So, when we last left our hero, Max, he had just heroically beaten a bunch of kids at hide-and-seek, finding one hiding amongst the corpses of their dead parents (presumably?) and dug up a child's corpse. Truly Max is as close to a pure Герой нашего времени as we can get in this era.
There seems to be no obvious way to proceed, and this is where I got stuck previous times playing, so this time I'm resorting to a bit of walkthroughisms (not too much, but truth is I'm no hero at adventure games, and always need one sooner or later). Here's a nice hint provided by the game, though:
Need something to "fish it out with", eh? Subtle. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind bat. Nudge nudge, wink wink.
So, apparently the game wants us to steal a little kid's fishing rod because, y'know, not fucked up enough yet. Remember Timmy mentioned he hadn't been to church because the bell hadn't been rung anymore, and no one can ring it because that little shit Dennis cut the rope. How to ring a bell without a rope? Pick up a rock.
That rock. It's not horrible as pixelhunts go, the rock is pretty obvious apart from the other rocks, but still fuck pixelhunts.
Right, use rock on bell and Timmy comes running in.
We take it. Because we're just bad-asses that way.
And literally fish out the massive, metal cross. Impressive.
While checking with some of the kids I find out Eileen might've been telling fibs, and actually only beat Jessie 5 times, not 7. Bizarrely enough, this is actually important to know.
First looked door reveals the cardboard fort. Cool.
And the old store. Nothing of interest there but an old gas can.
So how to cross the broken bridge? Why, use the kid's ride you broke on the water to act as a stepping stone. Makes perfect sense!
Max seems to think it's funny.
And hey, a new kid, hanging around near the pumpkin patch everyone's so scared off. Max note's she's "half-worm" but I don't know what the heck he's basing that on, she just seems to have a root growing out of her back.
Sure, mister. I don't get many visitors.
May I ask your name?
My name is Maria ... Maria Santiago.
Maria Santiago would continue her video game character career as
Dom's wife in Gears of War. Sad.
(Where) Where are we? What's the name of this town?
There is no town. Not anymore.
(Anymore) What do you mean, not anymore?
There was town, before Mother got here. People were happy ... Everything was fine ...
Before your mother came to town? What do you mean?
Oh FFS, Max, stop being so obtuse. You *know* who Mother is by now.
You're new here ... you just don't understand.
(Understand) No, I don't understand. You're only confused me more ... Could you explain it to me, start at the beginning?
(Newspapers) I've read the old newspapers in the Town Hall, Maria.
Oh Good! You've found it. What do you want to talk about now?
(Adults) I haven't seen any adults in this town. Where are they? Where are your parents?
I'm sorry, but Mother has forbidden us to talk about them.
(Who) I keep hearing about 'Mother', but it doesn't sound like she's anyone's real mother. Who is this person?
She's resting right now ... otherwise I wouldn't speak to you. You're right, though ... she isn't anyone's real mother! She's really ...
Really what? Really fat? Really ugly?
What is it Maria?
I think she's waking up! I can't talk anymore! Mother will hear me and get awful mad!
But ... oh, damn it!
(Forbidden) Forbidden? But why? Why can't you talk about your parents?
Please don't be mad! I'd tell you if I could, it's just that ... well ... I'll be punished again if I do.
(Punished) Punished how?
The pumpkin patch. She'll have me put in the pumpkin patch again. It's a terrible place.
It doesn't look so bad from here.
Once you're inside ... everything turns bad.
(Again) You've been in there before?
Yes. The others dragged me in there.
The other children?
They did as they were told. Mother wanted to teach me a lesson.
(Lesson) What lesson, Maria?
Just...fuck you, game, alright. Fuck you.
That's ... that's horrendous! How could she do such a thing to a child?!
It's OK ... it's not so bad now. I'm kinda used to it. Anyway, once Mother wakes up, everything will be better.
Feh. If I have anything to say about it, that She-Bitch won't be waking up at all.
OK?! What do you -
Please ... I don't wanna talk about it anymore. I've already said too much.
(O'Toole) The newspapers mention a preacher, named O'Toole ... did you know him?
Yes. He was real scared about the comet. I remember him saying at church that God was made about the pumpkins, and that he was gonna punish us for taking advantage of the land.
(Comet) A comet ... is that what happened here? Did the comet somehow make the plants around here grow so wild?
Mother told us that the comet was a sign of Her coming, a sign that we were special children.
Well that was downright joyful. Let's try and get into the Pumpkin Patch.
I have no idea what the combination is. Let's ask Maria.
(Patch) What's the deal with this pumpkin patch? There's a lock on the gate.
To keep everyone out! It's a bad, bad place.
Why is it so bad? It's a little overgrown, but it looks OK -
You're a fucking retard, Max.
It's dangerous! Mother grew it keep us kids away while she rests. She said that us kids should stay outside 'til she's rested and ready to play with us.
I'm not supposed to tell ... I mean ... yes.
So I need to go through the pumpkin patch to talk to Mother ... but first I have to get past the gate.
But it's locked.
(Combination) Do you know the combination?
I'm not sure ... I'll have to think about it.
That's not too hard. Jessie even told us in the correct order: Meg beat her 4 times, Eileen 5 times, and me once...
And it opens up...only that doesn't fucking make any sense, since I assume this lock's code was put in before I beat Jessie, so she'd have been beaten 4, 5 and none times. Oh well.
Pick up a scythe. Fuck yeah, armies of darkness, come get me.
And that's what they do. I get picked apart by the crows, and unsure of what to do, die. Dying doesn't mean much, you get kind of absorbed by the ground and respawn, all Nameless One style.
So yeah, just hack at the crows. Splatter, baby!
A bit up, the Scarecrow comes to life in hellfire! Oh yeah! I got plenty of practice on your crow lackies. Bring it, bitch!
Oh.
So direct attacks are not the way to go. You have to get rid of his magic pumpkins first.
I died again here, but it doesn't matter, neither crows nor pumpkins respawn.
Die in a fire!
Got him! Guess he thought it was better to burn up than fade away.
...
Look, just...leave the corny action one-liners be, k?
A solid metal, glowing comet. That spells D-O-O-M.
Nearby we also find a generator but it lacks gasoline (!), and we break open a tractor take yank out the jumper cables 'coz that's what adventure gamers do.
We head into the barn.
What?
What?!
AAAAAH!!!
AAAAAAHHH!!!
PIZZA THE HUTT?!!?!
Oh hush.
Fuck, look at that thing. Well, we can talk to it.
Charmed, I'm sure.
My God ... what are you?
I am beyond your understanding, human. However, you may call me what the children do ... Mother.
(Mother) Mother?! I should call you what you are, nothing but a disease!
Fuck yeah. Now you're talking my language, Max.
Mind you tongue, human. I am more parent to these seedling than you or anyone else could be.
(Seedlings) These aren't your seedlings, they're children! Flesh and blood! Don't you see that?
I see, and it disgusts me! Animal sacks filled with loose cells - it's a wonder you don't burst. What an inferior vessel for the spirits of these children.
Fact: only animals have loose cells.
(Why) But why have you done this?
The children were in danger.
Danger from what? You've done more harm than -
Than what? You? The meat called Jeddah showed me how harmful your kind can be, as did the one called preacher.
She has a bit of a point, Jeddah killed half his own family and the preacher was inciting a blind panic.
(Jeddah) Jeddah? I saw his name on the pumpkin patch sign ... what does he have to do with all this?
He made me see the evil of your kind, how destructive you are. Jeddah preyed upon his own child, making her suffer, and die.
The entire town turned a blind eye to Jeddah's crimes, and I watched. The people's vicious disregard for Carol's safety was no less a crime than her father's!
So you killed them!?
Their own inner chaos would have destroyed them eventually. I only expedited the event, set things in order.
(Carol) Why were you so concerned about Carol?
She talked to me when no one would listen. I tried to communicate with them but ... Carol's voice was like music to me. She was my favorite, and I failed her.
(Preacher) How does the preacher figure into all of this? What could he possibly have done?
He was a superstitious fool. He spread paranoia and fear, swaying the others away from rational thought. The humans put their trust and faith in him, and followed. When the preacher assured them that Jeddah wasn't a real threat to Carol, they listened.
(Weeded) If you're as omnipotent as you seem to think you are, then why haven't you 'weeded' me out also?
In due time, little meat. For now you are of little consequence to me.
(Meat) My name is Max, not meat.
Your name is meaningless. An animal noise. And you are nothing more than a bag of meat.
If you truly feel that way, then why have you spared the children? Aren't they meat, too?
(Salvation) And you think that you can offer them salvation?! What conceit!!
It is not conceit! After I complete their transformation, the children will be one with me, forever! That is their salvation!
In case you're wondering, this is what the town's name, Genet,
was a subtle clue to. Not sure if the developers actually expected anyone to get the reference.
(Transformation) Transforming them into simple plants? You call that salvation?
(Weak) If my flesh is so weak, then why are you so afraid of me?
Afraid?! Of you?! Hah! You overestimate yourself!
I think you're the one who overestimates yourself, you perverse, bloated egomaniac!!
And she knocks Max out of the barn with a flick of her root.
Man, this Mother is actually a complex character, with a twisted but noble logic behind her actions...
...let's kill it :twisted:
Conveniently, when she knocked Max out of the barn she also - er - dropped a wrench.
Heading back into town, it's now possible to confront the children about Mother.
(Mother) Yes, I know about Mother. I've seen her - she's not human! Don't you understand what she -
Mother is ... good. Mother is the way. Mother protects us from ... meat who would harm us. The meat must be killed so that the seedlings may grow. We're all ... seedlings.
Meat?! What are you ... Maria? What's wrong with you?
For some reason the above text would flash out in half a second. I was lucky enough to grab a screencap.
Anyway, once confronted, you can't talk to the child anymore. With Mother awake, they barely have a grasp on their humanity. You can confront every child, but I'm not going to. Just a sample response:
(Mother) I know about Mother. I've seen her - she's not human! Don't you understand what she -
Mother is good. Mother is the way. Mother protects us from the meat. M - E - E - T. The meat must be killed so the seedlings can grow. K - I - L - L. We're all Mother's seedlings.
Grow?! Is that was she told you, she's helping you grow? She's killing you! She's -
But Marty! Wait, I -
Go away! I don't want to talk to you!
Dennis with a predictably bratty response.
Moving on, let's get the fuel to get the generator going again. I feel a plan brewing!
Good point.
Luckily our wrench enables us to get one here.
Sanitarium: siphoning fuel from crashed cars.
The fuel gets the generator up and running. We can then hook up the jumper cable from the tractor.
Nothing to clip it onto, though. Hmmm...
Ha-ha!
And hook up the cable to the cross.
Fry in hell, bitch.
Bwahahahaa!
Nearby, a heavenly gate has opened, and Maria is standing there.
Yes, but ... where are we going?
is playing through an Adventure - I'd suggest you play a couple of the classics: 
