That’s right, this is the prototype I’ve been working on for a few months. The game is a visual novel with exploration and puzzle-solving elements. The inspiration was Shadowgate and its many derivatives, though the engine is perfectly capable of functioning as a visual novel with character movements and animations.
The game takes place in an alternate version of Chapter 1, where Mei sticks around for a bit longer looking for a way home. She and Florentina get a request for help from Elowen, a somewhat mousey magician whose sister has gone missing. The team track her to Sciers Island, and the game begins.
You click on the arrows to move between areas, and can mouse-over objects to examine them, and some can be examined further or manipulated. The game will have an inventory system where Elowen can cast magic spells the team finds, as well as finding navigation upgrades like a better sword for Mei and sneaking boots for Florentina.
So why am I working on this? Well I’ve been wanting to make a visual novel engine for literally a few years now, but there were always projects projects projects demanding my attention. WoR is the next big one that will take a long time to make, so I decided while doing engine updates and RoP bugfixes, I should get around to making that VN engine. So now I have, and Xandra and I are making a prototype to use it.
The prototype will be free and released (hopefully) in April. At that point we’ll decide based on the audience response if we’re going to finish it and make it a whole game. The last semi-VN project got a lot of positive response from its investigation components so that’s the primary focus here.
If you’re worried about pixel-hunts, don’t!
The top left corner has buttons that you can toggle at any time to show what objects you can examine, so you won’t have to get stuck because you didn’t examine a toilet or whatever. If you don’t want hints, turn them off!
The game has TF of course. Traps will damage your party, always going left to right so Mei gets hit, then Florentina, then Elowen. It’s possible to recover a TF’d party member, but stay alert!
Some traps aren’t just for examining the wrong thing, sometimes failing to take an action will result in getting hit, or you might need an item to help. Luckily, the fountain outside the manor will restore your HP and, if Mei is transformed, you can recover her there because of that handy runestone on her belt. However…
There are bad ends waiting in case the team fails. Sure they’re non-canon but hey it’s fun and people love those. Collect them all!
The prototype will contain three transformations, including knight doll, maid doll, and pooltoy. The full game has more planned, naturally, and will be maybe 4x longer than the prototype if we do decide to pursue it. Development would take place sometime after WoR or maybe during the back half of WoR’s development (because working on a single project for over 6 months starts to drive you nuts, trust me).
The game will also have extra challenges called “cards”. These may or may not make it into the prototype, but you basically have to solve certain challenge puzzles by, say, completing the knight doll area without getting hit once. You’d need to know the game’s mechanics perfectly and plan out a route, providing a little extra fun for players who really like the game or are just completionists.
Artists Xandrasubmarine (who is inexplicably named after hamburgers) is providing the character graphics, UI, and backgrounds. She also provided the basic scenario idea and is in charge of the overall plot. I’m doing the coding, naturally.
Look forward to Project Ophiucus!
Tales of Strings: Bound By Love and Grace Released!
It’s finally out! This one got delayed several times but the art is all done and it’s gorgeous. Pick it up on Itch.io or Wechange! It has action, drama, touching moments, butterfly TF, and terrible jokes. I think that means I don’t qualify for a literary award because it’s too good.
Art by the lovely Judith on Vgen!
As usual, if you’re a patron supporter over 5$ for the past few months, DM me on patreon or subscribestar if you’d like a free copy. If you aren’t but still want a free copy then I guess pictures of your animals or poetry would suffice, I’m very easily manipulated.
Next time on the Knights of Justice: Solace of Orange
A kindhearted therapist is running a retreat in the woods for people who have been victims of the True Path hybrids. Kent gets an invitation from a very familiar woman, and the Knights agree that Kent and Igor need to be in attendance in case the True Path decides to tie up some loose ends. Who is the mysterious woman, who is the therapist, and can anyone be trusted, or is the whole thing a trap?
Other News
No RoP patch this week but there might be one next week. There’s two sprites I need to update and a small smattering of minor bugs to take care of.
Fan Art Meltdown
By Fuurin. Yeah now you know why you’ve been seeing Elowen in the fan art sections.
Questions
The Link Pile
Where to find us:
Our Patreon and Subscribestar are great places to support development! You can also get cool bonus stuff like concept art and early releases of Pandemonium!
If you want extra pictures of cats, you can follow us on Bluesky.
And there’s always Our Discord. You can shout at Salty *in person*.
You can ask us anonymous question on Whisp.sh. If you’ve ever wanted to get smarmy answers to questions, or just know more lore, that’s the place!
We also have a Wiki! We’d appreciate it greatly if people keep it maintained for us. :3
Bottled Starlight Games:
Runes of Pandemonium, the big adventure TF RPG, always free on Steam and Itch.io.
Witch Hunter Izana, a battle-TF RPG. Available on Steam or Itch.io.
Witches of Ravenbrook, a battle-TF dungeon-crawler. The prototype is out now and free on Itch.io.
WoR Kickstarter page (260% funded! Thanks a lot!)
String Tyrant, a survival horror game, is on Steam and Itch.io.
Coming Soon: Project Ophiucus Prototype!
Other Bottled Starlight Stuff
Salty writes a book series, with audiobooks and illustrations, called Tales of Strings.
Instruments is out now on Itch.io.
Passed Hand is now on Itch.io!
Spiderweb Theory is now on Itch.io!
Urban Explorers is now on Itch.io!
Knights of Justice: Varsity Vixens is now on Itch.io!
Knights of Justice: Crush Depth is now on Itch.io!
Knights of Justice: Three Short Steps is now on Itch.io!
Knights of Justice: Knighttime is now on Itch.io!
Knights of Justice: Sticks and Straws is now on Itch.io!
Knights of Justice: Strings Are Attached is now on Itch.io!
Knights of Justice: Only Shadows for Comfort VN Prototype on Itch.io!
Guise of the Goddess is now on Itch.io!
Knights of Justice: Actirangers, Come Forth is now on Itch.io! It’s free!
Knights of Justice: Bound by Love and Grace is now on Itch.io!
All of the ToS books can also be found on Wechange.me!
We have some ridiculous merch on Redbubble and Teepublic if you want to be the center of conversation (derogatory / celebratory).
Pandemonium Development 