SIBYL
-a mini horror game-
SUPER SPECIAL THANKS TO MBoffin (Dylan Bennett) for map collision stuff.
WARNING
This game has some scary images and pixelated blood and gore, viewer digression is advised.
This game also has flashing images, which can bother those who have sensitivity to such things.
CONTROLS
ARROW KEYS - move character
[X] (keyboard X) - accept/close menu
[O] (keyboard Z) - pull up menu/statistics - this also pauses the game
PREMISE
This game is a tiny little survival horror game made with PICO-8. The goal was to see if I could make something creepy in such a restrictive environment.
You are lost in the dark woods. Everything is pitch black except the light emitted from your dim lantern. The goal is to escape the woods - alive! A creature known as the SIBYL is stalking you and will take you away if you're caught. You can not fight - running away is your only defense.
Look for a tarot card to either give you a bonus or a curse!
INSTRUCTIONS
To control your player, use the DIRECTION KEYS. To go to different areas, just walk to the edge of the screen. (Be careful the SIBYL has a tendency to pop up and grab you near the edge of the screen!) You will have to find the way out of the woods to beat the game. Avoid touching the SIBYL, if she touches you... you will be dragged away and lose the game.
To help you, there are some items...
TAROT CARD - There are two tarot card pickups in the game, one near the beginning and one hidden. Tarot cards are completely optional and are not needed to beat the game. Once you pick up a tarot card, you get a random card - which can give you a good or bad effect.
FANCY LANTERN - An upgrade to your default lantern is hidden somewhere. It provides more light than your initial lantern. See if you can find it!
There are also a couple items which are needed to complete the game. The items will automatically be used when you need them, after you've collected the needed item, of course.
Use the [O] button (keyboard X) to pull up the game paused menu... this will show your inventory, the current tarot card you carry, and your sanity level.
SANITY - Your sanity meter will slowly drain as you play, once your sanity level starts getting pretty low, you'll notice weird in-game happenings such as an odd sound effect and messages popping up on screen. Also, maggots will wriggle across the screen when you don't have much sanity left. If your sanity meter completely depletes, you lose the game.
GOOD LUCK!
Oh yes spooky!
Failed at the first attempt but reached the end at the 2nd, a lil' short but fun 👌⭐
I just tried this out last night and I really enjoy what I've seen so far...until some small child ate me! You nailed the mood for sure. Gonna keep trying to see how far I can get and next time avoid the wailing youth.
I also really like how you're switching from 64x to 128x mode between gameplay and status screens. I've never thought of that before...it's giving me some ideas :)
@morningtoast I suspect you can't avoid the little guy.. or at least it seemed not really possible (?)
@justis Thank you! It's definitely difficult to judge how scary your game is when you know how everything works! ha
@morningtoast The game is pretty short, so it shouldn't be too tough to beat once you've learned where to go. :D The resolution switch was such a nice way for me to fill up the screen with such small sprites and map space. I wanted to sacrifice a lot of sprite space for a big jump scare screen graphic and the game over screen artwork.
@Heracleum There is one little guy that you can't avoid: it's just a dummy enemy that runs at you and disappears when it hits you... just to spook you :)
I did it!
Nice little game to play in the dark. The jumpscares and insanity effects were good horror elements.
I did get to the end last night and it was really fun. The sense of worry everytime I entered a new screen was great. Hope you keep making more of these. Check out Spirit Solstice too...it's a 64x maze wander like yours but not as spooky. Might spark some ideas too.
@Verb Yay! I was hoping someone would see the sanity effects. I was hoping the jumpscares were spooky, too. Thank you!
@morningtoast Congratulations! I tried to make it so the Sibyl could pop up near the screen exits to surprise you. I later added some sound effects so you could hear her (unless if you have the Hermit card, that is) Awesome. I've checked out Spirit Solstice, such a cool little game.
I'm definitely making more. I have started building a new project that hopefully is scarier. :)
Very interesting game ! Great job for the creepy atmosphere!
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