Middens

Middens is an indie, freeware RPG Maker XP game developed by myformerselves for PC and later ported to Mac.

=Game Info= Using collage and pixel art in tandem as its center aesthetic, Middens takes the perspective of an ambiguous drifter traversing a veritable x-zone. Roving its interminable wastes, the nomad chances upon a sentient revolver beside an ominous pile of remains. The pistol offers its exploit in exchange for a pledge of inextricable companionship. Espousing to be the player’s conscience, the dubious weapon directs the drifter to a nearby outpost wherein the story further unfolds.

Despite its appearance as a wasteland, the rift is home to many strange denizens—some dangerous and others harmless. Whatever their disposition, the pistol represents the choice to engage them or to spare them. Offense and passivity both have their appropriate times with rewards and consequences being granted to both paths, respectively.

Gameplay
The player takes the role of the Time Nomad who, along with the Talkative Revolver, traverses the Rift in a mission to "purify" it. Various NPC characters can be found and interacted with and in some cases trigger battle events. Combat is turn based, similar to classic RPG games. Different commands can be used in battle to aid the Nomad defeat the opponent, most notably his ability to summon Proxies to aid him in battle. Each Proxy has its own abilities and statistics and can be individually leveled up along the protagonist.

Reception
The game has received generally mixed reviews due to the game’s boring gameplay and recycled battle system. The immense amount of surrealism has also been criticized as well, being labeled as more pretentious than pretty. Unfortunately, Clowder doesn’t handle criticism very well so you could probably imagine how that turned out.

Another half of the game’s players liked the absurd visuals and music.

=Trivia= Middens was originally going to be a collaboration project, however due to the lack of inactivity from the other developers, Clowder eventually helmed the development all by himself.

The original story of Middens was highly political and inspired by Clowder’s confusing ideas about Natalism, however it just ended up being “the nomad and his gun.”