I started this a few days ago and fully finished it yesterday and I've been thinking about it since starting. Its really good and interesting. I made an itch.io account just to leave comments. Amazing game! The mystery goes from me being utterly dumbfounded as to how I'll ever understand, then steadily the connections are revealed. It feels very well connected in that it follows its own 'rules'. I also really like that if you were to draw line(s) through the clues/discoveries it wouldn't be a single line, its like groups of connections that then link to others like a window that was hit in multiple spots but there are a few cracks that connect one group to another. It ends up having the discoveries feel very natural since the scattered-ness mimics how learning, connecting, and discovering the bigger picture in real life happens (at least in my brain.) Since irl there isn't anyone carefully plotting out all the details and leaving hints everywhere, you have to find connections in things that seem unrelated or you though were finished.
Hello! Question to William - (minor bug?) is it normal that, nppbeqvat gb 00-npg-fgehpgher gur Npg VI fgnegf jvgu Gvzrfgnzc 21, jurernf nppbeqvat gb gur "yvfg" pbzznaq gur Npg VI fgnegf jvgu 20?
I heard about this from the announcement from Evil Trout so I had to check it out! Thanks for the incredible experience! Can't wait to play it again when it re-releases!
Easily spent my day on this game and had an awesome time! Thank you so much for the opportunity to play such a good brain game and I've gone ahead and wishlisted the remaster over on Steam too! <3
I haven't finished yet so I won't even look at the other comments but I need an outlet for my frustration. Finding all the timecodes is driving me crazy, I hate it, I love it but I hate it. I've never felt so dumb in my life, I'm just writing this on the off chance William reads and know what he's done to me, are you proud of yourself William? Cause honestly you should, for all the suffering i'm going through I have to admit this is one of the best Obra Dinn-esque games I've seen, it's actually tied with 'No case should remain unsolved' for the first place as my favorite puzzle detective game inspired by Obra Dinn.
Just finished the game, and wow, can't believe how amazing this game is for how little exposure it's gotten. This deserves to be up there with its inspirations. Not only is the deduction mechanism unique and well-designed, but the writing, twists, and secrets land amazingly well. Not to mention the game's length, which is surprisingly long and kept me entertained throughout. Excited to see what you put out next!
Not a big deal but issue report with translation to Japanese (spoiler)
In Japanese, on 04-KI-3-10-11, the usual term "上の階" is written as "上階" thus search for "upstairs" and "上の階" is not matching. Minor but search result issue.
Seriously consider this a masterpiece, omg. I'll be thinking about this game for ages, and now I really want to play games like it. VERY happy you included a notes system (although I still took some physical notes too)
SPOILERS
Only thing I don't get - why is everyone putting everything in the rot13 cipher in the comments? That's the only part I can't find in the game, but there must be something to it? I found 98 files, and I @'s name, but I can't find where the rot13 cipher is (I had to Google rot13 to even understand what rot13 is, lol). If there's more, someone please give me a hint, haha.
I think I finished the game (Is it? Because I feel like there's more 😭) Got me so hooked and used all my remaining 2 brain cells lol. Off to try the games that this took inspiration from 🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️
I really loved this game! When the twists and methods of unlocking some of the final files clicked, it was sooooo satisfying. Also want to say that the (rot13) ubeebe nfcrpg vf haqreengrq! V qrsvavgryl sryy sbe gur pynffvp zlfgrel gebcrf ng svefg :) Thanks again for sharing such a great game for free!
I was able to play with the Japanese version. It was very difficult and interesting.
Let me say one thing that bothered me. 08-DI-2-7-8-9 [8] If you need me, Vic, play the piano in the Living room and I'll come and find you there.
The “Vic” is missing in the Japanese translation, so after that Vic I could not get the clue that Vic goes to play the piano by himself because “Vic” is missing in the Japanese translation.
I got the impression that Damian is asking everyone, including 2, 7, and 9, to use the piano as an emergency call.
I was solving the puzzle on my own and was very frustrated that here Vic was the only one stuck without the idea of using the piano call.
I think this is a translation issue and it would be difficult to address in advance, but it would be nice if it could be corrected for the benefit of subsequent players. thank you!
Loved the game, I got to (rot13) avargl-frira files and I found it (as others put it) challenging while not frustrating to work out, which is the best place to be; sad that my impatience rushed me to the comments before I could reflect on the mechanics of the curse and the dynamics of the ending.
(rot13: V tbg gung crbcyr fgnegrq erzrzorevat gur ivpgvzf orsber qlvat, ohg V qvqa'g trg gb gur "gurl qvr _orpnhfr_ gurl erzrzorerq" + "gurl erzrzorerq gur yngrfg ivpgvz fcrpvsvpnyyl")
Re: the (rot13) qernz file, I think I should go back and understand how to get there without help.
I particularly love the way that roughly after each Act, you work out more of what's going on.
Spoiler discussion in rot13:
Ol gur gvzr lbh'ir svyyrq va nyy bs Npg 1 lbh jbex bhg gur guhaqrepyncf ner jura crbcyr qvr. Ol raq bs Npg 2 lbh'ir ernyvfrq gung crbcyr ner sbetrggvat gur crbcyr jub qvr. Ol npg 3 lbh ernyvfr gur crbcyr jub'er nobhg gb qvr fgneg erzrzorevat whfg n zvahgr orsber gurl qvr. Naq vg'f bayl ol gur raq gung lbh jbex bhg gung vg'f gur bgure jnl nebhaq, gung znxvat crbcyr erzrzore vf jung npghnyyl xvyyf gurz fubegyl nsgrejneqf. Nyfb ernyyl yvxr gur jnl lbh pna jbex bhg fprarf gung ner bhgfvqr gur hfhny cnggrea, yvxr crefba 12, be gur rkgen fprar 25.
Jr qvq guvax gung n srj ovgf frrzrq n ovg neovgenel. Jvgu nyy gur vgrzf yvxr gur cbpxrg jngpu, oenpryrg, evat, qbyy, tha, naq xrl trggvat cnffrq nebhaq, jr jrer fher gurer jbhyq or fbzr jnl gur vgrzf ner xrl gb gur phefr.
Gur raqvat jnf n ovg hafngvfsnpgbel, orpnhfr vg jnfa'g ng nyy pyrne jura guvatf unq ernyyl raqrq. V cnegvphyneyl qba'g yvxr gur jnl gung nabgure rznvy pna neevir ohg lbh qba'g trg nal vaqvpngvba bs vg. Jr jrer fcraqvat n juvyr gelvat gb jbex bhg jung gb qb abj, jnagrq gb tb onpx gb erivrj gur Oevrs, naq jrer fubpxrq gb qvfpbire n frpbaq rznvy. V jvfu gurer unq orra n abgvsvpngvba fbzrjurer "Na rznvy unf neevirq".
Nyfb gurer jrer ybgf bs "[haqrsvarq]"f sybngvat nebhaq nyy gur gvzr, vapyhqvat va gur svany navzngvba.
Sorry to hear about your issues. There's supposed to be a message that appears when you get a new email, and there certainly aren't supposed to be any 'undefineds' floating around!
My best guess is this was caused by loading a save file from before the translation update into the new version. I tried to make the new version backwards compatible but maybe it didn't work here for some reason.
If anyone else experiences this, try using the 'language' command and then selecting which language you want. This should re-update all the translatable UI elements.
Just a tip for anyone playing the game now, I found that using just the “find” command without anything else organized all of the files in an easier to use way than the “list” command does
All around fantastic game, intriguing from the very beginning to beyond The End, I had to force myself to stop playing a couple of nights because it was getting too late.
[ROT13] Erfg va crnpr, Evpuneq Ybatyrl. Ubcrshyyl jr qba'g qvr arkg!
Absolutely amazing, thanks so much for creating this game.
I'm just curious about two things (mandatory rot13 follows):
Vf qernz svyr gur ynfg cvrpr bs gur chmmyr? V xabj gurer'f n anzr uvqqra vafvqr, ohg vf gurer nalguvat gb qvfpbire nsgrejneqf?
Frpbaq guvat- V'z phevbhf nobhg gur unatzna. Vf vg whfg n pyhr be ner jr npghnyyl qbvat fbzrguvat jvgu vg?
EDIT: One thing I feel that would be nice to add is having the introductory text available from main menu. It contains some knowledge that's useful for investigation but almost certain to be missed without knowing things.
For your first question, (rot13) vs lbh unir avargl-rvtug svyrf sbhaq ba gur 'uryc' zrah, naq unir sbhaq gur friragrra vgnyvpvfrq yrggref va gung svyr gura V guvax gungf nyy.
For the second question, I'm essentially wondering the same thing. (rot13 again) V qbag guvax vg pna or fbyirq, ohg V qbag xabj jung gur grkg "Lbh qvq lbhe wbo. Gur jbeyq vf fnsre abj." zrnaf. Vf vg cbffvoyl fnlvat gung 'jr' xvyyrq bhefryirf nsgre jr sbhaq bhg gur anzr va gur qernz svyr naq "gur jbeyq vf fnsre" orpnhfr ab-bar ryfr jvyy xabj? V guvax gungf jung Naavr jnf tbvat gb qb jvgu gur tha va gur punccry. Vs fur qvqag qvr ol gur phefr gura nalbar jub erzrzoref ure jbhyq or fnsr. Orsber V fgnegrq glcvat guvf V unq ab vqrnf ohg glcvat znqr zr guvax zber naq guvf znxrf gur zbfg frafr gb zr. Nygubhtu V pbhyq or zvffvat fbzrguvat(f).
I did more thinking and now I'm confused about something else. (It also might be left mysterious to be a mystery but idk) Please excuse the run-on sentences. If I didnt type fast enough id lose my thoughts. Also its 2:30 am lol. (rot13) Ehcreg Tnyyrl qvrq orpnhfr ur erzrzorerq Nzryvn Jrfg, gur pbzcbfre, naq gur phefr fgnegrq jura Bfjnyq'f fvfgre, Ryyvr, jnfag gehyl noyr gb or erzrzorerq. Ohg jung pbaarpgf Ryyvr gb Nzryvn? Jnf Nzryvn nyfb Ryyvr naq Bfjnyq'f fvfgre jub punatrq ure anzr (cbffvoyl zneevrq), gura fur erzrzorerq Ryyvr naq qvrq? Ohg Bfjnyq erzrzoref Ryyvr naq unfag qvrq fb V'z abg pbasvqrag gungf evtug.
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I started this a few days ago and fully finished it yesterday and I've been thinking about it since starting. Its really good and interesting. I made an itch.io account just to leave comments. Amazing game! The mystery goes from me being utterly dumbfounded as to how I'll ever understand, then steadily the connections are revealed. It feels very well connected in that it follows its own 'rules'. I also really like that if you were to draw line(s) through the clues/discoveries it wouldn't be a single line, its like groups of connections that then link to others like a window that was hit in multiple spots but there are a few cracks that connect one group to another. It ends up having the discoveries feel very natural since the scattered-ness mimics how learning, connecting, and discovering the bigger picture in real life happens (at least in my brain.) Since irl there isn't anyone carefully plotting out all the details and leaving hints everywhere, you have to find connections in things that seem unrelated or you though were finished.
Hello! Question to William - (minor bug?) is it normal that, nppbeqvat gb 00-npg-fgehpgher gur Npg VI fgnegf jvgu Gvzrfgnzc 21, jurernf nppbeqvat gb gur "yvfg" pbzznaq gur Npg VI fgnegf jvgu 20?
Great great game, thank you!
I heard about this from the announcement from Evil Trout so I had to check it out! Thanks for the incredible experience! Can't wait to play it again when it re-releases!
Easily spent my day on this game and had an awesome time! Thank you so much for the opportunity to play such a good brain game and I've gone ahead and wishlisted the remaster over on Steam too! <3
I haven't finished yet so I won't even look at the other comments but I need an outlet for my frustration. Finding all the timecodes is driving me crazy, I hate it, I love it but I hate it. I've never felt so dumb in my life, I'm just writing this on the off chance William reads and know what he's done to me, are you proud of yourself William? Cause honestly you should, for all the suffering i'm going through I have to admit this is one of the best Obra Dinn-esque games I've seen, it's actually tied with 'No case should remain unsolved' for the first place as my favorite puzzle detective game inspired by Obra Dinn.
Just finished the game, and wow, can't believe how amazing this game is for how little exposure it's gotten. This deserves to be up there with its inspirations. Not only is the deduction mechanism unique and well-designed, but the writing, twists, and secrets land amazingly well. Not to mention the game's length, which is surprisingly long and kept me entertained throughout. Excited to see what you put out next!
Not a big deal but issue report with translation to Japanese (spoiler)
In Japanese, on 04-KI-3-10-11, the usual term "上の階" is written as "上階" thus search for "upstairs" and "上の階" is not matching. Minor but search result issue.
Seriously consider this a masterpiece, omg. I'll be thinking about this game for ages, and now I really want to play games like it. VERY happy you included a notes system (although I still took some physical notes too)
SPOILERS
Only thing I don't get - why is everyone putting everything in the rot13 cipher in the comments? That's the only part I can't find in the game, but there must be something to it? I found 98 files, and I @'s name, but I can't find where the rot13 cipher is (I had to Google rot13 to even understand what rot13 is, lol). If there's more, someone please give me a hint, haha.
It's just an easy cipher to use for spoilers, nothing more to it.
I think I finished the game (Is it? Because I feel like there's more 😭) Got me so hooked and used all my remaining 2 brain cells lol. Off to try the games that this took inspiration from 🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️
I ended the game... And I'm still confused. Someone explain. JESUS-
how do i use a note
So you just write "note" and it opens all the notes you wrote, and "note <something>" to add more to the list.
I really loved this game! When the twists and methods of unlocking some of the final files clicked, it was sooooo satisfying. Also want to say that the (rot13) ubeebe nfcrpg vf haqreengrq! V qrsvavgryl sryy sbe gur pynffvp zlfgrel gebcrf ng svefg :) Thanks again for sharing such a great game for free!
I was able to play with the Japanese version. It was very difficult and interesting.
Let me say one thing that bothered me. 08-DI-2-7-8-9 [8] If you need me, Vic, play the piano in the Living room and I'll come and find you there.
The “Vic” is missing in the Japanese translation, so after that Vic I could not get the clue that Vic goes to play the piano by himself because “Vic” is missing in the Japanese translation.
I got the impression that Damian is asking everyone, including 2, 7, and 9, to use the piano as an emergency call.
I was solving the puzzle on my own and was very frustrated that here Vic was the only one stuck without the idea of using the piano call.
I think this is a translation issue and it would be difficult to address in advance, but it would be nice if it could be corrected for the benefit of subsequent players. thank you!
This game has been living in my head rent free since release.... I might need to replay it and hype it up to all my friends again <3
Ok, are there scenes taking place in Helen's bedroom? if so what the hell is the location code?
Yeah, the location is HE. If you want to know when: Gurl'er obgu va vtabenapr.
this was so good i was genuinely immersed the entire time!! love games like this so much
Loved the game, I got to (rot13) avargl-frira files and I found it (as others put it) challenging while not frustrating to work out, which is the best place to be; sad that my impatience rushed me to the comments before I could reflect on the mechanics of the curse and the dynamics of the ending.
(rot13: V tbg gung crbcyr fgnegrq erzrzorevat gur ivpgvzf orsber qlvat, ohg V qvqa'g trg gb gur "gurl qvr _orpnhfr_ gurl erzrzorerq" + "gurl erzrzorerq gur yngrfg ivpgvz fcrpvsvpnyyl")
Re: the (rot13) qernz file, I think I should go back and understand how to get there without help.
Thanks so much, dear author and fellow players!
i freaking lovee this gamee omg, wish there were more games like this
Super cool game!
I particularly love the way that roughly after each Act, you work out more of what's going on.
Spoiler discussion in rot13:
Ol gur gvzr lbh'ir svyyrq va nyy bs Npg 1 lbh jbex bhg gur guhaqrepyncf ner jura crbcyr qvr. Ol raq bs Npg 2 lbh'ir ernyvfrq gung crbcyr ner sbetrggvat gur crbcyr jub qvr. Ol npg 3 lbh ernyvfr gur crbcyr jub'er nobhg gb qvr fgneg erzrzorevat whfg n zvahgr orsber gurl qvr. Naq vg'f bayl ol gur raq gung lbh jbex bhg gung vg'f gur bgure jnl nebhaq, gung znxvat crbcyr erzrzore vf jung npghnyyl xvyyf gurz fubegyl nsgrejneqf. Nyfb ernyyl yvxr gur jnl lbh pna jbex bhg fprarf gung ner bhgfvqr gur hfhny cnggrea, yvxr crefba 12, be gur rkgen fprar 25.
Jr qvq guvax gung n srj ovgf frrzrq n ovg neovgenel. Jvgu nyy gur vgrzf yvxr gur cbpxrg jngpu, oenpryrg, evat, qbyy, tha, naq xrl trggvat cnffrq nebhaq, jr jrer fher gurer jbhyq or fbzr jnl gur vgrzf ner xrl gb gur phefr.
Gur raqvat jnf n ovg hafngvfsnpgbel, orpnhfr vg jnfa'g ng nyy pyrne jura guvatf unq ernyyl raqrq. V cnegvphyneyl qba'g yvxr gur jnl gung nabgure rznvy pna neevir ohg lbh qba'g trg nal vaqvpngvba bs vg. Jr jrer fcraqvat n juvyr gelvat gb jbex bhg jung gb qb abj, jnagrq gb tb onpx gb erivrj gur Oevrs, naq jrer fubpxrq gb qvfpbire n frpbaq rznvy. V jvfu gurer unq orra n abgvsvpngvba fbzrjurer "Na rznvy unf neevirq".
Nyfb gurer jrer ybgf bs "[haqrsvarq]"f sybngvat nebhaq nyy gur gvzr, vapyhqvat va gur svany navzngvba.
Ohg rira jvgu nyy gung fnvq, gur tnzr jnf nznmvat naq V jvfu gurer jrer zber guvatf yvxr vg! Irel jryy qbar naq gunaxf sbe funevat!
Sorry to hear about your issues. There's supposed to be a message that appears when you get a new email, and there certainly aren't supposed to be any 'undefineds' floating around!
My best guess is this was caused by loading a save file from before the translation update into the new version. I tried to make the new version backwards compatible but maybe it didn't work here for some reason.
If anyone else experiences this, try using the 'language' command and then selecting which language you want. This should re-update all the translatable UI elements.
Just a tip for anyone playing the game now, I found that using just the “find” command without anything else organized all of the files in an easier to use way than the “list” command does
All around fantastic game, intriguing from the very beginning to beyond The End, I had to force myself to stop playing a couple of nights because it was getting too late.
[ROT13]
Erfg va crnpr, Evpuneq Ybatyrl. Ubcrshyyl jr qba'g qvr arkg!
Jr fubhyq or svar... nf ybat nf jr qba'g sbejneq bhe svaqvatf gb Nyna Gubznf...
I thought this game would be a lot shorter so happy its not
holy mother of cow that writing was peak. best game if you wanna pass some tine over a short break
It was a great gaming experience, thank you!
I played the Japanese version,
but it seems I can't search for names with the "find" command.
For example,
find john
shows search results in the English version, but I couldn't find it in the Japanese version.
Thank you again for an exciting time!
Thanks for pointing this out! It should now be fixed.
Thank you for the correction. I confirmed that search by name. thanks!
Absolutely amazing, thanks so much for creating this game.
I'm just curious about two things (mandatory rot13 follows):
Vf qernz svyr gur ynfg cvrpr bs gur chmmyr? V xabj gurer'f n anzr uvqqra vafvqr, ohg vf gurer nalguvat gb qvfpbire nsgrejneqf?
Frpbaq guvat- V'z phevbhf nobhg gur unatzna. Vf vg whfg n pyhr be ner jr npghnyyl qbvat fbzrguvat jvgu vg?
EDIT: One thing I feel that would be nice to add is having the introductory text available from main menu. It contains some knowledge that's useful for investigation but almost certain to be missed without knowing things.
For your first question, (rot13) vs lbh unir avargl-rvtug svyrf sbhaq ba gur 'uryc' zrah, naq unir sbhaq gur friragrra vgnyvpvfrq yrggref va gung svyr gura V guvax gungf nyy.
For the second question, I'm essentially wondering the same thing. (rot13 again) V qbag guvax vg pna or fbyirq, ohg V qbag xabj jung gur grkg "Lbh qvq lbhe wbo. Gur jbeyq vf fnsre abj." zrnaf. Vf vg cbffvoyl fnlvat gung 'jr' xvyyrq bhefryirf nsgre jr sbhaq bhg gur anzr va gur qernz svyr naq "gur jbeyq vf fnsre" orpnhfr ab-bar ryfr jvyy xabj? V guvax gungf jung Naavr jnf tbvat gb qb jvgu gur tha va gur punccry. Vs fur qvqag qvr ol gur phefr gura nalbar jub erzrzoref ure jbhyq or fnsr. Orsber V fgnegrq glcvat guvf V unq ab vqrnf ohg glcvat znqr zr guvax zber naq guvf znxrf gur zbfg frafr gb zr. Nygubhtu V pbhyq or zvffvat fbzrguvat(f).
I did more thinking and now I'm confused about something else. (It also might be left mysterious to be a mystery but idk) Please excuse the run-on sentences. If I didnt type fast enough id lose my thoughts. Also its 2:30 am lol. (rot13) Ehcreg Tnyyrl qvrq orpnhfr ur erzrzorerq Nzryvn Jrfg, gur pbzcbfre, naq gur phefr fgnegrq jura Bfjnyq'f fvfgre, Ryyvr, jnfag gehyl noyr gb or erzrzorerq. Ohg jung pbaarpgf Ryyvr gb Nzryvn? Jnf Nzryvn nyfb Ryyvr naq Bfjnyq'f fvfgre jub punatrq ure anzr (cbffvoyl zneevrq), gura fur erzrzorerq Ryyvr naq qvrq? Ohg Bfjnyq erzrzoref Ryyvr naq unfag qvrq fb V'z abg pbasvqrag gungf evtug.