LOOKING BACK: SUNSET OVER IMDAHL

A look back at some classic Rpg Maker games

  • Tau
  • 10/07/2012 01:36 PM
  • 14541 views

What is Looking Back? A series of articles talking about those classic Rpg Maker games from the past.







Created by: Teo Mathlein.
Made With: Rpg Maker 2000
Download: Here

What is art? Is it that perfect painting? Is it a touching song? One thing that's for sure, is that Sunset Over Imdahl is one of the few rpg maker games that can claim itself to be. The graphics and story show tremendous skill, solidifying it as one of the best rpg maker games that will ever be made. To this very day still one of my favorite overall games.

It starts out when the city of Imdahl has been under siege for over 8 months. A little 13-year old boy wanders the deserted streets of the city after tending for his now deceased mother for several days. The siege has stopped after all inhabitants of the city, except this little boy, have been killed by the plague. Struck with grief, this kid wants to do everything he can in order to settle this. A mysterious man sends him back in time in order to prevent the plague from spreading in the city. This is the start of a hectic search for the plague-carrier, which takes place through all four seasons, hopping back and forth through time

This game has a unique look, to say the least. All backgrounds have been drawn by hand, while the characters are edited/used Chrono Trigger sprites. There's nothing to worry about, though, as both blend in perfectly and give the game that extra edge. The graphics truly add to the atmosphere of the game and keeps you captivated from the very beginning to end.

The music greatly adds to the atmosphere of the game as well. It might not be composed just for the game, but you wouldn't think it. The music is from Vivaldi' four seasons. A song for each season you visit creating a different yet familiar feel, the optimism of spring to the happiness of summer. The sadness of autumn and finally the desolation of winter. The sound effects are also well placed through out to help capture each seasons splendor.

The gameplay in Sunset Over Imdahl is just as simple as the story. It's an RPG, yeah, but it doesn't revolve around leveling up, fighting and all the rest. You run around, solving puzzles and there are a few mini-games scattered throughout the story, a couple twitch-based, one focused on hand-eye-coordination and one a button-masher. Overall, though, they’re simply diversions from the main draw of the game.. the art. But while the gameplay is limited, it’s just fun to explore the city in each season and look at those beautiful screens. Really, really eye-catching, the rain in autumn for example, I just loved those little details.

It doesn't happen often, but now and then there's a game that you could just frame and hang up on a wall. Sunset Over Imdahl is such a game. Sunset Over Imdahl is an example of how, with even the most limited resources, an individual can still tell their story with such artistry that it leaves an indelible imprint on the player’s memory.




(One of Legacy001 side projects that showed much promise)

The main hero of the game is a girl named Roselle. After an unsuccessful attempt to save her loved ones from a group of enemies, she is captured and imprisoned. As the only survivor of the tragedy, she then suffers to live on by herself in the dark cell where she was contained. 7 grueling years pass and a mysterious man offers her a chance. A chance to reverse time itself and remove the dreadful experience and change her past.

Download!

Posts

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Sunset Over Imdahl was really well done. I never finished playing it, but I wish that I had.
One of the most visually inspiring games ever to come from the community. Nice job! I'm loving these articles, lol.
chana
(Socrates would certainly not contadict me!)
1584
About Sunset Over Imdhal, loved it, the graphics, so fresh and atmospheric, also one of the most unbearably heartbreaking story, one of the most strongly catching aspects of the game.

author=UPRC
I never finished playing it, but I wish that I had.
What are you waiting for?
A game with hand drawn maps is one of the things on my to-do list. Seeing this has made me want to do it even more.
author=chana
author=UPRC
I never finished playing it, but I wish that I had.
What are you waiting for?

I have a short attention span when I play RPG Maker games. :(
Gibmaker
I hate RPG Maker because of what it has done to me
9274
This game is great. D:
I loved Sunset Over Imdahl; it was easy, with great plot, nice graphic, and the touch of Vivaldi completed the game, you can say though that I spotted few anachronism goofs.

I wish that they would turn it into a movie.
I spotlighted this game :) Hope you enjoy the video.

http://rpgmaker.net/articles/727/
http://rpgmaker.net/games/727/
Interesting coincidence here. Considering this is one of two games that inspired my own projects (the other is Wilfred the Hero). Sunset over Imdahl actually made hand-drawn graphics the thing in the community for a while.
shayoko
We do not condone harassing other members by PM.
515
i found this thru NoxieNations spot light :D
gotta try this the custum art looks nice
after watching some tutorial videos i know just making a game alone is time consuming
so i can only be amazed by some1 putting even more work into their story i love it ;)
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