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A jam submission

Psycho-SerumView game page

You're a test subject for a new nootropic called Psycho-Serum.
Submitted by Colby-O β€” 58 seconds before the deadline
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Psycho-Serum's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Story#73.7693.769
Enjoyment (Best Game)#113.5383.538
Creativity#153.7693.769
Horror#163.2313.231
Sound Design#223.1543.154
Aesthetics#373.2313.231

Ranked from 13 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

Do you allow SCREAM ZONE to promote your game via social media?

Yes

What game engine did you make this project in?

Unity

Any other notes?
Submit the wrong project initally (Dungeon of the mind) This is my real entry.

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Comments

Submitted(+1)

This is a really cool game! The game definitely gave me the creeps, and I got pretty scared even just when the red eyes occasionally showed up, really well done! I loved the overall aura and the story is interesting. I really loved being able to explore the environment at first, it was a really nice addition.

As you mentioned there were a handful of bugs, but they led to some pretty interesting thoughts! One that I did twice was getting myself closed out of the sliding gates (once for the elevator, once for the maze). I have a bad habit of backtracking a lot in games, but if you update the game that could be a gameplay opportunity--like a bad ending if you get yourself locked out (I feel like one of the Stanley Parable's endings was like this?). Another thing that felt like a bug (I wasn't sure if it was intentional or not) was being able to see some of the squares behind the black cover in front of the TV in the memory game if you look at it from a certain angle, but honestly it felt really rewarding to notice it! If it's not a bug (or honestly, either way)--well done! I almost could see the puzzles all being nearly impossible except for some visual trick due to the serum giving you better "perception." Finally, I also had the ending bug where it told me to go to my cell twice. When I was playing though, I thought to myself "maybe this isn't a bug" and realized my room had a number, so I went back up the elevator and I went back to the second lab thinking that going through corresponding door in lab 2 would complete the last task! I know it's just a bug now, but honestly that could be a really cool final puzzle! These are just some thoughts if you're thinking of updating the game or reusing some concepts--sometimes bugs give you the opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade so to say :)

Overall, great job on the game!

Developer(+1)

Thanks for playing and providing feedback! You gave me a lot to think about with regard to future builds. Thanks a lot!

Submitted(+1)

The game was really good! Great atmosphere, the underlying story was good. Some critiques I have: the fonts on the pages were a bit small, maybe next time or in an update make it so you can zoom in to read the pages easier? Then near the end when I went back to the cell I got hard locked because it added the return to cell task twice and wouldn’t let me complete it again. Had to completely restart the game to complete it. Other than that it was really good! Solid controls, good movement, and well thought out sequences and puzzles. Overall very fun game, kept me on edge the whole time!

Developer(+1)

Thanks for playing and providing feedback! You should have been able to read the text by clicking R. I should have added a prompt in hindsight. That ending bug is really bad it must have been annoying to get to that point just to have it bug out.  

Submitted(+1)

I can pick up and put down the syringe, but nothing else past that point. I don't know what key to press to take the serum. Started the game multiple times to see if it was just a bug, but no luck playing it.

The game looks neat from the screen shots, so I feel like I'm missing out on the experience.

Developer (2 edits)

Ya, I didn't have time to do a tutorial so unless someone took the time to read the itch page there is no way they would know how to play unfortunately. The controls are on the itch page, but are space to go to the next dialogue, F to use items, E to pickup/inspect, and R to open task menu (also to expand text on notes).  Thanks for taking the time to play anyhow!

Submitted(+2)

Thank you kindly for pointing me in the right direction. I downloaded the game and forgot to read the manual. That is my fault.

Here's what the directions on the Itch page say to anyone who might have missed it:
W/A/S/D - Movement
Space - Next Dialogue 
E - Interact 
F - Pickup
R - Open Task Menu / Read on Inspecting a note
Esc - Pause/ Close Menus

Are F and E reversed?

Developer (1 edit)

Ya, it’s poorly worded that’s my bad. It’s should say F to take item and E to examine/interact.

Submitted (1 edit) (+1)

I do not know English, so it was difficult to use the translator because of the font. You can me suggest the controls, please?

Developer (1 edit)

 The controls are on the itch page, but are space to go to the next dialogue, F to use items, E to pickup/inspect, and R to open task menu  (also to expand text on notes).  Thanks for taking the time to try the game out!

Submitted(+1)

I loved the puzzles and the way it tells the story. I had to try a few times to get the hang of it, but I had a lot of fun. Congratulations on the project.

Developer(+1)

Thanks for playing!

Submitted(+1)

Thank you for the opportunity! If you can, please take a look at our project :)

Submitted(+1)

Psycho serum / qu'est-ce que c'est? 

Can't believe I didn't come across this earlier. Plenty of notes and environmental storytelling with cells strewn with serum and notes of going mad that tell little stories that build the setting. Good mix of puzzles, including a memory test, a lateral thinking puzzle, and a maze - great variety and a little more interesting than the usual item-based puzzles you tend to get with these games. My favorite was the door puzzle, given that its solution had a genuine a-ha moment that I didn't expect! The red eyes were a simple and effective scare to remind the player that they're always being watched...or are they the hallucinations from the serum? I think for constructive criticism, most of the improvements could come in terms of polish of user experience, but it's a jam game so no big deal: for instance, clarifying user controls, making text on notes easier to read, and also addressing some of the bugs with the door puzzle including the puzzle not being solvable and the timer continuing. All in all this shows a great sense of creativity and informed approach to puzzle design and you have a good knack at creating them. Great work! 

Developer

Thanks for playing and taking the time to provide feedback!

Submitted(+1)

Really interesting concept. I liked the puzzles, althought there seem to be a couple of bugs here and there. On the 3er test I couldn't get the tv to turn on and I was locked in the room, so I had to start over again :(

I gotta say I was not a fan of the font used for top of the screen text, I felt like it put my eyes on too much of a strain.

I also had a bit of trouble getting to display the messages of the letters scattered around or maybe not all of them have a message to display? I couldn't tell.

I liked the concept of the experiments very much so and the puzzles are entertaining. Great stuff!

Developer(+1)

Thanks for playing and taking the time to give me feedback, it's appreciated! If the messages weren't displaying it must have been some sort of bug, unfortunately.  I will keep your comment about the font in mind for future projects. Now that you mention it I do see how that font could strain the eyes, especially with the chromatic effect.

Submitted(+1)

Great game! I liked the idea of the tests, I think the 3rd test could be better if it wasn't so hard to find the exit. Loved the second test, good puzzle, in the future try that if the player opens one door all the other doors closed, because it was really laggy when I oppened like 10 doors hahaah. But overall I liked this game!

Developer(+1)

Thanks for taking the time to play and provide feedback! I like your suggestion with the doors that would've worked well! 

Submitted (1 edit) (+1)

Dude this was super cool, I'm really impressed with this and this game def needs more ratings and comments! I really badly wanted to finish but after 3 tries I  sorta gave up because it's getting late haha...

 

The first try I bugged out the cubes, the second try I fell out of bounds after the maze and on the 3d try I think they told me to go back to my cell so I did but then nothing happened. I'd love to know how it ends. Do I not go back to my cell?

You've done a tremendous job with this and the door puzzle is smarter than me haha, great job! 

Developer (4 edits)

Thanks for playing and providing feedback it's appreciated! Ya, the game is super buggy, I didn't have time to flesh it out. The end sequence only worked about half the time when my brother and I were testing it. I think it depends on how many times you click the button in the maze room ( clicking it more than once breaks the end). It's either that or how long it takes you to finish the maze. All that is supposed to happen is that the basement area fills with text written in blood and a jumpscare when you go back up the elevator. The twist was supposed to be that you were behind the experiments the whole time and you put yourself through the trials as punishment for your sins.