Player Comments on The Free Hand

I liked the general atmosphere and puzzles that required thought but weren't impossible. I have many complaints though.
1. How did he even get there? We have no idea what happened to this guy to end up in some abandoned hospital. Although you might say that his dead daughter, the final boss girl, brought him there, why not kill him in the first place?
2. We have no explanations of the monsters/creatures/visions of gore, or even of Richard and Allie. Sorry, but "We never did find Mom, you know" isn't going to cut it. I might be missing out on something, but I wouldn't be surprised, as the backstory - which is meant to serve as some huge plot twist once we end the game, by the way - is incredibly vague, and it feels like it's only added to provide layering to constant fighting, and in general it doesn't have work. At least have a page at the end explaining it all.
3. We're supposed to believe that dog-human creatures, ripped apart dead bodies hanging from the ceiling, and some strange pulsing flesh ball is just lying around in some condemned building which literally lies next to a "normal street with normal people are doing normal things."
4. No depth, all gore and 'plot.' Why not expand your characters a little, show the teamwork more, or at least give us a chance to visualize Richard and Allie other than saying that Richards skin is pale or that his lips are blue while dying or that Allies knuckles are white and her fingers dirty when grabbing Nathaniels hand? It reminded me of some paranormal Hellraiser, except Hellraiser is much better made.
I'm sorry, but I don't understand how the game has made the top 50.
However, this is a mystery/puzzle game, and it is filled with puzzles and the game is one giant mystery!
I just really hope Ashen_Snake doesn't write romance.

Great story with nicely-detailed imagery which sets the scene and is improved even further with the choice of images included in the story.

One thing I think you could improve on though, is building up your characters - especially the main character. Perhaps you could have added a notebook in which the reader could have read the thoughts of a particular character?

However overall, very nicely-done story which has enough of a challenge to keep the reader thinking, but not too difficult so as to be impossible to complete. Good job Ashen-Snake :)

If you're thirteen years old, then you are the most precocious writer I've ever seen. Regardless, not only is this one of the best written stories on the site, it is one of the best stories, and combines the intense descriptions disturbing photos. Excellent everything! This is going in my list.

Completed ALL 3 Endings, This was a hard game. 8/8 for effort

Nice work

I like it, somehow it is really engaging. It made me want to replay it again!

I won't say much right now because I only read through one path but from what I read I thought it was pretty good. There weren't too many grammar issues that I could find and the plot was decent, but from what I read not all of my questions got answered. It does have a little bit of a backstory to it, which is good, but from what I read it felt like the backstory was mostly an afterthought and it didn't make me feel much for the character. The concept was really good though, and although it could have been executed better it was still written decently. You used a lot of gore and horrific elements to take place of what could have been more story, but you did have some story, so I have to give it to you for that. Maybe just a little more backstory wrapped into the different challenges so that you found out more in each segment until you had the full story, maybe even with a little twist, at the end. Overall this was really good though!

Pretty cool

Ok

This freaked me out.

I didn't even want to walk down my hallway (no lights on) without lights- I felt like I was going to step on the bulb. I got a Okay Ending, and this game was awesome. Nice piece of backstory, there, too.

8/8

Beautiful story. Good use of items. I LOVE THE WORK. YOU ARE DOING AWESOME. DON'T STOP!!!!!!!!!! :D

There is not much difference between the 'best' ending and the 'okay' ending, other than you see some talking from the people you saved. The best and okay endings aren't really good because you are a crazy man who killed someone he shouldn't have.

It is a nicely detailed game though - if you take away the fact that you're crazy, it's an awesome game. There is detail, there is the horror element, there are monsters.

The first battle, though, is not much of a battle - for one, it's sort of optional if you don't want the best ending. The already half-dead monster doesn't even put up a fight.

With more monsters, you could make a really good horror book; with the way it was written, it was already creepy.

A fun puzzle-like horror, this game was very interesting, not boring.

A fine little game, emphasis on the little since the booklet led me to believe that the game would be much longer than it is, and it does have much more potential. As it is, the only weapon I need outside of the final (3rd) battle is the rusty pipe, and the first battle can hardly be considered a battle at all. My biggest complaint, however, is with the endgame, which left me quite unsatisfied. I would have greatly appreciated if it were expanded, as is the case with the rest of the game. Moreover, I fail to see how the "best" ending is any better for the protagonist than the average ending or even arguably the "bad" ending. There is no resolution to the act of ***spoiler*** killing your own daughter. ***end spoiler***

Even though the game feels incomplete, the main body of the game that was written was decent. Normally, I might give a game like this 4 or 5, but I feel that it's currently way overrated, and I don't regret not playing it before now. 3/8

._. slightly depressing that you have to kill.....you know....

amazing quiz :D
11/10

It's a really fun, interesting game! Except that I am really confused at the ending. Can someone explain it? Please? I didn't understand at all and now I'm getting irritated trying to figure it out.

Excellent! This had the right amount of creepiness that kept me on the edge of my seat, while providing fun gameplay to boot. I immensely enjoyed this :)

Fun playthrough

Got all three endings. Was very well written had a creepy atmosphere that made all the weird things happening seem normal for the place.

This guy is a professional author
Didnt actually understand the story though

It's Finger lickin good

An excellent combination of puzzle, mystery, and horror.

It is ok

Freaking HORRIFYING!!! I love it!

I salute to you sire(or ma'am) for writing this great story. It is truly one of the best stories I've ever read in this site.

Short and pretty interesting, but the endings could have been more varied.

Creepy and interesting. really nice~

I got ending number 1.....and I'm not looking for any more O_O it's so scary!!! The images add a spooky feeling that's hard to find in a lot of stories, and the way author-chan describes the corpses send chills down my spine. I'm definitely not sleeping tonight! All in all, a wonderfully terrifying story!!!!

Nice.

Pretty good but I still like The Devils Fire best.

...Though some things are glitchy

Really good story with great descriptions.

Fun game, scary

Very good.

It wasn't bad entertaining but not the best I've ever read.

You could do better man :) youre still young :) ...

The best way to play these games is if you see something that is potentially threatening, you beat it until it's dead. Always double tap.

I loved the story so much. I got the best ending and I loved the idea of "Teamwork" Great game! 8/8!

Greatly written and it was kinda scary.

Great Game. Good Job

Interesting game. Well-written.

Great job!

I had to kill the little girl, she has to die again :(

it was short (to my standards at least XD) but fun! A great horror-type game!

I'm a bit confused... Nat was a crazy drunk? Who is allie and richard's mom? Are these supposed to be unimportant details? Because I'd have liked to know about that....
Game is totally cool, though.... Worth playing.

Very cool, but I didn't understand that much

This freaked me out a bit, but it was enjoyable and was a great read

Considering how young you were when you wrote this, it's fantastic. I have one complaint, though. You're able to kill the slime monster multiple times if you keep going back and... well, it detracts from the seriousness of the scene if you do that. xD

ending 2 and 3 arent that different. but otherwise. great job on the symbolism and allusions. its a bit short. but the quality of the plot is great

This game is amazingly done. The writing is fantastic, despite a handful of spelling errors near the beginning. 8/8

kinda short, but fun.

Well, it wasn't the creepiest of things. (much of what I read was gore for the sake of gore, some vague symbolism, and not much character development. Not to mention the silent hill tumor at the end of the first hallway, and clocks that I see no real purpose for.) But it wasn't the worst, and I guess it isn't creepy only when you over-think it, which I often do. But you did nicely otherwise, and you made an advanced storygame, and for that I respect your abilities. The combat was (surprisingly) satisfying, and it was touching in a weird way when it was revealed that Nathan was [SPOILERS].

It was really AWESOME!!!!

...

I would've liked to be able to kill the big bubbly thing in the hallway outside the starting room. Other than that, this was brilliant!

Great Writing and item use.

that was an amazing game

Loved this game! I think what I liked most was the whole scenery of the cursed/haunted hospital and collecting the items and figuring out how and when to use them. The only thing I can say against it is that I'm not sure I understood the ending. Were you actually the crazy, alcoholic father, or did the girl just think that you were the crazy father, and why was the hospital cursed in the first place? Other than that though, it was a brilliant game. ^_^

Not bad but lacking in multiple paths

Well-written and kept me on the edge of the seat but it could be longer.

creepy...... in a good way, want more x_x

This game was awesome! It had me on the edge of my seat wanting to play it again and again till I got the best ending. I cursed at myself when I read that to do it you had to get the medkit.....but that's all i'm saying on that ;3. Anyway real real REAL good

Pretty good. My only complaint is it should've been longer. I was hoping for some more battles and puzzles and whatnot. Good job, would've liked some more background on your teammates though.

Hmm. Interesting. Didn't really see why ending 3 was better than ending 2.

Ah~ the story is nice, but i sort of dont get it.
Is the main character the alcoholic who killed the girl or something?

really cool 8/8

Nice one with good choices but linear writing.

SCARY but good

The only problem I have with this story is the random changes of perspective. I mean, it switches from first-person to third-person to second-person and then back to third-person all within the same sentence!

Still, very good storygame! :)

Who killed who? Hmmmmmmm................

Atmospheric and gory! I enjoyed.

cool

Good story

I should be able to retry by not starting from the very beginning!!!

Pretty good. I had to use the walkthrough to cheat to the best ending though. By myself I got the okay ending.

Good but could use improvement still one of the best on this site.

Good story.

i beat the hell out of everything in the game

I would have never thought that /that/ was the difference between the Okay and Best endings. BUT! I rather enjoyed the story.

Gr888

It was great, but it kind of leaves me wondering.
What was the girl, and how come she kept, like, attacking him? Also, it should be much longer.

You really should make more storygames.

Impressive

Pretty good. How can you get the gun?

I find it to be an amazing story but the little girl died and they didn't find there mom, it should have been second best ending with a different best ending. but is still great!

Great storygame. It truly felt like a game.

Eerie. Quite well-written, and requires thought but doesn't feel frustrating in trying to beat. I managed to get (all?) three endings after a few tries. Nice work.

Not creepy but very very good

I didn't understand how the best ending was that much better than okay ending. That was the only problem. The rest kicks ass.

.... i like it....

Good writeing but kinda creepy really

Wow, that was creepy. I got ending #2...

8/8 wow great game i got ending 1# at first then went back and got ending 2# i think

This was an awesome game dude
i got goose bumps all over

I gave it 8/8

Good game, it gave me the chills.

wow, great game dude, seriously.

Ending #2! what's with all the blood and limbs? a single murder does NOT explain a bloodbath.

awesome

Good game -- a large part inspired by Silent Hill, I guess? Good use of inventory and atmospheric storyline.

Excellent writing and the pictures really add atmosphere. I am slightly confused as to what exactly was happening, but that's common to most horror movies/books/games.
Main character's name switched between Nathan and Nathaniel a few times.

How do you get a better ending?

That was bloody terrific. An easy 8/8 for me. That's my favourite on this whole site. I didn't think I'd ever find a better game than the ones I already have. In fact, this puts the others to shame. In one word: awesome. It was well written, perfect grammar, and I like the way you used the pictures in the story too. Well done.

the MADDEST game evr goog descriptions

I got the good ending......You kind of kept mixing up between He and She, sometimes saying he when it was a she....

Yay! I got best ending!

Yes! I got the best ending. It was kind of the same though. Oh well...

That game was awesome! I got the okay ending. The only thing that could improve it was if you could stab the girl and hit her with the pipe in a combination. That sounds brutal I know, but it would definitely improve it. This game could quite possibly be an online game or a book, even a movie! I highly recommend it.

Wow! That was so good and creepy! The plot would make a good survival horror game. *thumbs up*

Hey! ^_^ That was soo cool! It scared me xD; That was the scariest story-ish adventure I've read and went through in a LONG time. Keep up the good work!
-Jess

wow, that was a cool game! awesome! i give you 8/8! Nicely done!

Geez, at least now I had time to think before getting attacked by some... thing! Good Game

Nice little diversion. What was the picture for?

I dont like horrors, but I have to say, it was alright. Although, do you even know what f*ck means? It means to have sex.

Very good game. I believe this is your first game also? Really excellent use of text color, photographs, and items. Also it is so refreshing to see great use of dialouge, instead of a lot of the games that are like this: JIM:dude i need help TOM:ok im coming to save you

This game is awesome unnerving but awesome I need to have more time to play it- but great story - play and feel and use of objects as well. The pictures were amazing - probably the best use of pictures I've seen I'm going going to come back and play it soon as I get the chance I have a feeling I only played a quarter of the game! Nice

OK, I got the best ending. Great, amazing game.

Wow, I am very confused. I can't really say what's good if I don't understand it. Mabey tell what's going on?

just down right weird. lol pretty good imagination you have there. clear up the grammar and spelling errors and this just might get noticed by March. i recommend it!!!