Hadrosaurus Software

Factsheet

Developer:
Hadrosaurus Software
Based in the United States

Release date:
April 5, 2023

Platforms:
Steam (Linux, Windows, macOS, DOS)
itch.io (Linux, Windows, macOS, DOS)

Website:
hadrosaurus.net/the-aching

Regular Price:
USD $9.99
EUR €9,75
CAD $12.99

Description

In The Aching, a haunting adventure set in a world between dreams and nightmares, players are thrust into the cold, uncertain darkness with no memory of their past. At their feet lies a silver locket, the only clue to their identity.

From the twisted imagination of Lobdegg, The Aching is a graphical horror adventure that immerses players in a chilling, atmospheric world. With a retro-inspired aesthetic and gameplay reminiscent of classic adventure games, this game beckons players to uncover the answers to three pressing questions:

• Who am I?
• Where am I?
• What is the significance of this locket?

Explore an unsettling environment, solve cryptic puzzles, and piece together your past as you navigate this nightmarish realm, all while evading the horrors that lurk in the shadows. The Aching is an unforgettable dive into a world that defies explanation, where every step taken reveals new layers of terror and mystery.

History

The Aching began as a passion project—a modern game built with vintage tools. Inspired by Sierra On-Line’s AGI engine and the golden age of parser-driven adventure games, developer Tamsin Mugg set out to create an original title that captured the eerie, dreamlike quality of classic 1980s adventures.

Originally developed for a game jam, The Aching was built entirely in Borland Turbo C++ 1.0, staying true to the era’s development techniques while adding a fresh, unsettling atmosphere. Though initially envisioned as a standalone experiment, the project quickly evolved into something much larger: the first installment in a planned series of AGI-inspired horror adventures all set in the same world.

With its evocative storytelling, haunting pixel art, and immersive text-parser gameplay, The Aching invites players into a world where reality and nightmare blur, and every command brings them closer to uncovering a forgotten past.

Features

• Classic retro aesthetic: a modern DOS horror adventure that runs smoothly and seamlessly on Windows, Mac, and Linux through DOSBox Staging (included).
• Gripping narrative: A psychological journey into a surreal and unsettling world filled with mysteries and dark secrets.
• Solve cryptic puzzles to uncover the truth behind your identity and the significance of the locket.
• Atmospheric horror: Experience a dangerous, yet dreamlike world that keeps players on edge.
• Intuitive Gameplay: A unique blend of graphic adventure and text-based interaction, where players navigate the world and solve mysteries through simple parser commands. Use your wits to interact with the environment, uncover hidden secrets, and progress through the story in this immersive, old-school adventure.

The Aching Credits

Tamsin Mugg
Game design, programming, graphics

Clarissa Toney
Graphics, story editor

Lucy Llewellyn
macOS port

CP437
Music

Contact

Inquiries
support@hadrosaurus.net

Fediverse (Mastodon)
mastodon.gamedev.place/@hadrosoft

Bluesky
bsky.app/profile/hadrosaurus.net

Web
hadrosaurus.net