Walks with the Snails said:
What made you decide to go with the moron indicators ([trading], [persuasion], etc.)?
Hey, I need those for when I can't read VD's mind. That persuasion option really doesn't state clearly enough that the PC has no intention of paying the guy, which also seems like a potentially foolish decision, depending on if the PC can be expected to need his services again.
The font is a bit harder to read than I'd like it to be. I have no problems with the pattern on the edges of the dialogue box, but they should really be rounded on the outside if they are rounded on the inside, and the name field should stretch all the way across, otherwise the modern style of
not having it stretch all the way clashes with the attempt to make it look more fantasy-like. One option that I probably would prefer as well would be a dark semi-transparent background in that window, and then white text on that. Either that or a portrait or image of the NPC. Getting a dialogue screen shoved in my face which then blocks the view of the NPC is a step backwards.
The graphics are of such poor quality that I expect them to improve a lot, particularly with some dirt and darkness. Otherwise I would've preferred a topdown perspective with decent looking cardboard icons moving around. Well, unless the animations are first class, like in that first (old) Prince of Persia game. Then the animations might be the redeeming quality of the graphics. As it is now everything looks sterile, which works
against the mood rather than for it.
The icons look ok, but I don't know what the seventh is supposed to be. I'm guessing that it's a broken stone tablet though, and that the main quest revolves around collecting mystical stone tablets to decipher a message from ancient aliens. A message that will save the world! Ok, I guess it could be a rune too, maybe an icon for magic? Between the potion and the chest I see what looks like a map, but according to Human Shield the map is below the inventory. Don't know what that thing is, but perhaps 'my' map is a (magic) scroll? Or a town map, while the other is a world map? Or is the spiral icon connected to time? Perhaps it would be evident after reading a manual.
The weapon images look excellent, but the whole interface needs less yellow and more dirt and ruggedness. Horribly perfect edges scream "Age of Computers", so either go full modern style to separate the OOC stuff from the gameworld, or untidy it up a lot. And ignore me, because as cheap and lazy as I am, I'll probably never buy the game anyway. I haven't even bothered to download the Prelude to Darkness demo, even though I liked their simplified monster graphics. I just figured that I should play through HotU before buying another fantasy CRPG, but when am I going to get around to that?