A simple non-field RPG: Escape the cursed forest! -Prologue-
You're the village's best hunter, heading to a national hunting tournament near the royal capital. Full of anticipation, you set off into the forest. Waking after your first night camping, you discover something unsettling – your camp is deserted. All the other hunters are gone. National guards usually oversee the tournament, but there's no one in sight.
Cautiously, you begin to walk. Soon, you encounter the first bizarre event: a strangely branched tree… one you're sure you already passed. You're supposed to be heading north, back to the forest entrance, but you’re lost. This isn't like you. Your sense of direction is usually impeccable. Something is wrong.
You try to stay calm, but the situation is undeniably strange. You're stuck. So... you start walking again.
-What is the "Elven Curse"?-
This non-field RPG casts you as a hunter trying to escape a cursed forest, aided by a peculiar quarter-elf. Gameplay is incredibly simple, using at most three buttons outside the main menu.
-Character Creation-
You can't manually customize your character, but you can re-roll stats as often as needed. Check your leveling-up stat increase rate on the character creation screen; it's not viewable in-game. This screen also serves as a return point. Game over occurs when your life force reaches zero and you have fewer than two "talismans."
-Foria, the Peddler Quarter-Elf-
A young (or perhaps not so young) quarter-elf you meet in the forest. Despite his childlike appearance, he claims to be older than you and, while seemingly uninvolved, secretly helps you escape using the forest's ancient spirits.
-Scenario and Setting-
The prologue unfolds like a picture story. Foria’s dialogue is cheerful, contrasting with the quiet, subtly evocative world-building.
-Exploration Mode-
You navigate the forest by exploring unexplored areas in each section. Exploration success is determined by the area's "fog depth," influenced by your stats. If your life force runs out, use poison to restore it, or, in some cases, use rare "talismans." You might need to return to Foria.
-Beast Encounters & Hunter Battles-
Fierce beasts roam the forest, from wolves and wild dogs to even frogs and rabbits! Killing them yields hides, tradeable with Foria. Unlike other RPGs, there's no battle-based leveling. The goal is escape, with no set boss battles. All battles are avoidable (though that requires luck or skill).
As a hunter, you use a bow and arrow. Maintain distance to attack without counterattack, but closing the gap risks a one-sided assault. You can either withdraw (success depends on your stats) or use a "flash" ball Foria provides for guaranteed escape. While far from the beast, you can also use wound medicine.
-Cloak & Layering System-
You craft a mysterious cloak from collected branches, resin, and leather, enhancing your abilities. It's lightweight and can have up to three layers, with the ability boost being the sum of all layers. It might even restore vitality. Note: the top layer can be damaged and destroyed. The bow and arrow remain unchanged.
-Game Features-
This is a game about playing the game. It features:
- Random skill selection.
- Reflex, strategy, skill, and luck challenges.
- Material gathering, synthesis, and alchemy.
- Thorough preparation before progression.
- A relaxing game that allows for casual progress.
-Auto-Save-
The game auto-saves, but not during battles. For reliable saves, close the app from the base menu.
-Version History-
- v1.2 (Dec 18, 2024): Fixed a bug causing unexpected transitions to character creation.
- v1.1: Corrected typographical errors in scenario text.
- v1.0: Minor bug fixes, message changes, and added credits.
- v0.1: Test release.
