A simple, non-field RPG: Escape the Cursed Forest.
Prologue: You're the village's best hunter, drawn to a national hunting tournament near the royal capital. After your first night camping, you awaken to find the campsite deserted, littered with the remnants of numerous hunters. National guards oversee the tournament, yet everyone has vanished. Attempting to return to the forest's entrance, you discover you're lost, trapped in a strangely shifting landscape. This is no ordinary predicament.
The Elven Curse: Aided by Foria, a quirky quarter-elf, you must escape a cursed forest. Gameplay is streamlined, using a maximum of three buttons outside the main menu.
Character Creation: While character customization is limited, you can freely reroll stats. Status increase rates upon leveling are only visible on this screen; this information is unavailable during gameplay. Losing all life force results in character death; carrying fewer than two "talismans" exacerbates this risk.
Foria, the Peddler Quarter-Elf: A seemingly childlike quarter-elf who claims seniority over you. He secretly assists your escape using the forest's ancient spirits.
Narrative & Setting: The prologue unfolds like an illustrated story, with Foria's dialogue maintaining a cheerful tone. The game world is depicted through evocative, minimalist language.
Exploration: Progress is made by exploring unexplored areas within each section. Exploration success is determined by "fog depth," influenced by your character's stats. If your life force is depleted, use poison or rare "talismans" to recover, or return to Foria.
Beast Encounters & Hunter Battles: Ferocious creatures, from wolves to surprisingly aggressive frogs and rabbits, roam the forest. Defeating them yields hides for trading with Foria. Unlike typical RPGs, combat is not for leveling up; the goal is escape. Battles are entirely avoidable (though requiring luck or strategic play). As a hunter, you use a bow and arrow. Maintaining distance allows attacks without counterattacks, though closing the distance risks a one-sided assault. Options include withdrawing to regain distance or using a "flash" ball provided by Foria for a guaranteed escape.
Cloak & Layering System: Craft cloaks from gathered branches, resin, and leather. Up to three layers can be worn, cumulatively boosting abilities and occasionally restoring vitality. Note that the top layer can be damaged and rendered unusable. The bow and arrow remain unchanged.
Game Features: This isn't just a game; it's an experience emphasizing replayability, strategic skill, and resource management (synthesis, alchemy). It's a game where preparation is key, offering both challenging and relaxing gameplay.
Auto-Save: The game features an auto-save system, but not during battles. For reliable saving, exit to the main menu before closing the app.
Version 1.2 Update (Dec 18, 2024): Fixes a bug causing unexpected transitions to character creation mode. Previous versions addressed typos and minor bugs.
