With an ax for vampires!
In the paragraph comic from Foxgames, we play the role of the monster hunter Amira Sztorm, performing dangerous tasks of tracking and destroying various spooks. To find the right orders, she uses the “Monster on Demand” service from Silent Night, which provides a map and several paid missions to choose from.
During the game, we keep the Hero Card, which includes, among others health points, money and possessed items. Our basic weapon is an ax which, contrary to popular beliefs and popular culture, is perfect for fighting werewolves and vampires. In addition, between missions, we can use the offer of the Silent Night store, where we can buy useful talismans and inconspicuous small items, such as a flashlight or sunglasses.
Fast action and little dialogue
Once we have completed the equipment, we go into action! We choose the frame number from the map and go to the appropriate page, then we make further decisions and move to the next pictures and the next …
A lot of the action consists of only one or two frames, which means we constantly flick the book back and forth. With a large number of games, it can cause faster wear and tear to comic pages. Both the paper and the cover are quite solid though.
I admit that I expected a bit more plot and the opportunity to read the stories that the decisions lead to. I missed it especially on the first “reading”. Certainly, deepening the details would also have an impact on the volume and price of the comic. Currently, it resembles a thin hardcover school notebook in size and is therefore more portable, and kids can easily pack it into a schoolbag.
Initially, the small amount of dialogue also seemed to be a disadvantage, but in the next games I was grateful for the fact that I do not have to keep reading (or quickly following with my eyes) the same content.
Better and better hunting
The game is definitely meant for more than one game. The first time we get acquainted with it, we discover which items we will need and what actions it is better not to take in order not to die.
By the way, paradoxically, I really like the fact that you can easily lose your life if you act too rashly and nonchalantly (and you haven’t bought the right talismans) or you are just unlucky. The feeling that you need to be careful and prepare well to fight more terrible monsters intensifies the light atmosphere of horror and emphasizes the seriousness of the situation.
At the end, points are awarded for various achievements. Despite the fact that our heroine mainly cares about the high balance of the account, it is practically not taken into account in the final score.
With each reading, you can discover new solutions and improve your end result, thus becoming a better worker and a more professional monster hunter.
With time, we may discover, for example, the numbers in the pictures that we initially overlooked (personally, it was quite difficult for me to spot the ones against the green background in the park and catch all the mandrakes), or the fact that the sequence of actions or even missions may be important.
Extra pluses
The game hides a lot of flavors and surprises (hidden locations, twists). Numerous finds, such as a letter or a patient card, can be examined closely, which is pleasantly associated with point and click computer adventure games. We also find items that we can use later (even in another mission). The interesting and original mechanics of using the mirror deserves praise here, with which we can move to another picture, reading the number from the current one in reverse order.
In addition, I also like the simple and atmospheric cover designed by Sławomir Bejda. It reminds me a bit of horror films from Vesper. Thanks to this, the comic also looks nice on the shelf.
