Trapped in a room with talking drawings (The Jester & the Prince; Late Homework)
Gaming
Introduction
Today, on September 8th, 2024, I decided to dive back into the world of video gaming, specifically focusing on two intriguing titles: "The Jester & the Prince" and "Late Homework." Both games presented unique storytelling experiences that left me reflecting on their narratives long after playing.
The Jester & the Prince
Kicking off my gaming session was "The Jester & the Prince," a horror visual novel developed by Spark and available on itch.io. At first glance, the game's art style reminded me of indie artist NML's creations, which instantly piqued my interest. The game revolves around a character (who can be self-inserted by the player) who wakes up in an unfamiliar room, surrounded by talking drawings: a jester and a prince. These characters invite the player into a bizarre and unsettling scenario filled with psychological twists.
The narrative unfolds as the player interacts with the characters, revealing an underlying theme of psychological horror and deception. As the story develops, players take on painting tasks that ultimately determine the fates of both characters. The combination of humor and horror works surprisingly well, keeping players engaged while on edge.
Surprisingly, the jester—a character that one might expect to embody chaos and mischievous fun—turns out to be more than just a mere trickster. Meanwhile, the seemingly kind prince harbors darkness beneath his charming exterior. Throughout the game, there are multiple plot twists, culminating in an unexpected betrayal when the prince reveals his true nature.
This mix of deception and character complexities made my experience with the game fascinating, keeping me invested in the fate of the protagonist. Having played multiple endings, the theme of broken relationships and hidden truths became more pronounced.
Late Homework
After experiencing the mind-bending tale of "The Jester & the Prince," I decided to check out "Late Homework," a short horror game developed by Solo Raptor. This game centers around a student who ventures into a dark school late at night to recover forgotten homework assignments. The atmosphere evokes retro survival horror games, creating a palpable tension as players traverse the ominous corridors.
Setting the scene effectively, the game builds suspense with clever visual cues and sound design. As the protagonist encounters eerie entities—the most notable being a grizzly monster chasing after them—players must gather homework pages while avoiding the lurking dread that follows.
Despite its short duration, "Late Homework" left a lasting impression with its engaging gameplay and nostalgic horror vibes. The blend of straightforward puzzle-solving and terrifying chases created an exhilarating experience.
Conclusion
Both "The Jester & the Prince" and "Late Homework" provided unique gaming experiences that utilized elements from horror and psychological thriller genres effectively. The first offered a richly layered narrative with twists and turns, while the latter presented a nostalgic approach to survival horror, keeping players engaged despite its brevity. It's a reminder of the strong storytelling potential within indie game development today.
Keywords
The extracted keywords from the article include:
- The Jester & the Prince
- Late Homework
- horror visual novel
- Spark
- gameplay
- psychological twists
- character complexities
- short horror game
- indie game development
- survival horror
FAQ
Q: What are "The Jester & the Prince" and "Late Homework"?
A: "The Jester & the Prince" is a horror visual novel where players interact with talking drawings in a psychological thriller setting. "Late Homework" is a short horror game where players explore a school to recover forgotten homework while avoiding a lurking monster.
Q: Who developed these games?
A: "The Jester & the Prince" was developed by Spark, while "Late Homework" was created by Solo Raptor.
Q: Can you play as yourself in "The Jester & the Prince"?
A: Yes, players can insert their names and create a semblance of self-insertion in the protagonist’s role.
Q: Does "Late Homework" have any combat mechanics?
A: No, "Late Homework" focuses on exploration and avoiding the monster rather than direct combat.
Q: What is the general theme of "The Jester & the Prince"?
A: The game explores themes of deception and hidden truths, with significant twists that affect character relationships.