Schuld (English Translation)

Schuld... what does this strange word mean?
It is german, and it means guilty, and it's the title of this german horror rpgmaker game made by Kelven, the author of a classic horror game, Desert Nightmare. The translation of the english version was made by AznChipmunk (who also translated Desert Nightmare) and it's pretty much perfect, I think. I do not speak german, so I can't compare with the original version, in any case writing is pretty good to me.

The plot of Schuld is this: we play as a man named Aaron, that wakes up in the middle of a street with no memories of what happened before. He has just a book with him that is blank except for the last page that lists the seven deadly sins in latin. Yeah, schuld, guilty... but of what?
Apparently the world has gone to hell, and then he meets a man named Vergil (not the character from Devil May Cry!), a beautiful man in a white suit, that says he cannot help him, but he will be his guide... see the reference to the The Divine Comedy? Hell, sins, latin, Vergil...
From there things become weirder and weirder...
The game is just a couple of hours long, but there are a lot of twists and turns, weird events and unexpected situations.


Well this is what I'm asking from the beginning of the game!

The beginning is very captivating, the setting is apocalyptic and dark, and it's one of the most unsettling adventures I've ever played. There is even a location in which you can collect tons of money... pity that they will be totally useless in this dying world (well this is also an adventure game, not a jrpg, so looting is pointless).
Kelven did a very good job with graphics and mapping in Desert Nightmare, and this game is no exception. Not only he uses edits/custom graphics (pity for the lack of facesets, that are instead present in Desert Nightmare), but he also used RM2k3 resources pretty well, creating unsettling places and creepy locations (with bodies, recurring mentions of mutilations and lost limbs... all it's not gratitous but has a meaning that will be explained before the ending). Unlike Desert Nightmare, that is set in a more normal and realistic world, here Kelven could really go into detailing some memorable places like the hospital, with people you find people lamenting their punishment for their sins of greed.
Sounds and music are also pretty good for an horror game and perfectly fit the setting and theme, so there isn't much else to say about this aspect.
This game is a horror but not one that relies on jumpscares (there is actually just one, but that's it!), and it is more unnerving than really scary. And that's due to the gameplay.

The gameplay consists in fact in minigames and puzzles that are of different kind and difficulty. The good aspect is that all seem unique and different, there is no typical Rm2k3 combat or other established systems and sections. But the problem is that they are of mixed quality.


No, I'm not playing "Michael Bay - the game", I am still playing Schuld! And this is one of the various combat encounters... in real time!

I mean, most are ok, but others were so frustrating that would make probably rage quit most players, if they do not look at some guide or walkthrough! Also the chase sequence is sometimes unforgiving, I know it's a classic of horror games, still I can't stand them, uckily here there is just one.
Combat is interesting since it's not turn based as in Desert Nightmare, but uses a sort of action system. Oh and there is even a boss battle! In the end I've a mixed opinion of the gameplay, not terrible but not too good!

Now, the story. Here I've also a mixed opinion because I think that the beginning is great, then becomes good and toward the ending... uhm I don't want to say that it falls apart, still it's a bit a classic trope.
The biblical theme is also quickly thrown away, and the final chapter is a bit short and with a really abrupt ending (well narratively speaking it goes through an acceleration, and all the final third of the game escalates quickly and closes rapidly). I'd have wished for a more consistent final part and closing, but ok.
Maybe this is due to time constraints? Well, probably since it was a submission for a Ten Words Contest, and for the same reason it does not like as polished as Desert Nightmare, but that will be another review for another day.


Correct! In fact it's time to judge the game in the...

Final Verdict
Ok, as many people already said this game starts great then it goes downhill, and I guess that the time constraints took their toll here. Story isn't too bad but some minigames weren't that fun, in any case there are still some good parts and memorable moments.
In the end the game isn't perfect but pretty good since it's not the usual horror about monsters or more traditional scenarios (like Desert Nightmare, for example). Also, the translation is excellent, so if you can bear some of the bad minigames and quicktime events you can still find some fun in a story that will keep you involved from the beginning to the end.