itch.io

I have now updated the game to add sound effects and some other tweaks and fixes. The original version is available on this page with password: gamejam

(I may continue to make updates if I have time, but sound effects were the main thing I felt was missing.)

Thank you!

I think I know what you're stuck on. Here are a few hints to help you get sorted out:

1. V oryvrir lbh unir n abgr gung lbh unir abg chg gb hfr lrg.
2. Gur abgr va dhrfgvba vf gur bar gung fubjf guerr pengrf.
3. Jung vf haqrearngu gur ubyrf va sybbef 3 naq 5?
4. Vs lbh unir hfrq gur abgr gurer, lbh zvtug unir unq gur jebat gnetrg.
5. Solution: Fgnaq ba gur irag naq hfr yvtugra.

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

If you don't mind, could you rot13 the spell name you mentioned so nobody gets accidently spoiled. Thank you!

Fair enough. I wanted the words to not be immediately obvious because if you see water and can just type "swim" then it's not much of a puzzle. It's certainly possible that I overcompensated and made the words too hard to deduce. It's tough for me to tell how difficult the puzzles are when I'm the one making them, and since it was for a game jam I didn't have much time for playtesting. Maybe I could have a difficulty option that changes the amount of letters you get by default. I also think it's fair to say that if anyone don't feel like the "deduce the words from the notes" aspect is working for them, they can just use hints to skip it since that is only one piece of the puzzle, there is still plenty more to do.

I may also need to write a little hint guide to provide some nudges to a few points of the game because I believe you are likely at what will be a common sticking point. I'm not exactly sure how to indicate what to do in game any better without making it too obvious. Who knew designing puzzles was so hard, eh?

My guess would be 30-60 minutes, but I haven't had playtesters for the full game yet so that's just an estimate. 

The cursor doesn't interact with the arrow keys, it's just a blinking sprite I added to indicate that you could type text into that field. There is no way for arrow keys to affect it, they only handle player movement. But if you can't move, then that is a problem. Are any of the keys working? Did the game lose focus? I found it was finnicky on itch and I had to click on the game before it would register any of my keystrokes. But I've yet to have it only work with some of them but not others.

Yes, didn't have time to figure out a way to save.
What do you mean your arrow keys are locked in the typing area? The arrow keys and space for move/interact should be completely separate from typing and enter. The cursor is shown when you can type, but you should be able to move around normally as well.

You just have to be in a position where the spell is usable when you enter it. It is possible you aren't entering the correct word - it may not be the first thing that comes to mind. I tried to make them not too easy to guess. You can use hints when looking at the note page to reveal extra letters to make sure.

Note: The gameplay is complete, but I intend to make updates in the next week or so to add sound effects, more polish, and fixing any bugs reported. So check back a bit later if you want a more polished version! If you wish to play it now, have fun and please let me know if you encounter any bugs!

This was my first game jam and first (completed) game, and I had a great, if stressful, time making it!