Adorable Crush:
Introduction:
The central character in the game, a young man named Danny, grapples with chronic insomnia stemming from worry, stress, and suppressed memories. Due to his condition, he is admitted to a mental institution where he seeks treatment from Dr. Reubens, a somewhat eccentric scientist. Dr. Reubens employs his Cognitive Regression Utilizing pSychiatric Heuristics (C.R.U.S.H.) device, embodied by a sentient female persona, to aid Danny. This device induces hypnosis, allowing Danny to recover his marbles, symbolic of his sanity, and confront his deepest fears manifested as monsters—such as cockroaches, blockwalkers, and slugs. Through this process, Danny revisits pivotal moments in his life, including moving into his first apartment, working a stressful job as a chef in the city, a past romantic encounter with Tina, and a traumatic incident from his childhood at a local funfair.
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As Danny's visits continue, he delves into memories that might be causing his insomnia. However, his progress remains elusive, prompting Dr. Reubens to regress him further back to his childhood against his wishes. Ultimately, it's revealed that Danny's childhood fears, particularly his nyctophobia, are the root cause of his insomnia. While Dr. Reubens is initially displeased with this revelation, he acknowledges Danny's cure. Yet, as Danny is brought out of hypnosis, the situation takes a dramatic turn as C.R.U.S.H. seems to attack Danny's mind, endangering his life.
Development:
In a slight variation, the character "Doctor 'Doc' Doccerson" replaces Reubens in the PSP version. Doc is determined to outshine his past inventions with his latest creation, C.R.U.S.H. Throughout the game, he uses a tape recorder to narrate his scientific experiment. Teaming up with his best friend and protégé, Danny, Doc enters Danny's mind using C.R.U.S.H. However, Danny becomes trapped inside the device, navigating through his subconscious, collecting marbles, and facing monsters representing his fears. As the narrative unfolds, Danny and Doc question the device's actions and reasoning.
The gameplay centers on Danny's exploration of his memories, facilitated by the ability to transform the level's layout between 2D and 3D perspectives. This unique mechanic aids in overcoming obstacles and solving puzzles. Marbles serve as collectibles to unlock new robe designs, while monsters can be dispatched by collapsing blocks onto them. The concept of "crushing" the level manipulates it, merging platforms and creating pathways that appear in the 2D view. However, certain blocks, when crushed, can obstruct Danny's progress. Additionally, Danny's thoughts, represented by neon icons, influence his abilities and actions, adding further complexity to gameplay.
The game's narrative unravels as Danny confronts his fears and memories, providing insight into the roots of his insomnia. The story's twists and turns lead to Danny's eventual realization of the nature of his fears and the role C.R.U.S.H. played in his journey. As the game concludes, Danny emerges from his mental exploration, free from the confines of C.R.U.S.H.'s domain. Conversations between Danny and Doc shed light on C.R.U.S.H.'s future, with a surprise revelation about the true nature of their experience.
Five key features of the game:
- Hypnotic Exploration: Dive into Danny's mind through hypnosis and traverse his memories to confront his fears and regain his lost marbles.
- Unique Gameplay Mechanic: Utilize the crushing ability to shift between 2D and 3D perspectives, solving puzzles and creating pathways in the process.
- Mind-Bending Puzzles: Overcome obstacles and challenges by manipulating the environment and strategically using the crushing mechanic.
- Engaging Storyline: Uncover Danny's past, fears, and experiences as you progress through the game's narrative-driven levels.
- Sentient Companion: Interact with the sentient persona within the C.R.U.S.H. device, exploring the complex relationship between Danny and his treatment.
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