MEDUSA
Bring it out now, o silver water!
Bring it out, the serpentine crown!
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This game requires a keyboard to play.
Made for the Bitsy Jam #88, in around 9hr.
I am not fully satisfied-- I couldn't make the hacks work, and I also failed to find a more elegant way to guide the player from one narrative point to another. This is also not the sort of banner I wanted for the page.
This also ended up being way more verbose and more personal than intended. My hope is that, somehow, others will find this little piece relatable and comforting.
~ ~ ~
If you like the game, please leave a comment and/or rate the game! This will not only make my entire day, but also make the game more visible and easy to find for other players.
You can also support me on LiberaPay. This will help me make more games, as well as afford food and other necessities.
How to play
Walk on the blue "pathstones" to advance the narration. This is a "kinetic" experience with no choice and only one ending. You can expect around 5 minutes of playtime.
Controls
Use the directional arrows to move and interact with points of interests.
Use the ENTER key to progress through dialogues.
Credits
Made with Bitsy by Adam Le Doux, with a little help from the bitsy-audio hack.
Assets used from Nothin' Fancy and Safe as Houses by anna anthropy.
Music "Inspirational Meditation" by Musi Nova.
Other assets, scripting, narrative: Ether, with precious, precious help from Tootkin! Thank you again!
Comments
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The minimalism of the style chosen really transports one back in time and activates the imagination. I also love the idea of kinetic think pieces and poetry. What a lovely way to communicate to an audience.
I also, like many in the comments, like the title. The dual meaning of waking Medusa and remembering her death is so evocative.
Thank you so much! I was worried it was... too self-indulgent, like imposing my ramblings to a semi-captive audience. I'm so glad it resonated with you. I'm feeling encouraged to make more games of the kind!
This brought to mind Anna Anthropy's book Rise of the Videogame Zinesters. I thought "Ah, this is the kind of thing she was talking about." And then I saw you used one of her tilesets. :3
I resonate with this experience. You're not alone. The phrase "Medusa's Wake" struck a chord of grief in me, with all the things she represents. You did well. Keep making good art. <3
Thank you so much! I actually haven't read that book at all, but the concept talks to me a lot-- being a videogame zinester. I've always wanted to get into zines, but I've always talked myself out of it :D So now I will go read that book, thank you!
When I first started being interested in Bitsy, I came across this and found it very encouraging: https://ebeth.itch.io/small-games-manifesto
I'm glad the game resonated with you, thank you for playing and commenting! I will keep making art!
everything about this game - the music, art, and storytelling - made it such a beautiful tale. i really felt like i was climbing towards something grand while playing. amazingly done!
Thank you so much, I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Gosh, what a lovely, heart-wrenching game. Every single word of this is gorgeously written and made my own fat, queer, disabled body feel so seen. Also, you chose the colours for this wonderfully. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I was a bit hesitant to post it at first, and not really satisfied with the end result compared to my initial idea. I am so, so glad that this resonated with my fellow gorgons.
loved this! the music tied it all together for me, i felt compelled to slow down and really take in your prose
Oh thank you so much! I actually spent quite some time looking for the music that would be Exactly Right(tm), and when I heard the first few seconds of this one I was like "yes, this can and will work". I'm so glad my work paid off!
this is phenomenal. my queer fat body raises a cup to yours, fellow gorgon.
Thank you so much. This comment made my morning. To you, fellow gorgon!