The storm is coming.
August 16, 2009 10:28 PM   Subscribe

Downfall is the first point and click adventure game released by Harvester Games. It seems like a regular point and click horror game on first glance, but there is more then meets the eye in this one.

Downfall's Trailer showcases the gore that drenches parts of the game. And while it is certainly there, don't let it turn you away. This is no soulless gorefest, but an illuminating psychological horror tale. You can buy it from D2D for a cool $10.

The game tackles themes hardly touched on in other videogames, even adventure games, and depending on your life experience, it can get into your soul, in my experience. However, the ending of the game is what truly sets it apart. The rest of the story itself is phenomenal, especially for a single man's effort, but the end is what makes it truly special.

Remigiusz Michalski's first complete and only game to date, he created the game largely by himself, partially while in a nursing home filled with the mentally ill elderly. (Interview Here). Mr. Michalski attests that some parts of the game are inspired by events in his life, if somewhat loosely. He drew the game backgrounds and sprites by himself, and a member of his family helped craft the music in the game.
posted by Askiba (17 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: this seems like a weird press release to something for sale. -- jessamyn



 
I love posts which require me to spend money in order to really look at what the post is about.

NOT.
posted by hippybear at 10:57 PM on August 16, 2009 [1 favorite]


His sketchbook.
posted by tellurian at 10:59 PM on August 16, 2009


I love posts which require me to spend money in order to really look at what the post is about.

Haven't checked it out, but there's a link to a demo on this page.
posted by juv3nal at 11:05 PM on August 16, 2009


I wonder what Hitler has to say about this.
posted by Artw at 11:29 PM on August 16, 2009 [7 favorites]


Yeah, this whole post reads way too press-releasey for me.

Michalski's story might be interesting, but not like this.
posted by rokusan at 11:36 PM on August 16, 2009


wonder if this is an homage
posted by nadawi at 11:51 PM on August 16, 2009


I also heard that he drew the storyboards on bloodied butcher's paper using a mixture feces and ejaculate (but whose?). And the soundtrack was recorded using a new technique where you insert a microphone into the inside of your head.
posted by turgid dahlia at 1:24 AM on August 17, 2009


Hippybear: I applaud your brave use of the "...NOT" pithy zing, rarely seen in these parts since the turn of the new century. Brave indeed, sir. Brave indeed.

Askiba, I would've been a bit interested in more on what themes heretofore untouched are covered in this game that help make it unique. Also, I'd encourage you to run the editing comb through your posts before submitting them, but I appreciated and enjoyed the System Shock post.

The trailer didn't quite captivate me. The format was a bit bizarre and there wasn't even a whisper of underpinning narrative. Which isn't to say that's an accurate reflection of the game, but if there is such a fantastic story beneath all of this, I would've rather gotten even the slightest taste of it in the trailer. Barring that, I might check out the demo juv3nal has lovingly posted.
posted by disillusioned at 1:28 AM on August 17, 2009


So... in the trailer. Which part is the game? Is it the 3D part, or the little moving sketches "we" watch? And, uh, is there a story? Of some sort? Or is it just gruesome scene after incomprehensible gruesome scene?

[Also, I'm not really a fan of posts that amount to "this thing is really cool, for these generic and unspecified reasons, so go spend money on it".]
posted by Netzapper at 1:37 AM on August 17, 2009 [2 favorites]


You know, nobody will accuse you of marketing if you post a pirate bay link. I might still have flagged you as "windows only", but the "marketing" flag is much more potent.
posted by jeffburdges at 2:11 AM on August 17, 2009


Pepsi Blood.
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 2:35 AM on August 17, 2009


There seem to be a lot of these low-budget horror games coming out on the PC, Jonathan Boakes has made quite a name for himself as a single-man games studio.

Which isn't to say they're good. I find them messy, idiosyncratic and illogical. But I still think people who make games without the backing of a major studio/any finance deserve a lot of kudos.
posted by hnnrs at 3:31 AM on August 17, 2009


I will have to check this out, but I still need to finish Ben There, Dan That, as well as Time, Gentleman Please, not to mention the next Monkey Island Episode from Telltale is out in a few days. Plus, I"ve gotta be in the mood for something gruesome.
posted by dortmunder at 3:41 AM on August 17, 2009



There seem to be a lot of these low-budget horror games coming out on the PC, Jonathan Boakes has made quite a name for himself as a single-man games studio.

Don't forget the godfather of such things.
posted by dortmunder at 3:44 AM on August 17, 2009


This is a good place to note my recent fascination with Pathologic, which is analyzed in some rather spoiler-y detail on Rock, Paper, Shotgun. The interesting thing about this fascination is that it's coupled not with any desire to play the game, if I could even find a copy, just an intense appreciation for the ideas involved.

I note that because I feel the same way about this: I'm interested, but I have no desire to play it, just to learn about it.

Also from the interview the game sounds rather similar in concept, and to some extent tone, to (spoilers for this also) I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, to the point that I wouldn't be surprised if the creator had played it.
posted by Nomiconic at 4:13 AM on August 17, 2009


Of course right after posting this I see that the review on the site with the interview makes the same comparison to IHNMAIMS.
posted by Nomiconic at 4:17 AM on August 17, 2009


How is this not a big barrel of Pepsi Blue?
posted by Thorzdad at 5:09 AM on August 17, 2009


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