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This game is done beautifully. The music that accompanies each level is superb and the dialogue flows really well and doesn't detract from the game play at all. Adds a whole new dimension instead of just a little platform to platform level structure. 5/5!
Of course, the sheer fact that you included a reference to Ludlul bēl nēmeqi (Shubshi-meshre-Shakkan) get's you a 5/5 ha ha! =)
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Using smoke to block the lasers is just a metaphor for drugging yourself to overcome life's problems.
Oh, and one of the most tragic things that I realized, after considering edqwardoe's comment, was that Jack's life is still a wreck in the ending. He's still going towards the left, as Kathryn in the beginning.
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Anyone notice that in "The Meadows" levels, all the lasers no longer harm Kathryn anymore. So, at that point she must have shook off all the sadness and stress :)
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If you guys play through the game and read the dialogue, you'll find that in no way is this a game that advocates smoking. :) I hope you'll give it another chance!
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You know who the real victim is here? Penelope. One of her friends dies, she learn her boyfriend is a lying tool not long after his funeral, and the other friend who helps her through all this dies at the hands of a drug-addled psychopath. There should be a third game starring her.
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I was prepared to give this game a 5/5 as soon as I saw it was a prequel to The Company of Myself, one of my favorite flash games of all time. After playing it, I was thoroughly impressed. The developer managed to come up with an entirely new mechanic that was as fun to use as the one from TCoM and even cooler to see. The story was already a great part of TCoM, but this took it to a whole new level! Fixation took everything that made the story of TCoM great, amplified it, and added more characters, dialogue, and art. Everything from the gameplay to the atmosphere was absolutely perfect. I wish I could do more than 5/5 and favorite this. If I ever get money for Kreds, I'll be sure to send some towards this developer. I would love to see a sequel, but if the developer feels that his work with this story is complete, his next project would be very welcome too. Thank you for this spectacular work of art!
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It seems to me that lasers are a metaphor for stress, pitfalls are metaphors for depression, and the walls you have to open seem to bee day-to-day activities that she can't do without smoking (because of addiction)
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To solve the EHUP, you have to blow a smoke ring directly at the switch. You must race against it and push the smoke ring into the switch as it fades to close the distance.
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Love it, but getting the correct smoke level to blow rings is extremely frustrating at the fourth swamp puzzle. With the indicator bar gone, being able to blow rings is strictly by chance... not helpful when the last gate is on a timer.
OTOH, realizing I went through nearly half a pack just trying to finish this has convinced me to quit smoking for good.
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I would appreciate it if you'd stop jumping up and down the stairs while I'm trying to read your text psychologist! >:(
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For the second badge: Level 17 is the first level of chapter 3. You have to solve the upper puzzle. Blow a ring and run with it. This way the ring will reach the circle thingy.
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"No man is an island" You can't go through life by yourself. The game shows how Kath can't finish some problems without the help of others, sometimes we also have to swallow our pride and get the help from other people that we hate. This game is truly a work of art describing a little something about life as we know it.
This game is really one of my favorites, truly one of the best series ever made, the story is just so brilliant. Favorited again 5/5. This is a masterpiece my friend it is...
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When Kathryn suggested fixing the backyard, Jack was kind enough to plant a few flowers there... Among other things...
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Spoiler:
Is it just me who doesn't actually think he killed her. Through the game you jump down holes to finish a level, so that's not a problem. As shown in the ending, and mentioned earlier in the game, his medication means he forgets her. He loses contact, can't find her again, and his poor mental state means he starts to believe he killed her.
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Unlock code:3-1: D887C1 tip:blow smoke ring at sensor from the edge of non-smoke zone and run after it to push it to the sensor.
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For Blowing Smoke Badge, after you smoke follow the circle, walk behind it. It will de-spawn slower and hit the button.
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Blowing smoke: Cheat code 7E7CA3 unlocks 3-2 (level 18). EHUP is on 3-1 level 17. blow smoke ring ring at sensor from the edge of non-smoke zone and run after it to push it to the sensor.
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To change the cosmetic appearance of your smoke go to the cheats input and use:
"Something...Darker" red/black smoke
"BigPimpin" purple smoke
"WoahDude" rainbow smoke
"SuperSmokeTheCigsTurbo" increased amount of smoke and longer range (disables Kong hiscores)
"BackToTheBasics" resets smoke to default
Those are all I could find! have fun with this great game :)
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The trick to beating the EHUP is to blow a ring at it, then to run after your ring until it reaches the switch. Hope this helped!
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Did you ever stop to consider that if you don't like to read, instead of changing the game, maybe it's just not for you? I know a concept not revolving around you is a complicated one, but you'll get the hang of it.
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Hm, my apartment has a bunch of pits and lasers and you'd have to smoke in order to get out. No wonder Penelope didn't want her boyfriend coming over.
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"Thank you for playing" WELL THANKS FOR RIPPING MY HEART OUT INTO SMALL PEICES GOSH
I love these two games, thank you for such great work!
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One thing I love about 2DArray is the way everything flows in his games, they don't tell a story to you, you make the story, and the tutorial is fitted into the story, rather than just sticking a wee screen at the start telling you everything, you feel like you develop with the character, and it makes the games all the more gripping, I love this and TCOM so much, if you read this 2D, you are my favourite flash game developer!
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At the end of the game, where it talks about his day, thats his current state of mind after the accident with Katheryn. He can't remember anything for the day, which matches up what his psychologist said in the first game. This story was sad, but it was really good. I wish I knew just what happened with Kathryn :(
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She needs to have a serious talk with the architect who designed her house. Giant pits don't exactly give a warm welcome to visitors. Not to mention how hard it's going to sell the house in the future.
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Took me time to realize that everything in this game is a metaphor. E.G., the lasers represent Kat's "internal threats" (life problems, stress) and she fixes them with smoking.
It's very rare to find games of this kind. Kudos to 2DArray for making these great games.
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beautiful story... very deep and philosophical... although the sarcasm towards literary analysis provides nice comic relief (ie metaphorical lasers, belief vs coping defense mechanism) lols.... i love the story line... Just for the story and music alone (the biggest elements) i woudl give this a 5/5... but the puzzles are very nice.. involves a little bit of timing (smoke rings) but anyone can pick that up relatively easiliy... the puzzlse themselves are rather unique as well, and the solutions are not overly complicated... Favorite problem is definately the ExtremelyHardUpstairsProblem of DOOM.. <3
overall 5/5, already favorited.
cant wait for the next installment
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If you take 'The Company of Myself' and compare it to this game, the level where jack 'kills' Kathryn, and the last level of this game, is the biggest part in my opinion. In TCOM, the ending credits basically explain that he went insane after he accidentally killed Kathryn and he put her in a green box. In this game, she talks about her garden(backyard) where she's found in TCOM.
So, yeah. It all kind of falls together. Jack was a drug abuser trying to get away from his normal life, but it just made it worse when he met Kathryn.
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Truly impressive when someone chain-smokes likes a chimney, yet has the cardiovascular prowess to double jump and run without tiring.