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The mighty sorceress, Ogiwara Ryoko, has long been researching a way to make contact with the spirits. She has found two differing methods of doing this. She calls upon her apprentice to gather the materials for both methods. As her apprentice leaves, she finds herself beginning to doubt the wisdom of that action.

With Okiku, Star Apprentice, players take the role of Okiku, a wizards apprentice whose task is to seek out various spell components for her master. However, Okiku is not particularly serious about her job. Or much of anything else, for that matter.


Personal background:
At first, I wanted to have a shooting system in place for possible puzzle-solving shenanigans. After many frustrations in failure, that idea was abandoned. However, I still had a face-set, a character sprite, and maybe I could still do something with them. This is that something.
As something of a forewarning, this is a game whose humor is aimed toward those who find it's kind of humor funny. Just a friendly heads-up.


Other links of interest:
This game's game-thread on RPG Maker Web.

Latest Blog

RTP-less download available!

I've just finished uploading a version of the game that does not require the RTP! Get it via the downloads tab; it's the one labeled "Okiku, Star Apprentice (Full)"!


At least, I THINK it doesn't require the RTP.


Let's back up a bit, and explain things.


While I was making this game, I made a list of which files from the RTP I used. I used that list to copy-paste over files to make this newer download.


However, I can't help but to think that I overlooked something.


Anyway, if anybody gets an error message about missing files from the "full" version, this is the place to let me know about it!


As to who NEEDS the "full" version...


If you have no idea what an "RTP" is, then, you probably want to download the full version!


If you know what it is, but don't have it (or don't want to mess with getting it), then the "full" version is also for you!


Happy gaming!

  • Completed
  • Marrend
  • RPG Maker VX Ace
  • Adventure
  • 11/30/2013 02:35 PM
  • 08/30/2023 07:49 PM
  • 04/19/2014
  • 151943
  • 26
  • 1696

Posts

Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Now, I'm in the awkward position of doing a credits roll. I've never done one of these (Good thing VX Ace has this by default), and I tend to want to skip over them. Or, outright not care about them ("Just give the the extra scene already! Darigaaz, I am SO done with this game!").

*Edit:
This is a weird issue.

So, I allow players to save the game after the credits roll. Which is actually pretty normal for one of my games. It doesn't give any benefits, outside of having a file with the amount of time that you played the game. In fact, if you try and load that file, it'll jump back to the title screen.

Except in this game. Apparently, in this game, loading a "clear file" jumps players into the sequence just after Ryoko finishes her ritual.

I probably shouldn't worry about this...

...except that I do.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Is it just me, or has this gamepage been deadly silent since I slapped the "complete" label on this thing?


Anyway, I just want to take a bit of time to show my thanks to those that supported me. There's now a "Recommendations" tab on this gamepage! To which I've added certain games.


Check 'em out!
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
Oh wow. Thank you, Marrend!

You wanna break the silence? Um... okay, what do I do...?

This game is awesome! Everyone who is reading this post has to go play it! What's that? You've already played and beaten it? Well go play it AGAIN and beat it AGAIN! Otherwise you'll get blasted!
NeverSilent
Got any Dexreth amulets?
6280
I haven't played this game yet, but as soon as I can find the time, I'll certainly give it a go.

I'm usually more interested in story-heavy games, but_Okiku_looks pretty funny and enjoyable, so I thought I might just try it out soon.

I'd give some feedback after having played it, if you want. Maybe I'll even write a review.
Good luck with your other projects.


Behold the majesty of my facial expressions.

Edit: P.S.: You have a typo there. The "Recommendations" bar says "Recommentations".
I like puns.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
author=NeverSilent
Edit: P.S.: You have a typo there. The "Recommendations" bar says "Recommentations".

Blast.

Uh, no pun intended!

Oh, who am I trying to kid?
NeverSilent
Got any Dexreth amulets?
6280
I just completed this game and took a ton of notes while doing so. Overall, I liked it and the humour actually did appeal to me. So, from my perspective: Well done.


Cashmere already pointed out the many general positive aspects and some flaws in his review, so I won't bore you by listing them again. However, I have this annoying talent to easily notice small bugs and typos, of which I encountered quite many.


I hope to find some time tomorrow to list them all for you. Until then: Thanks for this short but enjoyable little game. It was a_blast.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
I can accept a few lingering bugs, but...

...lingering typos?

Well, maybe. It's not like I had anybody proofread this, and self-proofreading can only go so far.
Isnt there a spell check for games? If not someone could be rich creating one.
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
I've actually gotten in the habit of writing most of my text and dialog in Google Drive because I'm a horrible speller and it'll point out mistakes for me. Then I transplant them into the game itself ^^;;
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
Google Drive, huh? I never thought of that. I used to do the same thing, but in Microsoft Word. But the font and apostrophes would get all messed up so I'd have to spend just as much time editing as I would just writing.

But yeah. If someone made a spell check script, I would give them my eternal love.
NeverSilent
Got any Dexreth amulets?
6280
Alright, here we go:

Typos:
- Opening scene: Okiku says: "Maybe I should get some honest man's tounge while I'm at it." (Should be "tongue")
- Opening scene: Ryoko says: "I might not approve of that jest, but I undersand the underlying point you are making" ("t" is missing in "understand")
- In Sammiya, when talking to the little girl, Okiku says: "How is Ryoko is okay with being in that dumb tower all the time?"
- In the Sammiya Inn, when talking to the woman at the long table, Okiku thinks: "That would be great way to get my gorgon's tail" (An "a" is missing
__between "be" and "great")
- In the Ino Inn, the innkeeper says: "Well, if yer thinin' a' makin' a pilgrimage (...)" (Should be "thinkin")
- One of Okiku's battle start texts says "Caught you off-gaurd, didn't I?" (Should be "off guard")
- When using the skill Apprehension, Okiku says "You'll be sorry you ever meet me." (Should be "met")
- When using the skill Great Concentration, the in-battle text says "Great Concenrtation"
- The third level of the stat-lowering skill is called "Dispair" (Should be "Despair")
- Description of the Jeweled Ring: "(...) brings luck to it's bearer". (Should be "its")
- Description of the Mana Anchor: "It also resits the condition for three turns." (Should be "resists")
- Description of the Medical Herb: "Removes disease, infection, plauge, and cancer." (Should be "plague")
- Before the final battle, the Final Boss says: "Come on, then, lovlies (Should be "lovelies")
- Ryoko's Grand Barrier in-battle text says "Ryoko vaugely smiles?!" (Should be "vaguely")


Small bugs and oddities:
- In the text message that tells you the skill "Apprehension" has evolved, it says "Apprehensiveness" instead
- In the Sammiya Inn, the sleeping person turns towards you if you interact with her
- In the Ino Inn, in the innkeeper's first text box the word "Innkeeper" is not coloured yellow
- In the Kaminoyama Shrine, when the angel is angry at you, in her first text box the word "Angel" is not coloured yellow
- The location text in the Nishino Inn says "Ino Inn"
- The location text in the Nishino General Store says "Ino General Store"
- The shopkeeper in the Nishino General Store does not react to the Wand of Blasting
- People in the Nishino Inn do not turn back to their normal direction after being hit by the Wand of Blasting
- Ryoko's Grand Barrier prevents her other skill Never Die from being successful


I also found two (not game-breaking) passability errors of which I made screenshots:


A minor error, since it only allows you to walk on that single tile



The mushroom tile allows you to walk onto the lower part of the map


Some last things:
- Maybe it would be a good idea to turn off the Wand of Blasting while on the world map? It seems rather odd to be able to shoot over an entire island.
- In my opinion, the Final Boss is way too easy. I could just pertrify it all the time so it only managed to attack me once during the entire fight.


All that said, I think the idea of the Wand of Blasting is very cool, especially the many NPCs reacting to it. It could have been used for more complex minigames/puzzles, though. The music fits very well. I especially liked the world map music and the Sammiya theme. Even though the game is a bit grindy, the text bits during battle and the evolving skills add a lot of flavour to the fights.
All in all, a fun short game.

I hope this helps at least a bit.

Edit: Sorry, guys, I can't help you with such a spell check script. But at least I can try to help by proofreading...
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Personally, I've used Open Office, and it's spell-checker function, to write out my game's dialog since Matsumori Days. Anyway, after the initial writing, I copy-paste into the dialog box, and make appropriate formatting edits for visibility. This might cut down on outright spelling errors, but grammar and homonyms are things that this method will NOT catch.

*Edit:
- Ryoko's Grand Barrier prevents her other skill Never Die from being successful

Intentional, actually. The description reads "all effects", and it means it!

*Edit2:

Aaaaannnddd... done! Both versions of the game have been updated!

Though, I'm not sure how the heck that misspelling of "lovelies" got in there. It was correct in my Open Office file!
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Apparently, the "Full" version isn't so full.

I recently got a PM from Linkis giving me a report about how the game failed to find "!Door1.png". It wasn't in my notes, despite the fact that I use that sprite-sheet all over the place in regards to towns, and Ryoko's Tower.

Because I'm an idiot, I removed the "Full" copy that I had. As stupid-hilarious as downloading my own game to fix it is, it would probably be more efficient to just reconstruct the "full" version from the "regular" version that I DO have. Though, on the bright side, I guess this gives me the opportunity to make sure there are no other missing files.

In any event, I should have a new "Full" version of this up by this afternoon, if not sooner.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

*Edit:
A funny thing happened to me when I was play-testing the "full" version!

For one thing, I caught a few more missing characters sprites. These will be included with the next upload of the "full" version, which I will be commencing after updating the "regular" version.

"But, Marrend, why did the 'regular' version need to be updated," you may ask?

I'm glad you asked!

As it happens, I found some weird passability errors in Akashino. I was able to walk on a bit of the lava on the north end of the second screen (I think?), and I saw the Dragon walk off it's little platform too.

These oddities, as far as I can tell, have also been fixed.

As soon as I finish this edit, I'll be re-uploading the "regular" version. Then, when that's done, up the "full" version goes!



Too-long-didn't-read version: I'll be re-uploading both versions shortly!


*Edit2:
Re-upload complete!

Hopefully, they'll last for a while. Now, I can get back to Oracle of Askigaga...

...after a short break!
shayoko
We do not condone harassing other members by PM.
515
random thoughts

good start!

skills that lvl up!?
great so far!

that's the most epic trigger ever XD
your either too high a lvl or you killed the area boss you you just instant win encounters!

low she called the MC of 9?% rpgs low lifes! they all barge in and steal stuff :3

Okiku is a awesome character,i love how she tells the nobles to f themselves XD
ill blast you into oblivion! :D


Overall
i enjoyed this sexy title
was short,and had a meh ending
but you get a female lead with a good personality,upgradable skills,teleportation,and even the im a boss trigger!
low-mid lvl grinding recommended
you will prolly want to max all skills
and find out what areas are the weakest in order

otherwise check it out was a good game later! :D
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
A few responses.


I'm glad you enjoyed this game. I had a funny feeling that you would!


This game was a change of pace for me...


...as the focus of this game was on it's gameplay...


...specifically, the Wand of Blasting...


...rather than the story. I totally agree that the ending could use some work...


...which seems to be a common weakness among of ALL my games, now that I really think about it...


...but, I'm still mostly happy with how this game turned out.


Anywho, thanks for playing!

Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
How'd THIS get spotlighted?

Whatever! I wanna take a snapshot of it!
shayoko
We do not condone harassing other members by PM.
515
wouldn't be surprised if it did,canceled games got it :3
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
Yeah, I wonder how that happened...

(<_<)

(>_>)

Sure is a mystery...
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
author=Red_Nova
Yeah, I wonder how that happened...

(<_<)

(>_>)

Sure is a mystery...


Oh. Uh. Yeah, that probably explains a few things!


Maybe we can get a little something-something in the spotlight in October, if not before?


How would that work for ya?

Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
That would work juuuuuust fine.