We all have those days where we just need a little alone time, but most of us are simply able to duck off somewhere by ourselves for a while before we start feeling particularly murderous towards other people. The Girl has no such luxury... at least, not with The Bodyguard always two steps behind her. Fortunately, she's got a few rather unusual tricks up her sleeve, and is more than willing to fight dirty if it means getting a little peace and quiet. /follow, by Procedural Activity (01101101, along with the musical talents of Mathieu Hallouin and the artistic pixel stylings of Carduus) for a Ludum Dare competition with the theme of "alone" in just 72 hours, is a short point-and-click puzzle game. Just click on various objects in on the screen at the right time; ultimately, your goal is to find a way to escape your tenacious Bodyguard in each area by distracting or otherwise incapacitating him long enough for The Girl to escape.
While not particularly difficult since there's only ever one or two things to click on in any given area, /follow is still interesting because it feels like it's just one part of a bigger story, and definitely one we'd like to find out more about. The detail packed into the little screen is great, and well worth examining, though the few scenes of violence that push this game's rating up are odd and abrupt enough to feel out of place. This is actually the "enhanced" version released after the competition ended, and we can only cross our fingers and hope for an "expanded" version somewhere down the line, because it definitely feels like there's a lot of potential for a bigger adventure. While it lasts, however, /follow is a neat little concept with a lot of personality that's worth checking out for the five minutes or so it'll take you to beat. At the very least, it's going to make you appreciate not having someone breathing down your neck while you try to get all your really awesome brooding mysterious girl important stuff done.
Walkthrough Guide
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/follow Walkthrough
Scene 1
Click on the cat.
Click on the cat basket.
Click on the Bodyguard.
Click on the window.
Scene 2
Standing to the left of the beam of light, wait for it to vanish, then time your walk through the cleared space so that The Girl passes through it before the Bodyguard does, who moves slightly slower than she does. This might take some practice.
Quickly click on the window before the beam vanishes again and the Bodyguard can reach you.
Scene 3
Go over to the desk.
Click the desk lamp, and the while the Bodyguard is distracted, quickly click on the far right of the room to leave.
Scene 4
This is a chase sequence. You can click the mouse button to fire off a sort of pulse that will knock things (anything in your path) over as you pass them to trip up the Bodyguard. Time your clicks til right before you reach the item until you've knocked over enough things to make the Bodyguard fall off the screen.
Scene 5
Wait for the lights to flicker out, then click on the Girl.
Click on the spider when it dangles down from the ceiling.
Leave the room to the right.
Scene 6
This is another chase sequence. You can click the mouse button to fire off a sort of pulse that will knock things (anything in your path) over as you pass them to trip up the Bodyguard. Time your clicks til right before you reach the item until you've knocked over enough things to make the Bodyguard fall off the screen.
Scene 7
Choose to either pick up the gun, or walk off the building to the right.
Posted by: Dora | January 19, 2012 1:01 PM