Embark on a simple, non-field RPG adventure where your goal is to escape a cursed forest. This is the prologue:
You are the village's best hunter. News of a national hunting tournament near the royal capital reaches you, and you journey there to compete. You participate in the opening ceremony, then venture into the forest with high spirits. After your first night camping, you awake to a disturbing sight: your camp is deserted, the remnants of numerous hunters from across the land are all that remain. National guards are supposed to be overseeing the tournament, but they're nowhere to be found. Unsure of the situation, you cautiously begin to explore. Immediately, you encounter something unsettling: a tree with bizarre branches... a tree you're certain you've already passed. You were heading north, aiming to return to the forest's entrance, but you've inexplicably ended up back where you started. As a skilled hunter, you are confident in your sense of direction, yet you are undeniably lost. This is beyond strange; your location seems unchanging regardless of your movements. Fighting back panic, you continue your journey through the ominous woods.
What is the "Elven Curse"? Discover the answer in this non-field RPG, where you play a hunter trying to escape a cursed forest. Gameplay is remarkably streamlined, with a maximum of three buttons used outside the main menu.
Character Creation: While manual customization isn't available, you can freely reroll your stats as often as you like. The stat increase rate upon leveling up is only visible on this screen and cannot be checked in-game. It serves as a return item during gameplay. When you have fewer than two "talismans," losing all your life force results in character death.
Foria, the Peddler Quarter-Elf: You encounter Foria, a young (or perhaps not so young) quarter-elf in the forest. Despite their childlike appearance, they claim to be older than you. While seemingly uninvolved in the unfolding events, Foria secretly aids your escape by harnessing the power of the forest's ancient spirits.
Scenario and Scene: The prologue unfolds smoothly like a picture story, with Foria’s dialogue presented in a cheerful tone. The game’s world is conveyed through quiet, simple, yet evocative language.
Exploration Mode: Progress through Moriuchi's interconnected areas by exploring all unexplored sections. The numerical results of each exploration attempt are determined by the area's "fog depth," influenced by your character's stats. When your life force is depleted, utilize poison and rare "talismans" as needed to restore your vitality, or consider returning to Foria.
Beast Encounters & Hunter Battles: Fierce creatures roam the forest, including wild dogs, wolves, and surprisingly, even frogs and rabbits! Defeating them yields hides that can be traded with Foria. Unlike typical RPGs, combat doesn't offer experience points; the goal is escape. There are no set boss battles; all encounters can be avoided (though this requires either considerable luck or skillful gameplay). As a hunter, you use a bow and arrow. You can only shoot from a safe distance, enabling attacks without counterattacks, but closing the gap risks a one-sided assault. When distant, you can either shoot arrows or use wound medicine. If the beast closes the distance, you can either attempt a strategic withdrawal (success depends on your stats) or use a flash ball provided by Foria for a guaranteed escape.
Cloak & Layering System: Create a mysterious cloak from gathered branches, resin, and leather to enhance your abilities. Up to three layers can be worn, cumulatively boosting your stats. In rare cases, the cloak also restores vitality. Note that the top layer can be damaged and eventually tear, becoming unusable. The cloak is the only equipment you can change; your bow and arrow remain constant.
This is not just a game; it's an experience. It’s a game of inflation, random skill selection, reflexes, strategy, skill, and luck. It's a game of material collection, synthesis, and alchemy. It’s a game where preparation is key, yet also one that allows for relaxed, steady progress. It features an autosave system, but save points are not consistent (for example, not during battles). To ensure your progress is saved, it’s recommended to close the app from the base menu.
What's New in Version 1.2 (Last updated Dec 18, 2024): v1.2 – Bug fix: Addresses unexpected transitions to the character creation mode. v1.1 – Bug fix: Corrects typos in scenario text. v1.0 – Bug fix: Minor bug fixes, some message changes, and credit additions. v0.1 – Test release
