending was amazing. In a good, scary way, because I was not expecting it. Especially the "NO NO NO" part. Freaked me out picturing our sweet, little Tetrine stumbling into a kitchen full of corpses. And some of those bodies were still alive.
It got hard for me to keep track of Asher's history, particularly all of the names of those who were affiliated with the Empress. I also go confused with the different family/demon lineage over who reigned/served/had special abilities the further the game went along.
Not sure how I feel about the first ending. Markiaus's feelings didn't seem fully reciprocated on Tetrine's part anywhere in the story. Maybe that's because of the memory erase thing, but it seemed a bit out of left field. I know it was meant to be vague...but it was almost too vague.
Lastly, the "fresh out of terror" line was classic.
Absolutely gorgeous. I don't think I can stress that enough.
Like the CG of Tetrine lying in the the pond was beautiful. You know, even though she was dying.
My only critique is that both Rosemary and Tetrine's clothes seemed to be a bit more polished than a few of the other sprites. Technical stuff (original download, so not sure if fixed now?)-
- I can't access the Bonus screen? I get an error anytime I try to:
- When Tetrine talks to Devne at her apartment after she dies, there is a line that reads "If I don't decided to work for Kalevel..." That should be "If I don't decide to work for Kalevel..."
- Kalevel's line when she first asks Tetrine to work for her repeats again after she changes her pose. I think after Kalevel changes her pose, it should only read "Don't answer me now. Come by soon."
-A minor thing (super minor!), but the url for the credits should be freesound.org?...freesounds.org takes you too...someone's empty site! Again, super minor. - Kalevel's line when she first asks Tetrine to work for her repeats again after she changes her pose. I think after Kalevel changes her pose, it should only read "Don't answer me now. Come by soon."
On a semi-related note, have you read Jonathan Stroud's "The Bartimaeus Triology"? The line you wrote of "Demons and jinni were not all that different. Names had power of them, according to legend." It reminded me of the Bartimaeus book series because something along that said line is a crucial plot element. It's essentially centered around a young magician who (much to his later misfortune) summons a rather snarky djinn, and the whole plot kicks off because of the mishandling of names. The first book is called The Amulet of Samarkand, and is also an urban fantasy. I think you would enjoy it if you haven't read it already.
Speaking of names, where do the names of the cast derive from? I'm interesting in knowing since a majority of them has unique names.
Anyway, kudos! There is much more I want to say, but I'll save that for another play-through. A very beautiful game you made, so be proud!