Let's Play OFF: Completed!

The game greets me with this title screen, eerie atmospheric piano music playing in the background. (I will post this music for you guys later if possible.)

After hitting the spacebar, I'm greeted with a message saying that I should install the fonts in the OFF folder if the current font is difficult to read. I have no clue how to do that on a Mac, so we shall soldier on. Now I find myself greeted with a comforting message of happiness and fun.


I can feel the vibe of this already. This *is force fed a bar of soap*'s gonna be all rainbows and diamonds.

Game message: (The musical pieces and sound effects of OFF, created by Alias Conrad Coldwood, are an important part of the game; it would be a shame to play without them.)

Rest assured I'll do my best to give you guys the full experience.
And after I have assured you of that, I missed a quick screen to screencap: a blood splatter with the words "Unproductive Fun Time" (the company who made this) plastered over it. And now, I'm told to enter my name. For the sake of this playthrough, I'll stick with the name I see everywhere for the main character: Batter.

Your name is Batter, correct?

of fucking course I fucking entered that fucking name in the fucking name enter box what the *is force fed a bar of soap* do you fucking think no my name is gregory
> Yes
> No

> I'm a boy
> I'm a girl

Basic character semi-customization introductorial limbo here. I'll spare you guys the rest of the details and just run them off.

...And just as I say that, I'm actually finished with the basic character semi-customization introductorial limbo. That was easy.

...Wait a moment.


...I named my character Batter.
Not knowing that.
No matter what.
I'd be referred to as.
"The Batter."
I am fucking "Batter The Batter."
Fucking fuckity *is force fed a bar of soap* *is force fed a bar of soap* McFuckins.

The Batter has an important mission. Be sure that it's accomplished.
We will let you out in zone 0. Good luck.

Zone 0, huh? Guess we're gonna find out what that means. Wonder what this "mission" is.

For more information, find the one called "The Judge."

...I've heard of him. Ooooooh boy have I heard of him. (If you've also heard of him, don't spoil it for the people who haven't heard of him.)


A desolate note plays. Three letters, one word: OFF. I have absolutely no clue what connection the title has to the game yet, so I guess we'll wait and see. Until then, I think this is a good place to leave...

wait for it...

waaaaait for it...
























































OFF.  :kisskiss:

So after exiting the game last time, I forgot to mention I hadn't reached a save point yet. Good news is though, I can rename my character. No more "Batter The Batter" anymore, everyone. I am now...


BAXTER THE BATTER.
Hell yeah.

ANYWAY, as you can see, we are now being run through the controls of the game! Tell 'em, Baxie.

To move my body, use the arrow keys on your keyboard.
To interact with the environment, use the space bar or the enter key.

You can't see it in that image above, but everything around me is wiggling. I think we're on some sort of island floating in a big sea of ominous clouds. Those weird boxes are also moving up and down. Let's walk up that path.


I appear to be on a path leading to a tall building. Calming music plays and I can hear water running in the background. More like the foreground, actually. I dunno.
A happy smiley cat approaches us. Let's see what he has to say.


There cannot be any other living beings in zone 0, so I must assume that you are only a mere figment of my imagination.
Nevertheless, I will introduce myself. I am the Judge, and I am aching to know your name, dear illusory interlocutor.
I'm the Batter. I've been assigned to a sacred mission.
It is a pleasure. However, it is not the puppet I was addressing, but the puppeteer controlling it. What is your name, dear puppeteer?
His name is Baxter. He can't talk to us.
However, he can hear and see everything.
(Ah, I see now. I've heard this game just loves to break the fourth wall. We are Baxter, not the Batter.)
Even though you too are but an inexistent apparition in my eyes, let it be said that I am delighted to meet you as well, dear Baxter.
I believe we're in need of your services.
(And I believe the Batter is in need of some eyeballs.)
Many people are in need of my services, you know. Everybody loves cats.
We rub ourselves against their legs and purr in the most insistent manner. They adore that.
(It's like they channeled pure cat thoughts into this character. I swear this is what my cat thinks all the time. "Yes, I've got this human in the pad of my paws. All I have to do is sniff and purr and roll.")
I'm not talking about that kind of help.
I see... but what sort of service could I offer to an ectoplasmic entity?
I have a sacred mission to fulfill.
I must purify the world.
There is no objective more laudable than yours. I accept to serve you as a guide through this area, if it is of any help to you.
Thanks.
(Charming, Batter.)

The cat walks off into the building. We will follow him, but let's take a quick look at our surroundings first.


Seems to be a couple of treasure chests and a... cat? Enemy? The Judge, somehow teleported up there? Who knows, let's see. First let's open the chests.

A Luck ticket has been found.

The other chest is blocked by an obstacle (which also seems to be near a doorway). Investigating it gives this message:

It's impossible to get around this obstacle.

Yeah, like ya couldn't, you know, jump. Or climb over it. It's not even half your height, come on.
Aaaaand turns out that thing up there is the Judge.

Allow me to confess that I find you quite tangible for a phantasmagorial being.
Might you in fact be a creature of flesh and blood?
I think so, yes.
(Ohh, Batter. A man of few words. Always in touch with your inner feelings. Or, you know, your innards' feelings.)
So I have been mistaken from the beginning. You did not even interrupt me in my deluded phantasms...
(In going through a second time for some missed dialogue right about here, I noticed the Judge jumped and didn't actually go in the door. Oops.)
This is relatively bizzarre, I must say, for you are the first living being I was given a chance to encounter in this lieu.
I had in fact concluded that zone 0 was an empty land. Obviously I was misled.
However, there exist other zones. And in those territories, the risk of hostile individuals attacking you in the most violent manner is quite high.
Your sacred mission will likely lead you into these lands. Would you like me to teach you the art of violent confrontation?
(I have no clue how this game works, so I will gladly take the tutorial.)
Combat tutorial?
> Yes
> No

Our battle begins as we zoom in on Batter's crotch.

Purification in progress...


This here is the battle screen. As you can observe, you will find yourself placed at the right-hand side of the screen.
Your opponent however, in this case yours truly, will be located on the left, the correct place for a single combat.
(Opposite placing from what I'm used to. I guess it's sort of like how Europeans (this being a French game) generally drive on the other side of the road.)
At the beginning of combat, you will be confronted with a choice. You have to decide whether to "Attack," "Auto," or "Flee."
"Attack" naturally permits you to engage the fight in the classical fashion.
If "Auto" is your decision, the computer will make the strategic choices in your place, making you simply the spectator.
Finally, "Flee," as its name indicates, is the option of the coward. I dehort this alternative.
But now it is time for the offense. Choose "Attack," select the Batter, then choose "Attack" anew to off me with your bat.
(Perhaps this is hinting at us getting partners in the future?)
Do not utilise the "Auto" function. The computer will not hold back and I will take the risk of dying, taking my secrets with me to the grave.
(That would be incredibly fun. )


> Attack
> Auto
> Flee

> Batter

> Attack
> Competence
> Objects
> Flee

> The Batter - Pure - The Judge

No animation. Huh. Perhaps it's just this battle, perhaps not.

Excellent, dear sportive companion. You must consider the fact that the Batter's and the enemy's levels determine the impact of your assaults.
It is possible that you or your adversaries could avoid the barrage of attacks that you will throw at each other with slyness.
On occasion, your cast iron will get you a critical hit, which will cause teeth to fly in heaps.
But let us move on, if you are willing to. You may have noticed that when you chose "Attack" for the first time
after you selected the Batter, a new window opened itself at the lower right-hand side of the screen.
There, you have the choice between four new options. "Attack" leads to a sole strike against a likewise sole adversary.
"Competence" permits you to use one of your special skills. "Objects" will grant you acces to the items you are currently carrying.
Finally, you have, yet again, the opportunity to flee. But remember: solely the Batter is responsible for that option in his menu.
How about trying to utilise an object? Take this Luck ticket and use it on the Batter's person with gratitude.

A Luck ticket has been found.

Now the animation plays, A swift blow to the grinning cat with some blood coming out.
I'll spare you the menu narration stuffs and just say I used the Luck ticket.

Impeccable. Your mastery of battle borders on brilliancy, my friend. But there is one thing we have not yet addressed.
I am of course talking about competences. They are generally, in layman's terms, special moves. They can trigger surprising effects.
They may induce a resurgence of health points, or may be in and of themselves, powerful attacks.
Nevertheless know this: any use of competences leads to a consumption of competence points (CP).
So I ask that you use these skills sparingly. Once your CP are completely consumed, it will be impossible to carry out heavy assaults.
And if you happen to cross swords with a tougher opponent before being able to get some more CP, victory will be uncertain.
But try it right away. Choose "Competence" and try using "The Wide Angle," which will allow you to analyse your enemy.

This seems to all be pretty much stock RPG stuff so far. I suppose there will be twists coming later. Battle systems are one thing where messing around with things won't do you much good.

Wide Angle - Analyses the enemies' characteristics

A mosaic of shapes appear for a brief moment, blinking, and a lottery noise plays.

The Judge
An odd appearing, cryptic cat.
HP: 300 / CP: 30
No weakness/resistance

Eh eh eh. You now know not only all about me, but also about the art of combat.
About the Wide Angle... know that its analysis will always be based on the start of the battle.
Thus, it may accidentally analyse adversaries you have already knocked out for a long time.
The confrontation ends, theoretically, when the health points of your team, or all of your opponents, fall to zero.
(I like how he says my team's health points first. Optimistic there, bud.)
Take good care of your health if you want a successful career in purification.
(We get paid? )

The battle zooms out and we're on the building again.

From now on you will be ready to crush all impure obstacles that get in your luminous mission's way.
Well, supposing your intelligence is on the same level with your undeniable capability capability of dealing bat blows to an innocent cat.
(Excuse me? >:1)
Be it as it may, your training has not reached its end yet. Let me ask you to follow me, if you still want me as your guide.

Aaaaand he magically floats at high-speed to the top of the building, not even bothering to take the ladder. Now that we can move again, let's check out that room I neglected to look in before, when I thought ol' smiley was hiding in there.


Ominous music plays. It appears to be but a single small room with a wall of numbers: 4 4 8, 2 8 7, 3(?). Checking the wall out brings this up:

Quite peculiar.

...Let's get out of here.


Let's go inside, shall we?


Oh, great, more ominous music and numbers. Just what I needed.
Looks like we've got a puzzle ahead. No, not the cat, the obstacles.

Ah, yes. To pass through here, you need to use your cerebral organ. You know, the one bathing flabbily in your tired cranium.
(Thanks, dude. I do my best to keep it from going dry.)
I believe those floating blocks correspond to the symbols you can see on the wall in some way or another.

Well, let's get started then.
I interact with each of the boxes, starting with the top left and ending in the bottom right, just like the numbers on the wall. This is boring starter fluid puzzletry.

The stairs open up and we're greeted to another room.


Is there a problem, my dear pictorial heroes? I am not your genitor. I cannot do everything for you.
Nonetheless, may I dare suggest you wage activating certain ones of these strange floating blocks more than one time, if required?
So come, solve this intriguing puzzle for me, and quickly, if you please. I wish to rejoin the ground floor as soon as possible.

Sure thing, boss cat dude.

And then I selected the boxes in the order they appear on the wall: first box, second, sixth, eighth, second, third. And the stairs opened.

Woohoo.

Exciting.


Ahaha, finally! After all that exertion, the eagerly awaited recompense makes its entrance into the scene!

He then proceeds to shove his face in a bowl of cat food. What a—

crunch nom nom crunch

OH MY GOD HE'S SO CUTE CAN I KEEP HIM PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE

Anyway, looks like we're going to have to use the numbers that were on the wall in the other room for this puzzle. 4 4 8, 2 8 7, 3. Let's do this.

...Buuut before we do that, the way out to where we started is opened, and I wish to retrieve whatever was in that treasure chest.

A piece of Silver flesh has been found.

...Did I read that right?
Silver... flesh?
Like... flesh that's... silver?
Well... this is a good sign.

...Going back to the puzzle, activating the boxes works spectacularly, untiiiiil we get to the last number. We're just gonna have to guess what that actually was.

Turns out, it was ten. The obstacle to the north door is removed.


gimme gimme red box must look—GOD DAMNIT JUDGIE

Here is an accessory that is going to be especially helpful on your purifying quest, dear enlightened student and sportive friend.
It is a cube, hovering in midair, as you have likely noticed.
(bitch i need none of your sass)
Nevertheless, you will be able to differentiate it from similar ones by the contrast of bad taste it imposes on your view of its clashing color,
defying any sensible course of plastic arts. However do not judge it too quickly, because despite its criticisable appearance, this red cube is of undeniable use.
(I wonder what it could be.)
Aside from rendering you the entirety of your health and competence points, it is capable of saving your progress and sending you to the nothingness.
(OH MY GOD IT'S A SAVE BLOCK OH JOY hey it restores stuff too cool)
The nothingness is a lieu of transition outside of space itself, where you can travel from one point to another at the speed of light.
(In other words, it teleports us places.)
I now invite you to try it out, in order to discover more locations more populous than this deserted land.
Open your wings, my dear companion, and hurry away towards the following zones without hesitation! Your only enemy is the fear that will grab you.
Okay.
(Fear? Batter knows no fear. He knows no shame. He knows no sympathy. Bring on them monsters. He'll bat those bitches up like they're bitches that he's batting up. Fuck yeah.)
Do not worry, I too travel a lot through the different zones of the world. We will newly meet one another eventually without a doubt.
Ah! By the by, take this.
(it's dangerous to go alone *shot*)
This object of a curious name will be the key that permits you to enter zone 1.
Have I clarified that you can at any time consult your inventory and characteristics by pressing the Esc key?
(No.)

The Leo-card has been found.
*pokes the save block*
Health points and competence points completely restored.

> Save game
> Return to the nothingness
> Cancel

So after loading up, since I've saved a file, I'm now presented with an option to continue my game. The load game menu looks like this:


Either I gained a level or we start off at level 2. I dunno. But anyway, let's get started.

Back to the nothingness?

> Yes
> No

A noise not unlike that of an automatic door opening and closing plays, and I'm teleported into a strange dark map with the absolute fucking scariest music I've ever fucking heard in the background.


It's not even music, it's just... voices.
Let's get the fuck outta here.

Enter zone 1?
> Yes
> No


It's raining, I think. The cloud-sea-thing is now pink and the land is green. I'll hit that save block in a mo. I suppose I should show you guys the inventory.


Our stats are displayed at the right. I dunno what the 736/2207 means. Pressing space selects a menu item, arrow keys move around the menu.

Here are the descriptions for the two items I'm carrying:

Luck ticket: Recovers a moderate amount of HP
Silver flesh: Recovers a moderate amount of CP

Pressing Esc returns us to the menu. Competence doesn't really contain any new information, so let's look at Equip.

We have 75 Attack, 48 Defense, 51 Esprit, 63 Agility. The first two are self-explanatory, while I suppose Esprit is special attack and Agility is the likelihood you move first in a turn of battle.

Our offensive equipment is the Harold Bat.

Harold Bat: Offensive equipment for the Batter.

Our Stats page seems to be pretty interesting.


We shall see what the Classe, Grade, and Statut fields are meant to signify later, I guess.

The last selection allows us to switch between "Active" and "Waiting." Dunno what those mean. There also seems to be a blanked out option to save. Perhaps later in the game we get a skill that allows us to save at any point.

Let's exit out of this boring stuff now.
(Note to self: "Quit" exits the game, not the menu.)


There seem to be some businessmen and a decrepit structure with arrows pointing at it. This should be good. Let's talk to the businessman nearest to us.

Train #1 is a really useful means of transport to get about zone 1.

So, guess what we've gotta do?

Please select your destination...
> Damien
> Cancel


Train #2 hasn't been active for a long time...

That's a good sign. Inactive public transport is always a good sign in RPGs.


Uhm... Uh... A visitor?
...
I... Uhm... Welcome to the smoke mines.
Uh... may I know who you are? Are you an inspector?
No. I'm the Batter.
I've come to exterminate the impure spirits.
The... Batter...
The... impure spirits?
Are you some sort of... prophet? Or perhaps a man of belief?
Yeah. Something like that.
(It was the holy thing to say, of course.)
I... Who sent you?
Nobody. I'm being led by Baxter.
(yeah you better fuckin bet im your leader and if you dont get purifying soon im gonna cut your paycheck like im edward scissorhands and the money's a water bed)
Ah. I don't know him. He must be a member of the superior personnel...
In any case that's good. It means our requests have been acknowledged... Here, I'm going to explain your task.


Um... You're at the smoke mines of Damien, the southern part of zone 1.
Here, we send workers into deep tunnels to unearth metal from the ground, freeing the embedded smoke that was trapped in the depths.
(Perhaps explaining the sea of clouds in the areas thus far?)
Thanks to a variety of tools we are able to put some of it into bottles, which the Queen sends to the other zones.
The rest of it flows free, forming the air that our lungs inhale and exhale... Uh... So we can live.
As the first of four elements... It's an important element.
(These elements will be a central plot point to the game, I'm guessing.)
Because without smoke, people would have nothing to breathe.
Uh... there we are. And so...
Finally... uh... How do I put this?
Where are the impures?
Uh... yes, there we go. There are many spectres in the mines. They are becoming more and more aggressive.
But uh, in fact, it would be better if you didn't enter the mines... Because...
Because the regulations forbid visitors to access them.
So, uh, here's what we're going to do.
There's an annex tunnel that nobody ever goes to.
But a miner went in there some time ago...
And he saw something strange, he said. Nothing like the usual.
So I thought... maybe... it's the chief of the spectres.
Uh... so, there's your task. If you accept, you'll go into the annex tunnel and kill the chief of the spectres...
Then, the spectres will disappear and we can work properly again.
There we go, there we, uh... do you have any questions?
No.
Ah. Great. Impeccable.
The tunnel is right down there.
I'll wait here.

Let's go in this building first.


Some cool indoors music plays. A tall and bald businessman stands in the purple room. I treasure chest lies, ripe for picking. Let's talk to the man.

Soon, I'll be promoted. I'll be a supervisor in Alma.
I'm anxious for that day to arrive.

There you go, little dude. Follow your dreams. In the meantime, let me loot all your life's savings.

A Luck ticket has been found.

Oh, boy, he's rich. Let's head out to the annex tunnel. And look who we meet!


Well well, who do we have here? Is that not Baxter and his picturesque jumping jack, the Batter?
Are you the specters' leader?
(...Is he actually blind?)
Aha, no no, certainly not. I am only passing through, not unlike the smoke which is being extracted from this pale and metallic place.
However, I believe I know where the one you are taking for an ectoplasm can be found.


To tell the truth, I am perplexed, I think it is one of those peculiar objects called a spherical Add-On.
(New skill?)
I have very well tried to accroach it, but the operation has failed systematically so far.
But I am thinking... Maybe you, one who does not have a physical order, will succeed in affiliating this spiritual entity to yours.

That's our cue to walk up and poke the thing.


Add-On Alpha has joined you.

What an exceptionally intriguing phenomenon... I must admit that I remain perplexed by this unexpected, metaphysical reaction.
Fair enough; since it has decided to accompany you, I know only to advise you make the best usage possible of it.
Got it.
The chief of the specters isn't here?
Sorry, but I have to respond in the negative. Apart from this Add-On, I have not crossed the way of a single soul in this lieu.
(He likes the word lieu. I shall unofficially christen him Lou.)

Now let's head back up.


Ah, you're back! So, have you killed the... uh... the chief of the spectres?
(I notice Batter says specters, this guy says spectres. Interesting.)
No.
He wasn't there.
Oh... oh? Really? I... Bugger. I... Well, then uh...
I believe that I'll have to let you enter into the main gorges, then.
But uhm... the regulations oppose it.
Alright uh... I... I suppose this is a very special case, as stated in paragraph five.
So, uh... Good, well, the main mines are on the right.
There.

The blockade to the right disappears. And now, in going through a second time for missed dialogue, I found that the Add-On Alpha we got has its own stats and everything on the menu, so here it is.


Wonder what "Father" means. Anyway, back to the game.


We'll talk to the top guy first, then the one on the left. Right. God, I can't tell directions.

There are phantoms down there... They keep us from working properly.
But now it's breaktime for me anyways.

Left. Right. Goddamnit.

What are you doing here? Are you the mine inspector?

Useful information, thanks, guy. Anyway, let's head down.


Top guy:

You've come to eliminate the spectres? That's good news.

Bottom guy:

The lamps don't always work in the endmost corridors. And since everything looks the same around here, it's easy to get lost.

Hooray! This is the super-dark huge maze of a cave level! Whoohoo!
Left RIGHT guy:

There are phantoms in every corridor, be careful mister.
And besides... Who has let you enter? Normally the regulations prohibit external visitors...

Welp, let's leave this unimportant room.


Some neat new music plays.

Show yourselves, corrupted children! I'm the voice of forgiveness that'll eliminate your calamitous forms.


...
Prepare yourselves to suffer my judgement.

Purification in progress...


OH MY GOD THIS MUSIC IS SO FUCKING AMAZING EJWFHFEBA YOU GUYS HAVE TO HEAR THIS I'LL PUT IT AT THE END OF THE POST WITH THE REST anyway yeah battle time

Selecting Auto, I toss the Add-On Alpha at a few of the ghosts and they disappear, then I get bludgeoned a bit. And this carries on. For a few turns straight. Until I win. I didn't know Auto would last the whole battle.

Adversaries purified.
400 experience points gained.
80 Credits received.
Luck ticket received.
Luck ticket received.
Luck ticket received.
Luck ticket received.

...
This "Add-On" is fighting by my side...
That's practical.
Let's purify the other galleries.

I hit the yellow block.

Health points and competence points completely restored. (The yellow blocks don't allow you to return to the nothingness.)

> Save game
> Cancel

Zone 1 First Floor Underground/Building

Spoiler:

AND HERE IS THAT BATTLE MUSIC AHH

Spoiler:

(I tried to find the second floor and map music, but I couldn't, sorry.)
EDIT: Turns out the zone 1 overworld I had before was a different version. Oops.
I might just have to upload the files from the OFF folder myself sometime.