How are we supposed to work out what to do in this game?

[johnnywintermute]

I am in the Vandergriff House (or I think it is, it's the one with the photo), and, once again, I simply have no idea what I'm supposed to do. I'm wandering around, and people are talking, and I have a vague idea I'm looking for a secret room. So - once again - after about ten minutes of wandering around aimlessly I resort to a walkthough, and now it seems I've missed whole chunks of the game. Seems I went from Railcar Murder to Graveyard Murder and missed three 'scenes'.

I've arrived where I am without going through the steps in the walkthough (i.e. stuff with the dam), and I'm just a bit lost now.

Do I have to go back and compete the three bits I missed?

cheers

[Sabrewylf]

The game is an open world 'walking simulator' with puzzles, usually murder scenes, scattered throughout.

You should try to find and solve all these puzzles in order to get cutscenes and voice-overs that reveal the plot and eventually, the ending.

Try finding a spoiler-free walkthrough. I'm in the same boat as you where I don't really like mindlessly walking around, looking for a clue that points me in the direction of something to do. The walkthrough helped a lot.

[johnnywintermute]

Thanks. I have been able to solve the puzzles mostly without help - the problem I have is finding them in the first place :) I'll use the walkthrough I found to find the ones I've missed so far.

Unfortunately the game's crap save system doesn't lend itself to wandering around too much ...

The one time I had to get help on a puzzle was the gate thing - but that's partly due to the instructions on how to us the gate being wrong. It says use the mouse to rotate but in fact it required A and D, and so I assumed I needed to find one more ghost (i.e. a total of 6). Not sure how we're supposed to know that there's only five, other than not being able to find any more ...

[eygam]

The game tells you it's not gonna hold your hand. Honestly, if you went from the railroad murder directly to the graveyard and missed the two giant houses (with checkpoints) you were bound to pass by, it's kinda on you. I'm pretty sure you'll need to go back to the lights in the forest you've probably missed (it's on the other bank from the houses and mine). But when you get to the end of the game, you'll get a map showing the puzzles you need to finish to actually end the game. It will take more time to go back but seriously, it sucks to get through a game with a walhthrough.

[johnnywintermute]

Yeah, I will go back. I understand your points, but there are a number of different directions to go in and it's not easy to work out where to go. Also, I spent a long time at the beginning of the game wandering around and accomplishing absolutely nothing, so I've avoided doing that - especially as you can't do manual saves.

I will try without a walkthough.

Thanks for your reply!

[redmist]

Originally posted by johnnywintermute:

... Not sure how we're supposed to know that there's only five, other than not being able to find any more ...

If I recall, there was a map on the wall with clues to their locations and then the one you could not fail to pass in order to progress.

[DayOfTheSheep]

No hand holding, I love games like this. Old school tricky, make you think.

[magpie0315]

Your a detective, so wander about looking for interactive components, its your CIS scene find things that are out of place, things that are missing and leave no stone unturned, check out all the houses, wonder about the forest, touch buttons and read things. The story is hidden in clues. That house with the picture in it is not where the "hidden room" that's at the very end of the game The is a bit of a check system; things will reset or glow red when they are not right or not work. You can use your special ability only after you find all the components of the puzzle. So go have fun and solve the mystery

[johnnywintermute]

Thanks for the replies. I did manage to finish in the end, once I got into the mood of the game. Quite enjoyable too.

[lpedraja2002]

I know this thread is old but I'm on the same boat. I just started playing today and got stuck in a graveyard area after going to two houses and listening to creepy voices telling me a weird story. I never figured out how to fix the lamp to go to the crypt and just quit the game.

I'm just gonna shelf this until I'm in the mood for it and have more time to play it, I know I won't enjoy it otherwise.

[PorcusGrunzus]

Had a similar problem to the thread creator. I took a look into the guide walkthrough and was flashed by how much I missed or didnt know. Try that lpedraja2002.