You don't know what that word means. Let's Play Ib

Hello, children.



Let's play Ib.

Ib is a Japanese-made horror game, made by a fellow named Kouri in some RPG Maker. Despite the engine used, it's almost completely a puzzle game, with no actual fights and only a few action segments. It's also got a crazy amazing atmosphere with the music, images, and whatnot, so I heavily recommend playing the game over solely reading the LP. But less talk, and as they say, more rock.



The game starts off normally enough, with the titular protagonist of nine years, and her parents. They are going to visit an art gallery!



It's a very nice handkerchief. Don't worry, the intro text crawl is brief.



See, now we're to the intro itself.



The gallery is having a Guertena exhibition. The fellow is extremely prolific, working in pretty much any medium you care to name, though his specialty is paintings.



This is as good a place as any to say it: Ib is a really dumb name.



Ib's dad has very few lines in the game, and I can't imagine why an attractive fellow like him doesn't have more.



Anyway, while the parents do boring things like get our admission or whatever, Ib's going to check out the exhibits on her own.



And just like that, we're free to play.



This is Ib's item list. Generally, items are only used for the plot, like keys or things, though there is an exception or two.



Anyway, enough of that. Let's check the art out!



Most of the other patrons, of course, are busy looking at the art themselves.



Hang on, the what towers?



Minor plot issue: Ib is 9. As such, her vocabulary is a bit limited for the stuff one might find in an art gallery, and you'll get messages like this if she comes across a word she doesn't know.

This is occasionally not too consistent, but it's a neat touch all the same. The game does a lot of tricks with the characters' perceptions of things.



Anyway, I won't look at every bit of artwork right now, I'll just browse real quick for now.



That's a big painting. I think I'll come back to it later.



Yeah I don't think mom has anything to worry about with Ib.



This dude remarks that if we were alive during his time, we could be his apprentice.



This guy wonders if that's actually true about the subject of this painting. Which, while neat, also implies that since Guertena probably died a while ago, this woman is either dead or way older. So you have fun with that.



Heading back downstairs, we see a sign briefly describing what's going on.



I don't know anything about this one. All I see is a huge fish.



South of this is a massive, fragile looking rose.



Also: this very plain painting of a dude who is CLEARLY not coughing.



I guess this over here is too high up for us to see properly?



Ib heads back to the large painting for now. I'm not sure if that's supposed to be surrealist or what, but it looks surprisingly amateur if you ask me.



Suddenly, the lights flicker and silence descends over the gallery.



In investigating, we find that the gallery has become deserted.



That's odd, it was relatively clear out earlier.

Heading downstairs, the lights flicker once more before going out entirely, and the sound of a single pair of footsteps echoes through the gallery.



Worried, Ib tries the door of the museum, but finds it locked. The window isn't locked, but on trying it...



Yeah, uh... let's go somewhere else.



The first floor is just as empty as the second, though.



Even though the footsteps continue to echo, and I can swear I heard someone coughing just now.



Ib heads back up to the big painting to see if checking it again will reverse this plight. She hears a heavy thudding behind her, but the window, as before, refuses to open, and no one is there.



Okay, that's less than normal.



However, the painting does not take us back.



I'd really rather not, but I also see no other way out of here.



Into the fish painting, huh? I'm already regretting this.



This takes us to a totally new floor, with new paintings as well.



Heading right at the fork leads to a locked door, and a painting of an odd fish.



Turning back to try the other path, we find the path back up sealed behind us.



Over here, at the end of a longish hallway, we find a rose in a vase blocking another door.



The Rose is one of the few items that doesn't just solve a plot trigger. As you can see in the upper left, we now have a rose indicator. This doubles as our health. Note that this doesn't mean the rose is a pure game construct, and it is a physical thing Ib has.

Anyway, we can still move the table. It's small enough that even a kid can push it around.



In here, we find a painting of a woman that slightly defies reason, and a notice about the rose.



There's also a key on the floor and nothing stopping us from taking it.



Nothing else in this room, so let's head out.



Oh. Uh. I think someone's upset that we took either the key or the rose.



Anyway, we can use vases like these to keep the rose alive.



Ib's rose has 5 petals to it, but you can only use the vases of water once before they deplete.



I'm no thief. You're the thief, you stole me from the gallery!



Anyway, let's stop arguing with the floor and move on.



There's two ways to go here: up that corridor, or to the right.



Before I try that door, I think I want to take the corridor, though.



Wait no I don't IB RUN



Whoa. Okay. That's what it meant by "beware the edges".



All that for an ant painting and a locked door. Boring! Back through the gauntlet of hands. You're actually completely safe if you stand in the center of the corridor.



Down here, we find a little guy! He's kinda hard to see in this lighting, though.

The ant laments that it's way too far for him to check out his cool painting.



Heading over here, we find that our path to the right is blocked by a large hole, with nothing visible at the bottom. We need a safe way to cross it.



This'll do just fine, and we'll get to show it to the ant too!



The ant stares at the painting for a while, but doesn't do anything else with it. Good, because we need it.



Thankfully, it's just big enough to cover the gap!



Oh... that's not supposed to happen. I hope the ant is okay.



That's also fairly morbid. And I have no idea what that statue is in this area for.



Well, we got what we came for.



Hang on. That statue just moved.



That statue is moving towards us very quickly. Get out of there, Ib!



Ib rushes over the ant painting and it cracks completely under her.



As she leaves, she hears a tremendous crash behind her.



Well, the statue isn't following us anymore...



You're probably better off not knowing.

Anyhow, with the Green Key we can go through the door just a bit ahead, but I'll save that for later. This is already quite a bit to take in, after all.

Next Time: A Chef's Talent

Oh man. This is going to be good.

I've been told by a friend of mine that most of Ib's horror actually comes from the music and atmosphere. Without it it's not actually very creepy.

. . .well, except for one part.

Oh, hey, an RPGmaker horror game that isn't a clone of Yume Nikki. That's pretty rare! Seems kind of creepy, insomuch as an RPGmaker project can be. I'm definitely digging the character sprites, though.

I really like how it relies on atmosphere and stuff as opposed to "HOLY HECK THERE IS A ZOMBIE BURSTING FROM THE FLOOR!"

It's definitely a horror game, though that shouldn't discourage the squeamish from downloading it.

well except for that one part

But I am incredibly squeamish! Horror games have always creeped me out much more than the average person for some reason. Hell, Bioshock is too scary for me even though it's not really a horror game, because not being able to see behind me even a little bit freaks me out. (Incidentally, this is why I don't really play first-person games in general.)

All that said, I'll at least read this LP because this seems like a pretty interesting game. I didn't know it was even possible to make games of other genres in RPG Maker, much less a horror game.

We got the green key, so let's move on.



Well. That's different. Cat face. The cat face has a fish-shaped indentation where the mouth would be.



To the right is a room full of sculptures and related tools.



Heading forward to check the sign, the lights around Ib flicker and darken once again.



One of the large stone busts starts advancing towards her!



Thankfully, it trips over the sign and shatters. Amidst the wreckage, Ib finds a wooden fish tail.



This isn't enough to fit into the slot, so we check the other branch of the main room.



As we pass by the stick figure, painted writing appears under it.



This seems like a bad idea.



The stick figure vanishes, and seven buttons appear below each of the curtains.



Pressing the button reveals the picture underneath. Let's try this one.



As soon as it opens, Ib feels a horrible tearing sensation, and the rose withers a bit.



The next painting doesn't injure her, but it does make it rather hard to see. Let's leave and come back, how about.



This painting cuts the lights. As you can expect, each painting affects the room (or Ib, in the case of that bloody knife) in different ways.



Opening this one, we hear a scream and a slapping sound, and the curtain quickly closes afterwards. Shame on you, Ib!

This one... well, it doesn't do anything to the room, but it's more than a little unnerving.



As soon as this one is revealed, the area goes completely silent.



And by process of elimination, we find the stick figure and hear a wooden "thunk" over near the painting.



Put the two together, and we get the wooden fish in its entirety.



And now we feed the giant cat wall the fish.



A sound like a hundred mewing kittens, and the way forward opens.



Anyway, a few ways to go here. We'll go left first.



As you approach this painting, it spits in front of you. Just be careful and you'll have no problems avoiding it.



Hang on, that's not totally white. I see something tiny there.



So there is!



The color of the number is important to a puzzle later. Also, that writing desk is the game's equivalent of a save point.



Over to the right, we have a very non-sequitur warning.



If we head over to those lips and investigate them, they'll snap at us. So let's not do that.



One more hand lunges at us from the wall, but since we're still in the middle, we're fine. Don't worry, they're only here and in the insect room.



This area branches to the left and to the right. Over on the right, a bunch of dolls hang from the ceiling.

Investigating the one at ground level causes another to fall.



The green number 18 is stitched on its clothing. These are probably relevant.



Okay, they certainly are.



We already have the green and red numbers, so you can multiply them now. However, the purple number remains elusive. Let's check that left fork, then.



Oh, is that so?



Six paintings, each with writing under them.



Yes, this is a logic puzzle. Each of the paintings says a different thing.



In the room beyond, there's a series of tiles, with a statue providing the last clue.

The key to this one is that three of the paintings simply say that another is telling the truth, so if only one is telling the truth, none of those involved can be (i.e. if Blue is telling the truth, then Green can't be telling the truth, therefore Blue is lying).



Since nobody bothers to agree with Brown, they're speaking the truth, and we head to the proper tile.



Underneath, we find the last key number for the puzzle. 18 * 9 + 4. What's the answer?



As soon as we see the number, a suddenly cacophony of ripping and smashing resounds from the room behind us.



Whoa. That's a little messed up.



Nothing we can do for them, so let's just keep moving.



The solution is, as you may have solved by now, 166.



Let's see what we've got next.

Nothing in here but a bunch of trees. And this wooden apple, which we take.



Whoa! Just when you've forgotten, indeed!



Approaching without the wooden apple isn't a good idea. Approaching with it, though...



Here, take it. We don't need it.



Not 100% sure about this...



But, as before, no other way to progress.



Well, this is a sinister set of paintings.



Fortunately, the stairs are just over th



HOLY HELL



I'm not sticking around to see if that comes back down for another swing.



We enter into a new area, and a shadow flits through the halls faster than we can properly see.



I'm not sure what this painting is supposed to mean at all.

Anyhow, this is a short update, but there's a reason for it. I have reasons.

Next Time: The Lady in Red

So, a new area. The areas are distinguished by floor color and background music.



It opens into a gallery full of weird sculptures.



The door to go further in is locked, and there's no key in sight.



This one isn't a heartbeat, though. It's just a straight green line.



...at first.



The other end just has the painting that guy was looking at earlier.



But as Ib turns away to look elsewhere, she lunges forward from the wall, frame and all!



The lady in red moves pretty fast, but you can evade her if you're careful.



This is good, because this is kind of important.



Despite being fast, she's none too bright, and we sneak back over to the door without issue.



No sooner do we close the door than do we hear her banging on it behind us.



The book warns us about the dangers of the women in the paintings. The plural part bugs me, but at least we can be safe if we leave the area.



A few other books are in here, but not all of the bookshelves have them, and most of them are too boring for Ib to care.



Whoever is responsible for this needs to cut it out, right now.



This is actually kind of a neat thing.

I could screenshot it, but let's just let you read it yourself.



Regardless of whether you read it or not (and in some systems, like mine, you can't read it because it crashes the game), you'll notice this afterwards. Not a very difficult puzzle, but hey.



This unlocks the door ahead.



This vase, and others like it, don't run out of water when used. This is actually pretty important. Also, fork in the road.



To the right... hang on, is that guy even alive?



Yes, but just barely.



We'll take the key from him. He's not going to need it, and I don't see a good way to help him right now.



Further down the road, another statue, but this one doesn't attack, so the path ahead is blocked.



Let's a least make an attempt to tend to him.



He's none too responsive if we just try calling out to him.



Attempting to massage his shoulders with all the finesse of a nine year old kid only seems to make matters worse. At least he's aware we're there!



Heading left, we find a room that seems relatively empty to start.



This vase is totally dry before we even get to it, though.



Huh, these notices seem familiar.



This label says there's another lady here, but the painting is long gone. I'm not too keen on entering that room there...

...I think we've found the source of that fellow's agony.



In the room, we find the lady in blue, plucking away at the petals on his rose. There's not many left, so let's do what we can to get it back.



Ma'am, please be reasonable and let us have the ro--



THAT IS NOT REASONABLE.



There's just barely enough room in each half of the room to juke away from the lady, letting us recover the rose.



I lose a few of my own petals getting back out, though.



She's unable to pursue us through the door, but the window is another matter entirely.



Right, let's see if this helps the fellow.



Seems like it!



And a good morning to you too.



Calm down, man. She's like two rooms over.



Looks like we've found someone else trapped here.



All I know is when I get out of here I'm never setting foot in an art gallery again.



The stories for both Ib and this dude line up pretty much identically.



Well, except for the part where a nine year old kept her rose perfectly fine while the adult had his stolen right outside the place he got it from.

If one exists, sure.



Yeah, and we don't know your name either. Please make it easier on both of us.



Okay, he's called Garry. That's a more reasonable name than Ib, at least.



Whatever helps you sleep at night.



...Are you done yet?



Sure it did, chief.



Anyway yeah, from here on out we have Garry on our side! Though he's only as brave and competent as your average surrealist art enthusiast, he's got a few advantages, and if nothing else, having someone to talk to is always good.



One such advantage is having the strength of an actual adult.



Put your back into it!



Let's do so!



A gray area, opening with grieving bride and groom and more hands coming from the floor.



Thankfully, they don't attack us.



Also, both hands belong to the bride. Let's leave these two alone for now, how about.



This is the next big puzzle area here. There's a desk and an unremarkable painting to the right, but nothing else.



Up top is a series of more paintings and a second room we can enter.

And to the far left... eyeballs. Lots of 'em.



I guess so? Weird, but hey.



And then there's this painting.



You seem highly trustworthy. No.



I said back off, man.



Okay, let's leave you alone for now.



In the room just south of the crazy painting is a bunch of easels and stools.



The stools are light enough that even Ib can move them.



Our prize for this block puzzle? Eyedrops.



We don't need 'em right now, but you might. Here you go.



We did a good thing!



Is something over there?



Turns out that yes, there is.



Shiny! I claim it.



Nowhere else to go right now but into this room. Statues patrol the corridors of the labyrinth, and there are things to find in here.

Normally, sure. When they're full of homicidal headless statues, not so much.



Cool and all, but I don't see an exit separate from the entrance, so this doesn't help much.



Well, it's fine for us, but I can see how that might bug you.



Fun fact: this game has multiple endings, and there are a few factors that determine what you have available. How often you speak with Garry is one such factor, so finding this is an optional, but not required, reward. It's also surprisingly difficult because the statues can easily corner you back here.



The actual solution for the puzzle is, in part, up here.



There are three splotches of red probably-paint, but only this one actually does anything, for obvious reasons.



We find a hidden switch that does something.



And we survive the maze without taking a hit! I rule, pretty much.



This opens up a new room by the desk.



The lights in here flicker pretty much constantly, and there's little in here but more weird sculptures.



Garry has something to say about all of these, but it doesn't have an effect on the ending.



I dunno, Van Gogh would probably make a summer home here.



Nothing else in that room does anything for now, so we go up to the other paintings.



Putting the glass ball in the snake picture causes another one to fall down.



The big tree... there was a person-shaped tree sculpture in that other room.

For varying definitions of "person", anyway.



Hey, a thing!



I think we know where this goes.



Okay, now I know precisely dick about wedding ceremonies, but I know a ring goes on a finger. This one's underneath the bride picture, so let's put it here.



This part pretty well gives the answer.



The bride and groom are pleased!



The bride throws the bouquet in the air, and while nobody catches it, Ib takes it anyway, for reasons.



They're not grieving anymore. Hooray!



This probably isn't the intended usage of the bouquet, but hey, may as well.



Glad you like it.



Wait, what?



Suddenly VERY glad I didn't hand over the red rose.



At least we can progress!



Huh, claustrophobic much?



This just gets more and more fun. But we'll tackle that gauntlet later.

Next Time: Couple

This game is surprisingly creepy! A lot of it is probably due to the fact that you can't fight back in any way, helplessness goes a long way toward making horror games scary.

Huh the ladies have permanent :D faces when they're chasing your around. I didn't notice that when I was playing because OH GOD THE PAINTING IS CRAWLING AFTER ME

The bride/groom are the best puzzle.

Oh hey, I recognize this game now - an artist I follow has been posting fanart of this on and off the past few weeks. Now I know why; this is really cool stuff.

Incidentally, this is the second horror game I've seen someone make using RPG Maker that isn't an RPG at all. Weird.

I hope they have a better way of finding Ib fanart than I do. . .

EDIT: scratch that they actually draw it apparently

but still, I think I have to be insane, desensitized, or both.

Yeah, disclaimer. NEVER SEARCH FOR IB FANART EVER.

No, not even once you've finished the game.

I'd ask why, but I have a sinking feeling that it would end only in tears. :V

I'll post the fanart in question though, for anyone curious (linked for possible spoilers?): 1, 2.

Believe it or not I just saw those and saved them for later.

Also, because you kind of asked despite expressing desire not to know:
NAKED PEOPLE, AND I DON'T MEAN PAINTINGS

I AM NOT SURPRISED IN THE SLIGHTEST

I am, however, feeling kind of hateful now. Damn it, internet.

Hi! Today we traverse the hall of mannequin heads and creepy bald guy paintings. Those are mannequin heads and not skulls, by the way.



It opens into a room full of paintings of ladies.



Pretty much every door here is locked though.



Something like a frog flits across this window as you approach, but neither the window nor the door respond to us.



North of that are two doors that do not have traditional locks. The other door demands a 4 digit passcode.



Let's see. Four paintings at the entrance, one covered by the rose, and I think three in the aisle south of the visible one...



This many!

Oddly enough, most of the paintings remain inert when we pass by them. Only a few of them lunge for us.



Upon reading this, we hear a crash outside.

So, remember how I mentioned that Garry is one of two chief things for your ending selection? This here is the other. Try not to break too much of the gallery, or bad juju happens.



Thanks, but no.



That must be what that crash does. Pretty much every room we enter will activate one of the paintings around here.



The password is also in the gallery. Let's go find it.



If you pay attention, you can see Garry in the intro, checking this painting out. It's "The Hanged Man"!



There is an obvious solution here, but I don't feel like choosing it yet.



Well, that's kinda creepy. Isn't the Hanged Man usually supposed to look content?



His clothes reveal the passcode, though.

Flipped upside down, of course, but that's easily fixed.



So, this room has a puzzle to it as well, and not a very good one. If you try to interact with the vase, you'll just push it around instead.



Push it to this space, which I guess is the ideal vantage point for the artist on the stool to paint his still life, and something else unlocks.



Aside from another room unlocking and another painting activating, a mannequin head turns up here.



Nope. But it's not trying to steal our flowers, so let's just leave it be.



The room that unlocked is this one over here.



Nothing in the room but this mirror. Let's have a look, eh?



That's a pretty stark contrast in a number of ways.



Once we're done at the mirror, we turn to leave, but...



It's in the way. And lacking any good ways to move it, we go back to the mirror.



Well, that's different.



That's kind of scary, but ultimately harmless.



Garry takes it badly, but remembering the notice in the other room, Ib hurries over to stop him.



Not that punting a mannequin head wouldn't be cathartic, but maybe wait until after we're out of here to do that.



The painting that activates after all of that drops a key.