A contemplative narrative horror experience. Purify cursed objects through rhythmic prayers. Your Faith protects you, your Guilt consumes you. 50 objects will unveil the truth hidden behind the abbey's walls. In the darkness of the Middle Ages, will you find redemption or damnation?
Immerse yourself in the silence of St. Maurice Abbey, where the liturgy conceals an ancient truth.
You are Elías, a monk whose mentor, Severinus, has died under strange circumstances. Guided by his master's voice from beyond, Elías discovers that the Abbey is a façade for a secret society perpetuating an ancient dark sacrifice, hidden beneath false Christian vows.
Your path is an introspective pilgrimage through seven phases based on the Canonical Hours (Matins, Lauds, etc.), which will lead you closer to a truth so devastating that it will force you to confront your own destiny.
The Price of Truth: The Guilt and Faith Mechanic
Penance is a 2D atmospheric exploration adventure with a deliberately slow-paced and contemplative rhythm.
Gameplay centers on the constant dilemma of Guilt and Faith, represented in two interconnected bars that define your moral and spiritual state.
- Elias' Staff: Your staff is an extension of your soul. It detects areas contaminated by Guilt that, if not purified, will physically block your passage.
- Purification and Rhythm: You must concentrate your Faith through prayer to absorb the Guilt that emanates from objects, cleansing your path and allowing you to advance. This purification is performed using a rhythm system: press the prayer key at the exact moment when the guilt circles shrink toward your staff to achieve a "Perfect" or "Good" hit and purify the path.
- Specters and Shield: The silence is broken by the ghosts of the sacrificed. These ethereal presences will interfere with your prayer and physically push you, forcing you to manage your Faith and Guilt while surviving the Abbey. Use the Protective Shield to repel nearby specters with an expansive pulse from your staff , adding a layer of tactical defense that consumes Faith.
Narrative of Revelation: Collect Your Destiny
The Abbey's hidden history is revealed piece by piece through 50 Objects of Mystery. Each collected object is associated with a symbolic concept (such as Fragility, Memory, or Mystery).
Your journey will reveal that you were raised for a specific purpose assigned by the abbey's brothers. Your pilgrimage culminates in a final choice: your balance between Faith and Guilt will determine not only your fate, but that of all humanity.
Key Features
- Contemplative Narrative Horror: A story-driven experience where prayer and atmosphere prevail over action
- Rhythm and Concentration: Purify Guilt with a challenging rhythm system featuring precise timing windows ("Perfect", "Good") , where a miss interrupts your concentration and stops the prayer.
- Tactical Shield Defense: Gain a reprieve from Specters by activating the Protective Shield, an expansive pulse that repels nearby threats at the cost of Faith.
- Specters with Unique Behaviors: Face different types of spectral threats, each with distinct movement patterns and interference strategies.
- Dual Survival Resource: Balance the Guilt and Faith bars, using your staff to purify contaminated objects and advance your path.
- Unique and Structured Narrative: Unravel the plot through 7 Phases based on the Canonical Hours and 50 Mystery Objects that reveal the abbey's hidden truth.
- Complete Experience: A two-hour story that culminates in a
- Deep Auditory Immersion: An original soundtrack and meticulous atmospheric sound design, where every creak and whisper intensifies the feeling of being on the verge of a revelation.
