Solstice - a mystery from the makers of Cinders [done!]

[saguaro]

I enjoyed Cinders, but I felt like Cinders spent a lot of time "thinking out loud" to make sure the player didn't miss anything, even things that were extremely obvious.

I'm really happy to see a mystery from you guys and I'm hoping with Galen there will be less hand-holding.

[TeeGee]

Yeah, I agree that Cinders was a bit too heavy-handed at times. We're trying to avoid that in Solstice .

[ebi brain]

Oh my gosh!
This is so exciting!!

I haven't finished Cinders yet ( I treat it like some rare delicacy, so I can only play a little bit at a time lol), but I'm so impressed with it, I have no doubts that this next game is going to kick ass!
It's good to see Madam Ghede in there too XD

The only thing I'm wondering is, if there is a way to include a slider so the player can set the speed of the "auto mode". In Cinders it's just a little too fast too read at a comfortable pace ( my apologies if there is a way to set the speed in Cinders, I haven't discovered it yet).

[TeeGee]

First of the two protagonists of Solstice. Yani, the not-your-average-maintenance-person.



YANI

They say that maintenance is an easy job. Twist some knobs, pull some levers, and learn to speak about the most mundane activities as if they were arcane knowledge.

But what if maintenance involves a system hundreds of years old, developed by scholars and practitioners of the Faith alike? What if people go missing around it?

Then, you send Yani.

[Auro-Cyanide]

Oh wow, they've improved even since Cinders! The character art is gorgeous. Look at the seams on those pants *drools*

[TeeGee]

Meet the second main character of the game. Galen, a doctor on a contract who was just too curious for his own good.



GALEN

Is there a more respectful and noble job than saving people’s lives? Unless you become stuck with patients with a running nose or fits of hysteria.

But Galen’s first professional assignment might satisfy his adventurous nature still. The symptoms are clear, but the final diagnosis might well surprise him.

After all, nobody taught him how to treat a patient that is a city.

[Ayame]

Looking forward to this game!
I loved Cinders (still haven't finished it, I take my time~) and Solstice already looks epic! Both main characters seem very interesting, and I love the fact that they aren't White. It makes for a welcome change in the VN world.
The art is stunning, as always, and the short video makes me all the more eager to play.
So, yeah, you got a stalker, here. ^^

[Blane Doyle]

There is something about Galen's face that instantly made me like him. I don't know if it is the way his face is drawn or his expression though. Or perhaps the realism?

Either way, I love the way he looks overall.

[azureXtwilight]

For some reason, I don't play the male player option in most games. But when I see Galen I know I HAVE to play his side of story.

[TeeGee]

Must be that cheerful smile of his. Galen's a total people person. Also, he's gay (we seriously need more diversity in games).

I should clarify that you don't pick who you play in Solstice. Both protagonist's stories intertwine and you switch between them automatically as the game goes. At least up to some point, because it's possible that one of the characters won't make it to the ending.

[TeeGee]

We've added first screenshots to the Solstice webpage:


(click to enlarge)

Hope you like them .

[TeeGee]

Meet Istvan. The deeply cynical informal ruler of the City. He wants this case closed fast, and he won’t take no excuses.

Fun fact: we’ve spent over an hour arguing the size of his hands.

Btw, if you want to keep track of our progress on the game, I recommend following our tumblr. I post more development screenshots there.

[TeeGee]

We finally reached the stage, where I can implement the scenes in target quality and actually play through them. So rewarding!



Here's Constance and Galen talking in the bath house. Constance is the only person in the whole city who doesn't completely melt under Galen's smile .

In general, it's all going pretty well and we should be able to open pre-orders soon, with the same bonuses as with Cinders (get the game sooner, cheaper, and gain access to a preview build).

[Greeny]

I'm going to have to buy this.

[Katta]

Yani is so beautiful and I like that she works in maintenance) Galen looks too much like a comic actor to be trustworthy.