"I offer a guarantee—an absolute guarantee—that the tomes will contain the truth on the curse that afflicts you."
Such is the Witch's promise. Is it worth the price she demands?
Can Amadeus discover the truth within the first tome's pages before the moon Aska rises this very night?
Play as Amadeus, a young werewolf struggling to understand his condition, as he navigates a tale woven by Witches. He is equal parts desperate and determined; determined to reclaim agency over his own self, while afflicted by a curse that steals it from him every time the greater moon draws full.
Amadeus: A Riddle for Thee is a narrative game heavily inspired by Umineko When They Cry thematically, and Professor Layton aesthetically.
There will be 5 episodes in total. Episode 1 ~ Waltz out now.
Development of Amadeus: A Riddle for Thee began in late 2022. I (Leo) was studying technology & music composition for media at the graduate level. I'd already been thinking about a werewolf named Amadeus, but lacked any real plans for him, and mostly just found the idea hilarious.
(Wolfgang; get it?)
Things started taking shape thanks to a composition assignment: a marimba piece I was writing, inspired by Professor Layton music. Listening to the work-in-progress gave me this feeling. Motivated by that feeling—and always eager to procrastinate—I set the track on repeat, and started drawing. I sketched out what I imagined could be the title screen for a theoretical game about Amadeus.
It was almost meditative; the combination of art, story, and music coalesced perfectly in my mind, convincing me that I had something to work with. That experience is immortalized here:
The marimba piece would eventually become Spellbound Mischief.
I was also taking a Unity/C# elective course at the time, and decided to make use of the final project assignment in order to test my vision. I built a short browser-based adventure/puzzle game starring Amadeus. It was quite rough, but I could see within it the seeds of something very special.
From there...
The 5-part narrative was finalized during Episode 1's development, so it is filled to the brim with hints and foreshadowing. The complete story will be released in 5 sequential episodes, using Higurashi When They Cry as a model.
I have a professional background in music and a lifelong interest in all of the arts. I hold a Master's degree in Technology & Applied Music Composition and am trained in both modern and baroque cello.
I also have a lifelong interest in mystery and detective fiction, particularly—but by no means exclusively—in the form of visual novels. Amadeus's hometown is named "Dartmaure"; no prizes for guessing where that came from.*
Before making Amadeus, I participated in the Global Game Jam almost annually from 2016 until 2021, generally acting as just a composer/sound designer/occasional artist, with minimal implementation. After studying implementation in graduate school and taking an elective course on C# I realized that I find the entire process of game development incredibly fun, not just the audio side! It seemed like the ideal medium to combine my various artistic interests in one work.
My website, arcanaxix.com, is self-coded, including some very rudimentary JavaScript to randomize sound effects as you hover and click on objects. Virtually everything you need to know about my artistic sensibilities and creative priorities can be gleaned from this project.
*(Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles is set in Dartmoor.)
