almost amazing
music , art , story PERFECT
but the most important thing .... the gameplay!!! ........!!!
nope!!!!!!
but amazing art!! <3
Reviews for "HE BEAT HER."
For 48 hours, this is a charming game, but it has it's issues, which probably comes more from the sort of game you decided to make, than the actual effort put in.
The visuals look great. They add to the feeling of the overall game, and make it more appealing. The sketchy way of drawing things really gives a lovely vibe, that fits the overall theme of the game. I think this is the main thing that convinced me that the issue isn't in the game itself, but in the sort of game it is.
The soundtrack was good at the start, but it has it's way of giving you a unrestful feeling after a while, which reduced the patience I had for finding out what choices I had.
Which leads me to the next point, the choices you have are very limited. This is the main issue that most people run into, which is in a way very logical seeing your time limit of 48 hours. But that's where the issue of this game is. This sort of game simply isn't made for Ludum Dares. The amount of options that need to be available for this game to truly go and create a compelling story is incredible, something simply not possible in the amount of time you had.
If this had been a more linear story-based game, you could have created a compelling storyline that could have been told very clearly. Instead, people are now forced to choose between a very limited amount of options, which leaves the feeling of one's hand being forced towards choices they would not have naturally made. I especially had that feeling since I felt the urge for a walkthrough quite soon. Obviously, others may not feel the rush for such things, but I personally do not think of a game like this as something I want to spend hours on, simply to find out what exactly to ask, say, do etc.
Overall, I really do like the game. It's a good attempt at creating a compelling choice-based story. However, due to the time constraint you were under, it simply could not shine the way it was supposed to shine. I almost wish you had simply kept the concept on a slow burner for a while and had made this a bigger game, in which you could perhaps even better showcase the feelings you were trying to give to your audience, and a few more. This for example really felt like it had the potential to show things like jury/judge bias in a very compelling, powerful way, which due to the lack of choices, simply wasn't possible.
This is why I'm giving it a 3/5. It certainly isn't horrid, but it just doesn't pull me in the way I think it was supposed to.
Kind regards, Distractionz
zephyo responds:
hey, thanks! From your previous reviews, I don't think you're a troll, so I really appreciate your time and this feedback. I realize now this is hard for players. I'll definitely keep your critique about usability+genre in mind for future games.
spent a lot of time stuck on finding the right valid choice, and took me out of the game experience. Try and make it like multiple choice or as mass effect did, I know you were trying to allow people to have as much freedom as they could but not everyone has the same thoughts or ideas.
3,5 stars because... Well, time is inconsistent. 5 minutes sound like a lot, or not at all, but asking "why a turtleneck" can't take 5 minutes, and stealing and distracting a girl from her purse can't take 5 minutes?
The game is "enjoyable", but some actions should give more "time". Asking about something can take 5 minutes, looking at someone won't.
zephyo responds:
meticulous
I definitely enjoyed the game, I just felt like the mechanics of the ask, grab, remember, are kinda too vague when it comes to choosing what to do unless you go through a very specific route. I think having multiple choices that could show up after new conversations could really make it flow. Like maybe in the start you have choices of think, as think, ask, and observe. Then after talking to your client more and more, you could go back to more options that feel like you are processing. I feel like the conversations would benefit from flowing a little more before ending the five minutes. You could get more information before just feeling frustrated at another game over screen. Having options after that game over screen makes it flow more than guessing. I wasn't really able to finish the game without the walkthrough and I feel like there's different ways to go about it that games have.
I also don't think that you should completely take out the game overs. One game that I believe used game overs effectively that's relatively small is "Her Tears Were My Light." The story had the girl that you play as constantly feels like everything won't end well, but through multiple endings that lead to the same thing, you can sway what happens. It makes you feel like you're constantly in a loop, different responses from different choices makes it feel like you are powerless in the situation, but later on you realize that your choices can lead to a different ending. In this game, it would scrape justice.
I think that there could also be a continuation with the game through Gianna because she was vaguely mentioned and she seemed to have a big role in their life (the person you play as). Maybe after you hear about her and the text comes up as "I feel like I'm forgetting someone," the remember option comes up in the beginning and that strings into something else. Maybe there could be a part two where you have the ending of this part in the ending you feel like is the true ending could be summarized and lead it into the remember option that leads to the next story of how he deals with Gianna.
I'm not trying telling you how to make a game, take all of this as a grain of salt. I just feel like there were better ways to go about the game. The only reason why I rated low was because it didn't really feel enough like a game and I wouldn't be able to complete it without a walkthrough. It breaks the immersion. I feel like the visuals are breath taking and having the game flow better would make it come together.
zephyo responds:
Thank you for this review. It comes across as very honest, thought-out, and well-informed. I'll think about your creative suggestions.Yes, there are definitely gaps in the plot. I'm going to make future games easier XD Thanks again!