This is an entry for the 14th WOLF RPG Editor Contest.
This is a non-field roguelike RPG where a maid escapes from a mansion overrun with zombies.
Although it has a horror setting, the character designs are cute, so it's not very scary.
This game is enjoyable thanks to its addictive difficulty balance and the survival aspect of resource management.
A single playthrough takes approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete (if you reach the final ending).
Game Overview
"Made in the Fear" is an RPG where the goal is to escape from a mansion overrun with zombies.
There is no field map; it's a non-field RPG with roguelike elements.
There are two playable characters: Shally and Rosalinda.
Shally is a character who excels in event-based activities but is somewhat weak in combat.
Rosalinda is skilled in combat and can use spoiled food without any drawbacks, but she is at a disadvantage in event-based situations.
(For some reason, it reminds me of Jill and Chris from the original Resident Evil.)
You can choose from three difficulty levels.
If you're not good at RPGs, you might want to choose "Rookie Maid," while those who are more experienced should choose "Experienced Maid."
Both games allow you to save freely, so I think they're easy to play.
In "Veteran Maid" mode, there are limited opportunities to save, so it's a good idea to try it after clearing it on another difficulty level to get the hang of it.
The game primarily progresses through screens like the one shown in the image above.
Basically, you have two choices: enter the room or proceed.
Entering a room will allow you to obtain items, but there is a risk of being forced into combat.
By consuming SP (Satiety Points) and listening carefully, you can find out if there are any enemies around, and if so, you can launch a surprise attack.
However, SP is an important stat that is consumed in all events, so use it wisely.
The rooms can be used in various ways, such as storage rooms or laboratories.
You can explore to obtain items, or use materials to craft items.
Since you can obtain almost any item, exploring the rooms as much as possible will be key to success.
Of course, that increases the probability of encountering combat.
If there are enemies in the room, you will have the option of whether or not to fight back.
In some cases, you might be ambushed by the enemy.
If you eavesdrop before entering the room, you can use SP to launch a surprise attack.
When you defeat an enemy, you gain experience points as well as items, and you become stronger as your level increases.
Incidentally, you can gain experience points not only from combat but also from finding books during exploration, so there are many ways to become stronger besides fighting.
By finding item recipes, you can craft various items that will be useful in your gameplay.
There are also books for modifying and enhancing equipment, books for increasing stats, and books for learning skills.
Crafting highly effective healing items from limited resources and conserving them is a necessary strategy for progressing further in the game.
This game also has aspects of a resource management game, so there's a constant sense of tension.
Review (no spoilers)
If you proceed blindly, it will be difficult to clear the game, but once you learn to identify useful items and weapons and understand how to conserve HP and SP effectively, you will be able to progress more steadily.
It has a roguelike element of randomness, which means you can really feel how much easier it becomes to complete as your player skill improves.
However, if you try again after things have gotten tough, your options will be limited, so I think it's easier to just start over from the beginning rather than trying to get through it by repeatedly loading saves.
While there are several ingredients for pharmaceuticals and cooking, there aren't that many varieties, so I didn't feel stressed.
Rosalinda's actions and words, in particular, were incredibly cute, and I didn't feel any fear during the exploration (whether that's a good thing or not is another matter).
The enemy graphics are quite realistic and grotesque, but I think the reason they weren't that scary was because of how cute the girls were.
Strategy Notes (Difficulty: Veteran Maid)
I think there are various methods, so I hope you can use this as one of your references.
Until you acquire decent equipment, I think it's best to proceed by listening carefully and avoiding combat with enemies.
If you engage in combat without proper equipment, it will take a long time to defeat the enemy, and your HP will be significantly reduced.
If your HP is significantly reduced early on, it will be difficult to recover later, so be careful.
While Rosalinda is one thing, combat is especially tough for Shari, so it's best to avoid fighting until you have decent equipment and your level has increased a bit.
Since you can get plenty of scrap, it's not difficult to craft it early in the game as long as you have the recipe.
I think if we create this, we'll be able to clear about 80% of the challenges.
In rooms where you can obtain a lot of scrap, such as the workshop, actively use SP to re-explore.
In other locations, you don't need to perform a re-search.
If it's too difficult, just quietly pass by.
Since we'll be aiming to create a battle chainsaw on the next floor, let's refrain from spending scrap on weapons and instead prepare some healing items.
Herbal tea can help you recover from intoxication, so it's useful as a way to recover SP when you find a wine cellar.
Also, if you purchase painkillers from vending machines or similar sources, you can count moldy bread and dead mice as means of restoring SP.
When considering items with drawbacks, calculate their effectiveness in conjunction with items that counteract those drawbacks, and actively utilize them.
Let's aim to upgrade our weapons while equipping them with commonly available items like katanas and chainsaws.
Once you've crafted the battle chainsaw, your worries about combat will practically disappear, bringing you much closer to clearing the game.
Now, take your time to collect healing items while exploring each room and earning more items.
The beginning is crucial, so let's do our best.
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If the difficulty level is below Maid difficulty, you can recover from drinking too much with just a hangover, but if it's the veteran maid difficulty, it seems to be game over. Since exploration is easier, Shally is more relaxed after the first five steps.
Yeah, I can see why he's so well-liked.
I'm glad you were able to play it.
Since exploration makes up a larger portion of the game, Shally, who has an advantage in that area, might be easier to play as.
Once you get used to it, you'll be able to come up with many ways to survive battles.