ISHI - Eternal Companion

by maruki
Overall★★★★★★★★★★3.60
Fun★★★★★★★★★★2.98
Innovation★★★★★★★★★★3.17
Theme★★★★★★★★★★3.10
Graphics★★★★★★★★★★3.98
Humor★★★★★★★★★★2.55
Mood★★★★★★★★★★4.28
You can also play it on https://maruki.itch.io/ishi

Update: I found the issue with the endings in my code and fixed them (I had messed up the conditions)! Let me know if the issues persist.

Yet another update: I just fixed the last image that was still a draft (the hand).

Note: There is a spirit ending! You have to find out where to click! :D Also, there are two kinda secret endings if you play around with balancing the constitution.

ISHI is a bite-size existential pet simulator. Given its meditative constitution, if you've been struggling with intrusive thoughts or anything depressive recently, I don't recommend playing it.

My intention was to offer some relief for these kinds of feelings and thoughts through the interaction of a "pet" (I guess pretty much everyone will have to deal with them sooner or later), but my writing may not be the best for many people. So be warned.

If you do play ISHI, I hope you can enjoy it with tranquility.
Peace.



Credits

art and code by maruki: http://twitter/com/marukihurakami

nyx8 palette by Javier Guerrero: https://twitter.com/Xavier_Gd/

Mini Pixel font by eitoa: https://eitoa.itch.io/​

song "Carried Along" by Zodiax: https://zodiax.newgrounds.com/

song "Sweet Dreams" by snokums: https://opengameart.org/users/snokums

CSS only particle system by Robin Selmer: https://codepen.io/robinselmer/pen/mRjoXr

CSS only Gradient Buttons with Background-Color Change by Captain Anonymous: https://codepen.io/anon/pen/dQaNBO

thanks to sugoidev for the always awesome husbandry, company and proofreading!

screenshot

Comments17

Eva Abollivier
Eva Abollivier4 Dec 2018, 13:15
I liked the chill mood you created at first with the color palette and the music, and that it slowly becomes unnerving as the story goes on... I just didn't understand how the endings work: I had 9 "mind" and 1 "body", and I still got the body ending.
Zugai894 Dec 2018, 16:25
The prerequesites for the endings might be off, also I don't think you can get "Spirit", unless there is a separate route for it I did not discover.
Otherwise a very interesting experience :D
I love this kind of style, still a game, but so focused on narrative^^
Maruki
Marukiauthor4 Dec 2018, 22:10
Hey! Thanks for the comments! I fixed the issue, thanks for point it out!
SnuggleHero5 Dec 2018, 01:07
The tiny me that lives in this comment enjoyed your game, Maruki - happily, quietly, restfully.
Eddie Li
Eddie Li5 Dec 2018, 01:17
Very interesting game. Well done!
Aetylus5 Dec 2018, 01:20
I very much enjoyed this! I love the music and visuals, and the prose was quaint and poetic. I love how it was a little odd but only curiously so, and I'd even say it was a nice experience (though I can see how it might be a little depressing to those battling with related issues)
Pennycook
Pennycook5 Dec 2018, 01:21
I think you're being hard on yourself -- I thought your writing was very good.

There's a lot about this that I like, but it wasn't obvious to me how it connects to the sacrifice theme. Did I miss something?
Kaish
Kaish5 Dec 2018, 01:27
Congratulations! Interesting story, peaceful climate. I liked the rock...
Maruki
Marukiauthor5 Dec 2018, 01:38
@snugglehero @eddie-li @aetylus @kaish Thank you all for your comments. This is the very second game I made by myself (I'm just an artist, not a programmer), and I'm mostly making these because I want to practice my writing and practice putting my writing out for people to read and enjoy.

@pennycook The sacrifice comes in two ways: first, the way we sacrifice our existence and essence to live the way we do -
following already made-up patterns and beaten paths - and how this makes us feel; and second, in the way that the rock absorbs the main character's essence in order to change and ease the main character's suffering (observable from the middle of the game).
DeadPotato5 Dec 2018, 03:17
Hey, really really nice pixel art! I dig the style! Great job!
Papercookies
Papercookies5 Dec 2018, 11:38
I really liked how this was written, and while I don't really think I entirely got it I really did enjoy it. The art is really good too! My only gripe is some lacking spaces in the text. Great entry!
fzillo8 Dec 2018, 10:23
I like your writing style, its very good and the story was intriguing. The artstyle and the music fit the theme perfectly and create a very "thoughtfull" mood. The game runs very fluently, all you guys did a great job. Very cool game!
saucygames
saucygames9 Dec 2018, 03:11
i had a good experience
MyFriendTames
MyFriendTames10 Dec 2018, 20:28
Rough Crystal ending

What a wonderful game, I really love it! :smiley:

Your artwork, your music selection, all the game makes me feel good :v:

Beautiful game :smile:
jeplmr
jeplmr10 Dec 2018, 23:08
THANK YOU for making a WebGL build available. Definitely makes life easier for everyone. I'm not the biggest fan of graphic novel/text adventure games, but this was very well made. Solid audio design and visuals. Great work :)
Maruki
Marukiauthor14 Dec 2018, 07:28
@fzillo @myfriendtames thank you!
@jeplmr thanks, providing a WebGL build is the only way to encourage people to play this kind of game, imo (it's not very popular)

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