Can we actually control the character?

[terwilliker]

It feels more like a choose your own adventure book. I thought I could at least walk around but it seems like a collection of cut scenes. Even the battles are done for me.

[Rex]

The strategic depth is in selecting which items to use for each location. This opens up more and more as you progress through the game and unlock the many crafting features. I understand this breaks lots of expectations because games have been teaching us for decades that we control the main character. Stone Story show how a game can be fun without that. People will often automate their characters in MMOs with bots and that is partially where the idea comes from. Free bot built in.

[terwilliker]

Thanks, the art and animation is amazing but I am not sure how I feel about the game play. Thanks for the feedback.

[momodig]

ya with a game that plays it self and with only 8 hours of content i'm sure for 20 bucks

[Halfshell]

That depends on the quality of the story and the animation @momodig. I really like the concept or really anything that reminds me of Candy Box but its a hard sell this early in development. I'm kind've burned out on casual games, so really hoping for difficulty options at the least, optional challenging content. As a price comparison, Anamita prices their games between 10 and 20$ with a similar amount of expected hours and plenty of secrets.

[momodig]

not familiar with those games but 8 hours of content isnt enough for me justify buying... when i can play ansi rouge games and muds free with 100s of hours of content

[Rex]

Originally posted by Halfshell cat:

That depends on the quality of the story and the animation @momodig. I really like the concept or really anything that reminds me of Candy Box but its a hard sell this early in development. I'm kind've burned out on casual games, so really hoping for difficulty options at the least, optional challenging content. As a price comparison, Anamita prices their games between 10 and 20$ with a similar amount of expected hours and plenty of secrets.

There are optional difficulties, going up to 11 per location for people who enjoy greater challenges and mastery of the systems. I will be adding 5 more difficulties soon, with new boss phases, more items with unique dynamics and new enemy types to fill roles in the locations that are currently vacant. All part of the Early Access plan.

[Rex]

I guess players concerned by the unorthodox gameplay have the option to buy, try it out, and if the game doesn't hook you within the first hour, please refund. No game is for everyone but I think some will find Stone Story has many qualities and strategic depth below the minimalistic surface.

[Halfshell]

Been playing it awhile and you get quite a bit of control once you unlock hotkeys. Its still minimal control, but you can still do things like pull a single enemy (switch from ranged to melee, switch back when they agro), switch between sets for debuffing/ defending/ etc and using the best gear for each situation. The gameplay starts off with simply figuring out what items you need and later becomes how to use them. It certainly feels like playing an RPG and not an action game, but I'd imagine some may not like the realtime aspect of it.

[frosty]

Originally posted by momodig:

ya with a game that plays it self and with only 8 hours of content i'm sure for 20 bucks

8 hours of content? I've already got 18 hours in and i'm not even halfway done... 8 hours is just to beat the ""final boss"" on 3-Star difficulty, but he goes up to 11-Star and there's a bunch of extra content to do after that, like Enchantments and Mind Stone stuff.

Did I mention you can somewhat control your character's AI with the Mind Stone? It may be an automatic idle RPG but you get so much control over it later in the game.

Early Access BTW.

[Kaluth]

Sorry to highjack this thread with another game, but maybe this could be more your cup of tea?
https://store.steampowered.com/app/328760/SanctuaryRPG_Black_Edition/
Still with the ascii style, a lot more control and really ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hard.

Either way, there should be more games with ascii art, it always fascinates me how much you can show and tell with this style. Been looking forward to this game for awhile now. :D

[False Prophet]

Originally posted by Kaluth:

Sorry to highjack this thread with another game, but maybe this could be more your cup of tea?
https://store.steampowered.com/app/328760/SanctuaryRPG_Black_Edition/
Still with the ascii style, a lot more control and really ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hard.

Either way, there should be more games with ascii art, it always fascinates me how much you can show and tell with this style. Been looking forward to this game for awhile now. :D

Dude thank you I was looking for this game forgot what it was called

[Wizzard]

Devs, you must to introduce character control into the game in the future, now it’s just not interesting to watch 10 times passing the same level, I’m just making a refund. there is a lot of grind in the game, and it does not feel like an RPG game, like - GAME

[Halfshell]

Firstly you should keep in mind the dev is going for a different type of game, it sounds like it isn't for you. But last time I played I more or less beat the game (5 stared everything) and stopped once excessive grinding was required for postgame stuff. Changes in the last few months seem minimal (balance mostly). I just don't find automating to acquire resources passively all that interesting. I grinded a minimal amount before postgame, only just enough to get a few items from each area. Understanding everything well is enough to beat the game but afterwards its hard to get anywhere with just good play. If the art and story aren't doing it for you then I would wait for a sale because the grinding only becomes more and never less.

[Wizzard]

maybe i expected that in the game i will control my character, explore the levels and get into the atmosphere, really like the visual, but just to see that something is out there, not very interesting. Unfortunately, but it could be another and really cool RPG ...

[Halfshell]

Sadly it doesn't seem like the dev is working towards more content as of yet and is instead refining whats here. The areas, the art and the story are what drew me in but I'm seeing precious little in the way of that in the updates since I've played last.