HIM(1).Locked by fosf0

Eleanor would never hide something from you, would she? Search into the depths of your loving girlfriend's computer to solve the mystery surrounding her.
Enter this simple point n click adventure in which you search into files to find out an horrifying truth, only to discover something even worse than you expected, as you keep going and can't help but wonder just how deep does it go?
Remember, some things may be where you least expect them to be.
Ratings
| Overall | 114th | 4.008⭐ | 62🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 326th | 3.542⭐ | 62🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 192th | 3.692⭐ | 62🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 449th | 3.675⭐ | 62🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 112th | 4.339⭐ | 61🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 107th | 3.966⭐ | 60🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 33th | 4.347⭐ | 61🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 92🗳️ | 76🗨️ |
Maybe having the list of files you just unlocked be more persistent? Like sticky notes, I kept asking myself "what files did I just get access to" when I was stuck for a bit.
If it's still too vague don't worry, the ending is supposed to be kinda hard (but I heard the ending is SUPER rewarding :eyes:) but if you aren't sure how to find the answer, you should probably try to remember which were the last files you unlocked, and at least one of them should contain a key aspect of your next step.
Thank you again for playing, please let me know if you get to see the end! (PS: the [[DELETED]] file is by far the hardest, its a password kinda different from the rest)
Art is great, and the music is excellent and fits the mood so well. Overall amazing atmosphere and story/writing is top notch. Please help me get to the end so I can move on with my life :D
I can tell you [[DELETED]]' password IS NOT A WORD. And just like restaurant.locked, it requires more than one file to actually figure it out. If its still too hard, maybe something someone left behind may help? Lots of weird files on that PC, even more the ones that were deleted...
Thank you again. Please let us know if you manage to see the ending! The artists went all out for the animations and I'm feeling kinda bummed few people are getting to see them all lol.
It's also tricky that the files require a specific password to progress, because I've typed permutations of the correct answer for previous locks (adding a space where the game didn't expect one, for example); I'm not sure if I just got unlucky and hit the one case that you missed, but it would help to be more forgiving if the player has the right idea, and ignore any spaces/capitalization in the passwords they type. As it is, I've been re-typing every permutation of what I think the correct three-word answer might be, and coming up blank, and I'm not sure if I'm totally off-base, typing it into the wrong file, or if I am using incorrect punctuation :(
Edit: It turns out I did in fact need to change up the permutations of punctuation that I had. I am now just down to HIM(1).lock :)
Up until the recycling bin, everything felt approachably difficult - Each puzzle only took a minute or two, and felt rewarding to solve. Once I had to go into the recycling bin, that was when the difficulty felt like it really spiked. I'd already mentioned the issue that I had with finding a file in the recycling bin, and then the issue that I had with adding spaces in the dry cleaner's name.
On the last two files, it was really unclear to me which one I was supposed to be trying to open next - Either filename was very vague, and either one felt like it could have been the conclusive finale, and thus either one could come next, especially because there was no link between the clues you found and the filename, unlike the other puzzles. That left me thinking it was either going to end on HIM(1), because it was the title of the game, or DELETED because it was such a tantalizing hook, and I chose incorrectly. I was typing every permutation of <REDACTED> into HIM(1), and started doubting myself on what the animal mask the clue was looking for, so I then started looking back at the footage and then typing every permutation of animal masks that I saw as well as every permutation of punctuation. Finally, I realized I might be trying to open the wrong file, and then after even more typing, I realized it was a *dog*, and not a *wolf* on the mask 😵
Once I got to the last clue, after all my misadventures with typing almost-correct answers, I tried every permutation of "Eleanor", "Eleanor M", "EleanorM", "Eleanor M.", and "EleanorM." before finally moving on to other possible answers, which also made it a more frustrating final clue than was probably intended.
Finally, as one quality-of-life change, it would have been really nice if your focus returned to the textbox after typing in a wrong answer (or even just when opening a file), because I had to move my hand back and forth from my keyboard to the mouse so often while trying to find the correct answers 😅
Hopefully this doesn't come across as negative feedback, because I absolutely don't intend it that way! I was playing for so long (~30-45 minutes total) because I was drawn in by the art, atmosphere, and ambience, and I have so many opinions because it kept me engaged for so long! Overall, really well done!
The last files may be a bit hard though, but maybe that's on me
Good work and thanks fo the upload :)
Honestly I second the ending comment, it was an interesting way to end it all, but maybe a cue in audio or something giving more hint, or a facial expression! Ugh, so unfair!
Seriously loved the things you guys did, it was fun and engaging and very well written, it was definitely an enjoyable all the way, I spent more time than I would like to admit engaged in this puzzle. Just further proof that checking your girlfriend's PC is not alright!
The hardest is by far restaurant.locked, the hint for it is hidden in the poetry file. If its still confusing, the words CLEANSE and WASH talk about a certain place's name. I don't know if I'm giving it away, but just to be obvious: check the windows :eyes:
The [[DELETED]] should be easier if you take into account the feedback from other comments, so I'll try not to spoil that one for you. Please let us know if you finish it!
Like honestly, I really really really really really really really really really really really really really love this game.
This made me feel so weak and afraid, even tho Im in a safe surrounding, but the atmosphere and music gave this game so much tension.
I have to admit, that I was so bad at finding out the restaurant password, that I needed some hints to solve it.
It legit took me 40 min. to beat this game, but damn, was it good!
Amazing job in every detail. Awesome story aswell.
PLEASE, do consider making a full release with these mechanics, because I'd love to play more!
The only thing I didn't like was the consistency of the double click detection but it never became too annoying
I think everything made sense eventually, but I found some of the hints misleading (poetry). Also the answer that poetry leads you to doesn't work with a space. But I won't re-iterate that criticism to much since many other people have already gave you guys detailed feedback for that.
Very nice game, one of the closest to a real game I played this jam.
I somehow got stuck for more than an hour on the restaurant one (the rest was pretty straightforward). I don't know if I'm crazy, but I'm pretty sure I entered the correct password as my first guess under different variations and failed. I then went into over-complicated combinations of words and clues (I even Googled some keywords and ended up reading about women beauty products, fearing it was something I didn't know not being a native English speaker xD). After looking for help in the comments, I went back to my first idea and it somehow worked when I entered different variations.
So, if anyone is reading this, do not use the space character in passwords. (I don't know about capitalization)
Anyway, good job! solid entry for the jam =)
I love the idea! And the puzzles are very original. I just think there were some clues missing. It was really hard.
At first I got stuck on the restaurant password. There were so many options, because there are so many password files, I was testing every option on every file! I wish the progression was a little more step-by-step. Like having access only to the password files I need to complete on that step.
*******SPOILER ALERT FOR THE DELETED DOWN BELOW********
The second one that got me in trouble was the DELETED password. I understood what I had to do, but there were many options for every word, like I thought the animal was a Wolf, not a dog (I even thought it could be the dog's name Luna), Heart could also be love, red. Specially given that I was writing them with spaces between 😓.
*******SPOILER OVER********
Last but not least, the last password, for HIM(1). I went through every file! I thought my name was anywhere, that there was some clue missing, I view every video again, I was there extremely stuck! Then I thought it could be Eleanor, Eleanor M., with the dot, without the dot, with space, without the space, was her lastname somewhere? is it part of the password? I EVEN STARTED COUNTING THE LETTER U ON THE PROS FILE (I got HIM from that same file, so I thought there was something related). When I realized what the password was I felt really stupid. I wish it was a little different. Maybe ask for my name at the start of the game and then have it be the final password. Or perhaps having a menu where you can see the username and have it be it!
Apart from that, I felt the text for the file names where a bit too small, It got my sight kinda tired, perhaps I'm a little too old 😅
Also would have loved to be able to keep files open! And decide to close the ones I had already checked!
Anyways, this game is great! It's simple, yet very well executed! The puzzles are very original! Loved the art, loved the story! The last revelation was great! I just felt the last animation felt a little short. Perhaps having the guys with animal masks behind, or her with the mask would have made a better ending!
Great entry guys! I hope you find the feedback useful! There's lot of potential for a longer release as well.
Maybe unlocking folder with the passwords and getting deeper and deeper everytime would have been better, and also would have helped with the progression issue I mentioned earlier 😉
**SPOILER WARNING**
I think it was a funny pun, but after you've played through the game full of interesting and smart puzzles, that last one was just a little too childish so it's just hard to guess because you wouldn't think it would be so silly haha. I think it was funny, but just wasn't fitting to be the style for the final password.
Also I think I need an explanation of the ending a bit, I don't fully understand. Hopefully you can post it somewhere so I can make sense of it.
Restaurand.locked was so hard (i tried the good password but not with the correct capital/space and then i spend so many times for something else ^^"""). I thx the comment that give me the advice to retry the pw . The enigmas after, was in comparison so simple haha
