Single-Handed Alchemy

Single-Handed Alchemy is a match-three puzzle game developed by Mirror Samurai Studios, released for their personal console, the Hunter, in early 2020.
==Story==
===Opening Cinematic===
Imagine you've got a condition that can't be fixed. Something like a bad memory, extreme tiredness, or a permanently broken limb. Now, imagine that there's a way to fix that. That's what I'm after.
The story begins by showing us six-year-old Flynn Rainridge, and how a careless risk taken on a garden rockery lead to him falling down and breaking both of his arms. While the right arm healed over the next few months, the left arm was irreparable. Wanting to find a way to bring it back to normal, he later learns about the art of alchemy at eleven years old.
From what he learns, alchemy is capable of purifying elements, along with being the ground for creating chrysopoeias, which are then required to create gold, and powerful solvents known as alkahests. From what he reads from the alchemy books, however, he suspects that there may be a way to repair his arm through alchemy, though none of the books he acquires through the years give any hard proof.
===Prologue===
By the age of twenty-one, Flynn has finished reading every single alchemy book in his hometown of Khemidale. At this age he has graduated from university, and feels that it might be best for him to move out, though he has yet to make any plans.
However, he soon ends up coming across a dusty old book written in a mysterious ancient language. None of his close friends or relatives have any clue how to translate it, so he requests for an anonymous request to be placed in the weekly newspaper.
Over the course of the next day, with the newspaper released with Flynn's request on one of the pages, he decides to do a few odd jobs relating to alchemy (which serve as the game's tutorial). However, it becomes clear that nobody in Khemidale has a clue as to how to translate it, so Flynn has a different idea - to see if there is anyone with an idea of how to translate the words in another place.
The following morning, after saying goodbye to his three friends, Flynn sets out on a journey to Chrysdon, a fairly distant city where, according to some of Flynn's books, alchemy is a more well-known practice.
==Characters==
===Main Characters===
Character 	Information
Flynn Rainridge	An alchemist of Khemidale who set out on a journey to Chrysdon in order to translate a cryptic alchemy book he claimed. He's stubborn and apathetic, which keeps him from socialising much of the time, though his skills in mixing elements are a thing of wonder at times.
Jordon Rivers 	A Chrysdon alchemist who has become a celebrity for his unique talent of creating sentient Homunculi. He's quite condescending and doesn't cope well with change, so he gets off to a rough start with Flynn. The two soon become tense rivals in the field of alchemy.
===Supporting Characters===
Character 	Information
Penelope Goldsworthy	One of Flynn's three friends, a technology specialist who runs her own repairs store in Khemidale - of which Flynn is her only consistent customer. While the alchemist is out travelling, Penelope helps him with his tech troubles over the phone.
Rylan van Herpen 	One of Flynn's three friends, a sweet-talking aspiring doctor and small-time alchemist. While Flynn is out on his journey, Rylan is his go-to person to ask for reference to the alchemy books that he left at home.
Aleah Monet 	One of Flynn's three friends, a girl who can go from adorably sweet to fiercely wild at the drop of a hat. While her crush Flynn travels to Khemidale, she often sends him phone calls, either just for small talk or for giving him updates on happenings in Khemidale.
Gabriella Riverson 	A loony fan of Jordon Rivers, to the point of changing her name and look to imitate him. By pretending to be a fan of Jordon, Flynn manages to befriend her and learn more about the alchemy celebrity.
==Gameplay==
On the overworld, the player controls Flynn using the Hunter's controller. The left analogue stick is used to move, the right analogue stick is used to adjust the camera, and the blue button is used for interactions. This includes talking with other characters, many of which will give the player tasks for them to complete. These tasks must then be done through the Alchemy Board, which can be accessed on the overworld through any place where the player can sit down. After a place is found, pressing the red button will commence the alchemy.
During alchemy, the player has a 8x8 board of multi-coloured crystals that they can swap with any adjacent crystal, by aiming and firing at the targeted crystals with the Hunter's bow. Matching three or more of the same crystal in a row will convert them into energy corresponding to the elements of those crystals. This energy can then be used during main gameplay to craft the items that are necessary to finish tasks given.
If the player makes two matches simultaneously, the corresponding elements will combine, if possible, and add a new element to the game. The two elements that were combined will continue to persist. Elements that take more combinations to achieve are considered more valuable. The player also has three special items that they can use to interact with elements, though they have limited supply and must be restocked after use.
Whenever the Alchemy Board is used, one set of Alchemy Crystals in the player's inventory is lost. New sets can be bought from shops, with there being three tiers of crystals that are more valuable than the last. Greater tiers are more expensive to purchase, but allow one to end alchemy games more quickly in time limit circumstances.
==Elements==
# 	Name 	Image	Value	Description 	Recipes	Used in
1 	Water 	 	10 	That thing humans can't last for three days without. 	
*Base element
*Snow + Fire
*Ice + Fire	
*Water + Water = Seawater
*Water + Fire = Steam
*Water + Wind = Cloud
*Water + Earth = Mud
*Water + Cloud = Rain
*Water + Land = Plant
*Water + Lava = Stone
2 	Fire 	 	10 	A bright spark that works ideally for any candle or campsite. 	
*Base element	
*Fire + Water = Steam
*Fire + Wind = Heat
*Fire + Earth = Lava
*Fire + Seawater = Salt
*Fire + Sand = Glass
*Fire + Ice = Water
*Fire + Snow = Water
*Fire + Ore = Metal
3 	Wind 	 	10 	Anything from a gentle breeze to a serious falling hazard. 	
*Base element	
*Wind + Water = Cloud
*Wind + Fire = Heat
*Wind + Wind = Sky
*Wind + Earth = Sand
*Wind + Lava = Stone
*Wind + Stone = Sand
4 	Earth 	 	10 	The ideal foundation for everything we step on. 	
*Base element	
*Earth + Water = Mud
*Earth + Fire = Lava
*Earth + Wind = Sand
*Earth + Stone = Ore
5 	Seawater 	 	40 	Water you can't drink, and the thriving place of fish. 	
*Water + Water
*Water + Salt	
*Seawater + Fire = Salt
6 	Salt 	 	160 	A crystalline substance for seasoning, preservation and living. 	
*Seawater + Fire	TBA
7 	Steam 	 	40 	When water gets too hyperactive. 	
*Water + Fire
*Water + Heat	TBA
8 	Cloud 	 	40 	Cotton wool in the sky that wrings out rainwater. 	
*Water + Wind	
*Cloud + Water = Rain
*Cloud + Heat = Lightning
9 	Rain 	 	160 	Water from the air, ideal for keeping humans indoors. 	
*Water + Cloud	
*Rain + Wind = Coldness
*Rain + Coldness = Snow
10	Lightning	 	160 	An electric burst from air to ground that never strikes the same place twice.	
*Cloud + Heat	TBA
11	Land 	 	40 	The platform that keeps us from falling into the Earth's core. 	
*Earth + Earth	
*Land + Water = Plant
*Land + Rain = Plant
12	Plant 	 	160 	Any living being who can live a good life without moving. 	
*Land + Water
*Land + Rain	TBA
13	Mud 	 	40 	Liquefied earth that humans don't want on their boots. 	
*Water + Earth	
*Mud + Fire = Clay
14	Clay 	 	160 	Super-heated mud that's ideal for building simple structures. 	
*Mud + Fire
*Mud + Heat	TBA
15	Heat 	 	40 	An excuse to remove a layer of clothing. 	
*Fire + Wind	
*Heat + Cloud = Lightning
*Heat + Water = Steam
*Heat + Mud = Clay
16	Lava 	 	40 	The infernal water beneath the earth's crust. 	
*Fire + Earth	
*Lava + Water = Stone
*Lava + Wind = Stone
17	Sand 	 	40 	A fine grit that shows up wherever clouds aren't. 	
*Earth + Wind
*Stone + Wind	
*Earth + Fire = Glass
18	Glass 	 	160 	The see-through result of smelting sand. 	
*Sand + Fire
*Stone + Wind	TBA
19	Sky 	 	40 	The kingdom of birds, clouds and many manmade monstrosities. 	
*Wind + Wind	TBA
20	Coldness 	 	640 	A leading risk factor to such ailments as snow, ice and days off school. 	
*Wind + Rain	
*Coldness + Water = Ice
*Coldness + Rain = Snow
21	Snow 	 	2560 	Rain that's been left in the fridge, and the bane of schools. 	
*Coldness + Rain	TBA
22	Ice 	 	2560 	A frozen layer of water, causes slipping easily, counter with rock salt. 	
*Coldness + Water	TBA
23	Stone 	 	160 	A tough substance that humans can't break with their hands. 	
*Air + Lava
*Water + Lava	
*Stone + Earth = Ore
24	Ore 	 	640 	Rocks that have some hidden loot in them. 	
*Stone + Earth	
*Ore + Fire = Metal
25	Metal 	 	2560 	Humanity's greatest weapon in their quest of urbanisation. 	
*Ore + Fire	TBA
==Items==
Name 	Image	Description
Chrysopoeia	 	Chrysopoeia can be used on any element that it presently on the board to replace that element with the Gold element. Gold is often related to ways of earning more money in-game, though it should be used sparingly as it can waste space on the board that could be used for other elements.
Alkahest 	 	Alkahests can be used on any element that it presently on the board to remove it permanently. This increases the frequency of other elements, though the player may lose the ability to make more elements if they use it carelessly.
Homunculus 	 	Artificial lifeforms that can be placed on any tile of the board with a crystal of a low enough value, binding to that crystal and gaining its element. More valuable homunculi can bind with stronger elements initially. Making matches with the element of the homunculus strengthens it, and combining elements will change the element of the homunculus. The player can select a homunculus twice in a row to sets its power off, causing all types of gems in its range to act as though they were combined with the element of the homunculus - the stronger the homunculus, the larger the area it effects.
==Minigames==
Minigames can be accessed outside of the main story, either by going back to Flynn's house, or in various relaxed places around Chrysdon. Some of these minigames may appear in some forms during normal gameplay.
Name 	Description 	Unlock Criteria
Endless 	Only accessible in Flynn's house. Endless Mode, as the name implies, is simple gameplay that does not end. It can be played to enjoy the core gameplay without limits, or to try and discover every element in the game. 	Reach the point where Flynn arrives at Chrysdon.
Time Trial 	The player has three minutes to achieve the most valuable element they can. 	Discover twenty elements.
Rogue Element	In this game mode, a crystal will randomly go "rogue" every few matches, at an ever-increasing rate the longer the game goes on for. If the rogue crystal isn't matched quickly, it will become permanently unmovable and unmatchable. The game ends when the buildup of unusable crystals leaves the player with no possible moves. 	Match 1000 crystals.
Inverted 	In this game mode, the player starts with valuable elements that break up into their ingredients when swapped in pairs. New crystals also enter the board from below instead of above. The objective is to acquire all four of Water, Fire, Wind and Earth in as few moves as possible. As the player unlocks more valuable elements, they can choose to play longer versions of Inverted mode.	Acquire an element with a value of 10240 or higher.
Revolution 	A game mode where the player moves crystals by “twisting” them around the board clockwise in sets of four. Periodically, a crystal will become “padlocked”, preventing any twists involving it - a locked crystal can still be matched, however, destroying the lock in the process. If the locks leave the player with no possible moves, the game ends. 	Progress through the main storyline.
Allswap 	In this game mode, the player can swap a crystal with any other crystal on the board. With every swap, the player's “progress bar” depletes, being restored by either making matches or forming new elements, the latter being more effective. If the bar is completely empty, the game ends. 	Progress through the main storyline.
Element Mix 	In this game mode, the crystals randomise with every move. The player has one minute to make a certain number of matches within that time. If they succeed, the timer will reset with a more demanding task. If they fail, however, the game will end. 	Progress through the main storyline.
==Trivia==
*Single-Handed Alchemy was originally going to be set in a high-fantasy world with winged humanoids. This idea was scrapped due to Mirror feeling that he had too many "bird people" in his line-up of characters.
*The creation of Single-Handed Alchemy was primarily inspired by PopCap's Bejeweled series. This can also be seen through some of the minigames - Inverted takes after Bejeweled 2's Twilight Mode, and Time Trial is based on Bejeweled Blitz, to name a few examples.
*Flynn's three friends are named after artists - Penelope Goldsworthy is named after Andy Goldsworthy, Rylan van Herpen is named after Iris van Herpen, and Aleah Monet is named after Claude Monet.
Category:2020
Category:Puzzle Games
Category:Hunter Games
Category:Mirror Samurai Games