I don't think leaving Takuro to the roaches in the lab has anything to do with it (hopefully). Also did you scoop him up at the end when the inbetween was collapsing by interacting with his body?

This was a good read, despite being shit on almost every post the humor was still great. Will plop my comments below as I go through the thread. This should give some backstory to some of the more questionable choices I made for the development.

The 'bug' where the face shows up for a frame before the text was actually my doing. The speech bubble system was being weird when it changes between each text system (bubble and normal) for the first box that showed. Bit of a band aid fix but I made the first text box auto end without any text for a work around.

The retro costume is actually Hiroshi's outfit from version 1.1 of Ao Oni. Thanks for that bug fix in the Tatami room, can't believe I overlooked something like that (also misspelling 'guard' so much, I did fix most of them after Neco's videos). Got both fixed on my computer now.

The deal with Rose and being naked is a simple one - I found the base model but didn't finish the edits to it by the time I decided to launch the game. I did attempt to edit it to match the artwork but my skills in that department are not great so I just left it. The Mika transformation and chimney scenes are great feedback. I originally wanted basic animated cutscenes in the game but my friend had a hectic work schedule then. Now, who knows - his art has improved significantly and he's at I think three days a week. Another reason the animations were hard to do was because they are RPG Maker XP sprites being used in VX Ace with a script that can accept larger sprites. This causes problems trying to set them in the right positions to make the animation happen.

Yes, there is indeed meant to be a roof outside, little awkward to portray that. Moving on. The bug with the Oni at the start of the Annex was fixed I think (well it's the same code as the other rooms, so it could be tile related (seems to happen sometimes where the AI would get stuck on a part and I'd need to repaint a room) The Annex gave me the most problems designing. Oh! The doll head on the light bulb bug, thanks for that, also done a fix on my end, to the Labs!

The breaker puzzle idea is actually taken almost entirely from Dino Crisis, was a little nod to one of my favorite games. For the picture book, again, I wanted it all redrawn but never got around to doing it and the original still had its charm. The original version I made was around three times longer in text and much more edgy before I cut down a lot of the meat. I believe a sprinkle of M Night levels works for Ao Oni, it's always about the cheese!

Outside - The tombstone poem is by P. B. Shelley, and one of my favorite poets (he was the husband to Mary - Frankenstein's writer). It surprisingly matched with the puzzle so I used it. Essentially this was the second insert of something I love. 

Ah that 'c' word, it also didn't sit right with me, so don't worry. It was originally part of the older script mentioned above and then I left it in as a joke at the end. While it is disturbing, I realized that and the scene with the doctor were great conveyers at how the Oni's influence changes people - and it could also be debatable if it is happening to the doctor as well as the other workers or if they are truly evil pricks. 

I wanted to convey a sense of hopelessness through disgust and using taboo, which seems to have worked (especially in the thread I'm getting a chuckle). Been constantly debating about changing it though, but never did. It could have been a lot worse as I almost included worse examples - such as cannibalism in the catacombs and the 'n' word in the labs/mortuary. So that's basically the reasoning, not because of fetishes or whatever.

The Shun reveal - I originally wanted to have some clue in the basement that points to it, but with the lighting it was just too dark to enjoy. Actually, just checked the project and there was indeed a hint at the bottom of the basement stairs. Either I put that there later or it just isn't very visible.

Okay, I lost it at the Smiling Friends edit, genius. *chef's kiss*

Finally the perfect ending artwork was originally a placeholder but it just stayed, was meant to include much more original art in the game. 

"Maybe the body is mindless, but the mind is still somewhere in this case in red head." You said it perfectly - the Oni is like a husk that can't control its actions but is still along for the ride - it relies on its head space to try and talk to others to help it, but eventually the summoning curse infects the people it tries to use. As for why didn't everyone inside the Jailhouse forget people who died? I guess you could say being protags gave them plot armor? It's a good bit of feedback though, so maybe they were just simply immune while inside the Jailhouse? 

I'm sure if I did heavily change parts of the game to exclude the stuff that made the original a fan favorite I also would have copped some flack for not having it. Also on testing - I did try to get some playtesters but people just never seemed interested in helping me during development. I had to basically complete almost everything so I couldn't find all bugs and grammar errors myself.

Finally it seems you like Ridge's art, you can find his twitter here - https://twitter.com/lowis_ridge and his artstation here https://www.artstation.com/ridge_lowis I don't think he uses instagram anymore.

Sorry for the long reply. If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

Sorry for the late reply - 

I was considering scrapping it entirely as I was focusing on growing my youtube channel but around October I started brainstorming ideas and completely started from scratch yet again. Surprisingly I have everything planned out - maps, items, story, endings, and enemies are almost locked in.

I don't want to spoil anything for if I do release it, but it is now a single DLC loosely based on Ao Oni S, and as for the 'tales' DLC, when you play the game the first objective is to find each of your friends. When you find each friend, they are available to use as a partner and can complete their tale, which is a short story on what they did between the game and DLC. 

I don't want to set any expectations but maybe towards the end of the year something might appear, maybe.

I have the same issue... I'm still in the end of the game, and I'm stucking now with this softlock.

Any solution? Thx

Not sure about that, did you install the RTP first? Also it could be muted in the volume mixer or not enabled in the debug menu. Press F1 when the game is running to bring up the debug menu.

In the solitary room where one of the blue keys are (that shuts the door when taken) on the table. Use the lighter to see the number.

It's not quite every puzzle, but should help.

MANSION

Piano - Combine Handkerchief and Soap and wipe the piano, avoid the Oni that will drop down and then go back and investigate. Looking at the message of the sun and moon the code it is the third number rotating while the second sits still, then the third number passes it only as its equal - only the second and third numbers are used - the third number rotates while the second is the same and then the third is used again only without rotating, then the final number would be what wasn't used.

Shrine - Use the Red Gem to get the Old Key. Take it back after.

Clock Room - The order of the red numbers are based on the dates of the deaths in order.

BASEMENT

The lighter can make hidden items shimmer when near them on the shelves in the starting room. The cage room should have its light lit and door closed, then look at the right of the door for the code to the safe.

ANNEX

Head to the attic and get the lighter fluid, then back down to the 1F and into the kitchen and use the lighter, grabbing the rotten meat from the fridge and push the dumbwaiter button to send it to the 2F. Grab the guest room key from the dumb waiter and light bulb from the lamp.

The 2F outside balcony has the code from Jeff for his room box to get powder, as well as the grams needed for the explosive. 1.25 The fireplace can be lit and the doll burned to get the Yellow Gem, and the attic will now have a number etched in you need. The doll is in the North Hall left room (Jeff's Room) and one of its eyes sparkle.

In the North Hall right side door, put the Yellow Gem into the doll there and turn off the light, then take the doll head and replace it with the lightbulb to reveal a hidden door. Back in Jeff's room, use the doll head to reveal the safe and then the code from the attic to open the safe and get the basement key.

LAB

Move the shelf to the left of the door to reveal a panel. Use the star screw driver to open it and solve the puzzle (third, first, second) to restore power. Also get the picture book on the shelf and check it for the bookmark.

Use the flathead on the door panel to undo it, then use the bookmark to figure out the door code (red, green, grey, blue)

Use vinegar on the red key from the tub room (drain the tub, push it from the top) to get the iron gate key and proceed down to the basement. Check the disc and follow its pattern to push the portraits correctly (red, yellow, yellow, blue, yellow, red) to get metal stick. Combine it with the disc to get the catacombs key.

In the catacombs grab a bunch of gun powder (you can measure it later in Jeff's room with his scales and what the note said) Combine the powder and gun powder for explosive.

OLD BUILDING (Great to explore and figure out this area on your own)

Medical Room - Push the statue and torch from the exit into the room, gold statue is left, silver right and use the flame on each side and take note of the sides of each shape.

Have fun, just try to ignore my crappy spelling and grammar lol

That was what I was going for, to give the player the freedom to decide. 

Mika was an odd case since in the original she died and became an oni in the basement, so that created ~6 conditions just by the time you reached the basement. The other deaths were actually placeholders but I really liked how they flowed towards the end of development that I kept them. It also burned me out on how buggy her conditions become with all the events that it wore me down trying to fix them.

As for the game, I've tried to work on the DLC and restarted several times from scratch, but I'm just having trouble getting it to a point I like, so I'll probably not release it (sorry) 

On the plus side, I have a first draft design completed of a new horror game which I'm happy with as well as two very early survival horror games and a short oc horror titled Floss. I've also been toying with ideas to start an R version of Ao Oni School Nightmare, but that's just thoughts really. 

It has some bugs, which I'm in the process of fixing but, the way it works is:

You need to ignore the scream and just enter the basement, but there are conditions to it.

-When you hear Mika scream, checking the second floor in the room will always get her killed
-If you enter the basement after the scream without a) having Anna alive, or b) getting the compression kit, then Mika will die
-If Anna is alive, but you don't get Mika the compression kit, she will survive with Anna's help _but_ die towards the end of the game because of her ankle in an alternate/hidden death (my favorite death)

In short, to save Mika, you need to get her the compression kit for her ankle, which can be found in the left hall bathroom where the hiding spot/toilet is and just continue entering the basement after you hear the scream.

You need the correct amount of gun powder measured at the scales in the Doll Makers room (North Hall of the Annex)

The amount you need is revealed on the 2F Balcony of the Annex in a note. (through the Dining Room)

It's just a matter of figuring out what each chunk of gunpowder is worth.