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Let us languish in Sanitarium (completed)

SerratedBiz

Arcane
Joined
Mar 4, 2009
Messages
4,143
Very interesting game! I can't believe I've missed all the fuckeduppery this game has to offer.

I didn't understand, however, how you defeated the scarecrow. Did it just burst into flames when you bonked the pumpkins?
 

Brother None

inXile Entertainment
Developer
Joined
Jul 11, 2004
Messages
5,673
lightbane said:
Here's a gameplay video for the interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IU_ECy3Q0Y

Go figure, fully voiced dialogue. I don't have that.

Longshanks said:
And, seeing as your AG-hating self (just been reading through your favourite games thread on NMA :wink:) is playing through an Adventure - I'd suggest you play a couple of the classics:

Thanks, though both were already on my shortlist.

The same problem I have with most adventure games remains with Sanitarium, tho'. I'm loving the atmosphere, story and dialogue, but the gameplay? Ehhhhh...

SerratedBiz said:
I didn't understand, however, how you defeated the scarecrow. Did it just burst into flames when you bonked the pumpkins?

Sorry 'bout that, bit unclear. You can slash at it while the pumpkins are there but he's invulnerable, once the pumpkins are gone take a couple of slashes at him and he's dead. Max can only take three hits, but again nothing respawns and the scarecrow doesn't heal, so it's not too much of a challenge.
 

Redshirt #42

Augur
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
337
A great game. When I played it, the game always crashed after 5 - 15 minutes of playtime but I finished it anyway.
 

SCO

Arcane
In My Safe Space
Joined
Feb 3, 2009
Messages
16,320
Shadorwun: Hong Kong
Brother None said:
The same problem I have with most adventure games remains with Sanitarium, tho'. I'm loving the atmosphere, story and dialogue, but the gameplay? Ehhhhh...

Last Express is realtime. Crazy hard as a consequence. Somewhat like the eric the unready games, but less hardcore (can go back in time)
 

Brother None

inXile Entertainment
Developer
Joined
Jul 11, 2004
Messages
5,673
drmorgan.jpg
Max? It's me, Morgan. I'm right here.

update4-002.jpg


update4-003.jpg


I have no idea what's going on here, but at least an update with real people in it should be...slightly less insane? Less torture of children's souls? Thanks, game.

Awful circus music is playing. It's awful. Let's talk to the dude in the bearpaw slippers...

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

king.jpg
Are you serious, man? I'm the King!

tbo.jpg
King of what?

king.jpg
King of rock n' roll, man! I'm Elvis!

tbo.jpg
The Elvis?! But I thought you were ... well, you know ... dead.

king.jpg
Aw, that was all a hoax, man! The pressure was getting to me. I needed a break!

tbo.jpg
(Break) Break from what? All your fame?

update4-013.jpg


update4-014.jpg


king.jpg
Thank you! Thank you very much!

tbo.jpg
(Music) Where is that awful music coming from?

king.jpg
I wish I knew, man! That stuff is for the birds!

tbo.jpg
(Patients) Do you know anything about the other patients?

king.jpg
They ain't patients! These are my fans, man! Lemme tell ya, these are the best fans in the world!

That was as useful as a halfbrick to the face. Further down we find a man in a tutu. I kind of don't want to, but let's talk to him.

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

skippy.jpg
Skippy!

Huh. I doubt that. But ok.

tbo.jpg
(Music) Where is that awful music coming from?

skippy.jpg
I don't know, Q-tip!

tbo.jpg
Q-tip?

skippy.jpg
Yeah! Your big cotton head looks like it belongs in a big ear! Woo hee hee hee hee!

tbo.jpg
(Patients) Do you know anything about the other patients?

update4-035.jpg


tbo.jpg
Very funny, old man.

skippy.jpg
Very funny old man! Hee hee hee!

We're definitely back in the asylum alright. There's a bunch of orderlies walking around as well.

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

stan.jpg
Stan Dumbrowski. Don't forget it!

Stan Dumb-Brow-ski? Subtle. :roll:

tbo.jpg
(Where) Where am I?

stan.jpg
Da courtyard.

tboshepard.jpg
(Sane) I'm not crazy! I shouldn't be here!

Yeah. Really showing your sane-face there, Max.

update4-047.jpg


update4-repressed.jpg
Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system! Help! Help! I'm being repressed!!

tbo.jpg
(Music) Where is that awful music coming from?

stan.jpg
Doc's doin' some kind of test in da observation room.

tbo.jpg
Oh. What kind of test?

stan.jpg
How should I know, maggot?

You can tell each orderly about your amazing experience.

update4-052.jpg


Stan is not impressed.

stan.jpg
Ah, shuddup!

There's 4 orderlies walking around, with a lot of similarly unhelpful things to say. I'll just transcribe parts of the dialogue instead of the whole thing (in fact I'll start skipping through dialogues for relevant parts more in this and future updates).

Some of them definitely lack some schooling, like Hector here:

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

hector.jpg
Why do you damn loons always gotta talk so damn much?! Christ! My name's Hector! Hector Vasquez! Now get the hell away from me, you look like a god-damned mummy!

tbo.jpg
(Mummy) Why is my head all wrapped up like this?

hector.jpg
Cause you're so freakin' ugly, I guess! Heh heh heh! OK, Mummy man. I'll be straight with you. You see, when the little green men came to -

tboshepard.jpg
Ah, forget it you jerk.

tbo.jpg
(Music) Where is that awful music coming from?

hector.jpg
You mean you don't see the orchestra full of pink elephants?

tbo.jpg
Very funny.

hector.jpg
Hmph! I guess you lost your sense of humor when you lost your marbles!

The other two orderlies are significantly more friendly, at least.

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

update4-088.jpg


tbo.jpg
A car wreck?

update4-090.jpg


tbo.jpg
(Music) Where is that awful music coming from?

bruce.jpg
Oh, the observation room. Dr. Morgan said that he was doing some auditory experiments ... whatever that means.

With this music, it's more like Guantanamo Bay-style torture. Still... Dr. Morgan! We'll finally meet him.

tboshepard.jpg
(Town) I know this will sound nuts, but I was just in this weird little town where a huge alien plant killed all the adults, but not the kids.

bruce.jpg
You're right.

tbo.jpg
You ... you mean you believe me?

bruce.jpg
No. I mean it sounds nuts. Just take your pill, Max, and you'll feel better.

And the last orderly.

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

john.jpg
John Whitefoot, Max. Don't you remember?

tbo.jpg
No. I'm sorry.

tbo.jpg
(Where) Where am I?

john.jpg
The Asylum, of course. In the courtyard. We had to evacuate the tower cells, because of the explosion.

tbo.jpg
(Explosion) What explosion?

john.jpg
The generator. I was supposed to be repaired this week. I guess they were a little too late.

tbo.jpg
Oh. What about all the patients up there?

john.jpg
I'm afraid you were the only one who survived, my friend.

update4-115.jpg


All those guys from the first chapter are...dead? Harsh. At least I don't have to feel so guilty about startling Fat-Slacks-Down-Guy to his death.

john.jpg
I'd say 15 or so. The fire spread quickly after the second explosion. Then there was no way to reach them in time, but, how did you manage to escape?

I'll remind everyone we opened up with a dialogue in which two orderlies decided to leave me behind to die. Bet it was Stan and Hector. The bastards!

tbo.jpg
If I told you, you'd think I'm really insane

john.jpg
Try me. I'd like to know how you survived this disaster.

tboshepard.jpg
(Town) I know this will sound nuts, but I was just in this weird little town where a huge alien plant killed all the adults, but not the kids.

john.jpg
I see.

tbo.jpg
Ah, you must think I'm as loony as the others.

john.jpg
No, that's not true. I have my own theory on what could have happened to you.

tbo.jpg
(Theory) What's your theory?

update4-128.jpg


tbo.jpg
Huh. Maybe you're right ... but it all seemed so real.

john.jpg
Your mind is capable of wondrous things, Max. In your head, it was real.

Max's mind is more capable of fucked-up things as far as I can see. Not that the real world is that much better, look at that ugly-ass fountain.
Let's talk to the sad, hooded woman sitting in front of the door.

cragsfriend.jpg
Doctor? Are you my doctor?

This triggers a flashback!

update4-137.jpg


Shit's bicycle, Max is/was a doctor?

cragsfriend.jpg
Doctor? Are you all right?

tbo.jpg
I am a doctor! I'm okay. Thank you. Yes, I am a doctor, but I don't work here.

I don't think you work anywhere, Max, good buddy.

cragsfriend.jpg
Oh. I was hoping you were a new doctor. Since my friend stopped talking to me I've been so lonely. I need someone to cure him so he could talk to me again.

In case you're wondering why she would confuse a bandaged, asylum-dressed Max for a doctor, she appears to be blind. At least, her eyes are iris-less.

tbo.jpg
(Friend) Who is your friend?

cragsfriend.jpg
Crag.

tbo.jpg
What's wrong with him? Does he have laryngitis?

cragsfriend.jpg
I ... I don't know ... maybe. All I know is that he hasn't visited or talked to me in a while.

tbo.jpg
Has Crag gone away? Maybe he was released from the Asylum and didn't tell you.

cragsfriend.jpg
No. He wasn't a patient here. He just used to visit me by the fountain on sunny days.

The heck? Not a patient, but he is at the Asylum (all the time, if she needs a doctor from the Asylum), but only on sunny days?

tbo.jpg
(Lonely) Why are you so lonely? I mean, there are other people here to talk to.

update4-149.jpg


tbo.jpg
I'll bet you are pretty, under that heavy hood. Why do you hide your face?

cragsfriend.jpg
Since Crag stopped visiting me, I don't want to show my ugly face to anyone.

tbo.jpg
Stop talking like that! You're not ugly!

cragsfriend.jpg
You're just being polite. You don't fool me.

:roll: Prototypical attention whore.

tbo.jpg
(Doors) Where do these big doors lead? It sounds like someone's inside.

update4-158.jpg


tbo.jpg
How did the preacher get inside if the chapel doors are stuck?

cragsfriend.jpg
He must've had help from his little lackey, Norm.

update4-163.jpg


We Shepard open the door. Notice the crazy clown stained-glass window to the left. The makers of Sanitarium seemed to have a good grasp of the inherent scary insanity of clowns. But before we go in, let's talk to some more patients. There's a crazy girl licking her lip to our right.

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

vera.jpg
My name is Vera, I think it sounds nice, I ate my husband with carrots and rice!

tbo.jpg
(Patients) Do you know anything about the other patients?

vera.jpg
They'd be yummy in my tummy!

tbo.jpg
What do you mean by that?

update4-173.jpg


tbo.jpg
Umm, okay. Talk to you later. Bye.

Crazy indeed. There's one last patient on the courtyard, a man sitting on a bench with a big fish.

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

fishman.jpg
Sir, yes sir! Eh? Who the hell are you? Lemme alone! Can't an old man get any rest around this ship?

tbo.jpg
(Music) Where is that awful music coming from?

fishman.jpg
Huh? Quit talking to me! I need to sleep off my hangover from shore leave!

update4-184.jpg


Inside we find the good doctor, and an old record player apparently hooked up to the outside speakers. There's three records near it, which we pick and will try later.

tbo.jpg
Hello? You must be Doctor Morgan ...

drmorgan.jpg
Hm? Oh! We thought we'd lost you in the fire, Max. Where have you been?

Jeesh, didn't they even count the bodies or summat? Also, how can he not have been aware of Max being alive still if we heard him talking to Max at the chapter-switch? Hrrrrmmmzzz.

tbo.jpg
I ... I was somewhere else for a while ...

update4-191.jpg


Hmmm, it might be for the best if the doctor doesn't know about Max's little tr...

tboshepard.jpg
(Away) I didn't just go 'away' in my mind, Dr. Morgan! I was in an actual place! A small town ... with children ... they were real!! They -

Well played, Max.

drmorgan.jpg
Now, Max, don't get all excited. I can have one of the orderlies restrain you if necessary. Will it be necessary, Max?

tbo.jpg
No. I'm fine.

tbo.jpg
(Well) I want to get well, doctor. But I have so many strange thoughts ... unanswered questions ...

drmorgan.jpg
Curiosity is a good thing, Max. I wish I had some answers for you. Perhaps we can talk later, after my work here is done.

tbo.jpg
(Fire) What fire? What happened?

drmorgan.jpg
The generator exploded. Too bad about all of those others in the tower. We could only save so many.

tbooface.jpg
(Others) Others?! What do you mean?!

drmorgan.jpg
Don't you understand, Max? The fire, it wiped out all of the cells in the tower, everyone inside ... You're lucky to be alive.

tboshepard.jpg
No one seems to be bothered by this ... Does anyone know what happened to make the generator explode?!

update4-202.jpg


tbo.jpg
(Notes) What are you writing, doctor?

drmorgan.jpg
I'm conducting an experiment. The effects of different types of music on all the patients.

Before we start fucking with people's minds by mixing up some music, let's head into the church.

update4-208.jpg


Ohkay? That's...pretty weird. You might not be able to tell, but the dude before the dias has his wrists shackled to his legs. 's a bit extreme.

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

norman.jpg
I am saint Norman, Disciple of Bob.

tbo.jpg
Disciple of Bob?! What faith is that?

norman.jpg
It is the truth! Bob's word is truth! He is the eyes and ears of God! Oh glorious and most holy of Bobs! Bob is the most Bob of all! Hallelujah! Praise be to Bob!

wtf

tbo.jpg
(Sermon) The preacher seems to be interested in the sin of stealing? Did something happen?

update4-215.jpg


tbo.jpg
Oookay, thanks for clearing that up for me.

tbo.jpg
(Spirited) The preacher seems to be pretty riled up. Is he always like this?

norman.jpg
No. But one of the evil sinners took something very valuable from the House of Bob! There we are watchful of all who would approach! Stay back!

tbo.jpg
But all I want to do is talk to the preacher!

norman.jpg
Then do it from here!

And do it from here he did.

tbo.jpg
Excuse me, what's your name?

bob.jpg
My name? Disciple Norman! This lost sheep seeks the truth!

norman.jpg
Seek the truth, preacher!

bob.jpg
Amen, Norman! I go by many names, my child, but you may call me Preacher Bob.

update4-tim.jpg
And you may call me...Tim.

tbo.jpg
(Sermon) You seem to be quite ... well ... energetic about the topic of stealing. Why is that?

bob.jpg
Oh, the wicked are among us, my friend! They spread their vile ideas and sinful thoughts like a cancer! And now, the sinners have desecrated the sanctity of His house!

tbo.jpg
(Desecrated) Desecrated? How did they do that?

update4-229.jpg


norman.jpg
Amen, preacher!!

bob.jpg
Thank you, Norman!

tbo.jpg
(Symbol) What did this holy symbol look like? Maybe I'll come across it.

bob.jpg
They stole no less than the sacred cross of the church, my son! A golden testament to His good word!!

tbo.jpg
(Parishioners) Your parishioners seem a little, um ... wooden.

bob.jpg
The lost sheep doesn't recognize the flock, brother Norman!

norman.jpg
Open his eyes, Father!

update4-238.jpg


tbo.jpg
Um, okay, if you say so.

update4-241.jpg


Time to mess with some heads. We have three records, The Ballad of Captain Dick, Belladonna in A Flat, Rocky Billy Swing Things, and The Donner Party Waltz is currently playing.

Predictably, Rocky Billy Swing Things makes the King dance.

tbo.jpg
What do you think about the record that's playing now?

update4-251.jpg


We can also talk to Skippy about this record.

tbo.jpg
What do you think about the record that's playing now?

skippy.jpg
Knock knock!

tbo.jpg
Who's there?

skippy.jpg
Boo!

tbo.jpg
Boo who?

update4-257.jpg


:?

If you play The Ballad of Captain Dick, the little fishlover dances.

update4-270.jpg


Thanks for the comment, Max, I really needed that mental image.
The last one, Belladonna in A Flat, sees Skippy get up to dance in his tutu.

tbo.jpg
Very disturbing ... Yet I can't look away.

update4-263.jpg


While I have no wish to know what Skippy has under his tutu, we do take the cross.

tbo.jpg
What do you think about the record that's playing now?

skippy.jpg
I love it. It makes me very happy. It reminds me of my late wife, Evelyn.

tbo.jpg
Oh, I'm sorry. Do you miss her?

skippy.jpg
Miss her? Ha! That old battleaxe? Hee hee! I'm delirious with joy that she kicked the bucket before me!

Heh. He seems pretty sane to me.

We take the relic back to Bob.

tbo.jpg
(Found) I've found your lost symbol, preacher.

bob.jpg
What's that?! Praise the lord indeed!!

norman.jpg
Praise the Lord!

bob.jpg
Come forward, my son!

update4-285.jpg


A Staff of Righteousness! Awesome! I wonder what kind of stat bonuses it gi...wait, this is just an old broom.

norman.jpg
Hallelujah!

tbo.jpg
Thanks ... I'll, um ... I'll use it for the good of mankind.

bob.jpg
Hallelujah! Amen!

The good of mankind, in the normal diagonal logic of adventure games, means prying open the waterworks thingy next to the fishman.

update4-294.jpg


Inside's a puzzle. There's 4 flows of water going in, and you have to connect them so all go to a single pipe to activate it. For instance, if we make them all go to the pipe above the fishman's head.

update4-308.jpg


It bursts! Hurray, slapstick!

update4-309.jpg


Refer to the map on the left to see what outlet goes where. We want to fill up the fountain, because I sense that has something to do with Crag.

update4-311.jpg


Hurray!

update4-318.jpg


She's dancing for joy at having her friend back. Yaaaay! :)

tbo.jpg
I fixed your fountain. Has your friend returned?

cragsfriend.jpg
Oh yes!! I'm so happy! Crag has returned! Can't you see him? Isn't he glorious?

As a matter of fact no, no I can't. Let's check out the fountain.

update4-319.jpg


What now? You can talk to it, which triggers a cutscene...

update4-322.jpg


The heck, who's talking?

update4-324.jpg


Of course. It's Crag, the magical talking gargoyle reflection. Makes sense.

That's a tough question though. What's my greatest wish?

tbocharming.jpg
I ... wish that I could see my sister again.

Oh good one! Wait, what? Who? We trigger back to the naming flashback, but now it continues, and we get to see Sarah, our sister...

update4-332.jpg


She doesn't look good :( Please no more dead kiddies, game?

youngmax.jpg
Hey squirt! Feeling any better?

update4-339.jpg


:(

update4-340.jpg


:( :(

sarahcin.jpg
Can you do me a favor, Max? ... Dolly ... the one dad won for me last year the circus ... Mr. Clown. Could you get it for me ... in the toy box?

Clowns again! Evil bastards...

youngmax.jpg
Oh yeah! Sure!

youngmax.jpg
Where is it?!

update4-349.jpg


youngmax.jpg
I can't find it, Sarah! I can't...

update4-351.jpg


update4-352.jpg


update4-353.jpg


update4-354.jpg


update4-singletearoftheeagle.jpg


After that nice bit of childhood trauma, we transport to our next chapter.

update4-355.jpg


We learned a lot in this chapter; Max used to be a doctor, his sister Sarah died young, which might well have been what caused him to choose that profession (assuming he was a medical doctor), clowns are evil, and everyone up in the tower is dead. No doubt we'll meet them again, knowing this game.

Next update we go back to full-blown insanity.
 

Brother None

inXile Entertainment
Developer
Joined
Jul 11, 2004
Messages
5,673
Sovy Kurosei said:
Brother None said:
Next update we go back to full-blown insanity.
We havn't yet!?

Man, someone in bear-slippers who thinks he's Elvis, a blind woman who talks to a Gargoyle's reflection, and preacher Bob and his sermons to his mannequins are all just par for the course. That ain't crazy.

Teaser for the next update:

update4-361.jpg


Now that's crazy.
 

Brother None

inXile Entertainment
Developer
Joined
Jul 11, 2004
Messages
5,673
Huh, ok, so turns out the problem with the voices was a faulty install file from GOG. They updated their file, I reinstalled and indeed, I now have fully voiced dialogue. Awesome.

Less awesome is that now the game won't work with my screencap program anymore. I use !Quick Screen Capture, which has worked fine for me so far, but it heavily distorts the colours of any screenshot I now take of Sanitarium.

Anyone know good, free alternatives?
 

Darth Roxor

Royal Dongsmith
Staff Member
Joined
May 29, 2008
Messages
1,878,404
Location
Djibouti
Use the Ultima Online Screenshot Utility. I find it to be the best screencapper ever.
 

lightbane

Arcane
Joined
Dec 27, 2008
Messages
10,156
I would say:

Fraps, and about how to get it: "Arrr"

PS: What features has that Ultima Online Screenshot Utility??
 

Darth Roxor

Royal Dongsmith
Staff Member
Joined
May 29, 2008
Messages
1,878,404
Location
Djibouti
Brother None said:
Doesn't work.

Impossible, it works with everything.

EDIT: nvm, just checked it with Sanitarium, and it doesn't work after all. Peculiar.
 

Brother None

inXile Entertainment
Developer
Joined
Jul 11, 2004
Messages
5,673
Darth Roxor said:
Impossible, it works with everything.

EDIT: nvm, just checked it with Sanitarium, and it doesn't work after all. Peculiar.

*shrugs*

It is what it is.

Oddly enough, Sanitarium will work with !Quick Screen Capture if I play in windowed mode. Only downside is it'll of course show the window thingies:

update5-001.jpg


Anyone got a huge problem with that? Otherwise I'll prolly just switch to that.
 

Brother None

inXile Entertainment
Developer
Joined
Jul 11, 2004
Messages
5,673
Grunker said:
What's wrong with Fraps?

It's not free (it watermarks for free downloads, no?) and I don't pirate software.

EDIT: oh, wait, no, it won't allow me to save as anything other than BMPs if I use FRAPS. That'd be a pain in the ass to have to manually edit, but not undoable if it's my only option.
 

Brother None

inXile Entertainment
Developer
Joined
Jul 11, 2004
Messages
5,673
ghostdog said:
Check out screenshot pilot, it's free.

I think I've used that before.

It has the same colour fuck-up as Quick! capture does, though :(
 

Trojan_generic

Magister
Joined
Jul 21, 2007
Messages
1,564
Strap Yourselves In Codex Year of the Donut Codex+ Now Streaming!
Brother None said:
EDIT: oh, wait, no, it won't allow me to save as anything other than BMPs if I use FRAPS. That'd be a pain in the ass to have to manually edit, but not undoable if it's my only option.

Just in case you will need to:
BIMP Lite is freeware that allows converting of a directory full of BMP images to other formats like JPG.

I haven't tried myself, but looks like you can resize images as well.

Oh, and thanks for the great LP.
 

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