Samantha Lienhard's Blog, page 127
October 25, 2017
Preparing for NaNoWriMo 2017
Image courtesy of National Novel Writing Month.
It’s that time of year again! NaNoWriMo is on the horizon!(For those of you unfamiliar with it, NaNoWriMo refers to National Novel Writing Month, where people attempt to write at least 50,000 words in the month of November.)
I’ve been officially doing NaNoWriMo since 2009, when I wrote the first draft of Agent of the Relari.
Some years, I go into it with a strong idea of my story and characters, filled with excitement to get writing. These years go very well for me, like in 2014 when I wrote 94,000 words of The Nightbringer and last year when I wrote 78,000 words of The Time of Adversity (then using the working title Unto Dust).
Some years, I go in with barely any ideas, which is what happened in 2015, when I squeaked out 50,000 words of Elven Ascendant and haven’t touched it since.
In contrast, I spent the past months editing both The Nightbringer and The Time of Adversity and like those stories quite a bit.
This year, I feel as though I’m somewhere in between. I didn’t have any solid ideas for a long time, but now I think I’m going to write another YA fantasy novel. A few characters have begun to form in my mind, and that’s the most important part for me to start writing.
My plot ideas… are shaky. They keep changing. This definitely isn’t a 2014 or 2016 NaNoWriMo where I’ll go into it knowing the general course the story should take. Still, I feel I’m at least a little more prepared than I was in 2015.
What about you? If you’re doing NaNoWriMo, do you already know what you want to write?
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October 23, 2017
Celebrating All Things Spooky: Alicemare
Alicemare (sometimes written as Alice Mare) is a short, surreal adventure game with a dark fairy tale theme.
It follows a young boy named Allen who finds himself caught in a Dream that lets him explore the hearts of the other children at his new home and learn the secrets of their pasts.
There is an Alice in Wonderland theme that is most apparent at first, but each of the children’s stories follows a different fairy tale that you piece together along the way.
Of course, the stories aren’t exactly like the fairy tales we know. Even once you recognize the fairy tales in question, you might know where they’re going until you finish that character’s story. These stories are largely separate from one another, but they do tie together into Allen’s current journey through the Dream.
The gameplay is primarily puzzle-driven, with some nice riddles as well as item-based puzzles. It’s enjoyable, although the one downside is that examining everything in the area often won’t be good enough to proceed; you need to investigate objects again after checking other objects, including one early area that requires you to inspect objects in a specific order to make the item you need appear.
Alicemare is a short game. A single playthrough lasts about 2 hours, although there are multiple endings.
I wouldn’t call it a horror game, but it definitely has creepy elements… and it’s a dark, sad take on several fairy tales with an intriguing overarching plot.
If you’ve played Alicemare, what did you think of it? What other creepy takes on fairy tales do you enjoy? Let me know in the comments below.
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October 20, 2017
What Happened to Fiona Frightening?
Routine isn’t the only game I was looking forward to that disappeared from view. What happened to Fiona Frightening?
Fiona Frightening and the Wicked Wardrobe was a 3D platformer in the style of Banjo-Kazooie, and it was planned for the Wii U.
The story followed a witch named Fiona who used “Monsdresses” from her monster allies to fight an evil Boogieman trying to rewrite the story to make himself the winner. It sounded like a cute and spooky game, perfect for this time of year.
In 2015, I thought they might have a demo ready in time for Halloween, and earlier this year I included it on my list of best upcoming 3D platformers.
Now, the chances of it still coming out for the Wii U are pretty slim, but is it coming out for anything else instead? (They mentioned their interest in the Switch.) What happened to this game?
Fortunately, it appears Fiona Frightening hasn’t been cancelled yet. While the official Fiona Frightening Facebook page has been quiet ever since July 2016, they responded this March to say they were waiting for the demo to be completed.
And… they must still be waiting.
It’s hard not to worry about Fiona Frightening and the Wicked Wardrobe, especially since they’ve gone for such long periods of time without anything to show. Still, at least it’s not officially cancelled yet.
What do you think? Will we eventually get to see (and play) Fiona Frightening?
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October 18, 2017
The Surprisingly Epic Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon Trailer
I’ve been skeptical about Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon.
Not only have I yet to finish regular Pokémon Moon (I mentioned this back in August and still haven’t gone back to it), but it disappointed me that Ultra Sun and Moon aren’t sequels.
The latest story trailer, however, made me genuinely excited about these games.
That trailer is way too epic for a Pokémon game. Between the music, the content, and the bold declaration that “This isn’t the Alola you thought you knew,” it really caught my attention.
It reminded me of when I first started Pokémon White and saw the intro. My immediate reaction was to check that I really was playing Pokémon and not some other JRPG, because it seemed so cool and out of place in a series that typically had basic plots.
And if the Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon story trailer wasn’t enough, a recent interview revealed that the stories diverge early on, there is an additional post-game episode, the changes are even greater than those in Emerald and Platinum, and the overall scenario is about twice as long as that of Sun and Moon.
I was skeptical of these games because they aren’t sequels, but that sounds like a lot of added story content.
In short, the story trailer for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon won me over, and now I’m interested in these games. The only question is if I should finish Moon first.
What did you think of the new trailer? Are you excited for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon?
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October 16, 2017
Celebrating All Things Spooky: Doki Doki Literature Club
Last week, we discussed a game that looks cute but is actually a horror game.
This week, we have another deceptively cute game to discuss.
Doki Doki Literature Club presents itself as a sweet romance visual novel where the main character joins a school literature club alongside four cute girls. It also begins by warning the player “This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.”
When you start it, it will seem to be as cute as it appears on the surface.
Keep playing, even if you find the start boring. It’s not what you expect.
Click for Doki Doki Literature Club spoilerThe disturbing elements certainly make this visual novel stand out (especially in contrast to its cute facade), but what ended up lingering in my thoughts the most afterward was the meta situation. Not only how Monika knows she’s in a game and is interested in the player, but also how the other girls can tell there is something wrong and are powerless to do anything about it.
Now, Doki Doki Literature Club is one of those stories where you can’t really talk about what makes it interesting without spoilers. However, it’s also free, so if you’re intrigued by its inclusion in Celebrating All Things Spooky, download it and find out!
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October 13, 2017
Eternal Darkness: What Happened to Joseph De Molay?
Today is Friday the 13th. The superstition of Friday the 13th being unlucky is sometimes attributed to the arrest of the Knights Templar on October 13, 1307, which was also a Friday.
Last October, we took a look at a fantastic horror game for the GameCube called Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. Now, on this Friday the 13th, let’s discuss the mysterious Templar character who was cut from the final game.
Joseph De Molay (named for Jacques de Molay of the real Knights Templar) was a Templar who appeared in a considerable amount of footage prior to the release of Eternal Darkness.
In fact, not only was he shown in gameplay footage, he was also one of three playable characters in the 2001 E3 demo, alongside Pious Augustus and Alex.
So what happened to him?
The official explanation for Joseph De Molay’s removal from the final game is that he was created just for the demo. However, that’s a significant amount of work for a demo, especially for that 2001 demo when two other characters were already playable.
There are screenshots of De Molay from the Nintendo 64 build of Eternal Darkness, as well, which further suggests he was meant to play a role in the story.
It is widely accepted that De Molay is the unnamed knight used as the foundation for the Pillar of Flesh.
That would certainly explain why that knight seems significant, yet has no chapter of his own.
But why didn’t Joseph De Molay make it to the final game? One interview says he was removed as a result of the September 11th attacks, along with several other changes made to the chapters set in the Middle East.
Whether it was that or other concerns that led to De Molay being cut from the game, who replaced him?
De Molay mainly appeared in the Forbidden City, a location explored by Pious, Karim, Roberto, and Michael. The interview says he was replaced by Michael. However, there are unexplained dead knights in Karim’s chapter, which suggests he was replaced by Karim instead. And the Pillar of Flesh cutscene occurs right before Roberto’s chapter, so it could also be him.
(It’s definitely not Pious, considering their roles in the story.)
He also appeared in the cathedral, but I don’t believe there are any other characters in the game with scenes in both the cathedral and the Forbidden City. Maybe he wasn’t replaced, but was intended to appear alongside all of the other characters.
On the other hand, maybe they intended to save De Molay’s story for the cancelled sequel…
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem is a great game, and I still hope we get a sequel someday, especially since Nintendo keeps renewing the trademark. What do you think happened to Joseph De Molay, and what do you think his role in the story would have been?
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October 11, 2017
Top 5 More Upcoming Horror Games
In 2014, we looked at 5 upcoming survival horror games. Of those, 3 have been released, 1 was cancelled, and 1 is in limbo.
Now, let’s take a look at five more upcoming horror games.
5. Hollow
Hollow is due out on November 16 for the Switch and PC, and it takes place on an abandoned mining ship where something has gone terribly wrong. Check out the haunting trailer!
4. Allison Road
I didn’t have a PS4 in time to play P.T., which disappointed me almost as much as the cancellation of Silent Hills. Allison Road is a game trying to be the spiritual successor to P.T., with supernatural horror set within the main character’s house.
It definitely sounds creepy, so I’m looking forward to learning more about it. Allison Road has no announced release window yet.
3.Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game
While not as strictly survival horror as the other games on this list, Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game looks intriguing. Planned for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2018, it’s a horror RPG inspired by the 1981 Call of Cthulhu role-playing game.
It looks wonderfully atmospheric, and what can I say? When you mention H.P. Lovecraft, you get my attention.
2. Resident Evil 2 Remake
When an HD remake of Resident Evil 2 was finally announced, I celebrated.
Actually, I panicked. Resident Evil 2 is a fantastic survival horror game! What if they turned the remake into action? My worries were calmed when they assured fans they were looking at the HD remaster of the first game’s remake as an example.
Resident Evil 7 has also gotten positive feedback, although I haven’t played it yet to judge it as a survival horror game.
If they make a Resident Evil 2 remake that holds true to the spirit of the original, it should be an excellent game indeed.
1. Moons of Madness
I first heard about Moons of Madness back in audience, and I was immediately interested. A psychological horror game set on Mars and inspired by Lovecraft? I’m in!
It looks creepy, weird, and potentially fantastic, and it aims to have both hard science and a true Lovecraftian essence. It also promises plenty of puzzles, always welcome in survival horror. Moons of Madness is planned for 2018 on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and it’s the horror game I’m looking forward to the most right now.
Conclusion
Hollow, Allison Road, Call of Cthulhu, the Resident Evil 2 Remake, and Moons of Madness are five upcoming horror games to look forward to. What horror games are you most excited for?
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October 9, 2017
Celebrating All Things Spooky – Yomawari: Night Alone
Yomawari: Night Alone, available for the PS Vita and Steam, looks like a cute game.
Do not be fooled!
Yomawari is definitely horror, and it makes sure you realize early on that despite the cutesy graphics, plenty of darkness and death await you.
You play a little girl searching for her sister in a city filled with spirits and monsters. The enemy designs are great. There’s all sorts of creepy, unsettling, and just plain bizarre spirits lurking around. If you know anything about yokai, expect those kinds of creatures.
You can’t fight, and when you hide in the bushes, you can’t see anything. Instead, you rely on sound and your heartbeat (which functions as a sort of radar system while in hiding) to let you know when the danger has passed.
As you search for your sister, much of your time will be spent exploring the town. Despite the lack of combat, this actually reminded me a lot of Silent Hill, especially the first Silent Hill. It has a lonely, unsettling atmosphere, and you never quite feel safe.
Click for Yomawari spoilerIt even has a sort of “Otherworld” in one chapter.
In some ways, Yomawari can be brutal. Enemies kill you in a single strike, and it often takes a lot of trial and error to figure out how to get past them. On the other hand, you don’t lose any items when you die, and there are quick-save statues scattered around the map that you can fast-travel between.
(However, the statues only work for fast travel and for you to respawn when you die. If you want to save your progress, you need to return to your house. Don’t be put off by the game’s confusing warning that your save point will be reset. You don’t lose anything by warping back to your house.)
The main storyline is dark and ambiguous, but what really makes the world of Yomawari interesting is that the collectibles you find throughout the town hint at other stories when you read their descriptions. It’s a nice way to learn what else has been happening in this haunted town, and it made me want to explore everywhere to see what I could find.
Yomawari: Night Alone is a delightful little game that’s much darker than you’d think at first glance, and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes atmospheric horror games (or wants to see darker takes on yokai).
Its sequel, Yomawari: Midnight Shadows, is due out later this month on October 24.
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October 6, 2017
Destiny Chronicles is Now on Kickstarter
Back in May, I announced that I was the writer for a fantasy action RPG called Destiny Chronicles.
Well, Destiny Chronicles is now on Kickstarter!
We’re off to a good start, but we still need a lot of support to reach our goal.
The current build is using pre-made environment and enemy assets as placeholders, but our funding through Kickstarter will allow us to create original assets, in addition to polishing the animations and combat, fleshing out the world and story, and turning Destiny Chronicles into a game we can be proud of.
Destiny Chronicles is a JRPG-inspired game about a squire named Celeste. When a thief ruins her initiation into the Ashen Order, an order of knights dedicated to protecting the world from monsters, Celeste goes on a journey to prove herself worthy of knighthood.
It will be a character-driven story, with optional party member interactions and side quests in addition to the main plot. As far as combat goes, it is an action RPG. You can see early examples of combat in the trailer.
Destiny Chronicles is currently planned for the PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, although the beta builds will only be available on the PC.
We have a lot of details on the Kickstarter page, and you can also ask me if you have any questions. As the writer, I’m best-suited for answering stories about the story, characters, and world, but I can find out any other information you need, too.
What do you think of Destiny Chronicles? Head over to the Kickstarter page to lend your support or just spread the word!
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October 4, 2017
New Layton Game and Layton Anime Planned
We’re taking a break from horror today (although all of your comments will still qualify for the horror game giveaway) to discuss brighter, happier games.
First, a JRPG-inspired action RPG I’m working on as a writer, Destiny Chronicles, is now on Kickstarter. We’ll talk more about Destiny Chronicles on Friday.
In the meantime, there’s also exciting news for fans of the Professor Layton series!
Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy is already out for mobile devices and will be out for the 3DS this Friday. Now, a new report says the next Professor Layton title will be out in summer 2018 (most likely a game, although that wasn’t directly stated).
Since Layton’s Mystery Journey was announced as the next series, it will probably be a new addition to that storyline.
Not only that, but there is also a 26-episode Layton anime in the works for 2018. They haven’t said what the anime will cover, but since the animated movie (Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva) was pretty good, I have high hopes.
(It also sounds like they hope to localize The Snack World, which is great!)
I’m looking forward to playing Layton’s Mystery Journey once the 3DS version is out, and I’m excited to know that not only is a new game in the works, but an anime is as well! Are you interested in the Professor Layton anime?
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