Store Page
Return of the Obra Dinn
All Discussions Screenshots Artwork Broadcasts Videos News Guides Reviews

Return of the Obra Dinn

Store Page
View Stats:
Global Achievements
Bitcoin Baron Nov 3, 2019 @ 4:44pm
Right ok so.... What is going on?
I'm not understanding this game. I find a corpse then it loads a "memory" or something and then i have to click on the *right* person in that memory and it will add some pictures to the book.

Is there some kind of narrative at some point? I have been throught about 5-6 memories right now, but still have no idea what is going on, what I'm supposed to be doing, or how I'm supposed to be doing it.
Last edited by Bitcoin Baron; Nov 3, 2019 @ 4:54pm
< >
Showing 1-15 of 15 comments
Samsquamch Nov 10, 2019 @ 12:56pm 
You are supposed to deduct the fates of everyone aboard, i.e. how they were killed, and by whom. The narrative will become clear in time, but you are working through it backwards (starting with the most recent couple of corpses, most likely).
#1
I Kinda Fail Nov 14, 2019 @ 4:19am 
I've only played a little bit, but... The first few memories give a lot more clues than the rest do.

2 men try to break into the captain's chambers, and then they call out to the captain, and a man walks out of the captain's chambers and responds to them. So you can tell that he's the captain, right? So you'd go to the first memory, and put [unknown person] was [shot] by [Captain].

The next guy, you see his throat being slit by the captain, so you'd do [Unknown] was [Knifed] by [Captain]. You find a woman later on, and her memory says "Abigail, get back inside!" or something. So you know that's her name, and then the memory shows how she dies. Then the captain's memory has him mention her brother, so you can cross reference her last name, and the captain's last name, and use process of elimination to find out who her brother is. Then rewind to remember who the captain shot, and give that guy a name.

After that, I don't think you can figure out who the other dead people are, so you should just record how they died and keep going until you find out more names or crew positions. Like I saw some guy mention "Pete's mother", I think, so I have a clue as to how Pete died, and can look for a woman with the same last name and assume that's his mother.
#2
DiegoKevin Nov 28, 2019 @ 3:23pm 
You are an insurance officer, and have been sent to evaluate what the hell happened to that ship that went missing YEARS ago and it suddenly just kinda tiurned up on port.

So, someone (wink, wink, hint there) sent you a book with info and a watch that lets you see the moment of someones death (as well as put all deaths in cronological order if you watch the hands on the clock, plus the book organizes all deaths so you have a story of what happened).

Well thats nice and all but remember you are an insurance officer and just need to make a report on what happened to each person to see what the insurance has to pay or claim

TL;DR: they give you story through deaths, you get clues in death scenes, you fill in what happened to whom in the book using death scene clues.
#3
Bitcoin Baron Dec 5, 2019 @ 3:46pm 
The problem is none of this is explained, and how am I supposed to know how to interact with the book with all the chapters in? None of this information on the basic and crucial mechanics of the game is in it??!

Even if I've figured out how someone died, how do I make the game know that i know (or think i know)? Where is a list of crew members that I can point to and be like "yo book this person is crew member x/y/z"?
Last edited by Bitcoin Baron; Dec 5, 2019 @ 3:48pm
#4
Bitcoin Baron Dec 5, 2019 @ 3:58pm 
Originally posted by DiegoKevin:
So, someone (wink, wink, hint there) sent you a book with info and a watch that lets you see the moment of someones death

Can you just advise? I dont understand what hint you are getting at, unless you mean obviously the insurance company, but that still seems a bit odd as how would they have some kinda magic time travel watch?
#5
Nivek Ogre Dec 6, 2019 @ 1:01am 
Originally posted by crayzcrinkle:
I'm not understanding this game. I find a corpse then it loads a "memory" or something and then i have to click on the *right* person in that memory and it will add some pictures to the book.

Is there some kind of narrative at some point? I have been throught about 5-6 memories right now, but still have no idea what is going on, what I'm supposed to be doing, or how I'm supposed to be doing it.

I kinda have the same issue, but from a mechanics point of view. I get the deductive reasoning part of the game, makes absolute sense. But you go through the first few (obvious) deaths, and then suddenly the game throws flashing black screens with this drum sound that won't end, and then you have to follow a floaty vapor trail because...why? What the hell is going on now?
#6
cyberboy2000 Dec 6, 2019 @ 5:00am 
Originally posted by crayzcrinkle:
The problem is none of this is explained, and how am I supposed to know how to interact with the book with all the chapters in? None of this information on the basic and crucial mechanics of the game is in it??!
The game makes you read (or skim) through the book right when you get it. The preface explains that you're supposed to determine the identity and fate of everyone. Finding the clues and making the deductions is the main gameplay, so of course the game won't give you that without some work.
Originally posted by crayzcrinkle:
Even if I've figured out how someone died, how do I make the game know that i know (or think i know)? Where is a list of crew members that I can point to and be like "yo book this person is crew member x/y/z"?
Most of the book is interactable. Try clicking on various text boxes and pictures in it. There's a few sketches of the crew, and if you click on a face you get the option to select their name from their list. When you discover someone's death, you get the two questions "Who is this?" and "How did they die?" which can also be clicked. You can also inspect someone's face in a death scene using E or right click, and opening the book while doing this will take you directly to their sketch.
Originally posted by Nivek Ogre:
I kinda have the same issue, but from a mechanics point of view. I get the deductive reasoning part of the game, makes absolute sense. But you go through the first few (obvious) deaths, and then suddenly the game throws flashing black screens with this drum sound that won't end, and then you have to follow a floaty vapor trail because...why? What the hell is going on now?
The sequence is supposed to show you that you can find bodies to inspect inside others' death scenes.
#7
Pig Feb 13, 2020 @ 2:20am 
If you read what the tutorial messages tell you it explains the game mechanics pretty well...
#8
Bitcoin Baron Feb 14, 2020 @ 12:04pm 
Originally posted by Pig:
If you read what the tutorial messages tell you it explains the game mechanics pretty well...

The tutorial literally ends after asking you to open the book for the first time. Nothing else is explained. I've given up on this POS. I finally managed to figure out how to "guess" three of the people, but nothing then happens. This stupid game after making you try for hours to figure out how to guess will not even tell you if you are right.
#9
The Incontrovertible Bismarck Feb 16, 2020 @ 8:03pm 
I'm sorry, but how does the game fail to tell you how its mechanics work? It lays it out pretty clearly, from what I recall. If the fates aren't entering, then all I could say is that you made an error in at least one in three of those you've ventured. I really think the game's logic puzzles are splendid, personally, but if you're getting flustered by them I understand - it's not everyone's cup of tea. Nevertheless, if you'd be willing I'd be glad to hop into DMs with you and discuss what the issues you seem to be having are, be it with the game or just why you're not getting fates solved.
Last edited by The Incontrovertible Bismarck; Feb 16, 2020 @ 8:03pm
#10
Livyenne Mar 5, 2020 @ 5:34pm 
In case you haven't dumped the game, maybe look for a Let's Play of the first few moments in the game and watch how other people are doing it. Preferably one with comments, so they tell you how they figured out what happened with someone. :)
The game usually explains what function does what when you click on it for the first time (e.g. a person in the big crew artwork), but if you are not familiar with detective games, this might be a bit confusing.
Last edited by Livyenne; Mar 5, 2020 @ 5:34pm
#11
Bitcoin Baron Jun 20, 2020 @ 3:15pm 
I have given up on this. Honestly seeing all the positive reviews others are leaving for this game, it feels like I'm playing a different game completely. They talk of storytelling, when there isn't any, great gameplay when all you can do is walk around and randomly click on things and hope it is right. I just cant understand the first thing about how to play this game.
#12
Bitcoin Baron Jun 20, 2020 @ 3:16pm 
Originally posted by Pig:
If you read what the tutorial messages tell you it explains the game mechanics pretty well...

Can you post pictures/screenshots, showing the tutorial messages? They seem to not be included in my version of the game.
#13
Lemilys Jun 22, 2020 @ 11:23am 
To be honest, I think that if you are failing the tutorial part of the game then maybe this isn't the type of game for you.
#14
Lyra Jun 24, 2020 @ 1:03pm 
Originally posted by crayzcrinkle:
Originally posted by Pig:
If you read what the tutorial messages tell you it explains the game mechanics pretty well...

Can you post pictures/screenshots, showing the tutorial messages? They seem to not be included in my version of the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IJD4eowIq4 this video shows some of them.
#15
< >
Showing 1-15 of 15 comments
Per page: 1530 50

Return of the Obra Dinn > General Discussions > Topic Details
Date Posted: Nov 3, 2019 @ 4:44pm
Posts: 15

Discussions Rules and Guidelines