Chapter 483: Puzzle Games!
During the Spring Festival, *Human: Fall Flat* once again dominated major streaming platforms and video sites. Many streamers' reactions were recorded and compiled into highlight reels posted online.
The main reason was that this game was free—just search and download. It was perfect for group play and especially hilarious.
During the Spring Festival holiday, many friends formed teams to hit internet cafes for gaming sessions. When they got tired of playing, they'd download *Human: Fall Flat* for a bit of fun, and it was quite entertaining.
Of course, for Chen Mo, this game generated zero revenue. It was free to play with no in-app purchases, and all the skins were completely open.
But Chen Mo didn't care about such small change. What he needed now were happiness points and resentment points.
Players were all marveling: Chen Mo had truly turned over a new leaf! He'd actually made such a joyful, healing game!
Many people started to wonder: had they really misjudged Chen Mo?
That didn't make sense!
Then, just as the buzz around *Human: Fall Flat* hadn't fully died down, Chen Mo's new game arrived.
"Double mini-game release! The new game *Normal Adventure* is now available for download! It's a puzzle mobile game, still completely free, oh hehe!"
Players were stunned. Damn, what was Chen Mo up to!
The New Year holiday, and he wasn't taking a break?
And what was up with that "oh hehe"? It felt like there was some deep meaning behind it!
People had already thought Chen Mo changing his ways was as unlikely as the sun rising in the west, and now this "oh hehe" seemed to reveal his true intentions in some way...
"Did Chen Mo take his meds? Just a few days, and another new game? Is he dragging his other employees into overtime?"
"No, I heard they've been on break for a while. These two mini-games should be things Chen Mo whipped up at home during the holiday when he had nothing to do."
"Impressive. Big shots are big shots. When we're bored at home, we play cards, game, or visit relatives. Chen Mo makes games for fun when he's bored! Respect, respect!"
"A puzzle mini-game? Is it like *Plants vs. Zombies* and *Happy Match*? I'll have to give it a try. Chen Mo's puzzle games have always been pretty good!"
"Yeah, his puzzle games have a solid reputation. Gotta play it!"
"Chen Mo seems to want all his games to be free now... *Human: Fall Flat* doesn't even have in-app purchases. How does he make money..."
"No idea, but this is a good thing! Feels like Chen Mo's taken another big step toward being a conscientious developer!"
"Give me a break! I got hooked on *League of Legends* because I heard it was free. Now? My family thinks I'm on drugs..."
...
After hearing this was a free puzzle game, many players' first reaction was that it must be something like *Plants vs. Zombies* or *Happy Match*!
These two games were classics among domestic puzzle games, basically perennial fixtures on the puzzle game charts.
Especially *Happy Match*—its cumulative player count had broken records, and many people were still playing it. It was a timeless masterpiece. Although it had some in-app purchases, for players who'd tried it, it was generally well-regarded.
With two such predecessors, Chen Mo's "puzzle game" announcement garnered a lot of attention right away.
...
On the Moyu streaming platform, pursley's stream.
Old P had just finished streaming *Overwatch* and was chatting with the audience.
"Huh? Chen Mo's new game? Not that rubber man game?"
"Another one? Damn, that fast? Didn't the rubber man game just come out not long ago?"
"A puzzle game? An IQ test? Haha, you guys are hilarious. What's my title? I'm a humanoid reasoning machine, the Sherlock Holmes of China. And you want me to play a puzzle game? Have you lost your minds?"
"Puzzle games are no challenge for me, I tell you."
"Someone wants proof? You guys really won't give up until you see the coffin. Fine, I'll go prove it."
Old P was now one of the popular streamers for *Overwatch*, not only improving his skills but also his trash-talking game.
It was true—streamers these days couldn't rely on skill alone. They had to be both strong and funny, with explosive entertainment value, for viewers to enjoy watching.
Old P found *Normal Adventure* in the mobile games section of the Thunder Game Platform and started downloading.
The game was tiny; it finished downloading in no time.
Old P sighed. "You guys really underestimate me. You know why I've only been playing *Overwatch* lately? Because puzzle games are too easy for me. They're just so easy. Only a game full of passion like *Overwatch* gives me a bit of a challenge."
"Some new viewers don't believe me? Hah, do you think my title 'Guide P' is undeserved? Today, I'll show you what it means to have a built-in game guide!"
Entering *Normal Adventure*, he was greeted by a bizarre game screen.
On a barren cliff, two figures in warrior outfits were facing off.
Old P gasped. "Whoa... this art style. Did Chen Mo's artists go on strike?"
The art was just atrocious—even a kid's stick figures were better.
No colors at all, just pure lines outlining the cliff and characters. No special effects, only two or three very simple animations. Even an amateur designer couldn't draw something this bad...
Old P was stunned. Something wasn't right. This didn't seem like Chen Mo's style!
Chen Mo had made games like *Overwatch* with top-tier art. How could he make something this ugly!
Old P double-checked. Yep, this was definitely Chen Mo's game!
For some reason, a sense of dread crept into Old P's heart. When things were abnormal, there was bound to be a conspiracy...
At the start of the game, there was a dialogue.
[King of Poo! If it weren't for that foolish designer, how could you have survived until today!]
[I told you, don't call me King of Poo. Call me Almighty Poo King!]
Old P couldn't help but complain. "Almighty Poo King? What the hell is that! Isn't it still just King of Poo! That doesn't sound any better!"
The two sides were about to clash without another word, when a dialog box appeared on Old P's screen, labeled [Attack] and [Defend].
Old P thought for a moment. Obviously, striking first was the way to go. Attack!
The left swordsman flew over and stabbed Almighty Poo King once. A small prompt floated up: HP -1.
Then Almighty Poo King reached out, and a lump of feces flew rapidly toward the left swordsman: HP -65536!
Funeral music played...
[Worldline - Dog Egg has been destroyed. Regenerating adventure...]
Old P was completely thrown off. What?!
This bizarre art style, nonsensical characters, stupid dialogue, and brain-dead battle system—what the hell was this thing!!