• Add Review
  • Subscribe
  • Nominate
  • Submit Media
  • RSS
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
  • 151978
  • 26
  • 1696

Posts

Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
An unfortunate side-effect of this is that I want to set up an RMW for this game sooner rather than later.


Wait a sec.


That's a BAD thing?
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
So, it's been approximately ten days since this became front-paged as a Hidden Gem.


By the way, thanks again, Red_Nova!


Anyway, I have not been keeping particular attention to how many page-views and/or downloads this has gotten before, or since, the honor. So, perhaps, my concerns are unfounded.


However, the game page has been particularly silent in regards to COMMENTS. Or, to put it another way, some kind of evidence that people have actually PLAYED the game.


I dunno. What notices I get from game-pages are from places like Soul Sunder, Remnants of Isolation, Wyrm Warriors, and Aetherion.


Not that I mind getting notices from those games! I subscribed to them because I wanted to be privy to their various stages of development, or whatever news came to pass.


I... guess I just expected to see more Okiku in there. Ya know?

Welp, I have too much on my plate right now I'm afraid. I can gladly give it a shot at reviewing if nothing's happening the next month or so.

I'd love to have some lighthearted fun, tho. It's been all the rage for quite some time.
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
LA hasn't gotten a single comment since being featured except yours offering me congratulations (thanks again, BTW ^_^) but has gotten a lot more downloads. I bet it's the same for Okiku :DDD
Red_Nova
Sir Redd of Novus: He who made Prayer of the Faithless that one time, and that was pretty dang rad! :D
9192
If I recall correctly, wasn't the download count somewhere in the high 400s before it was featured? Now it's in the mid 500s, so I'd say it's a good increase.

Then again, some days I forget if I had anything to eat until dinner time, so perhaps my memory isn't the best thing to go by...

Anyway, I want to see more love on this page too. Have you advertised this game over on RMW?

Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
author=Red_Nova
Anyway, I want to see more love on this page too. Have you advertised this game over on RMW?

I believe placed a status-post there that mentioned this, Konae's Investigations, and Oracle of Askigaga.

It's been a while since I've been on RMW, though.

RMN's pretty much my main jam.

Anyway, being the completed game in that list, this has the highest priority of getting a game-thread there. Today was supposed to be an "Oracle day", but, re-playing this game to get an approximation of game-time (possibly catching unseen bugs along the way) could be placed on the docket for today. Besides...

...it would be a BLAST!
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Awwwww yeaaaah!


Er, I mean...
Not only have I gotten my first comment ever on a RMW game-thread, but...
...guess what game it was?
What I was worried about was if there could be a response in the traditional formatting.
To which, I quickly found, there can be only one response.
Awwwww yeaaaah!
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Darigaaz, this is beating Pom Gets Wi-Fi on the buzzing section!


Reviewers, your checks are in the mail!
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
I heard through the grapevine...


*cough*Red_Nova*cough*


...that there was a livestream of this game done by HuntingSwan! I even managed to catch a few moments of it...


...before I totally chickened out.


I know, I know. I'm a freaking wuss.


Anyway, I couldn't help but to notice that HuntingSwan was at the Garuda fight, which is about half-way through. Also, I couldn't help but to notice some commentary on the side-bar in the video about how updating the evolution counter was an "easy fix".


I'm kinda hoping this solution was discussed, since it's not something I am particularly aware of! I'm aware that would mean watching the thing.


Even for a game like this, it's going to be rough to watch a video.

Ebeth
always up for cute art and spicy gay romance
4390
This was a blast! haha Okiku is a delightful character,(her expressions and comments are hilarious) and I enjoyed the battle system. The ending was a bit lackluster and I felt items & currency could have been balanced better but overall I really enjoyed this.

As a side note: I usually prefer custom graphics but this definitely convinced me to get over it and play more rtp games.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Hey, if you had a blast, I'm pretty sure that's all that really counts!



Though, as a sub-note, there were certainly thoughts of not bothering with the health or mana restoratives AT ALL at one point. The status restoratives are...


...probably fine? I dunno.


You TOTALLY got me on the ending, though.


Next game! The next game will be better!


I hope!



Well, I got a Let's Play completed for this game. I realize that this title is meant to be a stress relieving game, but I can't help but feel that the game could have balanced itself out a little bit better.
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Thanks for giving it a whirl in the first place!


As for game balance, I dunno.


On one hand I want abilities to be used. To be used, they must be useful. Though, maybe I could have afforded to make the status resistances of at least the bosses be a tad higher than they are.


I'm mainly thinking about Stun, and it's evolutions, with that thought. However, the same thinking could probably be applied to the other statuses Okiku could inflict on foes.

On the Mountain, when I get to the Dragon Map, then fire a Blast when I'm at the very left of the screen, facing off the screen, then I can't blast again on that map.

I was wondering where this girl's face came from, on Ask Mint, and now I know!

EDIT: Went from LV 3 to LV 8 due to a Fairy and a Will-o-Wisp. That's what I get for Sequence Breaking, or whatever I did...
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
author=Malandy
On the Mountain, when I get to the Dragon Map, then fire a Blast when I'm at the very left of the screen, facing off the screen, then I can't blast again on that map.


Hrm. I do remember the WOB doing some weird stuff if players shoot it along the edge. That was with an earlier build though.


Still, I should check this out...


...when I'm less busy with stuff...


...and see if I can replicate it!

Wait, for Mana Leak, you say that the enemy is "Leeking" mana. Is that on purpose?

Also, for Imps, you say "Plauge", when you mean "Plague"?

EDIT: How does respawning work in this game?
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Uhh... probably not?

Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
You said... the LEFT most side of that screen? I'm seriously not finding this space you found!


The status condition was also misspelled, so, that might be where "plauge" comes from.


Objects basically "respawn" via the Erase Event command, though, there is extra processing to remove events (either temporarily or permanently) that are activated by the Wand of Blasting.
author=Marrend
You said... the LEFT most side of that screen? I'm seriously not finding this space you found!

The map with the Dragon Boss, at the top left side. Face Left and fire so the projectile starts at a point off the visible map.

I can also cast blasts so they go inside walls...

author=Marrend
The status condition was also misspelled, so, that might be where "plauge" comes from.

*nods*

Objects basically "respawn" via the Erase Event command, though, there is extra processing to remove events (either temporarily or permanently) that are activated by the Wand of Blasting.

So, if I wanted to, I could keep grinding to LV 99 even if I beat all the bosses, 'cause the enemies seem to respawn. But then again. That's sorta normal...

***

I didn't know that the Tower Bed heals, until I found out... Sorta problematic for those who don't explore?

Also, I guess the bedroom's name is cut off due to character limits?

And you can toggle switches back and forth instead of sticking to the 'on' position... Hmm...

Grinding at the Shrine after doing the easy route for the Feather is so OP! Awesome!

Wow! 0 Damage is possible!

Loving the skill evolutions and their use text!

***

Do you mind if I use Okiku and Ogiwara in a fanfic?
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
I checked Okiku's room both in-game and in the editor, and, yes, the full name is there. I would, then, suppose that the text is cut off by character limits. As for the WOB messing up on the dragon-map...


...I did find a place on the RIGHT side of the screen, but, I was literally on a wall when it happened?


I'm starting to think a screencap of where you are when this happens for you is in order.