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AGS Games => Completed Game Announcements => Topic started by: Amir on Sat 02/07/2022 22:12:46

Title: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Amir on Sat 02/07/2022 22:12:46
(https://img.itch.zone/aW1nLzkxMjY0NTAucG5n/original/gaPqYS.png)

https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2621-challenge-of-the-tentacle/ (https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2621-challenge-of-the-tentacle/)

Challenge of the Tentacle is a free point and click escape room adventure fangame inspired by Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle and Maniac Mansion Mania.

Story

On a beautiful morning with chirping birds and sunshine, it seems a new beautiful day begins for the whole world. But no one knows that a catastrophe could happen that day. An evil, tyrannical, purple tentacle wants to take over the world. On this seemingly wonderful morning, our well-known protagonist, Bernard, renowned physicist and chemist, wakes up muddled. He still doesn't know that on this day he has to prove that he is a genius and has not, like so many others, studied in vain. But he's starting to remember the Purple Tentacle's visit and their argument about world domination, which ended with a cup of tea, his heavy, drooping eyelids and Purple Tentacle's malicious grin.

He is locked in his bedroom with many puzzles provided by Purple Tentacle to challenge and prevent him.

Help Bernard to solve these challenging puzzles, because with each solved puzzle he gets a little closer to the key that opens the door and thus also to the means created in his laboratory with which he can save the world from conquest. Solve logical, amusing and motivating puzzles that challenge not only Bernard, but YOU as well.

Features

Inspired by Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle and Maniac Mansion Mania.

Humorous game that combines point and click adventures with escape room tasks.

With many allusions to all adventures by LucasArts.

Various types of puzzles, from classic inventory usage to brain teasers.

You will find out the result of your performance at the end of the game: very good, good, satisfactory or bad.

And the best at the end: it costs nothing! It helps curb inflation!

(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMTU2MzM1MC85MTI3MDI0LnBuZw==/original/7CIGNT.png)

(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMTU2MzM1MC85MTI2MzE2LnBuZw==/original/DPbjZc.png)

(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMTU2MzM1MC85MTI3MDI1LnBuZw==/original/dINiz7.png)

(https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvMTU2MzM1MC85MTI2MzE4LnBuZw==/original/HzelSR.png)


Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: CaptainD on Sun 03/07/2022 21:18:35
Congrats on the release!  ;-D
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Amir on Mon 04/07/2022 09:45:06
Quote from: CaptainD on Sun 03/07/2022 21:18:35
Congrats on the release!  ;-D

Thank you captain :)
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: milkanannan on Tue 05/07/2022 18:28:20
I'm definitely giving this a try when I get a moment. Looks great!
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Amir on Tue 05/07/2022 20:38:03
Quote from: milkanannan on Tue 05/07/2022 18:28:20
I'm definitely giving this a try when I get a moment. Looks great!

Thank you. That will make me happy :)
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Amir on Sat 09/07/2022 12:27:59
I just uploaded version 1.0.1. A few minor bugs have been fixed.
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Shadow1000 on Sun 10/07/2022 04:19:26
This game definitely comes as advertised: puzzle-heavy and not easy, but between the in-game hints and some help from the board, I was able to complete the game.

- I really like how the graphics and sprite have been reworked to get past the 90s style pixel art. Voice acting added a nice touch
- The puzzles have a nice variety to complete logic to some word-scramble and more. I think my favourite puzzles were the IQ-test style that I was able to solve with no hints just by using logic. I particularly enjoyed the puzzle in the picture in the release-post captioned as "Find All the hidden purple tentacle"
- Unfortunately for me, the game assumes that the player can tell colours visually. About 10% of players, including myself cannot. It's ok to limit the scope of players to the 90% who can but it might reach out to more players if, for example, as you hover over something for which you need to tell the colour, it would either say "blue book", or even just "blue".
- If you read the hints and tips, you'll get a good idea of how some players (right now just me and Wiggy) responded to the game. There are some things that can be tweaked up either to be more clear or more logical if you're interested in doing so.

Overall, a really fun experience. Congrats :)
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Amir on Sun 10/07/2022 09:10:10
Quote from: Shadow1000 on Sun 10/07/2022 04:19:26
This game definitely comes as advertised: puzzle-heavy and not easy, but between the in-game hints and some help from the board, I was able to complete the game.

- I really like how the graphics and sprite have been reworked to get past the 90s style pixel art. Voice acting added a nice touch
- The puzzles have a nice variety to complete logic to some word-scramble and more. I think my favourite puzzles were the IQ-test style that I was able to solve with no hints just by using logic. I particularly enjoyed the puzzle in the picture in the release-post captioned as "Find All the hidden purple tentacle"
- Unfortunately for me, the game assumes that the player can tell colours visually. About 10% of players, including myself cannot. It's ok to limit the scope of players to the 90% who can but it might reach out to more players if, for example, as you hover over something for which you need to tell the colour, it would either say "blue book", or even just "blue".
- If you read the hints and tips, you'll get a good idea of how some players (right now just me and Wiggy) responded to the game. There are some things that can be tweaked up either to be more clear or more logical if you're interested in doing so.

Overall, a really fun experience. Congrats :)

Thank you for your comment here and on the game's page ;-D You are right about colors. A tester also told me to consider that, but I totally forgot. I'll think about how to do that. Because it could be a big hint if the colors of the books show over the mouse cursor. In the puzzle it doesn't matter. I mean, I want the player to search for themselves and know that the colors mean the books. Or I'll let Bernard say the colors.

QuoteThere are some things that can be tweaked up either to be more clear or more logical if you're interested in doing so.] There are some things that can be tweaked up either to be more clear or more logical if you're interested in doing so

if you mean the questions and the wording, I made an update yesterday. Now they are clearer :)  if you mean other things, it differs from player to player. Some told me that's clear enough and others told me to make it clearer. Unfortunately, I can't do something for all players  :-\ you know what I mean, so I did it what I thought was right :)
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Amir on Tue 12/07/2022 14:53:45
QuoteAn anonymous user from 109.40.243.139 reported Windows download for Challenge of the Tentacle as broken.

If you read, anonymous user; It's not broken, it works (roll) unless you accidentally reported it.
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: cat on Wed 13/07/2022 20:58:19
A nice escape the room game with a variety of puzzles. I played it in hard mode and some of them were really hard, but most of them I was able to solve with a good amount of thinking which is very rewarding.

Some of the in-game hints were not that helpful, maybe 3 buttons with hints for each box would be nice (getting hints from the forum doesn't punish you with points, so it messes up the rating a bit).

Recommended if you enjoy this kind of game!
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Amir on Wed 13/07/2022 22:13:37
Quote from: cat on Wed 13/07/2022 20:58:19
A nice escape the room game with a variety of puzzles. I played it in hard mode and some of them were really hard, but most of them I was able to solve with a good amount of thinking which is very rewarding.

Some of the in-game hints were not that helpful, maybe 3 buttons with hints for each box would be nice (getting hints from the forum doesn't punish you with points, so it messes up the rating a bit).

Recommended if you enjoy this kind of game!

I have discussed with several players about multiple hints. It's very time consuming  :-X and there are puzzles for which I can no longer do hints, otherwise I would have to give the solution and that wouldn't be good. For example the puzzle of kissing or matching the objects, you can't give 3 hints. In my opinion, only one hint is enough for such a small game, and as I said, it differs from player to player who the hint helps or who gets it. That's why you can see there at the bottom right: If you need more hints, look on the Internet some walkthrough or ask the developer.

Thanks again for playing  :)



Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: cat on Thu 14/07/2022 09:22:06
You are right, actually I chose hard mode, so it's expected that puzzles are hard. And as with every game, I assume every player has different favourite puzzles.
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Amir on Thu 14/07/2022 10:55:36
Quote from: cat on Thu 14/07/2022 09:22:06
You are right, actually I chose hard mode, so it's expected that puzzles are hard. And as with every game, I assume every player has different favourite puzzles.

Aha hard mode, Purple Tentacle told you you'll regret it  ;-D Try the easy mode, this would take seconds to complete the game  (roll)

You know what? I'm going to do a little update today and will add a few extra lines to the hints instead of making 2 or 3 new Guis. This is faster. But only to the puzzles that are too difficult. 2, 6, 10, 11. I wanted to do that but some players told me I don't need to do that because the hints helped them a lot. You said they didn't help well so I will do it, 2 in one.
Title: Re: Challenge of the Tentacle
Post by: Amir on Thu 14/07/2022 17:13:23
I uploaded version 1.0.2. I hope the hints are a bit more helpful now. I noticed four people downloaded it today. Please download the new version if you are one of these four people.

https://amir-matouk.itch.io/challenge-of-the-tentacle/devlog/404252/version-102 (https://amir-matouk.itch.io/challenge-of-the-tentacle/devlog/404252/version-102)