Monday, April 13, 2009
Judith
Judith, by Terry Cavanagh and Stephen Lavelle, is.... ah... I'm not sure. A semi-interactive, 3D storybook?It uses an old 3D raycasting engine (some of us remember when that was Hot Stuff) and deliberately simplistic graphics to convey a fairly creepy story. Or, rather, two interwoven stories - one creepy one, and another made creepy by the other.
It's a little confusing and could use some polish (especially at the end), but it's a compelling experiment that can be played to completion in about fifteen minutes.
Gameplay-wise, it's sort of the world's easiest 3D graphic adventure game. There are several times where the game even takes control away from the player, forcing the action. But the real focus - and what works here (mostly) - is the use of simple dialog, very basic visual icons, and a series of flashbacks to provide the narrative.
Here, the battle between gameplay and story is definitely won by story. The story isn't big or complex. But it was enough to keep me playing. At the end of the game, I still had more questions than answers. I think there's more that could be done here. But at the same time, the minimalist storytelling was kinda the point --- too much exposition would have made it worse.
So how would you improve upon this?
Anyway, you can check it out yourself here, available for Windows and OS 10.5 (plus source code for aspiring game developers):
Download Judith
Labels: Indie Evangelism
- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 10:44 AM (Permalink)
Comments:
Links to this post:
<< Home
I'll repost what I put on their blog, I loved it throughout.
---
Amazing.
Pieces of work need to be created more often like this. If this is the quality that is produced, those who say it isn't an artform will be given pause for more than a moment.
I was amazed throughout, the graphics - the sound, for the atmosphere it was perfect. Anymore and it would have been overdone. The husband, every moment he appeared stuck chills through my spine. And, ... Poor poor Judith.
Amazing work, well done.
---
Amazing.
Pieces of work need to be created more often like this. If this is the quality that is produced, those who say it isn't an artform will be given pause for more than a moment.
I was amazed throughout, the graphics - the sound, for the atmosphere it was perfect. Anymore and it would have been overdone. The husband, every moment he appeared stuck chills through my spine. And, ... Poor poor Judith.
Amazing work, well done.
I was a bit confused by the necklace, actually. As one of the first items connecting the two time periods, I reached the conclusion that the future could affect the past. Having finished the game, I suspect the necklace was looted from the mansion at some point between the the time periods, and ended up being purchased and given to Emily. But that's a much more complicated explanation, and one I didn't consider until I had finished the game and other possibilities were excluded.
Because of that confusion, I was looking for connections in both directions as I played, and when I reached the end and didn't find any, that was a let down.
But the atmosphere of the game, through the graphics, music, and text, were extremely well done. I'm not surprised to see this was by the same people as "Don't Look Back", another wonderfully eerie game.
Because of that confusion, I was looking for connections in both directions as I played, and when I reached the end and didn't find any, that was a let down.
But the atmosphere of the game, through the graphics, music, and text, were extremely well done. I'm not surprised to see this was by the same people as "Don't Look Back", another wonderfully eerie game.
I liked how the unveiling of events in the past, set up tension in the present. After I would see the horrible things that transpired in Judith's time, I was scared to see what horrors the present held. I was really nervous at the end to open the final door.
I agree with ngthagg, it could have used more connection between the past and the present. There seemed to be an implied connection between the disappearance of Emily and Judith's story, but it didn't feel very strong at the end. Just two stories taking place in the same location.
Overall though, a very impressive bit of work.
Post a Comment
I agree with ngthagg, it could have used more connection between the past and the present. There seemed to be an implied connection between the disappearance of Emily and Judith's story, but it didn't feel very strong at the end. Just two stories taking place in the same location.
Overall though, a very impressive bit of work.
Links to this post:
<< Home
