Jumping in the toilet

[ranarif]

Is there an event or something related to this, or is just a way to suffer a horrible death for starvation?

[Mister Nekroz]

Only event you get my jumping in the toilet is getting a Game Over screen

[Kuehnau]

It's a dead end trap.

[KoffiAndKreme]

The game kind of mocks you for this choice as well. You can suicide to end it through abilities.

[orange~]

Suicide can be one of the easier ways to go in the game.

[Darkwood]

My charcter couldnt commit suicide lol... no arms... the girl couldnt help there either lol

[Shazbut01]

I'm kind of fascinated by games that break unwritten rules like this one does (sexual violence, dead end traps, mechanics based on luck, etc) .

When I jumped in the toilet I thought "I bet this is a dead end because the developer wants us to suffer the indignity of dying somewhere like here".

[orange~]

I'm probably too much into what is typically considered bad game design. I once saw a video of RagnarRox about the Silent Hill 4 using 'bad' game design to emphasize the horror aspects and it really clicked with me. When the player cannot trust the game design to save them from troubles, they really cannot trust anything in the game world. I think there is something there that could create truly terrifying experiences.

Of course I'm not saying these aspects are perfectly executed in the game, but it's something I want to experiment more on.

[KoffiAndKreme]

I'd have to say I admire that idea in the game. We can't trust everything we see or encounter, but we have to decide whether we should risk doing it or not.

I was really incredibly hesitant to join the cannibalistic wolf group in feeding because I thought it would turn on me and someone would start eating my character. Also, super hesitant opening the ancient book when I received warnings about it seeming dangerous.

I think they are needed and important in this created world and do truly invoke some discomfort, anxiety, and fear. I don't think I've even touched on half of the game, yet, but these situations make me morbidly curious and addicted to playing for the time being.

[Shazbut01]

I feel like I absolutely understand what you mean when you say "bad game design emphasising the horror aspects". There's something chilling about dead ends in games, maybe because they have no actual failure screen and so not only do you actually have to leave the game with your character trapped there "forever" but you're not entirely sure if maybe there really WAS a way out. It feels like the game itself is messing with you. It's a hard thing to do without frustrating the player but can really work I think.

Plus there's that feeling of "Games aren't supposed to do this".

Playing many games, especially AAA games, I feel like the game is in charge and it's walking me through an experience. With Fear and Hunger, I feel like I have to conquer the game itself, because it's not working with me and doesn't play fair. It's a rare kind of experience.

[ranarif]

What I found also very interesting is how you cannot trust NPCs, such as the Human Chimera. Normally in any RPG the greater the suffer for a quest, the greater the reward, and the player can always trust the concept effort equal reward. But not here...

[Shazbut01]

Absolutely! Another good example

[orange~]

I'm glad you guys are seeing the game this way! It's really a thin line between an unique game experience and just great frustration. I can understand the people who simply see these aspects as bad game design and nothing more, but that's why I tried to go great lengths in making everything appealing enough for people to push on despite some cheap tricks.

[『 Barcode 』]

I just wanted to say that both my friend and I got caught out by this trap. He was curious, and you know, assumed that a game wouldn't just dead-end you, whereas I was being chased by the Crow-mauler and made the choice that whatever was down there couldn't be a worse fate, right..?

We legitimately were quite shocked and shook by it, and I think it added to the atmosphere, overall uncertainty (in a good way) and later aspects of the game.

Definitely trust your instincts orange~, very much in love with your game and excited to see your future work

[ranarif]

Also wrote an article regarding the Human Chimera and how to not trust NPC, in case somebody is interested: https://surrealandcreepy.wordpress.com/2019/02/07/the-human-hydra-of-fear-hunger-never-trust-a-npc-creepy-characters/

[i don't have a clever name]

I’ve never been so hooked to a game as this in a long time. And yes I’m here cause I jumped down in the toilets cause in my head it’s like it has to be a trap right? But I jumped down the well earlier and everything was fine. I was legit laughing and excited to start over