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For Games Ranked 13–10
13.
Masks: 15 Pages
by
TheCrimsonDM
Release Type:
Original Release
Fuzzy Description:
Orphans Pain, Hope, Bipolar, and Tranquility embark on a quest to retrieve the missing pages of therapy they need to confirm that their lives suck. But, can they overcome liars, betrayers, and even the darkness along the way?
Average Score:
Total Voters:
Highest Rating:
8
Lowest Rating:
3
Achievements
Achievement
End of the Crimson Tide
–Masks: 15 Pages marks the end of the “Crimson Tide” as the fifth and final TheCrimsonDM entry for Heart of the OHR 2018. Well, actually, Hero: Adventure in Animal Kingdom was the final release of the Crimson Tide, but Masks: 15 Pages is TheCrimsonDM’s most recent creation, and this award tries to respect creation order over release order. Going by release order, Masks: 15 Pages would be the “Crimson Third Strike.”
Achievement
Title Literality
-The plot of Masks: 15 Pages is to wear masks and find 15 pages of depressing notes about sadness and other emotional things.
Achievement
Flick Basher
-At the beginning of Masks: 15 Pages, the solo character, Pain, hits his enemies for 1 point of damage. His special attacks end up hurting him (part of the metaphysical context suggested in the previous achievement). Picking any fight in the beginning is a chore, as the battle party hits very, very softly. Perhaps the story suggests that he’d rather hurt himself than those who want to hurt him? From a story point of view, this could work. From a gameplay point of view, it’s very painful on the player.
Achievement
Creator’s Playhouse
-It seems that TheCrimsonDM likes to end his games with access to a creator’s room that explains his various design choices, and Masks: 15 Pages is no different, this time providing access to a “happy place” outside of the dark world in the shape of a toy box. Interestingly, his creator character, the Red Witch, says that the toy box is a discarded area that was cut from the main game because it is too happy, but given how stories must end differently from where they begin, otherwise there’s no story, the logic of removing the map from the main game doesn’t actually make sense.
Achievement
Soundtrack of Madness
-Much of the soundtrack for Masks: 15 Pages is anxious in nature, turning what could’ve been a straightforward puzzle game into an unsettling experience.
Achievement
Where Page 11 At?
–Masks: 15 Pages suggests that there are 15 pages to find in the game, yet there are only 14 slots available for pages on the wall. One page is a secret, and finding that secret will fill up a spot on the wall. At the end of the game, there’s still a page missing. This must mean that there are actually two pages missing, given how math works.
Achievement
Disclaimer Alert
–Masks: 15 Pages’s game description warns players that its themes are “adult” in nature. Even though it’s not the only game in this year’s contest that should warn players of adult content, it is the only one in the contest that actually does warn its players of adult content.
Achievement
Sub-sub-sub-subtext!
-Everything in Masks: 15 Pages is subtext for emotional tropes. It’s so thick with subtext that it may as well be context.
Achievement
Feel Bad Drama of the Year
–Masks: 15 Pages is by far the most depressing game in the contest. While it shouldn’t make the player feel bad about himself, it does nothing to make him feel good about himself, either.
Achievement
End of the Crimson Tide
–Masks: 15 Pages marks the end of the “Crimson Tide” as the fifth and final TheCrimsonDM entry for Heart of the OHR 2018. Well, actually, Hero: Adventure in Animal Kingdom was the final release of the Crimson Tide, but Masks: 15 Pages is TheCrimsonDM’s most recent creation, and this award tries to respect creation order over release order. Going by release order, Masks: 15 Pages would be the “Crimson Third Strike.”
Achievement
Creator’s Playhouse
-It seems that TheCrimsonDM likes to end his games with access to a creator’s room that explains his various design choices, and Masks: 15 Pages is no different, this time providing access to a “happy place” outside of the dark world in the shape of a toy box. Interestingly, his creator character, the Red Witch, says that the toy box is a discarded area that was cut from the main game because it is too happy, but given how stories must end differently from where they begin, otherwise there’s no story, the logic of removing the map from the main game doesn’t actually make sense.
Achievement
Disclaimer Alert
–Masks: 15 Pages’s game description warns players that its themes are “adult” in nature. Even though it’s not the only game in this year’s contest that should warn players of adult content, it is the only one in the contest that actually does warn its players of adult content.
Achievement
Title Literality
-The plot of Masks: 15 Pages is to wear masks and find 15 pages of depressing notes about sadness and other emotional things.
Achievement
Soundtrack of Madness
-Much of the soundtrack for Masks: 15 Pages is anxious in nature, turning what could’ve been a straightforward puzzle game into an unsettling experience.
Achievement
Sub-sub-sub-subtext!
-Everything in Masks: 15 Pages is subtext for emotional tropes. It’s so thick with subtext that it may as well be context.
Achievement
Flick Basher
-At the beginning of Masks: 15 Pages, the solo character, Pain, hits his enemies for 1 point of damage. His special attacks end up hurting him (part of the metaphysical context suggested in the previous achievement). Picking any fight in the beginning is a chore, as the battle party hits very, very softly. Perhaps the story suggests that he’d rather hurt himself than those who want to hurt him? From a story point of view, this could work. From a gameplay point of view, it’s very painful on the player.
Achievement
Where Page 11 At?
–Masks: 15 Pages suggests that there are 15 pages to find in the game, yet there are only 14 slots available for pages on the wall. One page is a secret, and finding that secret will fill up a spot on the wall. At the end of the game, there’s still a page missing. This must mean that there are actually two pages missing, given how math works.
Achievement
Feel Bad Drama of the Year
–Masks: 15 Pages is by far the most depressing game in the contest. While it shouldn’t make the player feel bad about himself, it does nothing to make him feel good about himself, either.
Audience Consensus:
Definitely the best entry from the Crimson Tide; it manages to keep the story pointed, the puzzles sensible, and the themes consistent. While it’s questionable whether it has a point to make, it does adhere to its message that sadness sucks pretty tightly. Characters are true to who they are, even though that makes for some sluggish and uneven battles. The game, however, is far from happy, and those who get depressed easily probably shouldn’t play it.
12.
Dark Planet
by
Ichiro
Release Type:
Re-release
Fuzzy Description:
Future cop is back to stop future crime and defeat future thugs to protect the future. He also upsets his captain and takes on a sidekick who can’t stand him.
Welcome to a future 80’s buddy cop movie, OHR version.
Average Score:
Total Voters:
Highest Rating:
7
Lowest Rating:
4
Achievements
Achievement
The Comeback Kid
–Dark Planet was the lowest-rated game in Heart of the OHR 2016. Even though it technically ranked higher in 2016 (10th place) than it did in 2018 (12th place), 2016 had only ten games, so moving almost halfway up the 2018 chart to 12th place (out of 21) is quite impressive.
Achievement
Thugs and Bugs Award
-There are two kinds of enemies in Dark Planet: thugs and bugs.
Achievement
Future Dirty Harry
-The protagonist of Dark Planet is a no-nonsense ‘80s cop of the future. The award is named for a comment about “the future Dirty Harry” spoken in the host’s official Heart of the OHR gameplay video for Dark Planet.
Achievement
Fight, Fight, Fight
-Many, many random battles take place in the game’s first full dungeon area, an old chemical warehouse.
Achievement
Nothing to See Here
-In spite of the many objects that appear interactive throughout the game, very few of them have flavor text, making the set design for each map ultimately dull to explore.
Achievement
The Comeback Kid
–Dark Planet was the lowest-rated game in Heart of the OHR 2016. Even though it technically ranked higher in 2016 (10th place) than it did in 2018 (12th place), 2016 had only ten games, so moving almost halfway up the 2018 chart to 12th place (out of 21) is quite impressive.
Achievement
Future Dirty Harry
-The protagonist of Dark Planet is a no-nonsense ‘80s cop of the future. The award is named for a comment about “the future Dirty Harry” spoken in the host’s official Heart of the OHR gameplay video for Dark Planet.
Achievement
Fight, Fight, Fight
-Many, many random battles take place in the game’s first full dungeon area, an old chemical warehouse.
Achievement
Thugs and Bugs Award
-There are two kinds of enemies in Dark Planet: thugs and bugs.
Achievement
Nothing to See Here
-In spite of the many objects that appear interactive throughout the game, very few of them have flavor text, making the set design for each map ultimately dull to explore.
Audience Consensus:
Much improved over the 2016 version, as this version has a complete intro and opening act, but it still ends too soon. Battles are frequent and not that exciting, but the post-fight analysis is pretty cool. Graphics are inconsistent, especially outside of HQ. Menu depth is interesting, if not a bit much for such little content. Music is great for the genre. Definitely moving in the right direction now, but still not indicative of two years’ worth of additional development. Keep going.
11.
Px
by
ChalkFlower
Release Type:
Original Release
Fuzzy Description:
Number Riddles, an RPG Adventure. That’s basically it. And, it’s “in the style of Yume Nikki.” So, there’s that also. Okay, and maybe choices matter, too. And then there’s the dot character.
All right, what is this game exactly?
Average Score:
Total Voters:
Highest Rating:
9
Lowest Rating:
2
Achievements
Achievement
You’re a Square
–Px’s game window is a perfect square. In fact, much of the game has a blocky appearance.
Achievement
You and Your Feeble Human Brain!
–Px seems heavily leaning toward machine-thinking and number puzzles that are better answered by a processor than a human being.
Achievement
Dot the I
-The player-controlled character in Px is a dot.
Achievement
The Nightmare of the Sphinx
-The Riddle of the Sphinx is a nursery rhyme compared to some of the puzzles offered in Px. Probably best not to gamble when trying to solve these riddles.
Achievement
Winner of the Broken GPS Award
-At the start of Px, there is no clarity on where the player should go or what he or she should do at the start, and even when the player finds a place to go, it is very difficult for him to find his way back to the start. Everything from the story to the map direction is abstract, driven primarily by random choices. Or so it seems.
Achievement
You’re a Square
–Px’s game window is a perfect square. In fact, much of the game has a blocky appearance.
Achievement
Dot the I
-The player-controlled character in Px is a dot.
Achievement
The Nightmare of the Sphinx
-The Riddle of the Sphinx is a nursery rhyme compared to some of the puzzles offered in Px. Probably best not to gamble when trying to solve these riddles.
Achievement
You and Your Feeble Human Brain!
–Px seems heavily leaning toward machine-thinking and number puzzles that are better answered by a processor than a human being.
Achievement
Winner of the Broken GPS Award
-At the start of Px, there is no clarity on where the player should go or what he or she should do at the start, and even when the player finds a place to go, it is very difficult for him to find his way back to the start. Everything from the story to the map direction is abstract, driven primarily by random choices. Or so it seems.
Audience Consensus:
Fitting graphics and sound and a strong sense of genius guiding its very being, Px is in an OHR class all by itself. Unfortunately, its lack of clarity and direction severely hamper its fun factor, and those who are bad at brain teasers, especially with numbers, may find little reason to play it.
10.
You Need a Hero
by
Idontknow
Release Type:
Re-release
Furry Description:
A young wolf-boy goes on a rescue mission to find the missing wolf-girl he likes. But, when he discovers she’s been brainwashed by someone he once trusted, sort of, his rescue mission turns into a revenge mission, and his adventure teaches him what it’s like to go from wolf-boy to wolf-man.
Or something like that. Something heroic obviously happens, according to the title. It also gets serious after all the dirty jokes have been exhausted.
Average Score:
Total Voters:
Highest Rating:
7
Lowest Rating:
4
Achievements
Achievement
Loose Thread
-With the exception of a single 4 vote, all of the scores for You Need a Hero are evenly distributed among the 6’s and 7’s. It’s one of the most voter-consistent entries in the contest, save for that one errant vote. Note: This achievement is a cousin to “Tightly Wound,” which has been awarded to another game further down this list.
Achievement
Musical Narrative
-On the flip-side, You Need a Hero makes effective use of music cuing to highlight dramatic moments at the right time.
Achievement
Hey, Are You New Here?
-The villain of You Need a Hero (2016) was a bald girl who was an exact opposite of the hero Damian. The replacement villain of You Need a Hero (2018) seems much different, or at least not as opposite as the previous villain, and it’s unknown why the change occurred.
Achievement
Flirty Deeds
-The characters in You Need a Hero make their libidos quite obvious in conversations, often at inappropriate times.
Achievement
Fast and Furryous
-Yep, You Need a Hero is still a furry game. It’s not actually that fast.
Achievement
Parenthetical Background
–You Need a Hero uses parenthetical dialogue to explain events or characters from the backstory as a sidebar to the normal dialogue happening in the moment. Sometimes these moments are better shown through mementos or other optional means, or even through actual backstory, but this game doesn’t quite go there yet. Even the prologue, which is in of itself a backstory, has backstory. Some things are better left unlocked through discovery.
Achievement
A Little Bit Yin, A Little Bit Yang
-The shifts in tone throughout You Need a Hero are jarring and sometimes uncalled for. Hard to tell if it’s trying to be dominantly comedic or serious in nature. Needs subtler transitions when it does shift. Also suffers some balance issues.
Achievement
Loose Thread
-With the exception of a single 4 vote, all of the scores for You Need a Hero are evenly distributed among the 6’s and 7’s. It’s one of the most voter-consistent entries in the contest, save for that one errant vote. Note: This achievement is a cousin to “Tightly Wound,” which has been awarded to another game further down this list.
Achievement
Hey, Are You New Here?
-The villain of You Need a Hero (2016) was a bald girl who was an exact opposite of the hero Damian. The replacement villain of You Need a Hero (2018) seems much different, or at least not as opposite as the previous villain, and it’s unknown why the change occurred.
Achievement
Parenthetical Background
–You Need a Hero uses parenthetical dialogue to explain events or characters from the backstory as a sidebar to the normal dialogue happening in the moment. Sometimes these moments are better shown through mementos or other optional means, or even through actual backstory, but this game doesn’t quite go there yet. Even the prologue, which is in of itself a backstory, has backstory. Some things are better left unlocked through discovery.
Achievement
Musical Narrative
-On the flip-side, You Need a Hero makes effective use of music cuing to highlight dramatic moments at the right time.
Achievement
Flirty Deeds
-The characters in You Need a Hero make their libidos quite obvious in conversations, often at inappropriate times.
Achievement
A Little Bit Yin, A Little Bit Yang
-The shifts in tone throughout You Need a Hero are jarring and sometimes uncalled for. Hard to tell if it’s trying to be dominantly comedic or serious in nature. Needs subtler transitions when it does shift. Also suffers some balance issues.
Achievement
Fast and Furryous
-Yep, You Need a Hero is still a furry game. It’s not actually that fast.
Audience Consensus:
Still as messy, buggy, and inconsistent as it was in 2016, but the inclusion of a prologue, more story, and some general updates make the game better than before. The humor keeps it from getting too serious, at least at the beginning, but the tonal shift halfway through kicks the story into a different gear, at times for the better, at other times for the worst. Overall, it needs rebalancing, in more ways than just in gameplay.
