Hi everyone!
Octopus Goulash is finally available in its full version on the store.
Today I stopped and played my own game. I tried to experience it as a player, not as a developer. I spent two and a half hours that literally flew by.
This is my review, as subjective as it may be.
Octopus Goulash is a game that, in terms of gameplay, offers something for many different tastes. From driving and shooting, to crafting, dialogues, story, NPC interactions, and pure exploration. There is a bit of everything.
That said, it is not a game for everyone.
I believe the “ideal” player for this game is quite rare nowadays. In my opinion, the true core of Octopus Goulash lies in what is not explicitly shown. The city billboards, advertisements, and radio broadcasts hide many clues about what OG truly is. Exploring the world, and especially its hidden gameplay layers, will eventually take you off the rails. A sense of disorientation will come. But it is precisely that disorientation, when fueled by curiosity, that will give you a purpose and ultimately lead you to the ending.
The game will not hold your hand until the end. Everything depends on you, and on how deep you are willing to go. It will not be easy, but along the way you may find people willing to give you the right advice.
Negative aspects
I was expecting many issues at launch. In reality, from what I personally experienced (and no software is bug-free at release), the game ran smoothly for the entire two and a half hours.
I did die a few times. Hard mode makes the police truly challenging, which is a positive point if you are looking for a high level of realism.
Dialogue localizations are not perfect. If you understand English, I recommend sticking to it, as it is the original text. That said, if anyone is interested in helping translate the game into their language, feel free to contact me via the website or on Discord.
Some interior lighting is a bit too dark. Since interiors are generated dynamically and the sun direction changes over time, certain locations can be hard to see. I added a small flashlight, but this will be improved in future updates.
Final notes
After three and a half years of solo development, with a ridiculously small, almost nonexistent budget, developed in my spare time outside of work, I am surprised to say that I am satisfied. And perhaps even something more.
The atmosphere and the world I created carry the meaning I have been chasing for all these years. If even a single player reaches the end and understands that meaning, then all of this will have been worth it.
Octopus Goulash is about life, reality, and the search for meaning.
Try it, and find yours, if you can.
P.S.
Starting tomorrow, I will take a short break. But I already have several updates ready.
Planned updates
Russian and Chinese dialogue localization
Police career
New quests
Graphics and UI improvements
Interior and lighting improvements
Expanded home and furniture management
Dialogue improvements