The Vault Dweller
always looking for water.
...or "The Vault Dweller's Freeware Extravaganza" Part [La-Mulana]
If you're reading this as the first installment in my unprecedented new topic posting spree read on. Otherwise skip the next paragraph as it appears in all the new threads and needs to only be read once.
As you may know I disappeared from these forums for quite a long time and given both how often and how long I've been here that is exceptionally rare. In the past I would only do this once or twice and only for a week or two while I would have discovered and played a particularly high-quality game which would forcibly steal my attention. This last absence was different however. I discovered such a higher quantity of high quality games in such a short time that I couldn't tear myself away from playing to go on the internet or at least not enough to contribute even though I would occasionally come to lurk. It is about such games I am making this series of topics. I remind you that all are freeware and hence are open to all of you.
This one in particular is done in the old free-roaming platformer style comparable to Metroid. If you like that sort of game continue reading...otherwise go see some of my other "Extravaganza" threads.
La-Mulana. This is easily one of the best non-linear platform adventure game I've ever played. It's huge, offers many paths to take in mostly the order of your choice, a massive list of equipment to choose from, beautiful graphics amazingly done in classic style (think NES graphics even though the game came out only a few years ago), a soundtrack worth listening to outside the game, and an endless amount of secrets both optional and necessary to find.
I can't exaggerate when I say this is equal to or better than Super Metroid which previously I though of as the best platform adventure game ever. The game took me over twenty six hours to complete and I didn't even undertake a special optional dungeon made for masochists (it's near impossible). There are five weapons, five projectiles, and many items that boost your abilities or grant you new ones. Every single room has at least three different things of interest either in an engraved tablet, hidden chest, switch, false wall, etc. There are eighteen different regions to explore each with it's own theme design, art, enemies, and music.
You play the role of Archeology Professor Lemeza who's father has discovered a civilization that precedes all others. Before exploring the ruins he sends you a letter to taunt you about how he's going to be world famous. Partly out of curiousity and partly out of worry (or jealousy) towards your father you set out to the ruins of La-Mulana whose location was given in the letter.
There's really not much story development as far as finding and interacting with your father or natives however there is a very long and complicated story dealing with who created La-Mulana and why. You're given the story in small bits mostly told by engraved tablets spread throughout the ruins. I won't spoil it, but the story is pretty unique.
I will admit it does have one problem that is very severe though it doesn't really appear until you get closer to the end of the game. Many of the late game puzzles involve solutions that are so obscure that I can safely say you will need some form of help in either a guide/walkthrough/Let's Play. This is, because the hint to solving it is on a tablet located in another part of the dungeon far removed from where the hint is needed. Usually in a place you haven't been since very long ago and you could never possibly remember. As if that wasn't enough many times the hint is so obscure you'd never figure it out anyway. A lot of this actually has to do with the fact that many things which activate something do so in another room or even region entirely different from the one you are in. That's right. You can flip a switch in one area that activates something dozens of rooms away even into other dungeon regions. You get a tone whenever you do something right, but it gives no indication of where or what happened. Also due to the high non-linearity of the game there are no straight walkthroughs and the wiki isn't completely done. Fortunately I've discovered you can use a Let's Play in place of it and there not only is one, but by an Authour who actually makes it quite entertaining outside of simply showing you the way.
Also I've found that while I can't convey the essence of a game in a few minutes of writing I can let you hear the music in that time and let me just say that all the other parts of the game are of similar quality. Let me tell that quality is very high.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V2iOnViwN4&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqWoVis_TdM&feature=related[/youtube]
Keep in mind as well that the music is in both midi (default) and stereo sound. Those versions you just heard were the default midi tracks...the stereo ones are even better.
I bet you to try La-Mulana.
Just one warning. While the challenges get much more difficult near the end by that point no player could possibly turn back having come so far. Yet near the end of the game getting killed is hard due to high life/protection items, but in the beginning of the game it was the other way around. While the puzzles never made me want to quit the game the combat did in the early game. Just remember that if you're getting killed a lot by enemies and traps that traps should only hurt you once since afterwards you know how/where to avoid them and that after a few encounters with any one enemy you should understand their movement attack patterns to be able to avoid or kill them without being hurt. The game becomes many times easier once you get the grail (found in the second first temple area) which lets you instantly teleport back to town from anywhere. Also that while you can't restore your life with items (except the life jewel which is rare) you can refill it by filling the experience bar or restarting. Often it is best to teleport back to town, save, then reload your game. Whatever you do don't get discouraged. Every new room and new region will fill your soul with wonder and should carry you through any challenge no matter how hard or how many tries it takes.
If you're reading this as the first installment in my unprecedented new topic posting spree read on. Otherwise skip the next paragraph as it appears in all the new threads and needs to only be read once.
As you may know I disappeared from these forums for quite a long time and given both how often and how long I've been here that is exceptionally rare. In the past I would only do this once or twice and only for a week or two while I would have discovered and played a particularly high-quality game which would forcibly steal my attention. This last absence was different however. I discovered such a higher quantity of high quality games in such a short time that I couldn't tear myself away from playing to go on the internet or at least not enough to contribute even though I would occasionally come to lurk. It is about such games I am making this series of topics. I remind you that all are freeware and hence are open to all of you.
This one in particular is done in the old free-roaming platformer style comparable to Metroid. If you like that sort of game continue reading...otherwise go see some of my other "Extravaganza" threads.
La-Mulana. This is easily one of the best non-linear platform adventure game I've ever played. It's huge, offers many paths to take in mostly the order of your choice, a massive list of equipment to choose from, beautiful graphics amazingly done in classic style (think NES graphics even though the game came out only a few years ago), a soundtrack worth listening to outside the game, and an endless amount of secrets both optional and necessary to find.
I can't exaggerate when I say this is equal to or better than Super Metroid which previously I though of as the best platform adventure game ever. The game took me over twenty six hours to complete and I didn't even undertake a special optional dungeon made for masochists (it's near impossible). There are five weapons, five projectiles, and many items that boost your abilities or grant you new ones. Every single room has at least three different things of interest either in an engraved tablet, hidden chest, switch, false wall, etc. There are eighteen different regions to explore each with it's own theme design, art, enemies, and music.
You play the role of Archeology Professor Lemeza who's father has discovered a civilization that precedes all others. Before exploring the ruins he sends you a letter to taunt you about how he's going to be world famous. Partly out of curiousity and partly out of worry (or jealousy) towards your father you set out to the ruins of La-Mulana whose location was given in the letter.
There's really not much story development as far as finding and interacting with your father or natives however there is a very long and complicated story dealing with who created La-Mulana and why. You're given the story in small bits mostly told by engraved tablets spread throughout the ruins. I won't spoil it, but the story is pretty unique.
I will admit it does have one problem that is very severe though it doesn't really appear until you get closer to the end of the game. Many of the late game puzzles involve solutions that are so obscure that I can safely say you will need some form of help in either a guide/walkthrough/Let's Play. This is, because the hint to solving it is on a tablet located in another part of the dungeon far removed from where the hint is needed. Usually in a place you haven't been since very long ago and you could never possibly remember. As if that wasn't enough many times the hint is so obscure you'd never figure it out anyway. A lot of this actually has to do with the fact that many things which activate something do so in another room or even region entirely different from the one you are in. That's right. You can flip a switch in one area that activates something dozens of rooms away even into other dungeon regions. You get a tone whenever you do something right, but it gives no indication of where or what happened. Also due to the high non-linearity of the game there are no straight walkthroughs and the wiki isn't completely done. Fortunately I've discovered you can use a Let's Play in place of it and there not only is one, but by an Authour who actually makes it quite entertaining outside of simply showing you the way.
Also I've found that while I can't convey the essence of a game in a few minutes of writing I can let you hear the music in that time and let me just say that all the other parts of the game are of similar quality. Let me tell that quality is very high.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V2iOnViwN4&feature=related[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqWoVis_TdM&feature=related[/youtube]
Keep in mind as well that the music is in both midi (default) and stereo sound. Those versions you just heard were the default midi tracks...the stereo ones are even better.
I bet you to try La-Mulana.
Just one warning. While the challenges get much more difficult near the end by that point no player could possibly turn back having come so far. Yet near the end of the game getting killed is hard due to high life/protection items, but in the beginning of the game it was the other way around. While the puzzles never made me want to quit the game the combat did in the early game. Just remember that if you're getting killed a lot by enemies and traps that traps should only hurt you once since afterwards you know how/where to avoid them and that after a few encounters with any one enemy you should understand their movement attack patterns to be able to avoid or kill them without being hurt. The game becomes many times easier once you get the grail (found in the second first temple area) which lets you instantly teleport back to town from anywhere. Also that while you can't restore your life with items (except the life jewel which is rare) you can refill it by filling the experience bar or restarting. Often it is best to teleport back to town, save, then reload your game. Whatever you do don't get discouraged. Every new room and new region will fill your soul with wonder and should carry you through any challenge no matter how hard or how many tries it takes.