• Add Review
  • Subscribe
  • Nominate
  • Submit Media
  • RSS

Wither

I have not played many short, RPG Maker games. I've heard stories though, of all kinds. Some are heartwarming and some are terrifying. And some yet, are astounding enough for a round of applause.

I'll be honest; I wasn't in the mood for something like this.

My hunt, at the time, was for a huge mind-blowing Featured RPG of immense proportions. But when I saw this, my curiosity got the best of me. The comments were kind enough, and it wasn't a huge file (my internet connection is Grade A Crap.) So I decided to give it a go.

The first thing you'll notice even before you choose to enter the actual game is the creepy Greenscale. It's not a pleasant, vivid green. More like a "withered aroma." Oh look. A comparison. And when you ARE in the game, it's no cakewalk either. You find yourself confronted with the fact of the matter - you promised some guy a bunch of flowers. Joy. And what's the location? Right next to a cemetery, where one of the dead guys isn't to happy about you not keeping your end of the bargain. Double joy. You, in all your retro glory (think Pokemon Red and Blue of the Color Days - even on of the Hospital's patients confirms this) end up just going around the town, looking for these items of apparent significance. This, in itself is easy. Take it from me when I say that as long as you pay attention, you'll have no worries. I finished this incredibly fast, and coming from a really crappy puzzle solver, this is a good thing for the casual gamer. It's quickly evident, though, that the came is not planning to go easy on you. The town as a whole has a sinister vibe to it, and the music doesn't help at all. The people that you meet aren't complex characters, and yet their just as deep as anyone.

The story unravels itself as needed. You may never get it - that's fine. There are subtle allusions to the events a-priori, painful little things that nag at the subconscious. Some questionable things have been done, and some questionable things will be done. The dialogue is beautiful at times, and occasionally, it's just plain horrifying. While I've said that the puzzle difficulty may be suitable for the inexperienced player, it may not be simple to stomach. Wither is just as the name suggests - FRAGILE. Treat it like broken glass. Feel satisfied with what it has to offer, and feel content with what it's given. It needs to be played tenderly, I think, to give the player full control. Yes, there are tiny details that could have been made better. Yes, the game could have been longer. But still, its one of those things that makes you think.

Graphical Design and Cleanup
4.5/5
-A couple tiles are strangely set (Dreamworld.)This still takes away nothing.
-One sentence (if my memories do not deceive) without punctuation.
-Awesome Greenscale with even better graphics reminiscent of earlier gaming.

Story
4.5/5
The story is open for interpretation. If you want to see it that way.

Presentation
5/5
-Incredible atmosphere.
-Disturbing, crucial dialogue. Perfection.
-Hints for Flowers are well-placed.
-Nice set-up.

Organization
4/5
Flowers are a bit easy to find, and the town is small. I doubt this was meant to be a massive undertaking though.

Download?
YES. I enjoyed this game, and am proud to call it my first RPG maker game downloaded from this site.

In the words of Tolkien:

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.


Except, here the chill is absolute fulfillment. Well done.

4/5