What if you had to kill to save an innocent life? Could you commit terrible crimes for a noble cause, and still come out a good person in the end? What if it was for love? Is a happy ending even possible after you've thrown away your humanity? The Price, an artsy point-and-click story by Flip-N-Tale, asks these questions... and the answers it provides might not be very happy ones.
Set in the American South during the time of slavery, the game opens with the tale of a field laborer who's fallen in love with the baron's daughter. When they're caught together, she takes a bullet defending him and he's left with no choice but to run. If he becomes one with an evil spirit and reaps three wicked souls, he can save her — though the hard part isn't killing, it's staying in control. Explore three different levels, clicking the highlighted objects to progress, and solving puzzles to reach your intended victim. Will the spirit break free, or will you be able to remember why you're doing this in the first place?
The world of The Price is never a pleasant place to be, but it's gorgeous. It looks more like a painting than a game, and the environments are so rich and detailed that you can practically feel the breeze outside or choke on the dust in the mines. Each character is beautifully and uniquely animated, even the ones who don't show up for very long. The music is generally on the simpler side, but does a great job setting the mood and grounding the visuals to the setting and plot. And while the story isn't perfect (the justice the protagonist metes out should be important, but the matter is barely touched) it's still pretty good. This game is dark and miserable and bloody and tragic, and even when the protagonist has hope in thinking of his lover, it's hard to believe that things will work out for him. The sudden ending hits like a sledgehammer in a way that's horrible and perfect at the same time. There are monsters in this story, but no perfect people... yet every sympathetic character gets to speak their case, and the game is much better for it.
However, this isn't a game for everyone. The violence and slavery will alienate some players, and not everyone will agree on whether that subject matter was well-handled. The gameplay doesn't come off very strong when compared to the other elements, either. Some of the mechanics are tricky and very abruptly introduced, and the more positive ending was difficult to find-- in other words, the developer does show promise, but this is a game to play for the art and story. But if you're interested in beautiful visuals and an unsettling story with a folktale-like feel, you might want to see what happens when you pay The Price.
Walkthrough Guide
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The Price Walkthrough
General Info
You start the game at the main area where you can select one of three chapters to travel to.
Although you can visit them in any order, each chapter will get progressively more difficult in whatever order you decide to complete them.
The hanging noose on the left takes you to Chapter 1 (The Caverns), the angel statue takes you to Chapter 2 (The Mansion), and the raven on the skull post goes to Chapter 3 (The Swamp).
Each chapter contains 3 White Flowers hidden somewhere within the level. The purpose of the flowers is to slow down the spinning circles in the boss encounter minigame at the end of the chapters.
There are two possible endings and your actions throughout the game will eventually decide which ending you receive (major spoilers ahead):
The "Good Ending" is awarded only if you are able to successfully complete the minigame at the end of each chapter by:
A) Clicking all of the circles quickly rotating clockwise.
B) Moving the cursor without clicking over the circles slowly spinning counter-clockwise.
Pay attention to your character's attack animations after he transforms to determine the result.
A successful attempt will cause your character to kill the enemy with a simple slashing animation (contributing to the good ending).
However, if you fail your character will use a much more gruesome attack against the enemy (contributing to the bad ending).
It would be very challenging if not impossible to win at the later boss encounter minigames without collecting the White Flowers to slow the circles, so make sure you've located each flower in the chapter before starting the fight!
The "Bad Ending" is much easier to get. When the boss fight starts, you can simply move the cursor away from the scene to avoid all of the circles.
Chapter 1 - The Caverns
Walk to the right until you reach the elevators. Click the left elevator to ride it to the upper level.
Move all the way to the right. Collect the White Flower 1/3 on the floor beside the candles.
Screenshot.
Go all the way to the left wall.
At the bottom left corner of the tunnel, if you look closely, you can make out the black silhouette of another flower. Click it to collect the White Flower 2/3.
Screenshot.
Move right towards the two levers.
Select the left lever, then rapidly click the flashing circle to spin the wheel.
Once the wheel is spinning at a fast pace, release the left lever and quickly click the right lever.
The right lever will raise a mechanism that strikes the spinning wheel, sending the machinery and gears at the left side of the room in motion.
Return to the elevator and ride it back down to the ground level.
Go right to the levers between the two elevators.
Pull the right lever to turn the right wheel on the wall so that its bar is aligned horizontally.
Quickly move to the left lever and pull it before the right wheel resets.
When the bars on both wheels are simultaneously aligned horizontally, the right elevator will be activated.
Walk all the way to the right, but do not yet get on the elevator.
On the ground on the right side of the right elevator you will find the black silhouette of another White Flower (3/3).
Screenshot.
Click the right elevator to ride it down to the bottom floor.
When you reach the bottom floor, the boss encounter will begin automatically.
Follow the instructions that appear at the start of the minigame: select the icons as they appear at random locations around the screen.
You must click the circles that are quickly spinning clockwise before they disappear.
However, when the icon is slowly rotating counter-clockwise, move your cursor over the icon but do not click it.
If you are able to successfully complete the minigame, your character will simply slash at the enemy to destroy them.
However, if you fail, your character will kill your opponent much more violently.
Once the brief cutscene after the boss fight is complete, run to the right through the field and then click the statue.
Chapter 2 - The Mansion
Collect the White Flower (1/3) on the ground directly in front of the stairs.
Screenshot.
Climb the stairs to go to the upper floor.
Use the three levers to stop the spinning discs at the correct positions.
Select a lever to hold it, then click it again to release it.
Once the lever is released, its corresponding disc will lock in place.
Note that the disc does not immediately stop moving. Instead, it keeps rotating until it reaches the nearest position indicated by the black arrows around the edge of the circle.
The left lever controls the smallest disc in the center, the middle level controls the medium disc in the middle, and the right lever controls the large outer disc.
If you look closely at the outer and middle rings, you'll see the pieces of a White Flower.
Use the levers to position the rings and align the two halves of the flower together, then click the White Flower (2/3) to collect it.
Screenshot.
Now click and release the third lever to reset the discs and start the puzzle.
Use the levers to pause the rings at the correct spots and align all three pieces of the stained glass mosaic.
Solution.
Once the puzzle is solved, a secret passage downstairs will be revealed.
Examine the numbers on the face of the clock that are stained with blood.
Each highlighted number is at a different spot within its 4 digit combination.
The first bloodstained number is 1 in the combination 1941.
The second bloodstained number is 8 in the combination 1802.
The third bloodstained number is 4 in the combination 1440.
The fourth bloodstained number is 9 in the combination 1519.
Wait until the clock hour reaches the times indicated by the blood stained numbers, then take note of the symbol that appears in the window at the lower left side of the clock face during that time.
At 1 o'clock the symbol in the window is a Sun.
Screenshot.
At 8 o'clock the symbol in the window is a Lightning Bolt.
Screenshot.
At 4 o'clock the symbol in the window is a Sun.
Screenshot.
At 9 o'clock the symbol in the window is a Snake.
Screenshot.
Go down the stairs to return to the first floor, then click the gap to the left of the giant pendulum to enter the secret passage.
Click the black silhouette of the White Flower (3/3) at the very bottom of the right statue's torch.
Screenshot.
Click the center of the large metal door to zoom in on the lock.
Enter the combination of symbols you found from the clues on the clock upstairs.
Solution.
The door will open automatically when the right combination is set, allowing you to enter the laboratory for another boss encounter.
Just like before, click the circles that quickly spin clockwise. Move your cursor over circles slowly spinning counter-clockwise but do not click them.
After the fight is over, you will be returned to the field again. Walk right and click the statue again to complete the chapter.
Chapter 3 - The Swamp
Walk all the way to the left and collect the White Flower (1/3) at the very edge of scene.
Screenshot.
Move to the right until you pass the silhouette of the fallen tree in the foreground. Collect another White Flower (2/3) growing in the middle of the grass.
Screenshot.
Continue right to the edge of the water.
Click the pitchfork to start the minigame.
Use the dead fish at the end of pitchfork to lure the alligator in the water.
Holding the pitchfork low by moving the cursor down will make the alligator move towards you and then lunge at the food.
Example.
When the alligator lifts its head up but before it has a chance to take a bite, quickly move the cursor upwards to lift the pitchfork. The alligator will bite at the air and miss the fish, pulling at its chain attached to the totem pole.
Example.
After the alligator misses the fish three times, it will collapse the totem pole, allowing you to safely cross.
Walk across the totem pole, then collect the White Flower (3/3) in the grass on the other side.
Screenshot.
Continue right to the next boss encounter.
As in the previous two fights, click the circles that quickly spin clockwise. Move your cursor over circles slowly spinning counter-clockwise but do not click them.
After the encounter is over, you will be returned to the field one last time. Walk right and click the statue to completely restore it.
Posted by: Trinn
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March 25, 2013 11:43 AM