Messages

I'm up to the point where the guy is running around the room and ceiling. I can't interact with anything in the room or inventory items. Is this a puzzle or the end of the demo?

SHADOW

I completed this game.

I enjoyed the graphics and music. The plot seems like it has a lot of potential. The segment of plot that's played in this game is more of an introduction so it will be interesting to see how it progresses. I will say that it reminded me of Indiana Jones.

As far as the puzzles, I did not find them too easy or too difficult. I think they are in the sweet spot where they really make the game what it is rather than frustrate the user.

Good job!

SHADOW

Liking the game so far, but I'm stuck!

Spoiler

I'm in the hotel trying to get past the French guy.  I'm trying to get in the 'door' which is a hotspot, but whn I click on it the game tries to take me in room 70 or takes me around the corner into the French guy's vision

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Spoiler

There's a closet near the front that you have to duck into when the guy's not looking

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SHADOW

I did not understand the end. Is there somewhere that explains it more clearly?

Thank you

SHADOW

Hey Shadow, did you speak with Lady Azael at the beginning of the game where she told you a bit about the manor's history? Reading the diary toward the end also helps you understand the climax a bit more, but it's intentional that not all questions are answered, yet. In the next episode a whole lot will be explained. Let's just say that opening that wall in the first game created some undesired consequences

Yes, I spoke to her. I even restarted the game to speak to her again in case I missed some information. I read the diary and have a certain amount of understanding but there are some big gaps. Do you mind if I tell you privately what I've gathered and you can fill me in on what I'm missing, unless the gaps are supposed to be in next episode?

SHADOW

I played the game and completed it. I did need a few hints from the walkthrough but for the most part the puzzles were logical and I was able to solve them unassisted.

I did not understand the end. Is there somewhere that explains it more clearly?

Thank you

SHADOW

Awesome! Downloading right now!

An RPG! Great nonconventional way to use the AGS system! I loved the Bard's Tale series back in the 80s and that's what came to mind when I played this demo. I like that there's an element of luck and rolling the dice - definitely something different.

I don't know what you're planning for the final release but I agree that there should be an inventory of weapons and potions, armour, a way to level up with experience (that's the best part of an RPG) which allows you to take on stronger monsters and use better weapons and so on. I also noticed that you can't go back once you've moved from a room. I'm not sure if that's part of the style you're trying to achieve.

Anyway, good luck and I'm looking forward to the completed game

SHADOW

Thank you. I completed the game.

SHADOW

It seems that when I go back to the Metro I lose the locations on the map.

I completed the game, but you should know that this glitch makes it impossible to finish because

Spoiler

you have to return to the Metro to find the pipe if you don't have it

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Some comments on the game:

- I recommend that you find someone who can help you with the English
- I recommend you iron out the glitches before releasing the game.
- Some games have captions on hotspots. Other games use the art to help distinguish between items you can interact with and the background. This game frequently has neither and therefore pixel hunting is a must in this game. I recommend that you address this as some items are almost impossible for the player to know to interact with.
- Perhaps someone can help you with the sound or you can find some sites with stock sound effects and music that you can use to create the environment you are trying to achieve.

The graphic style is nice.

Good luck

SHADOW

I'm having trouble with the

Spoiler

bouncer. I assume I have to turn on the beer barrel to spray him. I also suppose I need the prosthetic hand to reach it (?), in which case I need money.

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Can you help?

SHADOW

Thank you for the solution and explanation.

I keep finding that the locations on the map keep disappearing and I have to keep going back to a save game. I assume this is a glitch?

SHADOW

- I just want to make sure that there is no sound for this game?

- I saved my game and came back later and there are no saved games in the list to restore. What do I do now?

SHADOW

... Congratulations for creating such a complex game in this quite perfect form. It contains everything a nice adventure game should have! 

I agree! I really enjoyed the game as well. It's very well designed and planned.

Spoiler

I still cant figure out how to deal with the runes. Even if I had any translation, I dont see how to enter this into the given machine. It is the very last thing I am missing in this area (to get the last crystal, I guess) and for getting the last marble.

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Answer:

Spoiler

You are looking at the names of the seven dwarves from Snow White. Use that to work out the symbols corresponding to letters from the English alphabet. THEN, go back to the first room where the different artifacts are displayed and use the key you've created to decipher the instructions on opening the vault.

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Come back if you get stuck! Good luck

SHADOW

Very cute and I enjoyed the game. The graphic, music and monosyllabic "speech" style were a pleasure!

Cheers

SHADOW

Well... I am very surprised by what you just said Shadow1000,

Why are you surprised?

Sorry for releasing the game with all those flaws!

I think you should be proud to have released such a good game. The gameplay, plot, graphics and puzzles are the most challenging part of a game and you really did well in each of these areas. Cleaning up the details is relatively easy and you have a lot to be proud of

SHADOW

[OVERVIEW]

I finished the game. Here are my comments:

OVERVIEW

Action. Suspense. Mystery. Romance. Comedy. Pizza Nostra has it all. Set in the 1930s, this game follows a small-time thief who joins ranks with the Italian mob to gain his freedom. A well-constructed plot with fun puzzles and many unique elements combined with pleasing, traditional adventure game graphics makes this almost full length game well worth playing.

WHAT I LIKED

- I think that the plot was one of the strengths of this game. The length of the game was well justified by the complexity and unpredictability of the plot. Few games strike this balance as well. I will add that the characters really played their roles well and this is not easy to achieve.
- The graphics and animation were well done. Many games have static backgrounds, which make the non-playable characters look "painted on" rather than active. The extra effort it took to bring the scenes to life with animated characters was a great touch and well worth it.
- For the most part, the music scores really matched the scenes well and were really enjoyable.
- I really liked the fact that in addition to the traditional puzzles, this game has a lot of action/arcade-style sections that give a good variety to the game and further justify its length
- The puzzles may have been on the easier side but were still fun. I was never completely stuck in the game and only required assistance when the game was crashing (see next section). Although they were not particularly simple puzzles, often with many steps to be taken, they were logical and intuitive enough to solve them with some thinking and persistence.
- I will add that I had a lot of laughs while playing.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE

- I have to strongly recommend that the script has the English corrected. Not having English as your first language is by no means a barrier to releasing a great game in English! But the English in this game was so poor that it did disrupt the flow of the game and at times I did not understand what was being said. Working with someone who is a native English speaker to develop the script is a must if you want this game to achieve its potential.
- There were many technical glitches, inconsistencies, crashes and other oddities that should have been found and solved during testing. It's clear that a lot of work went into this game and I can't understate the importance of proper testing before release.
- Lastly, there were a number of parts of the game where the player is instructed "do this", "now do that" where the instructions were not puzzles but clear directions. You can consider them interactive cutscenes. I would recommend using this type of thing very sparingly as they did break the flow of the game.

CONCLUSION

It's clear that a lot of development, thought and effort went into Pizza Nostra. In its current state, I recommend playing it to anyone who is willing to overlook some rough edges. If the language and glitches were ironed out, then this game could easily become a classic.

Buona fortuna!

SHADOW

Click on the garage door.. I will try to fix that crash error SOLVED! I'm going to upload it

Grazie...

SHADOW

I'm stuck in the room to the left of the theatre. I drive the car there (the area with the suicidal woman) and anything I click, the game shuts down. Is this supposed to happen? If not, what am I supposed to do without the game shutting?

SHADOW

Thank you again Shadow1000! I didn't think I could go up those stairs.

You're welcome. Sometimes you have to just keep trying

SHADOW

Hello...I need some help. I am on Mission 2 but can't get a coin for the phone.

Spoiler

Go to the top of the tracks and you will see a hobo. Exchange the bread with him for a coin

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