A short narrative game (10-15 minutes) with multiple endings based on Albert Camus' "The Stranger"
Your mother died recently, but you feel no grief.
CONTROLS WASD to move E to interact Space to continue text W/S + Space for choices
REQUIREMENTS WebGL2 is required - make sure your browser is updated to the latest version - make sure hardware acceleration is on Best played with sound on :)
WARNINGS Flash warning! One of the endings and one of the scenes has flashing lights. This game contains death and shooting.
AI USE AI was used solely as a coding assistant.
FEEDBACK I'd like some feedback if you have time! You don't need to answer all of em ;) 1. How'd the pacing feel? Were some parts too fast or too slow? 2. How'd you like the narrative in general? 3. Did the endings make sense? Did the ending texts make sense? (at least for the ending you got) 4. Was anything particularly confusing/unclear (assuming you explored scene 1 first)
I'll play and comment on your game too (if browser game) :>
I really like the old TV framing, especially the chunky knobs and the note stuck to it. The simple grey scenes suit the story well too. Adapting The Stranger with different choices and endings is an interesting idea for a jam!
I want to apologize in advance for any harshness. I liked the concept overall, but I’d like to write a fairly detailed review of this game.
The art style and graphics are very well done; it’s a pleasure to look at and play. Among other games, this one stands out for its appealing style.
The narrative starts off well. We’re shown a simple life, a funeral, and all sorts of things. The problem here is how this is portrayed in the game.
The trial is strangely done. Why are we being judged based on whether or not we took a cigarette? They could have phrased it something like, “The defendant exhibited signs of antisocial behavior,” for example. The dialogue is written too simply.
I like how the “be normal” options force the player to take some kind of active action, as if they're pushing themselves beyond their limits. It's a really good narrative element.
The sound design is great. The silence doesn’t feel empty.
Maybe I'm wrong. In any case, that's how it seemed to me, just as I described it.
The idea the game sets out to convey is really good. It turned out pretty well for a jam—I'm glad I got to play it. I’d love to see a post-jam version of the game where the flaws mentioned above are fixed.
@sasik no worries about harshness I do agree with what you said. I did rush the trial, I was running out of time and well yeah. I couldn't put my finger on exactly what was wrong with the trial in my script so I just couldn't figure out how to fix it. Thank you for pointing it out! I think what happened is my brain tried to be too faithful to the original trials conduct despite the game being compressed and lacking background and scenes that the book would offer. If I do make a post-jam version I will be sure to fix it. Thanks for the praise on the other aspects too.
I haven't read the original work, but this game does a good job of expressing a certain idea. In reality, not all people are emotional. Everyone has different views on death, and the person who cries the loudest at the funeral is not necessarily the one who loves them the most on a daily basis. In society, those who hold the power to speak are not reluctant to demand that others do what they consider to be a matter of course. They label those who refuse to cooperate as "beasts".
@peng665 you really should read Camus' original work its amazing. Theres just so much to unpack and read into deeper despite the book being a under 200 pages. Society does have a tendency to ostracize those who don't fit in perfectly (unfortunately).
Really interesting interactive narrative. I don't know the source material, but I feel like overall presentation was well done. You did a great job of using primitives to build out the scenes and content. The sequencing worked really well too. Great job!
Nice work! Really fun core loop and a great take on the theme. Had a good time playing it! Left full ratings. Cheers from the Meow Bomb team, feel free to drop by our page if you're looking for more games to rate!
I love the way you use the old television to present the game, and also it's interesting and thought-provoking to think about balancing the "social wanted people" and the "true self" for a person like the main character. Good game!
I love this game. Honestly, it was so good, i've rebeaten it like 4 times. The final judgement scene is strange though. Like, what does watching comedy even do with murder? It's a way of coping. Same with smoking, although i can kinda see it being strange.
My main idea with the comedy is that a "normal" person would be far more shocked after murdering another. It'd be difficult for most people to just up and start watching TV minutes after murdering someone, though I admit I didn't convey timeframes well in my game. (If I make a post-jam version I'll be sure to do that).
I really love how you interpreted the theme! The game looks great, and the old TV effect gives it a really nice aesthetic. Having the current objective displayed at the top is super helpful, and highlighting the objects you can interact with makes everything feel intuitive. The sound effects are great, too!
The idea of representing anonymous faces with noise/static is brilliant. Although, I have to admit, approaching a gravestone in the cemetery and suddenly having someone stare back at me was genuinely creepy hahaha. Seriously impressive!
Honestly, I felt like I was interacting with a TV series I was watching. It's been a long time since I've been this hooked on a visual novel. I'm not sure if I got the bad ending, "Be Yourself", but I really enjoyed the dialogue. Not everything needs to make perfect sense, and I actually love the idea that something as simple as accepting or refusing a cigarette can influence your judgment.
Definitely one of my favorite games of this Ludum Dare! Congratulations on such an amazing experience! ❤️
The visual style perfectly captures that sense of detached indifference central to the story. It's fascinating how the simple nature of the game allows it to explore such heavy philosophical ideas about societal expectations and grief. Great work on this narrative project.
adapting the stranger through an old tv set is such a smart idea, the chunky knobs and the note stuck to it sell the whole framing before you even start reading. the simple grey scenes fit the story really well too, it feels like a lost broadcast. was it hard to decide which parts of the book to turn into choices? really atmospheric work.
Adapting The Stranger as an interactive story on an old TV with chunky knobs is a really interesting idea, and the sound design gets great feedback. The trial section sounds like it could use more time, but a strong concept for a jam!
Comments24
The art style and graphics are very well done; it’s a pleasure to look at and play. Among other games, this one stands out for its appealing style.
The narrative starts off well. We’re shown a simple life, a funeral, and all sorts of things. The problem here is how this is portrayed in the game.
The trial is strangely done. Why are we being judged based on whether or not we took a cigarette? They could have phrased it something like, “The defendant exhibited signs of antisocial behavior,” for example. The dialogue is written too simply.
I like how the “be normal” options force the player to take some kind of active action, as if they're pushing themselves beyond their limits. It's a really good narrative element.
The sound design is great. The silence doesn’t feel empty.
Maybe I'm wrong. In any case, that's how it seemed to me, just as I described it.
The idea the game sets out to convey is really good. It turned out pretty well for a jam—I'm glad I got to play it. I’d love to see a post-jam version of the game where the flaws mentioned above are fixed.
Thank you!
Left full ratings. Cheers from the Meow Bomb team, feel free to drop by our page if you're looking for more games to rate!
My main idea with the comedy is that a "normal" person would be far more shocked after murdering another. It'd be difficult for most people to just up and start watching TV minutes after murdering someone, though I admit I didn't convey timeframes well in my game. (If I make a post-jam version I'll be sure to do that).
The idea of representing anonymous faces with noise/static is brilliant. Although, I have to admit, approaching a gravestone in the cemetery and suddenly having someone stare back at me was genuinely creepy hahaha. Seriously impressive!
Honestly, I felt like I was interacting with a TV series I was watching. It's been a long time since I've been this hooked on a visual novel. I'm not sure if I got the bad ending, "Be Yourself", but I really enjoyed the dialogue. Not everything needs to make perfect sense, and I actually love the idea that something as simple as accepting or refusing a cigarette can influence your judgment.
Definitely one of my favorite games of this Ludum Dare! Congratulations on such an amazing experience! ❤️
Ive tried and played all of your games too and they were great.