T2 FM: Fables of the Penitent Thief, by Sliptip and Digi (Nov 8th 2010) - by Digital Nightfall
Arrowgrab on 8/11/2010 at 21:42
Lovely mission. Can anyone help me by giving some hints on what to do with the drinking contest? I've thought of using the 2 healing potions somehow, but no dice.
FenPhoenix on 8/11/2010 at 21:49
@Digi: Oh, sorry. :laff: I really enjoyed the whole thing. The music, strange though it may be in a modernish 3d game, really seems to work. The visual style is beautiful - a feast for the eyes. :) I also like how in the clock tower the whole mechanism has that wobbly thing going on, I thought that looked really neat and sort of hypnotic. Also love the cardboardy flowers. Really, I'm just a fan of this bright and colourful world look, in any game. I enjoyed just wandering around for the first little while. :)
Also, the writing is fantastic. Lighthearted and whimsical. :D I thought the characters were charming and felt alive. I particularly enjoyed the gardener's house - loved his nonchalant dialog in absurd situations. "Care for a cup of tea?" :laff:
I recall old adventure games being a good deal more difficult than this one - I didn't ever get stuck for very long - but nevertheless it remained pure fun from start to finish. And, yes, the egg hunt adds even more enjoyment to the experience.
The second mission felt a little short, and I thought the final battle was maybe missing some "hardness" or tension or something, but overall it was still well done and enjoyable. I think I was just spoiled by the first mission. :)
One more thing. It was a nice touch to have those two guys standing in out-of-bounds places to give you a friendly ribbing for getting there. At one point I actually managed to get on top of some roof that allowed me to walk on top of at least one of the battlements and get onto most (all?) of the roofs in the town, but I didn't put a hard save up there and I forget how I did it. :( Oh well :p
Yeah, anyway. Worth freaking waiting for! :D
Nightwalker on 8/11/2010 at 21:52
I'm having a blast playing this! I just found the rooftop where the man asks you if you're Dia. :laff: The clues are well placed and it's interesting to explore. I love the no-damage play which would be perfect for playing with children and collecting and paying for things with apples. was a great idea. The Easter Eggs add a nice extra element that keep you searching every nook and cranny while you complete your quests and I love the cartoon look and music. Excellent work!
Arrowgrab, what's the oldest trick in the book to get rid of something you don't want to drink? Hint 2: find someplace to get rid of it instead of drinking it.
Sagittal on 8/11/2010 at 22:13
I have played through with the new and previous versions and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The absence of aggressive AI, easy-to-understand and amusing quests, no loss of health, the poo-hunt etc all aim it nicely at a child audience while some of the quests are a good test. The conversations are warm, chatty and quite clever although interacting with the characters and frobbing the desired response sometimes takes a bit of care. I know you were hoping to get feedback from taffers with kids during the beta stage and would be interested to hear what they thought :D .
This is one FM I can definitiely see myself trying out on the kids in the family but its novelty makes it fun for all ages. Thanks for allowing us to revert to childhood a little while having the excuse that we are of course trying it out for the kids!
When I played through the first time the quests were the main focus with a bit of exploring and pushing boundaries of the mission but for second time through the eggs became more of the challenge and well worth it. From the start I did think the music might be distracting but it becomes all part of the package quite quickly.
Thanks to all involved for the release :thumb:
SlyFoxx on 8/11/2010 at 22:29
Finished a little while ago. About 2 hours playing time. I never got stuck for more than a moment as to what to do next but I did manage to get physically stuck in a window in the throne room...but that's just how I roll. I have to look just about everywhere!
All in all just a charming and fun adventure. At first the animated textures were kind of disorienting but it didn't take long for my brain to adjust.
Thanks Tippy and Digi for pushing the boundries of what 'ol Dark can do.:thumb:
Sliptip on 8/11/2010 at 22:33
Hmmmm. . .I don't think you looked everywhere Sly. . .
SlyFoxx on 8/11/2010 at 22:35
Well maybe not everywhere...but if I see you on the street [spoiler]I'm gonna kick you in the nuts!:cheeky:[/spoiler]
:sly:
Spiders on 8/11/2010 at 22:38
Just started playing this and I'm having a grand old time! The design, artwork, and concept are really outstanding. You gents have outdone yourselves. Wow.
I'm also impressed by all the new sounds like the gibbering voices, the upgraded wood floor footsteps, and the rattling elevator-in-motion sounds. (These are just a few I noticed in the first couple of minutes.) Who created the new effects?
nightchild on 8/11/2010 at 22:56
Quote Posted by Digital Nightfall
I'm a bit disapointed that alot of people seem to be focusing on the easter eggs and not the adventure/quests etc. What do you guys think of the mission itself?
Well, don't be. You know this community is obsessed with finding secrets and hidden things/ locations.We can't help it.After all ,you, the authors are to blame for our obssesions.
As far as commenting about the mission, I think pvone and Sagittal covered me-and in better English anyway- personaly.But, if you wish to hear about the "not so" things, in my opinion ,from the view of a paying customer,it might be the music-more variery or less volume- , the constant moving of everything was somewhat annoying , -is any way for a more "slow" movement?- and the drinking puzzle -is old.-One of the Zork's if I remember correctly,and the nature of this engine just made it easier(highlight). Other than that, I will say again that it was lovely and that I loved it. And that I have played a lot of payed games that were so inferior to this. And that I thank you both so much for making it. :)
Sliptip on 8/11/2010 at 23:00
I'm embarassed to say I'm not sure of the original sources for the new sounds. Some have just accumulated on my hardrive over the years and some have come from a buddy who has a vast collection.
Hardly a sufficient answer, but it's all I got :erm: