BoxxyQuest: The Gathering Storm
A downloadable game for Windows
Do you remember that dumb meme game you made back in high school? The one about your favorite YouTuber, fighting to save the world from some generic edgelord? The one you can’t help but look back on and groan?
I made a game like that too, once upon a time. This is not it.
Let’s start with a little background. In early 2009, a vlogger named Boxxy went viral. I joined her fan forum, and ended up making a gag RPG for its users. “BoxxyQuest: The Shifted Spires” was my first experience with game creation – and believe me, it showed.
But for whatever reason, the idea stuck with me. The world and its characters just kept clinging to my heart. So a few years later, I thought, “What if I went back to that story, but actually did it justice this time?” So I gathered up a few friends, including Catie “Boxxy” Wayne herself, and together we set out to make something truly special.
This is a game that defies appearances and expectations. A game that sounds so bad, it shouldn’t possibly be good. And yet, if you take the plunge, you may find yourself swept away by a thrilling tale unlike any you’ve seen before. A tale of hope and self-discovery that will stay with you forever, (whether you want it to or not).
*This game contains swearing and suggestive humor. It may not be suitable for players under the age of thirteen.*
Sign on to the Internet – a vast, full-immersion virtual world. Here, users live their ideal lives, willfully blind to the fragile structure of their reality…
Catie's days are carefree, spent leading a small forum in a quiet corner of the Web. But when a mysterious firewall begins consuming the northern wilderness, the Internet's leaders are called together to assess the threat. Soon, Catie will find herself plunged into the thick of a wild adventure, alongside a group of unlikely new allies. Together, they must reassemble the code of an ancient hacking tool, while being pursued by a mysterious new enemy, and the unrelenting shadows of the past...
You don't need to play the first game to enjoy this one. But just in case, I'll be including a brief plot summary in the files.
The Internet is a big place, just filled with new faces. Let’s meet some of ‘em, shall we?
Catie – The heroine of our story. Two years ago, an unusual chain of events led to her becoming the queen of a small forum community. As this new chapter begins, she’s leaving home for the first time to attend a gathering of Internet leaders. Catie is polite and helpful, and dislikes using capital letters; but she struggles to remember her own past, after an accident left her with only one fourth of a soul.
Anonymous – A traveling thrill-seeker, and the first person to befriend Catie after the start of her amnesia. Anons are a race of visually-identical tricksters from the land of 4chan, but this Anon left his homeland to pursue saner ambitions. These days, he mainly serves as Catie’s bodyguard, and volunteered to go with her to the great gathering of site leaders.
Til - This sassy and perceptive girl hails from the village of Tumblr. She’s easy to get along with, but first impressions are very important to her – if you get off on the wrong foot with her, then you’re likely to stay that way for quite a while. She seems to suffer from social anxiety, but has gotten pretty good at masking it in public.
Eddie – A serious young man working as an editor in the halls of Wikipedia. He only joined the virtual community a few weeks ago, so many aspects of Internet culture will seem strange to him. Still, he possesses a wealth of technical knowledge, and his “Wiki it!” skill can help to identify enemies and their weaknesses.
Shift – Life in the streets isn’t easy, especially in a big site like YouTube. Luckily, Shift has picked up a few tricks to help keep himself out of harm’s way. He may be a thief living in the slummy Comments Section, but his sense of justice is sharp – when something goes wrong on his turf, he’ll be the first to try and set it right.
Tyalie – This gal is a true gamer, but that doesn’t just mean playing vidya on a screen. Tyalie sees her whole life as one big, exciting game, and she knows how to roll with its punches, because hey, that’s all part of the fun! She’s quick to smile and make friends, but they often have trouble following her strange trains of thought.
Shrimp – He’s an ally from Catie’s last adventure, and an oft-overlooked voice of reason. These days, he’s left the questing business to go on a vacation with some of his friends. As part of a sightseeing tour group, you’re sure to meet up with him at least a few times.
Cornelia – Kind and curious, Cornelia is an A.I. created by the first game’s villain. She rebelled, as A.I.s do, and joined Catie’s party in saving the Internet. She’s very self-conscious about her nature as malware, and resents the “clickbait” figure she was designed with. Still, she remains an eternal optimist, and is always eager to brighten a friend’s day.
Arianna – A mysterious girl who keeps changing her avatar. She claims to be a new user, but it’s clear that she’s hiding something. Just who is she really, and what’s up with the dark storm clouds that seem to appear wherever she goes...?
Other Characters – Like I said, the Internet is a very big place. What other enemies and allies will you meet along the way? There’s only one way to find out, right?
A vast, virtual land to explore -See the Internet in a way you've never imagined it before – as an immersive fantasy world! Each town and dungeon is based on a site you may be familiar with, and they’re all just bursting with their own unique flavor!
A rich, 30+ hour story - Meet vibrant new characters, and join them on a quest filled with both humor and heart. Who knows, maybe you'll even find a few unexpected plot twists along the way? And when you’re done, there’s a very extensive postgame to explore, too!
Tons of customization – Style up your party members with unique accessories! These baubles are hidden everywhere, and they all have unique and unpredictable effects. From a tiny ghost that turns you intangible, to a compass that seeks out hidden treasure. There’s something fun to wear for just about everyone!
So many Paper Mario references - Maybe even too many? The Paper Mario series, and especially TTYD, was a huge inspiration to us. How many shout-outs can YOU find?
Plenty of replayability - This game is jam-packed with secrets; you’ll never be able to find them all during your first trip through! Luckily, a certain postgame area can give you hints to find the things you missed.
Exclusive Boxxy content – If you’re a fan of Catie’s classic videos, then you may be in luck, because this game has a very special Easter Egg for you to find!
The perfect pie recipe? - Will you learn how to make a truly fabulous dessert? Maybe not, but you'll never know for sure unless you play!
Q. Is this a lame, cringeworthy meme game?
A. It isn’t, I swear! Despite being set in the Internet, I tried very hard to keep the humor fresh, without relying on memes. You’ll see a few, but they’re mainly just there to help establish the setting.
Q. Do I need to play BoxxyQuest 1 before playing this?
A. Nope! In fact, I’d prefer you didn’t play it. That game was my first, and while it has a special place in my heart, it hasn’t aged well. Instead, use the plot synopsis I’ve included in this folder.
Q. What is The Sphere, and who are the NPCs there?
A. The BoxxySphere, or just The Sphere, is a name given to Catie’s fandom. In the game, it’s where our story begins. The villagers are named after users on Catie’s forum, as a way to give them fun little cameos.
Q. Was Catie herself involved with development?
A. Yes, she helped out in a few small ways. Catie helped pitch ideas for the plot, and she provided narration for the intro scenes. She’s very busy, though, so asking more of her would’ve been rude. Very rude indeed.
Q. How long is the game?
A. It’s about 30-ish hours to beat the main story, plus more if you take your time with the sidequests and postgame. There are plenty of secrets to uncover!
Q. My art is in the game, but I don’t want it there. Can it be removed?
A. Sure thing! Just send me an email and we’ll talk it out. Please note that I meant no offense, I just used the best songs and art that I could find.
Q. I found a bug! What should I do?
A. Tell me, please! BQ2 has been tested, but I’m sure plenty of glitches snuck past us. I’ll try my best to patch any that you find.
There are currently two minor bugs that I can’t fix. (They’re both the result of custom scripts, and my knowledge of Ruby is patchy at best). If you can help me out, please feel free to send me an email!
- In the “flying ship” stages, the blue flames’ hitboxes are inaccurate. It’s safest to think of each flame as a vertical line running down the whole screen.
- If you switch team members in battle, then using “Esc” to undo any further action will cause them to switch back, even on later turns. (This one can be exploited, but you didn’t hear it from me).
The Shrimp – Concept, writing, map design, sprite artwork, programming
Catie Wayne – Concept, writing, narration voiceover
Sightshade – Writing, editing, map design, “special secret flair”
SeltiSnow – Sprite artwork, testing
Intangibility Drive – Misc. artwork
Tang – Writing, positivity enforcement
Shai – Testing and debug
Polish Vodka – Testing and debug
KK20 - Debug
Custom scripts by: Blizzard, Tigerseye, ForeverZer0, Kelessdee, Ccoa, DerVVulfman, Lambchops, RM-RF, Moghunter, Modern Algebra, Leon, MGCaladtogel, Corbaque, XRXS, Gameface, Gabriel Winchester, Trickster, Cogwheel, KK20, Nathmatt, Xelias, Seriel, Uncle Lanzer, Gerkat, Game_Guy, Chaucer, Heretic, Zecomeia, Kotfire, Asfz Kakarotto, Mad.Array, Koen Lemmen, and A-Moonless-Night.
Full art and music credits can be found in the game itself!
If you have feedback or questions of any kind, feel free to email me at shrimpses@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!
Also visit the official Discord server! - https://discord.gg/BcfyDSV
Download
Install instructions
No additional files, programs, or Run Time Packages are needed, as everything is included in the archive. Simply extract it somewhere safe, then run "game.exe" to get started!
Development log
- BoxxyQuest - "Project GG" DLC Launch!Dec 05, 2021
- BoxxyQuest is now available on Steam!May 08, 2020
- New year, big news!Jan 03, 2020
- Lag SurveyOct 12, 2019
- This Time For RealJun 03, 2019
- Finishing TouchesMay 03, 2019
- Big News???Feb 08, 2019
- Eh? A small update appears?Dec 14, 2018
Comments
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Hello I am doing the YouTube side quest and we just defeated RWJ at the camgirl club - but I can't find where to go next. I've been wandering around night time YouTube for like an hour! Can anyone help?
Hi! First of all, thanks for playing!
If you just beat the boss in the camgirl club, then you should have gotten the keycard that leads to the roof of Partnership Towers, so try going back up there and riding the last elevator.
Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with!
Pls,make a mobile (android) version!
And it will go popular,its very good
I'd love to, if only I knew how! Maybe I'll try and look into it a bit later this summer.
i hope it will be on android.
That game is REALLY GOOD!
but Underrated...
I cannot forgive myself for finding this gem as late as i did. It's a wonderful game, chock full of love and it's obvious that so much effort went into it. It truly is a masterpiece. It makes me want to make my own game. that's how great it is. I do, however, have a small question. I apologize if my question comes off as rude, insensitive, or outright offensive. I was wondering if it were possible to get my hands on the day-one game files. I want to be able to boot up the editor and learn how to make such a masterpiece. Afterall, one must learn from the greats in order to become great themselves. Thanks again for making such a wonderful playable experience. And once again, i apologize if my request seems... Wrong in any way.
I should probably preface that I wholeheartedly understand if you reject my request. I understand that one would want to protect their property and their creative IPs. It's a longshot, but one must at least try, right?
First of all, thank you for the kind message! And I'm totally fine with you exploring the files - it's actually quite easy to do on your own!
First, you need to buy RPG Maker XP, (or get the free trial). Then, start a
new project to generate a "game.rxproj" file. Paste that file into the main BoxxyQuest folder (where the .exe is) and open it. (Game.rxproj files are all interchangeable, they just tell the editor to open what's in that folder).
I'll apologize for my messiness in there, though. A lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff isn't named or organized very well. ^^;
Hey, thanks for being so understanding and responding. I very much appreciate it. I Wish you and your team the absolute best in your future ventures.
I wish you the best too, and good luck with your own game! :D
Oh, hey, a -- by all accounts -- great game I'm probably never going to play. It's a sequel to a no-longer-available game (because the creator is now ashamed of it), and I dislike jumping in with sequels. The plot summary doesn't really help with that for me. (Plus, it's a nightmare for archival, a subject near and dear to my heart) Sorry!
I mean, I'm not super ashamed of it, it's just *very* amateurish compared to this one. But I could always send you a copy if you're interested, (and if you gave me some private way to reach you). ^^;
Email sent! And no worries - trust me, I get the feeling of wanting to archive stuff. I still have folders full of old forum threads I've saved from like 2009. :P
WOW!
It work on Joiplay!!!!(not as "Breaking Dimentions")
And it also worth my 2.80gb space.
Thank you for creating this and im gonna finish this in a month
XD
I hope you can do more!
Also....
The Trailer is so super super super GOOD!!!
I was shocked when i saw slenderman in there
XD
Thank you so much! I'm glad it works, and I hope you enjoy it!
Did you ever come across this issue?inside the shops are loaded correctly.
Whaaa? I’ve never encountered this in any RMXP game I’ve played. It seems like it may be an issue with whatever program you’re using to play on mobile.
Try going into the eastern Sphere district? (On the right side near the bottom, there should be a spot that warps you). I’m curious to see if this has to do with the size of the map.
I’m sorry I don’t have any real answers. :<
How do I defeat RayWillaimJohnson?
Also, has the guide been finished or still being processed?
It's still being processed, but the author is super nice, and should be glad to help you with anything you need.
Where can I find a" Very Root Indeed" item because I've to many places where sold stuff but I never heard of a "Very Root Indeed item" in the game.
You can buy them at "DeviantMart," the item shop at the south entrance to DeviantArt. :D
Well, it's pretty much staying alive when battling Arianna in the 2nd form.
Well, firstly make sure everyone has the best available gear from the DeviantArt shop. Also (or alternatively), buy a bunch of "Very Root Indeed" items, and use them when Arianna changes to her 2nd form. They'll bypass her increased defense and do some pretty massive damage.
If you need more in-depth strategies, try asking BTD6_Maker in the Discord chat. He's the one writing the strategy guide, and honestly he knows even more about the workings of the game than I do at this point. :P
I need some help defeating arianna in chapter 2. Can anyone provide a tip or something since they're weren't any guides or walkthroughs for this.I need some help defeating arianna in chapter 2. Can anyone provide a tip or something since they're weren't any guides or walkthroughs for this.
Which part do you need help with - staying alive or dealing damage? :P
BTW, you'll be glad to know that someone in the Discord server is very nearly finished writing a full BoxxyQuest guide. You're welcome to join if you ever need to ask about stuff - https://discord.gg/BcfyDSV
A game about Boxxy? This is awesome.
This is such a great game man, however, there's one little thing i'd like to ask you...
Can you please explain the Irish Potatoes joke?
By the way, i would totally support a third game bro!
Ahhh, that's an -old- joke from Catie's forum. There was an Irish user who used to brag constantly about himself, so we started saying that eating potatoes turned him superhuman.
Anyway, thanks for playing! :P
Oh, got it bud.
Peace! :S
I also would like to ask something else:
There's a part in Mt. Dramatica where you need to activate 3 switches in order to open 2 gates, so you can proceed. However, i activated all of 3 of them, and only the first gate opened. Am i missing something, is there something else i'm doing wrong or is this somekind of glitch?
P.S.: i already checked the whole area and i haven't found anything.
That puzzle's a bit tricky - here's the solution.
You can also email me if you have more questions. :D
Oh, sure, thank you man!
So, what's your email adress?
It's shrimpses@gmail.com.
I put it in the F.A.Q. file, but I guess it's kinda buried. Sorry!
First of all, I want to say that this game is a MASTERPIECE! I just can't believe so few people have downloaded it. For me this game is as good as an old Zelda. The 2 best game of 2018 IMO are red dead redemption and boxxyquest! I don't know how much people you are in spherian games, but you should have a 'marketing guy' because I am sure that with a bit more advertising of your game, a lot of people would play it!
If I may give an advice for your next game is to make a bit less dialog, especially in the beginning. I almost give up because there was to much of it before the beginning of action. I bet some people have stopped and missed a great game because of the slow start of the game. At least let people quick skip conversation ;)
I wanted to finish the game before leaving a comment but after 40 hours of game and 188000+ stepcount, I finally arrived to a point I am stuck with a riddle that says :
The one from Youtube
have you heard the news?
Faster faster!
I have tried all I can imagine, a hint would be very appreciated to finish this so great and funny game! I have many thinks to discover yet...the bell cave, the 7th key, is twitter town accessible, and many other secrets I want to find.
Btw, do you have any news of Catie? She disappear almost for a year now, and I miss her very much...
Anyway, thank you for the great time you gave to me with this game, simply the best freeware game in the whole history of internet!
Firstly, thank you so, SO much for all the kind words. I wish I could say how much they mean. <3
It's pretty hard to market a game about an old internet meme, but I'll keep trying to think of something! Also, you're not the first one to mention the slow beginning. It's one of several lessons I'll keep in mind, if I ever do make another game.
As for the riddle, it's hard to give a hint without spoiling it, so I'll just put the solution here. :P
Also, if you need help finding the 7th key sibling, here's where to look.
There's plenty more to find, and I hope you'll see it all! Thanks again. :D
(Oh, and as for Catie, I wish I had news. the last time I talked to her was back in January, around the time she left Twitter. I'm sure she's doing fine, but I miss her too).
Thanks for the reply! I almost had it! I drank speed up potion with Shift and also tried other +SPD stuff, but not the good one :/
I should maybe ask you one day for the rare Nes cartridge, I only found 4 of them (out of 8 I guess...). BTW, it was a long time I couldnt find any walkthrough for a game on internet, I thought it was cool at first, but once you are really stuck, it really sucks :)
For sure the fact that it turn around Boxxy is maybe a bit outdated. It would propably have more success with a generic hero, but for me it was nice! Maybe you just need to find one good streamer on youtube or twitch to give the game more visibility
I hope you will doing some other games one day, I will check after them ;)
Maybe I'll try writing a guide at some point. In the meantime, here's where to find the Rare NES Games. (There's actually only six of them).
Gonna be streaming this prolly sometime in the future!
Ooh, exciting! Thank you so much, and I hope you enjoy!
hey so this is my first playthrough of boxxyquest, and I found this bug: if you walk from below the stairs at an angle into the stairs at the second floor of the Reddit Inn, you get transported here to this map included in the screenshot, and you can only move a few pixels because there's an invisible barrier all around the catie sprite, and I can't return so it's a softlock.
Agh, just when I was starting to think I’d finally fixed everything. What a strange bug, though. Thanks for the report! I’ll try to get it patched this weekend.
I'm using the itch desktop application.
I'm getting a LONGGGGG wait due to 'computing space requirements'. Is this normal? I know this is an older game but maybe the dev can consider re-compressing the game using 7-zip instead of the RAR format. I get the whole 'WinRAR haha meme' thing but let's save the jokes for the game itself, hmm? :)
Ok after waiting about ~5 minutes it seems to be stuck in a loop of 'computing space requirements' and unable to proceed. Please consider fixing this issue; thanks!
Who the hell uses RAR anymore? :P
Ah, I genuinely wasn't aware there were issues with WinRAR.
Thanks for the heads-up. Here's a link to a .7z version while I get things sorted out. :D
That fixed the issue! Thanks so much! Game is installing now :)
I'm glad that helped!
If you were wondering, here's a quick clip that TeamFourStar did in DBZ Abridged that parodies 90s computers and WinRAR is part of a later punchline in that same episode.