Ah, childhood. Is there nothing about it that can't be twisted? Not if Gretel and Hansel, a new episodic point-and-click adventure, has anything to say about it. When she overhears their parents decide they would be better off without two additional grubby mouths to feed, it's up to Gretel and Hansel to save the day! Or, uh, Gretel anyway. Hansel is a little... thick. But who needs boys when you've got a slingshot anyway? It's more fun, and has less cooties besides! Parents be warned, this one isn't for the young'uns.
For the most part, the game is controlled like your standard point-and-click. You use your mouse to interact with objects if a thought balloon appears above Gretel's head, and once you acquire the slingshot, you can fire from your endless supply of ammo by clicking on a target, holding briefly, and then releasing. Unlike most other games in the genre, however, Gretel can be moved around the screen with either the [wasd] or [arrow] keys.
The object in this first installment of a planned three part series is for Gretel to gather shiny stones to mark a path with when their parents lead them into the woods. Don't expect much help from Hansel; he's too busy eating flies. You'll need to venture outside and hunt down some suitable rocks around the house. Just remember to steer clear of bees. And giant spiders. And rabbits. And... ahhhhhh, you'll figure it out.
Analysis: The author states in the game's description that it was a labour of love. And frankly, I believe them. The hand-painted visuals here combined with the storybook soundtrack make for a lush experience. Although fairly simplistic looking with their smudged bobbleheads, Gretel and the rest of the cast still manage to be surprisingly expressive, and the story is more funny than tragic like the original. Despite featuring a perplexingly out of place and mildly annoying chase/avoidance sequence at the end, Gretel and Hansel is still a pretty well polished little adventure.
I do wish the adventure aspect of the game had been as tight as the rest of the design. It almost feels like the whole thing was intended originally to be an animated short, and then someone suggested they make a game out of it. While never really illogical, none of the puzzles are terribly unique either. You can find most of the ten stones you need simply by walking around behind things, and it makes the game feel a little lopsided. It's still adorable and fun to play, but it doesn't feel as fully realised as it could.
The whole game is actually fairly short, and I'd be surprised to hear it ate up more than a half hour of your time. Unless, of course, it's because you were tracking down additional death scenes like the sick little bunny you are. Yes, like any good, treasured childhood fairytale, Gretel and Hansel features unpleasant things. While most of them actually take some determination (or good old fashioned tick-headedness) to see, you can still meet an untimely (and humourous) demise if you aren't careful. There's no real penalty for death, however, and you'll just restart from the point where you entered the area.
If you can't laugh at bad things happening to adorable little watercolour moppets, Gretel and Hansel may not be the game for you. It takes a slightly off sense of humour to take everything that happens in the game without getting riled up. (Death by bunny, anyone?) But if you're looking for a quirky, quality treat to fill some time, Gretel will greet you with open arms and slingshot at the ready.
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October 21, 2009 3:26 PM
Walkthrough Guide
In this Walkthrough and Achievement I'm going to skip the part where you are in the house and you are already outside. This is a walkthrought not on how to control or use the character. And their will be grammer and spelling mistakes for it was type out in a short amount of time.
Walkthrough:
-House Area- outside the house
Item:
1. Shoot the Branch on the top left side to get it.
2. Poke the Bee Hive with the Stick/Branch. We will come back to it later
-Note- Get away from the bee hive when you have knock it down for the bee will kill you
Stone:
1. left side of the house wall you will notices a shine. shoot the wood to get it
2. under the stairs
3. behind the large stomp left side
4. bottom right on the floor
5. If you got all 3 acrons you put it right under the cage. The Squirrel will come out from the top of the cage. Shoot it down and cage it and you get your stone.
-Note- information of getting the acorn is in the Achievement section title Pest Removal. And also the nob is pertty useless unless you use the cage before the Squirrel is under it so you can get it up again.
-Well area- Far right of the house where you can see a well walk toward it.
Crow drop stone in well. get the bucket and go toward the back side of the well. The flowers/root will block your path. To clear the path you just simply turn all the black flower to white by shooting them. Now go toward the back again and use the bucket. You have your stone.
-Spider Den- Follow the arrow on the right side of the house.
Item:
1. A Nob on the left side cover in web to a rock.
-Note- the Nob is not that important only if you drop the cage before you use it on the squirrel.
2. Mushroom right side of rock
3. Stone, Top left side behind a tree root
4. Go back to the house arae to the fallen Bee Hive and use the Mushroom on it. The bee will die and you get the stone.
5. Use doll on honey and go back
6. Get the Honey Cover Doll you got. Lay it where the spider is and he will grab it. Now you can get the Stone.
-Inside House- The same way you came out of the house.
1. Get the boys drawing and put them in the fire places
2. Shoot the shining part of the pipe and it will start a fire. get out and the bird will fly away and drop the stone. Your done and now all you have to do is the mini game and your finish.
Congratulations you bet the game.
Achievement: total of 18 achievement
Baby Steps:
use the key to make the girl walk for the first time.
Slingshot Breakfast:
Pick up the Slingshot
Bitch Slap:
In the end with the mini game you shoot the mother in the face with the Slingshot.
Honey Horror:
1. Shoot the Branch on the top left side to get it.
2. Poke the Bee Hive with the stick/branch and stand there to let them kill you.
Sucked Dry:
Walk under the spider and it will kill you.
Time is Running out:
Inside the house shoot the clock down on top of the door.
Electra Complex:
Shoot the father in the mini game in the end to make him trip and die from getting run over.
Gretel Unit:
Shoot yourself with the slingshot 200 times
Here is mommy:
Use the key you got in the Clockspert achievement to open the door.
Kain:
Shoot the boy to death
Kiss that Cyuke:
Kiss the rabit and keep kissing until the load scene pop up.
Pecking Order:
walk toward the left side of the well and the crow will flow down. It will ask if you want to pet it. Pet it and you will get kill from it.
Pest Removal/Acorn/Squirrel:
1. Behind the small stomp on the left side of the house.
2. Behind the large stomp at the well area
3. Behind the large rock at the Spider Den
4. put acrons right under the cage. The Squirrel will come out from the top of the cage. Shoot it down and cage it.
The Flamer:
1. Get the boys drawing and put them in the fire places
2. Shoot the shining part of the pipe and it will start a fire. Stand on the fire and wait for it. You will than catch on fire and die.
Clockspert:
1. Inside the house shoot the clock down on top of the door.
2. Kill the green buterfly at the well area you will get one of the hands.
3. Kill the boy and after the load scene you will find the other hand on the floor next to the door, inside house.
4. turn the hand to 4:30 to get a key. you got the achievement
Get Stoned:
Get all 10 stones which is the purpose of the game so look throught the walkthrough.
Pop,Rock, and Drop it:
In the mini game at the end you will have to drop all 10 stones on the road. Whenever a stone image on the bottom right pop up you
click on it which resolve in droping the stone. Drop all 10 and you get the achievement
Grimm Master:
Get all 10 death achievement
Posted by: kaikudo
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October 22, 2009 12:18 AM