Elven Curse Rate : 3.8

This simple, non-field RPG challenges you to escape a cursed forest.

- Prologue -

You're the village's best hunter. News of a national hunting tournament near the royal capital reaches you, and you journey to compete. After the opening ceremony, you eagerly enter the forest. Waking from your first night's camp, you discover something unsettling: everyone is gone. Only the remnants of a large hunter encampment remain, left unguarded by the national guard overseeing the tournament. You search, but find no one. Cautiously, you begin to walk, only to encounter another oddity: a strangely branched tree you're sure you saw earlier. You're trying to head north back to the forest entrance, yet you find yourself in the same spot. Your usually impeccable sense of direction has failed you, a truly strange situation. Whether you stay or go, the result is the same. Fighting panic, you continue your journey into the woods...

- What is the "Elven Curse"? -

Aided by a quarter-elf, you, the hunter, must escape this cursed forest. Gameplay is exceptionally streamlined, utilizing a maximum of three buttons outside of the main menu.

- Character Creation -

While character customization is limited, you can reroll your stats as often as desired. Stat increase rates upon leveling are only viewable on this screen and cannot be checked in-game. They serve as a reminder. When your "talismans" drop below two, and your character's life force reaches zero, it's game over.

- Peddler Quarter-Elf "Foria" -

A boy (?), encountered in the forest, who claims to be a quarter-elf and older than you. Though seemingly uninvolved in your plight, Foria secretly aids your escape using the forest's ancient spirits.

- Scenario and Setting -

The prologue unfolds smoothly like a picture story. Foria's dialogue is cheerful, contrasting with the quiet, suggestive world-building.

- Exploration Mode -

The forest paths connecting base areas are revealed through exploration. Unearthing unexplored areas in each section allows progression. The outcome of each exploration attempt is determined by the area's "fog depth," influenced by your character's stats. When your life force is depleted, use poison or rare "talismans" to recover, or return to Foria.

- Beast Encounters & Hunter Battles -

Fierce creatures roam the forest, from wolves and wild dogs to surprisingly aggressive frogs and rabbits. Defeating them yields hides for trading with Foria. Unlike typical RPGs, combat doesn't provide experience. The goal is escape, with no set boss battles. All battles are avoidable (though this requires luck or skillful play). As a hunter, you use a bow and arrow. Maintaining distance allows attacks without counterattacks, but closing the gap risks a one-sided assault. Options then include withdrawing to regain distance, or using a "flash" ball given by Foria for certain escape.

- Cloak & Layering System -

Foria crafts cloaks from gathered branches, resin, and leather, enhancing your abilities. Up to three layers can be worn, cumulatively increasing stats. Rarely, they restore vitality. Note that the top layer can be damaged and become unusable. The cloak is the only equipment change; your bow and arrow remain constant.

- Game Features -

This isn't just a game; it's an experience emphasizing strategic gameplay, reflex testing, skill, luck, material collection, synthesis, and alchemy. Preparation (leveling and item acquisition) is a significant aspect. It's a relaxing game allowing for progress even with casual play.

- Autosave -

The game features an autosave system, but the save timing is not comprehensive (e.g., not during battles). For reliable saving, close the app from the base menu.

What's New (Version 1.2):

• Last updated December 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, some message changes, and added credits.
• v0.1: Test release.