“Devilishly dark voice acting, rich lore, tasteful music, multiple endings, and innovative gameplay”
Hmm … I think you might want to ease off on the advertising just a touch. The same words that might make one hyped to play an AAA game do not seem quite as trustworthy when applied to something made in a month. But this is a good game, especially given the time limit!
The voice acting is charming, with the Narrator of course taking the medal for his often delightfully dramatic delivery. Granted, the quality is a touch inconsistant at times, and I have no idea if it is devilishly dark. But it was so wonderful to hear some human voices for a change, instead of just AI. For a free game made in a month, this is awesome; thank you, voice actors.
The story isn’t outstanding, relying on several tropes, but it’s enjoyable enough! Besides, a simple but complete story is much better than a complex one you could only offer a glimpse into. The rich lore might not quite be there yet, but you’ve piqued my interest in learning it if you ever expand this. Beyond the awful fact of the existence of rich people and monkey-killing potion makers, what kind of suffering is this world facing? Are the Keepers actually what the Narrator says they are, or are they something completely different – and if so, what and how and why? What would happen if you put this Narrator and the one from Slay the Princess in a room together – alright, that last one’s a joke, but the resulting argument would certainly amuse me! Perhaps there really are answers I’ve yet to find, as I have not yet discovered these multiple endings mentioned, but I still hunger for more.
The gameplay works well! Navigation is simple to figure out, sounds and ambiences are used to great effect, and walking isn’t needlessly slow, which I love. As has already been mentioned, making events easier to find would be nice; just like the cello makes a sound you can hear from a couple tiles away, perhaps the NPCs could make a noise or speak as well? I only encountered one bug: the Narrator mocked me for using one instrument twice after I’d only played one thing.
If this is your first accessible game, it is a great start, and I for one look forward to what you might make in the future.