Vague Dialogue in First Cave

[MikeLemmer]

In the first cave, if you reach the water on the 3rd day w/o the water mage, your character wonders if she can hold her breath long enough to reach the bottom. I figured that meant she could swim and dove in. After that didn't work, I was flummoxed. Eventually I decided to check the chicken shed after a townsperson said her daughter was away and lo & behold, I find the necessary PC. Could you change that dialogue to something like "I can't swim. Do I know anyone who can?"?

[Gemberkoekje]

I had, now that you mention it, noticed the same in the demo, and I agree that at that point, if you don't have the wit to go behind the school (Which isn't the most obvious place to look) you feel stuck.

[MizuhoChan]

Wait until you want into the wind shrine =).

It's vague on purpose I'd say.  It makes you have to explore.

Incidentally, I did this bit in the demo and I recall already knowing she was in that place, before I went to the cave.  I just didn't go talk to her.

[neonie]

The game is designed to evoke an snes era rpg. Including the part of an snes era rpg where you explore
Everywhere and talk to everyone before you come what you're looking for.

[Gemberkoekje]

The game is designed to evoke an snes era rpg. Including the part of an snes era rpg where you explore
Everywhere and talk to everyone before you come what you're looking for.

Ah, so essentially you're saying we, modern day gamers, are spoiled? (For the record, I can't even disagree with you!)

Still, some pointers at a few points would be my advice, even if it's only hints like OP suggested. I'm not saying 'Create a giant arrow pointing wherever you need to go'  or whatever ;P

[Ravenholme]

The game is designed to evoke an snes era rpg. Including the part of an snes era rpg where you explore
Everywhere and talk to everyone before you come what you're looking for.

Ah, so essentially you're saying we, modern day gamers, are spoiled? (For the record, I can't even disagree with you!)

Still, some pointers at a few points would be my advice, even if it's only hints like OP suggested. I'm not saying 'Create a giant arrow pointing wherever you need to go'  or whatever ;P

But you do get some pointers, you know that Sana feeds the chickens, and Arche mentions that she wants to find Sana, and Sana's mother mentions that Sana went somewhere. For me the first thing I did was check the school farm because of the clues presented above.

[neonie]

The game is designed to evoke an snes era rpg. Including the part of an snes era rpg where you explore
Everywhere and talk to everyone before you come what you're looking for.

Ah, so essentially you're saying we, modern day gamers, are spoiled? (For the record, I can't even disagree with you!)

A bit, though that's the great thing about video games today, the fact that stuff like skyrim, that does always have an arrow, and stuff like this, that are more of the classic sleuth style of game can coexist on the same top seller page.

If I were to make the claim modern day gamers were spoiled, i would include my self in that as well, seeing
as how I've been playing for 8 hours now, and at various points found my self wishing to god there was a fast travel button.

In all, I wouldnt say anyone's spoiled, more like you just have to get into the right mindset.

[Gemberkoekje]

I actually think Skyrim would've been a BETTER game without the overly obvious arrows and the fast travel, the world would've seemed larger, and the writing would need to have been wittier (and possibly more read!) - I mean isn't it much more awesome to get a scrabbled sort-of map with an N, 3 rocks and an X and go from there...

But anyway, I digress. I must also agree on the earlier user that I hadn't paid as much attention to the dialog as I should've, but it's a bit mean not to include a backlog as well (Which is, for the record, not CF's fault at all)

[Ravenholme]

I actually think Skyrim would've been a BETTER game without the overly obvious arrows and the fast travel, the world would've seemed larger, and the writing would need to have been wittier (and possibly more read!) - I mean isn't it much more awesome to get a scrabbled sort-of map with an N, 3 rocks and an X and go from there...

But anyway, I digress. I must also agree on the earlier user that I hadn't paid as much attention to the dialog as I should've, but it's a bit mean not to include a backlog as well (Which is, for the record, not CF's fault at all)

Usually the messages you get do include hints, although I have to say the one for when you have to go to the Wind Shrine or Barness (or whatever the town's name is) is singularly unhelpful

[Morse]

This is what I love about this game. Makes a nice change from the boring linear FPSs that clutter today's market.

[neonie]

I actually think Skyrim would've been a BETTER game without the overly obvious arrows and the fast travel,

I think it would been unplayable.

[Saibak]

I think it would been unplayable.

Try Morrowind. It has no quest markers and all you get are descriptions to your destination. If the world is well designed, this system works quite well.

[mozzery]

Without the arrows, playable yes, though annoying at times.

Without fast travel, *shudder* skyrim's a big world, I'll leave it at that.

[neonie]

I think it would been unplayable.

Try Morrowind. It has no quest markers and all you get are descriptions to your destination. If the world is well designed, this system works quite well.

No dude I gave up on morrowind after about an hour. Terrible.

Without the arrows, playable yes, though annoying at times.

Without fast travel, *shudder* skyrim's a big world, I'll leave it at that.

I have a friend who did the opposite. He still uses the arrows because he can't turn them off, but refuses to use fast travel. I think he's insane.

[Ravenholme]

I think it would been unplayable.

Try Morrowind. It has no quest markers and all you get are descriptions to your destination. If the world is well designed, this system works quite well.

Yeah, Morrowind worked for me as well, and I loved that system, it's how it would work irl and it was great. Of course I ran into problems finding where I was supposed to go at times, but that was part of the fun. Following journal entry directions, getting lost, and raiding some cool dungeons by accident anyways, before backtracking and trying again.