Episode one: Hammer Issue

[Ligea]

Okay, so considering I just picked this game up, I'm finding some of the point and click parts to be...easy yet frustrating if that makes sense, sometimes it works like a charm and sometimes it's not always responsive. When you're in the bathroom about to break the firealarm, I noticed I grabbed the hammer...now maybe I'm missing something. I wouldn't have expected a time game to be exactly straight forward anyway, and it's not like I haven't played a few in my time for sure (maybe Shadow of Destiny being well similar yet different, you couldn't rewind, but the game was set up to prevent your death via paradox systems).

Anyway, when I pull the cleaning cart back to where the hammer was, it's not there (I know it's because I've already picked it up (when I rewind I know I have to move the cart, so it looks like I already picked it up), and I see a hammer icon at the top right corner of my screen). So, I know I have it, but when I try to click on the fire alarm, nothing really happens. I've just been rewinding like an idiot trying to figure out what to do, if I have the hammer, do I have an inventory so I can use it, and shouldn't it get used automatically? I really like the story and detail in this game, for that it's very immersive, and I'd hardly expect less from any square soft or square enix game, but I admit the point click while seeming easy does take a few seconds to register, and during a pinch that can make the difference. I tried to look up other discussions, but no one really brought this topic up, maybe others thought it was very self evident, or didn't have the problem with it like I am. The game runs pretty smooth for me, so that's not the issue. If anyone has a small link to a video? I looked on youtube of a few people's runs, seems like it was for xbox360 or something. I feel like there's something I'm missing, any suggestions would be helpful. Hopefully, I can figure it out, but someone else may have the same issue, or did have it.

I know this question may seem really easy, so forgive me asking something so simple, but sometimes I find it's often the simple things that can stump you.

[DrLoboto]

It sounds like you're playing with mouse and keyboard? I played with a controller, but the controls should be similar.

Did you just click on the fire alarm, or did you also see a hotspot indication, e.g. the word "fire alarm" or "use"? With the controller you have to turn the camera and focus on the fire alarm until that hotspot indication pops up, and it needs to be something like "use" or "hammer", not just "fire alarm". If you only get "fire alarm" or nothing at all, you're not looking at it from the right angle. Try to step closer or further away and try different camera angles. It's not really the classical PC point-and-click, it's console- and controller-friendly targeting hotspots with the camera, and it doesn't always work that well, but it should be possible.

Perhaps that's what causing your problem? If you've got the hammer, then you should be able to activate the fire alarm, just as simple as that. It isn't really a puzzle, and that's probably why noone else brought it up. Just a matter of getting used to the controls, maybe?

[Ligea]

Yes, I figured it was probably just a control issue. I suppose a controller would work if I had one, I prefer keyboards, but I admit some ports can make that akward, thanks for taking the time to reply.