This simple non-field RPG challenges you to escape a cursed forest. -Prologue- You're the village's best hunter, drawn to a national hunting tournament near the royal capital. Arriving for the opening ceremony, you excitedly enter the forest the following day. Upon waking after your first night, you discover something unsettling: everyone's vanished, leaving only the remnants of a large hunter encampment. National guards oversee the tournament, yet no one is to be found. Cautiously exploring, you soon realize you're hopelessly lost – repeatedly finding yourself back in the same spot despite your best efforts at navigation. This is far from your usual hunting prowess. Your exceptional sense of direction, usually reliable as your archery skills, has completely failed you. This is undeniably strange. Your only option? To press on.
-What is the "Elven Curse"?- Aided by a quarter-elf, you, the hunter, must escape the cursed woods. Gameplay is remarkably straightforward, utilizing a maximum of three buttons outside the main menu.
-Character Creation- While manual customization isn't available, you can freely reroll your stats. Status increase rates upon leveling are only visible on this screen and cannot be checked in-game; they are essentially a return item. Game over occurs when your life force reaches zero and you have fewer than two "talismans".
-Peddler Quarter-Elf "Foria"- A young (or perhaps not-so-young) quarter-elf encountered in the forest. Despite his childlike appearance, he claims seniority over you and, while seemingly uninvolved, secretly assists your escape using the forest's ancient spirits.
-Scenario/Scene- The prologue unfolds like a visual novel. Foria's dialogue maintains a cheerful tone, contrasting with the game's overall subdued, suggestive atmosphere.
-Exploration Mode- Progress through the forest's interconnected areas by "exploring" all "unexplored" sections. The outcome of each exploration attempt depends on the area's "fog depth," influenced by your character's stats. When your life force is depleted, utilize poison to restore your vitality, or, in some instances, precious "talismans." You may need to return to Foria.
-Beast Encounters/Hunter Battles- Fierce creatures, ranging from wild dogs and wolves to surprisingly aggressive frogs and rabbits, inhabit the forest. Defeating them yields hides, tradable with Foria. Unlike typical RPGs, combat doesn't grant experience. The goal is escape, with no mandatory boss fights. All battles are avoidable (though this requires luck or skillful gameplay). As a hunter, you use a bow and arrow. Maintaining distance is crucial for attacking without counter-attacks, though this may provide opportunities to close the gap. At a distance, you can shoot arrows or use wound medicine. Closing the distance, however, results in a one-sided attack. Your choices are either "withdrawal," attempting to regain distance, or using a "flash" ball provided by Foria for certain escape.
-Cloak/Layering System- Foria crafts cloaks from collected branches, resin, and leather, enhancing your abilities. Up to three layers can be worn, cumulatively increasing stats. Cloaks also have a rare chance to restore vitality. Note that the topmost layer can be damaged and eventually destroyed. The bow and arrow remain unchanged.
This is not just a game; it's an experience. It features: skill selection from random options; reflex, strategy, skill, and luck-based challenges; material collection and synthesis; rewarding preparation before progression; and a relaxing pace that allows for both dedicated and casual play.
-Autosave- The game autosaves, but not consistently (e.g., not during battles). For reliable saves, close the app from the main menu.
What's New in Version 1.2 (Last updated Dec 18, 2024):
- v1.2: Fixed a bug causing unexpected transitions to character creation.
- v1.1: Corrected typos in scenario text.
- v1.0: Minor bug fixes, message adjustments, and credit additions.
- v0.1: Test release.
