(http://donnathegame.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/donna-title-ags.jpg)
A nameless country, somewhere in Eastern Europe, is deep in financial depression.
To the metropolis capital come two foreigners: Christian and Donna.
They both keep to themselves and are seen only at night.
(http://donnathegame.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/apartment.jpg)
Their stay at the Eldorado Hotel is interrupted one night by mysterious visitors who break into their room and shoot Christian. Some bullets hit Donna, who falls to the street below and finds herself naked in the middle of the hostile, unkown city; what’s more, the dawn is coming and let’s say that her skin isn’t prepared for meeting the sunrays.
(http://donnathegame.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/lake.jpg)
The player controls Donna, who, after securing her life, goes on a quest of vengeance to find killers of Christian, meets mad inhabitants of the metropolis, gets into a love affair, and discovers the true reason behind Christian coming to this country.
The game is long, maybe one of the longest among AGS games.
It contains nudity, sexuality, drug use, smoking, lesbianism, violence, politics, metapsychical questions, and vampires (I swear to God I started to make this game BEFORE Twilight, in 2001!)
Download now, weep later:
http://donnathegame.wordpress.com (http://donnathegame.wordpress.com)
EDIT:
Ah, yes... mirrors, please? :(
EDIT2:
Enough mirrors already. I love you.
GAZONGAS BABY! JUGGS! WOO WOO WOO. FWEOOOOOOOH.
But yeah, congrats on the release. I always love seeing long-running projects finally finish. You're one of very few that I know of. That alone makes me want to play this.
MIRROR (http://www.castironmuse.com/games/donna/DONNA5.exe) - updated to version 1.5
MINOR BUG: When I first launch the game, it comes up and says: "Video playing error: File not found or format not supported C:\[path name]\terminus"
- Cogliostro
What is this 2003? OMG GOLDMUND!!
Wow! Can it be real?
Congrats on getting it done!
I remember looking forward to this game years ago - even have the trailer somewhere on my computer ;D
Eager to try it over the weekend!
Hahah, thanks, guys.
Cogliostro: there is a short intro film playing before the game opening, nothing important to the game, and it seems you don't have the codec. Anybody else have this problem? If so, I could change it to different encoding.
Thanks for the mirror! :-)
Hooray for delayed gratification! I will play this at some point. In the meantime, have a mirror (http://www.americangirlscouts.org/mirrors/DONNA-AoB.exe).
Oooh! Freakin' awesome, big well done for finishing Goldmundo!
Tits! Downloading now :D
The Old Ones are returning. Guess the old prophecies (aka. GiP threads) were right! Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.
First the various SQ fan games, and now DONNA. Very cool!
Guess I'll play it after I've caught up on the 2011 AGS Awards candidates. And To the Moon. And Book of Unwritten Tales. And Portal 2. And the Bake Sale.
... Damn, there are too many good games!
GOLDMUND, YOU SNEAKY ASSHOLE! YAY! It's DONE!
I gasped with excitement when I noticed it bumped in the GiP forum and then immediately let down to see it locked. I said to myself, "Of course...". I figured it was bumped by someone new asking about it's progress resulting in Darth swooping in and slicing that ridiculous shit right off. So I clicked on it anyway and to my surprise, there YOU are with your chicken-head hair-doo* smiling at me saying it's finished! Hooray!
I shall download and play as soon as I get the chance!
*or at least I remember you years ago with a spiky sort of doo (which I call, "Chicken-head", heh)
\\--EDIT--//
It goes to show how observant I am... you are not smiling in your avatar!
I'm still amazed and impressed that you kept this alive for ten years. Congratulations on the official release!
It had been so long, I had completely forgotten all about this game. But now, without warning, it's out! Hooray! :D
Not that far into this yet, but loving it so far: Stylish, mature, gritty and compelling. I'd perhaps have advised a small tutorial for those unfamiliar with older adventure interfaces, but no biggie. Can't wait to see how it develops.
Well done papa Blajez!
:( I can't find the pants ??? ??? ???
Quote from: Goldmund on Fri 13/01/2012 02:09:23
It contains nudity, sexuality, drug use, smoking, lesbianism, violence, politics, metapsychical questions...
Just like my brain! :D
Well done indeed!
Yeah, well, my brain can like hold 3-4 things, so if I get one idea for a game, I'm stuck with it.
Snake: you remember right, but now that I have a mustache, smiling is forbidden (you could lose your tache for that.) Ask Charles Bronson.
Thank you guys. You are lovely.
And this is a pretty fine mirror, AGA, too!
Chrille: Pants??? Like, in Callsoon?
Hey! yeah they actually have something in common. Find pants and advance!
Oh, and the intro movie works fine for me too. Cogliostro, try the CCCP codec pack.
Quote from: Chrille on Fri 13/01/2012 21:27:24
Cogliostro, try the CCCP codec pack.
Indeed. It's just an MPEG-4 file, encoded with DivX, so installing the CCCP Pack (http://www.cccp-project.net/), or K-Lite Codec Pack (http://codecguide.com/), should fix it.
Holy my goodness, I remember this game being talked about when I was 15! This is incredible!
Downloading now
Bug Report:
Spoiler
I was able to enter CS headquaters without C's delicatessen - gate: clicked on the sensor with "walk" cursor and girls just went through the gate, door - clicked on the door with "walk" cursor.
Gamebreaker, as girls won't leave the building and without C's lockpick I can't enter Rightwell's office.
Might have something to do with skipping music puzzle.
Eggie: very happy to be a part of your innocent childhood's background, Sir!
Urpney:
Spoiler
Haha, do you really have problems with hearing or are just lazy? ;) You're right, it's the skipping that breaks it. Thanks for the bug report!
But wait, if you skipped the scrambler puzzle, the gate to the base should be open, so you can't "pass through" it? I see the problem with the base's door, but not the gate...
edit:
Urpney, are you able to continue the game? If you send me your saved game,
Spoiler
I can give you the pickgun ;)
Quote
I swear to God I started to make this game BEFORE Twilight, in 2001!
10 years for a game should get you an award :=
Quote from: Goldmund on Fri 13/01/2012 02:09:23
It contains nudity, sexuality, drug use, smoking, lesbianism, violence, politics, metapsychical questions, and vampires...
I belive you forgot
Spoiler
GAY NAZIS!!!!111 And their little diaries.
Quote from: Goldmund
Urpney:
Spoiler
Haha, do you really have problems with hearing or are just lazy? ;) You're right, it's the skipping that breaks it. Thanks for the bug report!
But wait, if you skipped the scrambler puzzle, the gate to the base should be open, so you can't "pass through" it? I see the problem with the base's door, but not the gate...
edit:
Urpney, are you able to continue the game? If you send me your saved game, Spoiler
I can give you the pickgun ;)
Lazy. And hate music puzzles ; ) You can call me "musically impaired".
Spoiler
The gate was still on it's place, visible and locked. As soon as I clicked on the sensor, girls just went through the gate in a ghostly manner : )
If you need a save for testing, I have one, but after having a smoke I realized I missed something and loaded earlier save, took what I needed and infiltrated whole complex.
Czy Ernest to Poseł Wojtek Wierzejski? : )My final thoughs.
Pros:
- Graphic style. Loved it!
- Gabriel Knight-esque moments (like repeating the same dream at the end of chapter, forest puzzle at the end etc.)
- Cypher Puzzles!
- Overall plot (with some minor details)
- Hint system!
- Something old polish gamers would call
miodność. You probably know what I'm talking about : )
Cons:
Spoiler
Really, minor detalis.
- Relationship between Donna and Milena. It's just too fast - we have a "damsel in distress" situation, one meeting in a cafee and when they meet next time they just go to bed. They didn't really had time to meet each other so it looks more like a physical afection than love - which I belive wasn't your intention. The relationship lacks solid buildup.
- Villains motivations - we know they are nazis, so they want to rule the world, have strong military industry and eliminate everyone they find inferior. Why do they want to summon antient, dangerous but pretty useless demon? They have something to protect one person, but they have no means of controlling the thing, co what's the point?
Overall, game of commertial quality ; ) Well done.
Urpney, dzięki! :-)
Thanks for your comments! I will reply to them soon, first have to remove some bugs, because...
pcgamer.com/2012/01/15/this-weeks-best-free-pc-games-31/
Goodbye, bandwith.
Quote from: Goldmund on Sun 15/01/2012 15:34:02
pcgamer.com/2012/01/15/this-weeks-best-free-pc-games-31/
Goodbye, bandwith.
You're welcome. :-)
Well I'll be damned, I just can't believe it's here!! :-* Big congratz Goldmund on keeping at it and finishing this!
I maybe should have waited till more bugs were ironed out, as I usually do, but I got excited to play this. Now I think this may be a game stopping bug, but I'm not sure as others have progressed further.
Spoiler
I have the Countrysons card from the safe and noticed that the heat from my hand made something appear beneath, so I tried my lighter on the card to heat it up further (hoping it would display the password to the website), she says she'll try it, the lighter clicks, but then the game locks up; I can move the cursor, but that's it.
Am I on the wrong track here, or am I the only one who is getting this? Besides having the music get killed by certain actions, it's the only bug so far, but how serious is it?
Otherwise, it's a very compelling game.
I've already beaten the game, so it's fully playable.
Never encountered the bug you described - do you use lighter from the hotel? Worked well for me.
Way to skip the bug:
Spoiler
hidden message: honour39
Quote from: Marquillin on Sun 15/01/2012 20:57:46
Spoiler
I have the Countrysons card from the safe and noticed that the heat from my hand made something appear beneath, so I tried my lighter on the card to heat it up further (hoping it would display the password to the website), she says she'll try it, the lighter clicks, but then the game locks up; I can move the cursor, but that's it.
It's "hide", not "spoiler" on these boards ;-)
You're the second person with the bug. If you have it, you will run into a more serious one a bit later. The problem is solved and the fixed game should be online in 2-3 hours. Sorry!
urpney, pls check private messages
Goldmund, check your mailbox : )
Quote from: Goldmund on Sun 15/01/2012 21:16:15
It's "hide", not "spoiler" on these boards ;-)
Thanks, the SMF help page here wasn't enlightening on that topic.
Quote
You're the second person with the bug. If you have it, you will run into a more serious one a bit later. The problem is solved and the fixed game should be online in 2-3 hours. Sorry!
Right, then my question is will old save games work in the new version, and if not, is this future more serious bug something that has a way around it (that won't spoil a puzzle or scene or general immersion too much). Or (if old saves don't work) perhaps you could send me a save of my place in the game (more or less)? I just don't really want to replay the game thus far again, not until some time has elapsed anyway
Quote from: an Urpney on Sun 15/01/2012 21:07:45
I've already beaten the game, so it's fully playable.
Never encountered the bug you described - do you use lighter from the hotel? Worked well for me.
Way to skip the bug:
Spoiler
hidden message: honour39
.
Thanks for the code, at least I figured out how to get it correctly, so it doesn't feel like a cheat. Yes, I used the hotel lighter.
The old saves will work.
The fixed version will be online in half an hour, I believe (uploading).
The second instance of the bug you have is game-stopping, I'm afraid, so better wait ;-)
EDIT:
The new bug-free (hopefully) version is up and kicking on the site.
If I didn't already have a full beard this game would have made me grow one overnight. Perhaps it will make me grow a double beard!
Urpney,
Spoiler
"- Relationship between Donna and Milena. It's just too fast - we have a "damsel in distress" situation, one meeting in a cafee and when they meet next time they just go to bed. They didn't really had time to meet each other so it looks more like a physical afection than love - which I belive wasn't your intention. The relationship lacks solid buildup."
Well I had no time in game to do proper wooing and courting. They started with physical attraction, sure... or promise of some forgetfulness in a shitty moment of their lives... or even, maybe some kind of a charm?... ;-)
Besides, I've heard there are some people nowadays that go to bed on their FIRST date, not second!! The times! The morals!
"- Villains motivations - we know they are nazis, so they want to rule the world, have strong military industry and eliminate everyone they find inferior. Why do they want to summon antient, dangerous but pretty useless demon? They have something to protect one person, but they have no means of controlling the thing, co what's the point?"
Well they were primarily pagans, not nazis -- as you gather from Mil's notes and other evidence, Romero created CS and influenced NCR on the way to fulfill his obsession. His obsession was not military power of his country (nazi reason) but changing the whole reality, breaking it open to bring back the universe of Something Great in place of indifference and relativism. But, of course, if I have to write all this, it means I have failed to make the game speak for itself... or rather Romero ;-)
Goldmund
Spoiler
- All true, but from where I stand going to bed isn't the highest point of serious relationship (I know, that's just a personal opinion : ). Going to bed in their situation looks more like physical attraction combined with fear and maybe compensation after Christian's death for Donna. Just not serious enough for them to be willing to sacrifice themselves for each other.
Or that's just my moaning ; )
- For what I know of pagans, they treated their gods more pragmatic and instrumentally than modern monotheistic religions. More of preforming rituals to gain something, less of "love of god". I get it:
NCR - national socialistic party more interested in power than occult,
CS - messed up guys blindly following Romero with all his paganism, fascination in III Reich, maybe following patch of Thule brotherhood.
Romero himself - a self-proclaimed pagan priest.
Still, what's the point of summoning agressive demon he can't control and even protect himself and his lover (even when I gave him the necklace, demon didn't seem to be bothered)? He seems to know a lot about the ritual, and yet he makes basic mistakes.
Just saying Romero's desire for destruction and self-destruction could've been presented with little more depth, making him more interesting and belivable chatacter.
Thank you for talking with me about that!
Spoiler
"Still, what's the point of summoning agressive demon he can't control and even protect himself and his lover (even when I gave him the necklace, demon didn't seem to be bothered)? He seems to know a lot about the ritual, and yet he makes basic mistakes.
Just saying Romero's desire for destruction and self-destruction could've been presented with little more depth, making him more interesting and belivable chatacter."
I was thinking whether not to make something different when he does have GB, but it seemed to me to work in this way, too -- it is love which is his destruction, as it clouded his mind. Donna asked Milena to "use" the necklace, to show it; JR forgot all about it seeing his loved one's head devoured ;-)
Romero is believeable to me in that somewhere inside I share his sentiments, that is: I understand that a person may be angry and dissilusioned with the world of No Great Ideas, No Symbols and believing the Magical Destruction to be a better fate, or at least: more glorious.
In constructing Romero I was often thinking about the leader of Death In June, Douglas Pearce. Gay Nazi making beautiful music -- here's something for you if you like paradoxes ;-) I've never felt disoriented whether I do have a moral right to enjoy music before ;-)
Quote from: Goldmund on Mon 16/01/2012 20:47:32
Thank you for talking with me about that!
Glad to be of assistance ; ) Game's great and deserves feedback. Maybe you can some of this mumbling working on your next project ; )
Quote from: Goldmund on Mon 16/01/2012 20:47:32
Spoiler
"Still, what's the point of summoning agressive demon he can't control and even protect himself and his lover (even when I gave him the necklace, demon didn't seem to be bothered)? He seems to know a lot about the ritual, and yet he makes basic mistakes.
Just saying Romero's desire for destruction and self-destruction could've been presented with little more depth, making him more interesting and belivable chatacter."
I was thinking whether not to make something different when he does have GB, but it seemed to me to work in this way, too -- it is love which is his destruction, as it clouded his mind. Donna asked Milena to "use" the necklace, to show it; JR forgot all about it seeing his loved one's head devoured ;-)
Spoiler
That makes sense, but still: GB on his head is pretty visible and the demon probably even touches it while chewing his head off. Romero shouldn't be surprised - he didn't prepare any protection for Ernest, so what did he expect?
Milena seen her loved one turn into flesh-eating monstrocity, witnessed two people heads beein' devoured and what's most important she - contrary to Romero and Ernest - wasn't even expecting to see anything supernatural.
Quote from: Goldmund on Mon 16/01/2012 20:47:32
Spoiler
Romero is believeable to me in that somewhere inside I share his sentiments, that is: I understand that a person may be angry and dissilusioned with the world of No Great Ideas, No Symbols and believing the Magical Destruction to be a better fate, or at least: more glorious.
In constructing Romero I was often thinking about the leader of Death In June, Douglas Pearce. Gay Nazi making beautiful music -- here's something for you if you like paradoxes ;-) I've never felt disoriented whether I do have a moral right to enjoy music before ;-)
Spoiler
My point is, it's rather rare in the world to meet a man beeing evil just for the sake of beeing evil and wishing destruction. Most common examples: Hitler only wanted to make the world a better place and get rid of people who - in his messed up head - hurt him and his nation. Lenin wanted to build an utopian world. Bin Laden did what he belived God wanted him to do. None of them seen those deeds as evil.
Note that at one point Romero and his supporters gained enough social and political support to actually CHANGE something in the world and yet they still wanted to preform the ritual and send it all to hell.
An Urpney!
Spoiler
I can't argue with you about it, because I agree with your points! :)
I don't think Romero's so one-dimensional, though, because of his love for E. It was also an idea to create an anti-couple, a mirror to Donna-Milena. At the end the two couples stand in front of each other like a mirror image and one could even imagine a game in which the other two are protagonists.
Psychologically, you raise valid points as for the motivations; it's just that I believe there are two approaches to fiction: psychological one, based on how people really behave, and mythological one, in which characters stand for symbols or tropes if you will and psychological accuracy isn't so important as long as they illustrate some thesis or just provide fun. I mean, come on, my game's protagonist is a mad doctor - how more cliche can you get.
Of course, ideally a character should work on both levels -- psychological realism and symbolic quality, and I agree that Romero's not such a great character as far as psychological realism goes, but his unreturned affection for E. and - in a twisted way - valid concerns about the modern world make him interesting, at least for me ;-)
Just finished your game. I really enjoyed it. Especially the very diverse characters.
The ten years were defintely put to good use. The graphics gave a great feel to the game, the use of the internet and the code-riddles hit right up my alley and the background of the characters left nothing to wish for ...I especially loved the thought of
Spoiler
the baby chatting with mr. nightly.
+ its the first game I know of (probably the only one in excistence) that has a Burgman in it. I've traveled with mine to most parts of west Europe. I might have squealed a little by the sight of it ;D
One mild annoyance was the inventory which was pretty full all the time. An extra inventory for all the pictures and writings might be a nice addition.
Haha, thanks, mukk!
I'm happy to rekindle your nice memories with Milena's scooter.
I'm aware of the too-big-inventory annoyance you speak about, more items should disappear when you no longer need them, but I had so many things to do with the game before releasing it and I grew so impatient with it already that I never got around to improve the inventory issue. :(
I have just finished playing the game and what a great ride it was! Definitely worth all the work you put into it. I'm pretty sure one of the AGSawards will be yours this year. ;)
I live by the Werner Herzog's words: awards are for dogs and horses, dear Buddha! :)
Thank you, I'm especially happy you've enjoyed it as you were the first person to find Donna's website long before the game went live.
Question: Is the goal of the game to get to the nudity parts ala LSL?
Sure. You could also try hiding in your sister's closet if the game's too difficult.
Wow, I recently wondered what had happened to this game. I re-listened to the sound files I downloaded oh so long ago and searched for the game in the forums for it just to find out what I had already expected - no progress report for years. "What a shame, it seemed so promising" I thought. And now this...
Congratulations on finishing it after such a long time. Considering that life has this mean habit of getting in the way of personal projects such as this, that's quite a feat! I'll comment on the game when I've finished it.
Thank you, linus!
But I don't think it's true what you say about life. It has to do with something in your head rather than outside circumstances. Where life interferred, I put the game away for 2 months, or half a year, and just returned to it later. Basically, I had a lot of fun making it -- I believe some people who make models their whole lifetime feel similar -- so there was no reason to quit something that makes me happy and doesn't kill me at the same time ;-)
I have to congratulate the creator of the game
Donna: blood avenger, for his persistence with his work, it's laudable that he finished the game even when for one thing or the other (that's life!) took him ten years. Kudos to
Blaze Dzikowski. I think
Donna is the amateur adventure game that I like the most beside the
Yathzee’s Czho Mythos saga. I didn’t finished the game yet
Spoiler
Unless one can count obtaining the “happy†ending as finishing the game
I’m close to the end (I believe), though. And I have to say that the game is superb, not only the game programming (which seems hard-working) but the setting, the atmosphere… I can only describe it as beautiful, as they say this work has soul. I truly empathize with the three main characters, in this regard
Donna is probably superior to
Czho Mythos. Thinking that the silly
Twilight books have movie adaptations is infuriating to me while I play Donna. A movie based on this game would revitalize the true “vampire genre†(which is not the new and plain bad “supernatural romance†genre). I'm salivating to thinking of it, and I'm beating around the bushes, too. Anyways, the game is great the only thing I didn’t like
Spoiler
The sound based puzzles which were to me more like annoying cacophonies, I solved the first one by dumb luck and the second one I just skipped it with the cheat for hearing impaired people, having two functional ears I have to say that I’m not very proud of it
Then again, this is probably just me being clumsy.
Aside from the atmosphere and the most notable soundtrack, I would like to highlight that the "calm" and blood meters are a very, very, nice touch. They serve to differentiate the character of Donna in gameplay mechanics from the protagonist of other adventure games and they give the player the sensation that she is really a vampire and therefore is not only the plot telling us that she is a vampire. Moreover the "calm" and blood meters remid me a lot of the "bloodpool" and the "Frenzy" which are mechanics from
Vampire: The Masquerade which is my favorite pen and paper RPG of all time (Did you know it by chance?).
To conclude:
Donna is an amazing game, and I’ll recommend it to all my gamer friends.
Nefarius --
I'm not really good at receiving such praise, so I can only say - thanks a lot! :)
I've played only the computer version of Vampire: The Masquerade, but as for the vampire games I think I was mostly influenced by Bloodnet, an old crpg. It wasn't the biggest gaming influence, though, certainly less than Dreamweb or I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream.
As for the puzzles you didn't like...
Spoiler
Well, my interest in music is to blame ;)
But, actually, you don't have to use the scrambler at Romero's house.
Donna is already much stronger... for some reason...
Quote from: Goldmund on Thu 19/01/2012 22:54:23
I live by the Werner Herzog's words: awards are for dogs and horses, dear Buddha! :)
Haha, a wise approach, this actor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz1XuiysO2o) had a similar idea, on his way home, after receiving one. ;)
Quote
Thank you, I'm especially happy you've enjoyed it as you were the first person to find Donna's website long before the game went live.
Yes, at the time it was great learning it was still being worked on, too often games announced that long ago die a silent death. Thankfully for us all here, that was not to be Donna's fate!
So... I can't get past the very first obstacle. :-\
Spoiler
I have a mouse and a crowbar. I've tried everything. I read his mind, said everything. Tried not saying certain things. Bit the mouse.
Jim -
Spoiler
There are other skills apart from reading mind.
Ask for hints in the Hints forum, guys.
Just wondering: is this game the first of a series, or is it just a one-off?
Whoa, no, I never wanted to make it into series. Why?
Woah! I just finished the game and I gotta say that some stupid dust got into my eyes.
People who didn't finish the game yet: don't uncover the text below!
Spoiler
Part of me prefers the ending in which the story of Donna and Christian repeats again but this time the vampire is Donna and the mortal who fears death is Milena. Nevertheless, the end in which Donna wipe out all her enemies and make the ultimate sacrifice in order to defeat the eldritch abomination feels like the truer ending. It gives more closure to the story. And Mulkin foreshadows it, in a way:sometimes is better to left things unfinished. I like that a lot.
Ok, my remarks/review now that I finished the game:
INTRODUCTION:DONNA: Avenger of Blood is easily one of the best point and click adventure games I've played to date. With graphics suiting the overall environment, a compelling plot and some of the most logical and solvable puzzles, this is one of those must-plays that only comes around every few years. The length of the game is long enough to be considered a full-length game (although I've only been playing since Saturday but I couldn't stop till I finished!)
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE GAME:There are two main reasons I rate the game so highly. First, as I said, the puzzles are logical enough to be solved with some thinking, trial and error and persistence. Unlike games where you just shake your head thinking "how the hell was anyone supposed to guess that", the flow and direction of the game keeps moving at a pace where you actually feel progress combined with the satisfaction of having solved a good puzzle. This experience, of course, is what makes the genre of adventure game compelling. The puzzles are generally a good balance of dialogue choices with inventory items. Many are unique to this game (at least I haven't seen them before). When stuck, there are several in-game hint resources that get your brain spinning to lead you to solve the puzzle. If I had to summarize what made this so good, I found myself almost never wondering "ok, NOW what am I supposed to do? I have no objective or anything to solve now" which is what happens in poorly-designed games.
The second strong point of the game is the plot. It's complex, unpredictable and immersive enough to make you want to keep playing without having so much detail that it becomes impossible to track (or you just don't care anymore about tracking) what's going on. Despite the length of the game, it never gets repetitive or boring. The pulse-quickening unexpected ending is well-suited for the game.
Some other appealing features:
- the photographic, dark/greyscale graphics are perfect for the game.
- The worry-meter (whatever it's called!) and blood meter add to the playabilty.
- Character development was very good
- The detail of the animation and effects was not overlooked.
WEAKNESSES OF THE GAME:- Despite the strengths of the puzzles I mentioned, (I know I have to nit-pick to complain!) there were a few points that I was completely stumped with nothing to do and no leads. The reason for this was because I missed one detail in an animated scene. Not a good idea to have the game at a dead-end because the player sneezed.
Another was similar: I missed one small point in a dialogue and ended up having no leads as a result.
- I mentioned the dialogue combinations as being a good tool in puzzles. I found that many of the dialogue options basically get you to the same place and really did not serve much purpose to advancing the game and were just a drag.
- It's clear that a lot of effort went into the graphics and it's a pleasing style found in a number of games (I'm thinking of Raindog Story) and it works most of the time. However, at times the clipped photographs put together have a certain unappealing choppiness, particularly when there is motion.
- I'm sure that some people will disagree with this point but I'll make it anyway. Although the people playing the game, myself included, are not offended by the nudity/sexuality/language, it limits the game to a smaller audience. This game is not suited for younger players or people who find those items as offensive. Of course there are ample warnings and those people don't need to play the game, but in rating the game I have to put an element that diminishes the appeal to a wider audience in the negative column.
BUGS:(you knew this was coming!)
-
Spoiler
when on the balcony next to the swimming pool, if you walk toward the hanging rope, you will keep climbing. I'm sure this is not intended!
-
Spoiler
I'll be vague here so as not to ruin it. When solving the location for the video, I actually solved the name of the location based on the hint in the note. Despite typing in the correct solution, the game told me it was wrong BECAUSE I DIDN'T first look at the photograph!
The amount of work and attention to detail in the plot and flow of this game, combined with creativity and excellent gameplay, polish and execution makes Donna: Avenger of Blood a compelling must-play for any adventure game fan.
Bravo, Blaze! You have a lot to be proud of!
SHADOW
Quote from: Goldmund on Wed 25/01/2012 13:06:24
Whoa, no, I never wanted to make it into series. Why?
Just asking!
@Saren -> well, the story's pretty much finished in both endings.
Maybe I will do something similar graphically, though, as my photo-manipulaton skills have evolved greatly during the making of D. Possibly it will be my first and last game, though. I need to concentrate on my writing.
@Nefarius -> about the endings:
Spoiler
well, of course I view the train one as "the real ending", too. Maybe it's more gruesome, but rather more uplifting than the vision of uncertain future on the island.
@Shadow -> thank you kind Sir for this in-depth review! You can't view the profanity and sexuality among the flaws, though, because they were intended and form the total effect of the game, it's not tits for tits' sake.
Also, thank you for the bugs report: I will iron them out in the next version, but please guys don't hold your breath, as there's nothing game-stopping there and I'm quite concerned with other pursuits.
Quote from: Goldmund on Thu 26/01/2012 21:31:16
@Shadow -> thank you kind Sir for this in-depth review!
Dude, I didn't heap the praise on highly enough! Honestly, I don't have enough words to truly reflect what a good time I had playing the game!
Quote
You can't view the profanity and sexuality among the flaws, though, because they were intended and form the total effect of the game, it's tits for tits' sake.
Notice that my heading was not "things I don't like" or "flaws", which is what I usually do when I rate a game. In this case, NONE of the points I made lessened the experience. I called them "weaknesses" just as things to think about. I had to really nit pick to find anything negative, just to be thorough.
As I said in that section, it's not a flaw, but rather an element that while perhaps makes it more fun and appealing to many people, it also reduces the audience for the game. Consider it just something to think about when analyzing the game rather than a flaw :)
Quote
Also, thank you for the bugs report: I will iron them out in the next version,
You're welcome. None of them really took away from the game or were serious but just to bring them to your attention :)
Once again, congrats on an outstanding game
SHADOW
AMAZING game, I just wrote some of my many positive thoughts about it on the AGS game download page. Thank you for finishing this (after so many years)! It's exceptionally great, one of the Big Ones of AGS as far as I'm concerned.
One question, and since it might be an additional puzzle but may also not be, and is in any case not a puzzle needed to progress, I thought to put in here rather than the hints & tips section:
Spoiler
In the Countrysons headquarters, is there any way to get into Ernest Rightwell's computer? Any way to figure out the password? And if so, would that make a difference for the remainder of the game?
Valentijn, I was curious about that too! I figured it wasn't possible since Milena mentions that there's no time for trying.
Thank you - I'm happy that you enjoy the game!
As for your question, gentlemen...
Spoiler
Well, I suspect that Rightwell has some interesting info in his laptop, but even I couldn't guess his password -- and I'm the game's author -- so I don't think you should waste your time trying... :-[ )
I've encountered a problem. I saved the game right before breaking into the antique shop (as in, before using the strength skill to knock down the door).
When I try to restore it however, the game crashes. It claims there was an invalid number for SetInventory (the number being 0). My only other savepoint was long before this, so now i've lost the will to play it.
Oh well, life's a bitch.
If you have entered the antique shop, though, and can still find a shred of will to bear with Donna for some more time, you can do what is described in this post and play on:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=45144.msg606753#msg606753
Just finished it!
Congratulations,Goldmund!
this is one of the greatest adventure games ever!
rorstudio - Thank you! This is a very generous praise.
Congrats its a great game, the puzzles are very clever but never frustrating until I got to that piano one. I guess I'm very dumb in music stuff. Is good to see this kind of mature games.
Finally got around to playing it, and I applaud you, sir. This is a fantastic game and I highly recommend it.
The atmosphere alone is perfectly crafted. The black and white settings, the lens effects, the moving environments, the controversy in the air - it's like something out of a film student's project. And the story is set like a modern supernatural film noire. Much like Gabriel Knight, there's a lot of investigating and researching, but the game doesn't chug because of it. Granted, there are some very difficult puzzles near the end, but I found writing everything down on a piece of paper makes it so much easier (and takes me back to a simpler time as well). Not to mention there's some genuinely scary moments in here. The use of editing really took me by shock at times. And I especially like the blood and calm meters - requiring my character have a smoke break every now and then really lent to the game's realism.
I even like how maturely the sexuality is handled. There's so much nudity and I could see so many instances where other developers might have gone overboard and exploited these women for a few cheap thrills - but that wasn't the case here. The main story always overwhelmed these moments, and the focus was kept on building character relationships. Of course, there was that one really funny scene in the brothel, but even that was handled extremely well. I'm sure people will be offended regardless, but for what it is, it works.
And weird as it sounds, my favorite part had to be the debate scenes with the four old men. Took me a while to play by their rules, but once I figured it out, these guys were a hoot to hang out with. And another favorite scene: the hotel. Won't give anything away, but that sequence alone is worth downloading the game for. It's like something out of a movie.
So once again, thanks for the amazing game. It was nothing like what I expected, and it does rank right up there with the likes of Gabriel Knight and The Longest Journey (I can tell those were huge inspirations behind the game). Nice job!
(And thanks for including that "hearing impaired" note in the download). :)
Cheers, Xionix, I'm glad you liked it.
Datadog - thanks for the in-depth and generous review!
I'm happy you liked the La Bookery bunch, I was afraid that they might bore the players as their parts are so dialog-heavy. I had a blast making the hotel sequence, so it's great it works for you.
Thank you for your comments about the nudity, too. Full frontal is important to my concept of the game. With all the titties and pussies on display I think it's actually much cleaner than the innuendo and bursting cleavages in most PG titles.
There were two reasons for full nudity (and substance use):
1) it was supposed to say to the players: this is real stuff. We're playing serious now. You can actually expect everything in the game, if it doesn't shy away from the fact that women are sometimes nude.
2) I was growing tired with how tame and mainstream 90% of independent games have become, as if we still had some corporate marketing boneheads saying what you can show and what you can't.
Quoteit does rank right up there with the likes of Gabriel Knight
You don't know how amazing this comment makes me feel!
QuoteIt was nothing like what I expected
Now I'm really interested in what you were expecting? :-)
No problem, and we need to see more games like this. But, can you give me a tip on the piano puzzle lol, I have tried but I did not seem to get it right. I tried with the puppy book's teachings, but still can't pass it. My 1st language is spanish, I don't know if maybe I'm miss reading the book or something, or maybe the part of my brain that deal with music is mess up.
Xionix - there's a text file in the game directory entitled "for hearing impaired." It will give you a combo for bypassing the puzzle.
Quote from: Goldmund on Wed 15/02/2012 09:27:41Now I'm really interested in what you were expecting? :-)
Well, the screen-shots at the beginning of the thread don't really do the game justice. The story and experience is a lot more artfully cinematic in its execution. I've often seen amateur filmmakers and writers tackle mature and controversial subject in their work as a means of projecting shock value or getting preachy, but I don't get that same vibe from this game. It has a very good self-awareness about it.
There are a few shocking moments, such as when I first realized I'd have to hunt innocent civilians to survive. It took a few attacks before I realized Donna was leaving them alive and only taking what blood she needed. I still felt bad when I saw them squirming on the ground, but at least certain lines weren't crossed. The game may be dark, but it doesn't thrive on darkness.
None of the powers work because of no blood.
The mouse has no blood
I played a bit of the game and have to tell you that it is really well done in story and gameplay.
I am really enjoying it!
Thank you for giving this to us! (http://www.smileyvault.com/albums/userpics/12962/thank-you2.gif)
@dbuske:
You might want to check the hints section for that.
This (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=45144.msg605328#msg605328) seems to be a good part for you (and if that's not the point you will get help over there for sure) ;)
Quote from: dbuske on Sun 19/02/2012 21:38:50
None of the powers work because of no blood.
The mouse has no blood
Rat, you mean?
The rat has blood.
Tabata - wheeeee, flowers! :D Thank you, glad you enjoy.
I finished the game. This is best adventure game that I have played in a very long time! :)
Way longer than I had expected. I did find a few errors/shortcuts:
Spoiler
Donna has the ability to walk through the stone slab blocking the final chamber.
- first look at the stone slab
- then exit stone slab
- finally click the wall surrounding the slab (where cursor is red)
Donna will proceed through the slab, Milena will appear out of nowhere, and you will wonder what happened (I believe this can happen other places as well)
and then there is this problem during the last scene? happens every time here and at one other place (but I forgot where)
http://www.mypicx.com/02272012/donna/
but altogether a fine game...
Hallo, merci for compliments & comments.
The odd screen picture you posted is something I can't do anything with, since the anomaly is obviously hardware/system based (graphic cards, types of windows, all the things I wish to know as little about as possible) and nothing I could fix in the editor.
The shortcut you describe, however, really pissed me off & I'm going to eliminate it! So sloppy! :-\
so finally I beat the game and here are my comments:
a DEFINITELY MUST PLAY game RIGHT NOW, bitches :)
At first I got pretty discouraged by the beginning of the game, because I couldn't make any progress. The very first room and got stuck. I got frustrated but tried some more attempts to get over with it. I've read in the hints and tips forum that people easily pass this section. Apparently this one was the toughest part for me. The easiest was surprisingly piano notes. Once I got used to it and the controls and actions were more friendly to me, then it was a really roadtrip to this wonderful and unique world of ordinary people with extraordinary skills and spirits.
I have to say I didn't expect this game to be that long. As reading in H&T forum some people say like I assume this is my night 4 or the last night. So after reaching night four I told myself well this would come to the great finale.
How I was mistaken, and I am glad that I was wrong. Because the game has completely hooked me up and since then I wanted to beat it totally to the end. I enjoyed this game moment to moment by every bit of my body :).
I assume that one can reach 3 endings, right?
I am very happy that there is no walkthrough for this game on web or something because this would only ruin the experience and the whole idea of this project.
So, if you still hesitate to give this goddamn game a shot, I urge you do it right now you will not be disappointed. And please take your time to beat this game, don't be afraid of failure sometimes. Try just try and try and you will be honored by this fine game. It is really worth a try.
thank you
@goldmund and the whole group of yours: Salute
I highly recommend trying this game called Devil's shroud, it is more likely based on the similar story and the atmosphere is quite the same. here is the link, since the link in the forum is not active anymore
http://thedevilsshroud.altervista.org/downloaden.html
Wow, thank you, David!
I also didn't expect this game to be that long, but I couldn't stop, I guess...
Just wanted to say that the most recent version is up on the site, with all the bugs reported to me gone to heaven.
Congratulations all the way Goldmund!
I found it a very mature and literate adventure game. Your story encourages the player to use his mental and emotional faculties even after the game ended.
It felt really good not to be suffocated by patronization or any attempts of overly simple moral conceptualization.
Those endings leave a lingering aftertaste of bitter-sweet ambivalence - simply loved it!
Spoiler
If there's one minor part that felt slightly rushed in the otherwise well crafted game, I've to agree with Urpney, it's the relationship with Milena. From seemingly casual sex to an I-love-you-relationship in that short amount of time seems slightly excessive, though I can see it's function in the overall dramatic structure of the plot.
I might have found another bug:
Spoiler
At the Roxy Palace Motel when the police is in the lobby:
Once I combined the 'electric cord' and the 'water bucket' while still standing in the hallway, prior to going back into my hotel-room.
Trying to enter the hotel-room after that results in Donna saying that 'she should take the bucket' over and over and not entering her room anymore.
Minor one:
Climbing back into the hotel where the game started. Using the Look option on the window
Donna says something like '"Roxy" is doing a fine job down there' (distracting the two police men). It's not Roxy down there, is it, should be 'Rain' or something (can't remember her name exactly)
Thanks Goldmund, especially for giving me the chance to insult Sartre and his cronies!!!
Seems like a long lasting dream came true after having been forced to fight with their works ages ago! :D
Trampoline, how fittingly your review makes me jump up and down.
Thanks!
But remember -- existence precedes essence! Or how do you translate Sartre ;-)
Also, you have located the bug I had reported once but unable to reproduce -- the terrible Bucket Bug! It seems I need to make one more update, this is an unpleasant error.
As for the Mil/Donna relationship --
Spoiler
I was tinkering with the idea that maybe their love was an effect of vampiric charm after all... How bitter that would be, but could explain a few things.
Oh crap, I am in the Dream Girls room with Mulkin having a good time and my saved game is f***ed up. When I load it it is as if I clicked to leave the room (with Mulkin asking me where I am going) then I automatically leave the room and the game crashes, making it impossible to continue playing...
I was really enjoying the game, so that's a real pity :( Could someone send me a saved game at that specific point?
X-Ty980, please send me your saved game and the error message.
I'll release a new version around the weekend that should take care of your problem (along with The Bucket Bug.)
Such Coolness! Looking forward to playing this neat looking game. Everytime I go to GameStop, I come back disappointed in the game selection for pc's. I am glad you all makes games for us to play. When things are better financially, I will probabley send some money to a few individuals who I enjoy their games. Thanks so much!! There is a couple ppl I have helped out on here when things was better. I gave money to help out for Cosmos Quest 4 and Resonance. Thanks to ALL You Ladies and Gentlemen who are smarter than I am to figure out how to make your Awesome Games. I might try to see If I can try my hand at one again. My brother is working on a Cool looking game. Of course he is really good at artwork, where I am not. I use to write allot of stories when I had time. Thanks again Everyone!!
Whoa! Here's hoping that you'll become a very, very rich man, Blueknight...
FINALLY, I finished it! What an incredible game... this is one of the greatest examples of what computer games can do. It has not been frequent that a game got me this emotionally involved. But enough of generic praise, here's what I liked about your game
Warning! Major spoilers!:
Spoiler
- Many fresh characters outside of usual gaming and movie conventions. It always feels great controlling an edgy and believable character who isn't your run-of-the-mill 30-ish tough-yet-sensitive hero-kinda-guy or your typical 20-ish female attractive light-hearted brunette. Donna is brutal and fragile at the same time. She experiences intense love, intense fear, intense hate... and the game makes you feel very close to her on that emotional journey.
- Fantastic, interesting and challenging (!) puzzles... all the way through. And I wouldn't say many adventures get this right (even the Gabriel Knights games have some horrible puzzles). I could not bear to look up a single clue, it would have felt like ruining one of your carefully thought-out puzzles. It was great that you made extensive use of keyboard entries, so the players had to chew through all the documents and clues themselves instead of just relying on trial and error. Some of the puzzles were of a kind prevalent in old interactive fiction classics. I often though about possible solutions to puzzles on my way from or to work.
- The descriptions and dialogues. Donna is a text-heavy game - another thing few modern adventure titles dare. Of course you might have done that badly and bored us to death, but that never happened. I really tried to get every text message out of the game you put in it. Looking at every detail on screen to get more of Donna's insightful, sarcastic or touching remarks, showing Mulkin all my items, reading minor characters' minds to figure out how they tick. I have the feeling that the coherent world you created through this helped make the puzzles so logical.
- Even with all these dark themes dominating your game, you managed to smuggle a tiny bit of humor in there. You just have to love Mulkin and the guys at LaBookery. Also, the guy trying to commit suicide at the hotel was hilarious.
- The art style. Very expressionist. Did you shoot the photos yourself?
- The relationship between Donna and Milena. Best relationship in an adventure game so far. Period.
I have to be honest, the ending was so sad, it actually made me cry. As much as I love unconventional games, I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to the death of adventure game protagonists at the end of a long story. I didn't mind though. A happy ending probably would have been out of place (kind of like the Blade Runner Non-DC).
Currently, I don't have a PayPal account, but I guess I might create one to make a donation for the great experience I had with your game.
Dear Linus, thank you for this!
The words like yours make every minute of working on Donna not a wasted time.
Granted, I enjoyed myself, but it's so fantastic that there are people who also got a kick out of this grim tale.
I didn't shoot the photos, I can't believe how long it would take me if I did. We only shot the frame-by-frame animations (me being men and my wife being women and then pasting faces and clothing.)
Actually, it might make for a cool BTS to show you some photos from that session (an umbrella serving for a gun or a liner as a knife...)
Also, the angel at the cemetery is a photo my wife took.
The other photos I stole from various catalogs and advertising sites and transformed them in Photoshop, making a kind of cut-outs (pasting a photo of a cabinet into a photo of a room etc.)
Again, thank you for making my day! :grin:
Played this all weekend. Lovely game that's dripping with atmosphere! I'm at the beginning of Day... 6, I think. Looking forward to playing the rest.
Damn! Praise from The Man. Now everything is possible ;-)
I'm "The Man" now? Uh oh.
/goes off to play loud rock music and drink heavily
This is probably the most overall enjoyable free AGS game I have ever played. Amazing work Goldmund!
Solid writing with a truly engaging story and perfect puzzle balance/difficulty. I like how you stay clear of all hollywood conventions and formulas with your characters, it truly feels like a breath of fresh air. The puzzle balancing/difficulty is perfect in my opinion. Varied puzzles, fitting in the story with just the right amount of hints to get you through them. I did get stuck at times, but never to the point of it being frustrating. This is the first game in a long time in which I didn't resort to walkthroughs at all, because even when stuck I had gotten to the point where I trusted your puzzles to be fair, and it turns out I was right.
Works like this truly inspires me to make my own game even better, although I really hope it won't take me 10 years to finish it ;)
Cheers, Krusbert!
I'm happy you weren't frustrated with the puzzles, I was worried about some of them.
As for the 10 years, well, there were long months when I didn't work on the game at all. Donna was in development for 10 years, but this doesn't mean I actually worked on it for 10-years worth.
Good luck with your project.
Easily the most challenging adventure game I've ever played - Did large chunks without a walkthrough but Jesus Christ, people relying on timing and basic piano playing knowledge amongst other things could maybe see it putting some folk off.
The fact that you are close to death instantly in an adventure game is something I've never seen before, but it sets the tone of "this will be hard" straight away
But I was enthralled in the story and felt annoyed that I didn't finish it before going a little holiday across some of Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia & Hungary) managed to finish it on Sunday before starting back to work on Monday.
Can't thank Blaze Dzikowski and everyone else involved enough for the delightful 3 weeks of solid distraction.
Hey, you're welcome, Barbour!
Thank YOU for a nice comment.
Your Eastern Europe trip must've given you some appropriate background, I imagine.
I love what you say about being close to death instantly; I did a lot of things wrong, but I like the game's opening.
As for the difficulty... I really loved that moment when I was a kid stuck at one point in an adventure game and suddenly found a solution. There was no internet, so no walkthroughs. I think modern games are too easy.
I just finished the game-- holy crap, it was AMAZING.
Hands down, Donna: AoB has one of the best-- if not THE best-- stories I've seen in all the games I've played this year. It seriously gripped more than most adventure games of all calibers I've played, period.
There were a few puzzles and design bits that threw me off a little,
Spoiler
I totally cheated using Wikipedia for the La Bookery quiz, and had to hit the skip commands for the sound-based puzzles because both my speakers and my hearing suck...thanks for thinking of the hearing-impaired to get around that!
but otherwise I felt it had the perfect level of challenge. Love the soundtrack too-- the songs fit perfectly.
The tone and atmosphere were set impeccably, and Donna made for a refreshing protagonist whose pain and anger you can feel
Spoiler
which makes the longer, and I'm guessing canon, ending grip you even harder. It's a bittersweet but satisfying ending, that also makes a nice departure from the classic happy endings and pyrrhic victory endings.
It was also so awesome to see how much attention was paid to detail, like Donna talking to items, getting different reactions showing your items to people...in today's TL;DR world, this is such a precious rarity in a good game!
I'll stop here because I can't praise enough. ;) Awesome job!
Heh, I don't think checking the Wikipedia is a cheat.
I don't expect everyone will remember the same bits and pieces of trivia from the formal education as myself!
Still -- there's a way to cheat in another way there, without leaving the game.
Thank you, FamousAdventurer! Your praise means a lot. It's uplifting to hear such positive remarks on your work.
As for TL;DR... I did cut some 1/4 of the dialogs :-D
I was wondering, would anyone be interested in Donna's OST? I could remaster some tracks and put together an album. If there's interest.
Quote from: Goldmund on Thu 27/12/2012 08:36:56
I was wondering, would anyone be interested in Donna's OST? I could remaster some tracks and put together an album. If there's interest.
Please do!
That would be nice, Goldmund.
Ok! Where two gather in your name, etc ;-) I'm on it.
Yes, yes a thousand times yes! That soundtrack ruled. I'd happily buy it as a DRM-free download.
Hello! Hello! It's been brought to my attention that the download links on the game website have been dead.
I take this merry pentecostal occasion to drop by and notify all interested persons that today I have changed the hosting and you can download Donna now!
So, what city was the game taking place in?
Very cool game, btw :)
The city had a name but I'll be damned if I remember... Thank you for the nice word Kyriakos :)