Sellar Dore's parents wouldn't stop fighting, even arguing over the correct way to say "happy birthday" to their daughter. So, she runs away from home and, in a poetic irony, the lost girl begins her business hunting down missing items as Memohuntress. Years later, Sellar learns her childhood village of Yona was hit by an earthquake. Worried about her parents, she embarks on her greatest quest yet to earn the train fare home. But searching for hidden-objects only a small part of this breathtaking adventure by Aaron Abel and Matthew Stradwick of Enter Skies.
Using [arrow] keys or [WAD] to move about and jump, navigate through fantastical locations and examine every intricate detail to spot—and click on—the lost articles concealed in the scenery. Each of the four, distinctly-themed levels is animated, creating a dynamic 3D effect that's both beguiling to contemplate and challenging to complete. To succeed with the highest score means oogling each segment of a scene with careful eyes, watching to see if an unbended arm or stooping figure will reveal what you seek. This is made more difficult because of the animations and the entire object might never be fully shown. Zooming the game window as large as it can go will help. The shape of the environment makes twisting and turning, using your peripheral vision in many cases, a necessary part of play. Most items come in multiples and appear as pictured, making it unnecessary to constantly check your list. But, when stuck, "Hint" will point you where you need to go.
Analysis: Still images can't show and words can't explain the multilayered, surreal Willy Wonkaness of what there is to behold here. It's easy for players to become lost in Sellar's world making gameplay symbiotical. From the opening cinema, the story is captivating thanks to Aaron Abel's and Robert Rubio's talented writing and the excellent voice-acting of Kaily Kaneshiro, Gianni Matragrano, Tri Le, Kim Lehman, Mike Siemon, and Andrea Ashe. The art by both Abel and Vinnie Veritas is ample entertainment in itself as you notice allusions to anime and other games while catching glimpses of the subcharacters' stories.
Being so enchanting, it's hard to give too much notice to the downsides, but they're there. To start with, the task of item hunting can be rather daunting, especially in the immense Emerald Sea of the last level when half the "objects" you're looking for are swimming about you, although the interesting artwork helps mitigate this. Another issue, even with the most up-to-date graphics card, is lag; using the [Q] key will lower the quality and help with this, but I recommend against that unless absolutely necessary. There is far too much to see and enjoy, that if you're moving too fast, you'll miss out.
Magnificent artwork, incredibly moving story, and a sweeping soundtrack make an experience to not be missed. Throw in a little quest to collect lost objects and call it a game, but make no mistake: Memohuntress is art. The love and enthusiasm this team has in their creation oozes out of every corner and makes it shine.
Walkthrough Guide
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Memohuntress Walkthrough
General Tips
Many objects are hidden behind something and only can be seen in the peripheral view as you move to the right or left of it.
Some items can't be seen unless someone or something moves, so watch the animations.
Rather than looking for things in relationship to where Sellar is, scrutinize all the details of a scene while you use the arrow keys to move (i.e. ignore Sellar...she sometimes gets in the way.)
"Hint" will tell you what direction to move but, because of the shape of the environment, won't often point directly at an object. Follow in one direction until it starts turning down or up…then you'll know you're right under or above something…you can move away if you have to in order to see it… the arrow will lead you where you need to go but may never land directly on it.
Sometimes only a portion of an item can be seen; clicking anywhere on it will pick it up.
Talk to all the secondary characters for clues...they'll often give you a general area to confine your search. For example, at the Rose Inn, all the keys, roses and music boxes are downstairs while other specific objects are only located in a particular guest room.
For "catching" swimming fish in the last level, staying still or moving very slowly in the general area where they swim makes it easier to click quickly as they approach.
Hardcore Hidden Emblems
One: Floating Forest
Go up the three stone faces and cross to the middle of the bridge where the white creature is cramming his mouth full of raspberries (top middle of the game map). The emblem will be in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Screenshot: Floating Forest Emblem Location
Two: Rose Inn
Go right, all the way down the stairs, toward the southeast corner of the game map. As you move right past the sleeping girl who has "Kick Me" and other notes stuck all over her, you'll see the emblem next to her, in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Screenshot: Rose Inn Emblem Location
Three: Fantastic Factory
Go down to the inner workings of the factory, where the harlequins are eating the berries as they come down the conveyor belt. As you move toward the westside stairs to head back up, you'll spot the emblem in the bottom left corner of the screen. It's under a row of tarts and a couple spaces lower than the tall grey castle near the stairs.
Screenshot: Fantastic Factory Emblem Location
Four: Emerald Sea
Swim up from the starting point until you're in the middle of a long stone coil... Move east until you can see a green guy sleeping with his legs propped up against one of the rock pillars. Stellar will disappear behind the foreground, but, on the left side of the screen, you will find the last emblem.
Screenshot: Emerald Sea Emblem Location
Searching the Floating Forest
Forest Item Locations
PLASTIC ROSE (x6) - get one from touching the blue bird's tail (by the bouncing bush creep); one is by the talking tree (in the northeast corner); another is next to the two bunnies eating mushrooms (drop down from the talking tree, move right); one is on the east side of the large tree stump with its tongue out(bottom level); the last is next to the red-beret-wearing bunny and ninja (climb to the top of the large stump).
FAKE SNAKES (x3)- all three are blending in with leaves in the forest trees.
BOX OF SEEDS (x3)- are strewn along the ground of the forest floor.
SILVER LIGHTER (1) - on the rocks carved with faces (southwest corner). This is the item the talking tree hints about.
CAMERA (1) - by the bush creep (southeast corner).
VIOLIN (1) - On the bridge, in the lower portion of the screen, blending well with the color of the wood (see screenshot of the emblem).
BOOK TRUE LOVES KISS (1) - on the east side of the large tree stump.
DAGGER (x2) - one's next to the bouncing bush creep; the other's on the bridge, seen when the raspberry-munching creature moves away from the bushes.
FLARE GUN (x2) - one is on the bridge, as you move right (after the purple mushroom man** runs away); the other is on the forest floor behind a tree.
SECRET MAP (x6) - one is on the forest floor; two are by the ninja and beret-wearing bunny (stand on the large stump); the last three are on the bridge's rafters (spaced evenly from left side to right side).
Hardcore Hidden Emblem - see screenshot:
Screenshot: Floating Forest Emblem Location
Wallet
Talk to the worm's friend then move east, further down the hole until you come to two meanies who are poking the side of the worm. Click on them until they run away.
Talk to the worm's friend again; he put "your reward upstairs."
Go left and jump onto the slope heading up; the WALLET is a little more than halfway up.
**To make the purple mushroom man move out of the way, first talk to him then click on the red mushroom at his feet.
Searching the Rose Inn
Room Keys
According to the girl at the desk, all the keys can be found downstairs. The following screenshots show where each key can be found:
Screenshot: Key to Room 1
Screenshot: Key to Room 2
Screenshot: Key to Room 3
Screenshot: Key to Room 4
Screenshot: Key to Room 5
Screenshot: Key to Room 6
Other Rose Inn Item Locations
SPECIAL SOUVENIR (x9) - The "special souvenir" is a long-steamed red rose...they're all located downstairs:
One on the restuarant menu.
Another is by the left chef.
A third is next to the booted feet of the hunter at the middle table...
...and there is another one behind him (move to the left slightly).
Two are on the west side of the restaurant: one's under the wanted poster by the man in the black top hat; the other can be seen as you stand next to the jester at the back table...under the bearded chin of the card player on the right.
Three more are on east side of the restuarant behind the girl with the pink-pigtails, behind the guy in the sky-diving gear and under the table at their feet.
GOLDEN MUSIC BOX (x6) - they are also all located downstairs:
On the top left corner of the menu board
Under the left chef (by the "R" of "Rose Inn")
On the east side of the restuarant between the moving arms of a laughing guy in a brown hat
And three are on the west side of the restaurant: two are under the table of the person with his face in spaghetti (move right to left to reveal each) and the last one is under the legs of a dracula-looking fellow on the far left.
GUEST SLIPPERS (x5) - are strewn along the stairs and landings leading up to the guest rooms.
DIPLOMA (1) - in Room 1
Seen when the neat freak moves his broom).
LOVE LETTERS (x9) - in Room 2:
Before you enter (stand behind the "mad girl" poster) it's just to the right of the doll in the poka-dotted dress.
Above the "Beauty Girl/Cute Girl" posters by the door.
One's behind the kissing knight and another's behind the kissing princess.
Another can be seen by a bunny's ear, on the right side of the screen, when you stand behind the kissing princess.
In the garland on the ceiling.
Below the big penguin's wing.
Under the big-headed crying girl's bed board; on the bottom right drawer of the dresser.
CLEAN SOCKS (x6) - Room 3
One is just outside the door before you enter, the other five are inside (the hardest to spot can be seen if you stand behind the TV, it's partially obscured by a big pile of clothes on the left).
DIAMOND RING (1) - Room 4
Stand behind the "M" of "Me" and you can see the ring in the bottom right corner of the room.
ALBINO BAT TOY (4) - In room 5
Three are evenly spaced along the "ceiling", one is underneath the dad.
PEN KITS (x5) and GOLD CHAINS (x4) - In room 6.
GOLD CHAINS - one is on the "Hug Me" mannequin while another is behind it; there's one behind the "fox" mannequin; and the last is behind the photographer.
PEN KITS - stand behind the door ("Truce" sign) and you'll see one to above the right shoulder of the "Hug Me" mannequin; another is behind the green "frog" mannequin; one's above the white-and-red longcoat; one's on the shelf above the model; the last is to the right of the model's fox tail.
Hardcore Hidden Emblem - see screenshot:
Screenshot: Rose Inn Emblem Location
More to come...
Posted by: elle
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February 27, 2012 1:49 PM