Storyteller is a wonderfully unique game that lets players craft interactive narratives by combining story elements like settings, characters, and props. As a long-time fan of indie games, I‘m fascinated by Storyteller‘s creative take on visual storytelling. In this guide, we‘ll solve one of its most engaging head-scratchers – the Godot Tiny and Hatey Wait Forever puzzle.
Understanding the Puzzle Mechanics
The Godot puzzle is located in Storyteller‘s "Tiny and Hatey" story section. Here‘s a quick overview of how it works:
- 6 comic panel slides to fill
- Each panel can have:
- 1 background
- 2 characters (must be Tiny and Hatey)
- 1 prop
- Only the "Old Tree" background can be used
- No other characters besides Tiny and Hatey
With those constraints, the goal is to make Tiny and Hatey wait aimlessly and indefinitely under the old tree, referencing Samuel Beckett‘s play Waiting for Godot.
As a fan of puzzle games like The Witness and Portal, I love how this puzzle has simple mechanics but requires philosophical thinking to solve.
Step-By-Step Solution
Here is how I solved the Godot Tiny and Hatey Wait Forever puzzle in Storyteller:
Slide 1
- Background: Old Tree
- Character 1: Tiny
- Character 2: Hatey
For the first slide, I placed Tiny and Hatey together under the Old Tree background. I had them standing idle, doing nothing.
Slide 2
- Background: Old Tree
- Character 1: Tiny
- Character 2: Hatey
I copied the first slide exactly for slide 2. Keeping Tiny and Hatey frozen in the same positions under the tree heightens the absurdity.
Slide 3
- Background: Old Tree
- Character 1: Tiny
- Character 2: Hatey
Once again, I replicated slide 1 for the 3rd slide. Tiny and Hatey continue waiting under the old tree.
Slides 4, 5, and 6
- Background: Old Tree
- Character 1: Tiny
- Character 2: Hatey
I repeated slide 1 precisely for the remaining panels. Tiny and Hatey are stuck in an endless loop, condemned to eternally wait for Godot.
And that‘s it! By duplicating the same static scene 6 times, I was able to create a bleakly comic vignette of ceaseless waiting, reminiscent of Waiting for Godot.
Gameplay Tips from a Puzzle Fan
As a passionate puzzle game player, here are some tips I‘ve learned for tackling the Godot puzzle in Storyteller:
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Precision is key – Use the exact same character poses and positions in every slide. Even tiny changes will fail the puzzle.
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Empty space builds atmosphere – Letting the tree fill the frame boosts the melancholy vibe. Don‘t clutter the scene.
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Patience pays off – Take time to savor the absurdity you are creating. Rushing causes mistakes.
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Understand the reference – Studying Waiting for Godot gives insight into the existential tone you need to evoke.
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Creativity within constraints – Work within the tight puzzle rules to craft your own unique take on this classic theme.
The Existential Origins – Waiting for Godot
To fully appreciate this puzzle, it helps to understand the influential play it references – Samuel Beckett‘s Waiting for Godot. First performed in 1953, Godot had a profound impact on theater and literature.
The play‘s barebones plot focuses on two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, endlessly waiting for someone named Godot to arrive. Godot never actually shows up. Each day, Vladimir and Estragon pointlessly return to the same place to keep waiting for Godot.
This simple premise explores heavyweight existentialist themes:
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The meaninglessness of human existence – Vladimir and Estragon‘s daily wait for Godot is futile and hopeless.
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The "absurdity" of life – There is no purpose in ceaselessly waiting for someone who will never come.
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Stillness and boredom – Much of the play consists of just killing time while waiting around.
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The human need for meaning – Despite life‘s randomness, people cling to routines to feel significant.
By transforming Tiny and Hatey into a clown version of Vladimir and Estragon, the Storyteller puzzle pays tribute to Beckett‘s absurdist masterpiece. Just like how Godot pushed the boundaries of theater, this puzzle pushes players to think philosophically.
Understanding Absurdism
Waiting for Godot exemplified the "Theater of the Absurd" movement. Absurdism was a 20th century philosophy embracing life‘s chaos and lack of meaning:
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Originated from existentialist thinkers like Albert Camus and Søren Kierkegaard
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Suggests human efforts to find meaning in life are hopeless and absurd
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Focused on states of boredom, fear, and anguish at the randomness of existence
Absurdism deeply impacted literature, art, film, and theater. Works like Franz Kafka‘s The Metamorphosis explored surreal worlds where logic breaks down.
So by having Tiny and Hatey repeat their hopeless wait for Godot indefinitely, Storyteller evokes these core absurdist themes. The puzzle pushes the player to confront life‘s strangeness through play.
Samuel Beckett – Master of the Absurd
No playwright embodied absurdism more than Samuel Beckett (1906 – 1989). The Irish writer won the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature, with the citation praising his "writing, which – in new forms for the novel and drama – in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation."
Beyond Waiting for Godot, Beckett‘s major absurdist works include:
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Endgame (1957) – Four characters inhabit a bare room at the end of the world.
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Krapp‘s Last Tape (1958) – A man listens to past recordings of himself.
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Happy Days (1961) – A woman is buried waist-deep, then neck-deep in sand.
Beckett‘s minimalist, enigmatic plays changed 20th century theater. He injected an existential bleakness into drama, forcing audiences to sit with the discomfort of unanswerable questions.
The Godot puzzle in Storyteller lets players experience Beckett‘s absurdism first-hand. By creating a meaningless scene where nothing happens, you gain insight into Beckett‘s signature avant-garde style.
Expanding the Puzzle: Tiny & Hatey Both Leave and Return
Once you solve the basic version of having Tiny and Hatey wait forever, the game unlocks an expanded variant called "Tiny and Hatey Wait Forever Both Leave and Return."
In this tricky new scenario, you must still have Tiny and Hatey waiting endlessly for Godot. However, both characters must briefly leave the tree before resuming their vigil.
Here is how I solved this advanced Godot puzzle:
Slide 1
- Background: Old Tree
- Character 1: Tiny
- Character 2: Hatey
As before, I started with Tiny and Hatey waiting together under the tree.
Slides 2-5
- Background: Old Tree
I removed Tiny and Hatey completely from the middle 4 slides, leaving just the bare Old Tree background.
Slide 6
- Background: Old Tree
- Character 1: Tiny
- Character 2: Hatey
In the final slide, Tiny and Hatey return to their endless wait under the tree.
This fulfills the requirements – Tiny and Hatey briefly leave before resuming their hopeless vigil for Godot. The empty slides represent their temporary exit before returning to the absurd watch.
Final Review and Tips
Here are my top tips for tackling the Godot puzzles in Storyteller:
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Study Waiting for Godot to understand the tone you need to recreate.
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Use identical slides to heighten the repetitive absurdity.
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Keep only Tiny, Hatey, and the Old Tree in each scene.
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For the advanced puzzle, completely remove Tiny and Hatey for several slides.
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Savor the existential, melancholy vibe as you recreate Beckett‘s classic.
Waiting for More Puzzles
The Godot riddles are just one part that makes Storyteller such an innovative game. If you like philosophical puzzles mixed with engaging art, I highly recommend also trying:
- Hamlet: Tiny Murders His Brother to Avenge His Father
- Narcissus: The Mirror Praises Everyone
- Professor: Monster is Slained
With its charming visuals and thought-provoking puzzles, Storyteller is a must-play for absurdist enthusiasts and puzzle-lovers alike. Just don‘t wait forever to check it out!
