This is like the definition of perfect small game, the small castle is packed with interesting rooms to explore, there's virtually no garbage that would clutter the gameplay in order to lenghten the game as is done in case of so many games. The characters are weirdly charming, in most text based games I dread all those boring text boxes I have to skip through, but these were fun to read. I would say that the base price of ten euro's seems still a little step for 2-3 hours of gameplay, I got it for two and I'm happy with the fun/euro ratio.
This is an absolutely deliciously creepy little horror tale reminiscent of older P&C games that shine in substance rather than bells and whistles. Going back to play x2. I played this orginally on another site and purchased again on sale here to support GOG and the dev.
The Count Lucanor seems to be yet another nostalgia-inducing game, and like others of its genre, it's far too short, with most of its effort being put on its visuals, rather than its plot.
It's also a not-for-kids game, despite looking like one, by constantly throwing gore at you, for some reason.
The plot is unimportant - you're a poor kid who sets out to seek fortune, and comes across a mysterious castle. In that castle you're tasked with finding out the name of one of its occupants, by collecting the letters of it from the various rooms in the castle.
Each room offers a puzzle, various traps and an enemy to avoid.
The castle is also fairly dark, making it harder to spot enemies, but you're given candles you can place around the castle.
If you place them early enough, the game becomes much easier, since you'll see every enemy coming from a distance.
There is also a safe zone in the castle - its courtyard, in which you can save your progress by spending a coin.
You only need coins to buy a key to access the castle's second floor, if you're interested in a complete experience, and to buy an item that helps you finish the game.
So you can forgo the key and save often, or save after completing several rooms.
Saving sparingly becomes easier once you realize the patterns to the three enemies you'll encounter, and realize they don't pose too much risk.
One enemy only gets triggered once you're close to it, another can be avoided fairly easily, and another is pretty much an insta-death.
If you want to save as few times as possible, you'll need to choose the rooms you enter wisely, since some offer a simple straightforward puzzle, while others have a ton of traps and you'll die a few times before learning the layout of that room.
You don't have to enter every room, but you can't know if the letters you collected so far are enough to write the name of the castle's occupant.
There is a rewarding ending, but the plot and characters remain thin.
A game of trial and error
This is a little gem, based on fairy tales without being childish. The gameplay is puzzles with a bit of arcada, you must avoid traps and mosters. A ten years childs cannot beat any monster!.
You will finish this in a evening or two. It has different endings and you will care for the character.
This is a wonderful, interesting, short game. It has great artwork, great music, and some decent puzzles. The game also has the merit to present alternative solutions to puzzles as well!
There are nitpicks to be had, for sure. The enemies can be a bit brutal and some traps are just a little -too- touchy. But this really doesn't detract from the experience. A+!
