The Alters, a narrative driven survival game has officially released to much critical acclaim. While one of the main functions of the game is to go out into the world and collect materials needed to survive, the game also has 2 types of collectibles you can track down. These collectibles come in two forms, movies and personal items. With this guide we are going to explain what these are for and where to find them. There is also the “Not Just An Object” achievement/trophy tied to the personal items.
Before we get into where these items are, lets explain their purposes.
Movies
First, we have the movies. Movies that are scattered about the world don’t have anything tied to them in terms of achievements, but they are valuable to get nonetheless. As you progress through the game and get more Alters in your base, movies will provide a significant boost to morale and happiness as you progress on your mission.
In order to play movies, you will need to create a social room. Once the social room is built you can head into the area and play the movies you have found. Two things should be highlighted here. If an Alter is too upset with you, they won’t watch the movie. Also if you continue to play the same movie over and over again the effects will greatly diminish.
As mentioned at the top, movies are not a requirement if you are simply looking for the 100% completion in terms of achievements or trophies. In that sense you can skip them if you’d like, but in our opinion, you should at least pick up a few to help make your Alters like you, and your Alters have a more productive time.
Personal Items
The second collectible, and the ones important to the completionists, are the personal items. Personal Items are items that were sent to make Jan feel like he was back on earth.
In order to unlock the “Not Just An Object” achievement you will be required to give all the personal items to the specific Alters. Giving the item to the correct Alter will help boost their spirits as well, so they are worth collecting for that purpose alone.
Cases containing personal items will always be found in the same locations throughout the game if you do multiple playthroughs. However, what item is in each case appears to be somewhat random. In our testing we always got the rubber duck and multi tool kit in the prologue. However after that our items were a bit more randomized. We're not sure if this is dependant on which playthrough you are on or if it truly is random.
Keeping that in mind, you may want to base your playthrough around which items your find early in order to make the “Not Just An Object” achievement easier for you.
For example, if you find the self-made mug you may want to create Jan Doctor as that is the item he wants. If you find the Projector though, you may want to create the Botanist. You can only create a maximum of 6 alters per playthrough, so having the right item for the right Jan might be difficult if you play another way.
Who Get’s Which Item?
So now you are probably wondering which Alter to give each item to. In order to obtain the Not Just An Object achievement/trophy you need to give 1 correct item to each Alter. A couple of the Alters will accept multiple items which makes them a little bit easier. Below you can see who to give what item to.
- Calendar – Jan Miner
- Multitool – Jan Technician
- Class Photo – Jan Botanist
- Universal Hoodie – Jan Scientist
- Self-Made Mug – Jan Doctor
- Yerba Mate Kit – Jan Shrink
- Watch – Jan Doctor
- Projector – Jan Botanist
- Lava Lamp – Jan Technician
- Rubber Duck – Jan Scientist
- Soccer Ball – Jan Miner
- Trading Card – Jan Guard
- Lucky Key Chain – Jan Shrink
- Bong – Jam Refiner
We will continue to add to this list as we find more items and who they belong to. Alright with all that said let's hop into the guide of where to find them. Keep in mind this is a work in progress and will be updated as we can.
Prologue
The prologue has 2 personal items and 1 movie and they appear in the opposite corners of the map.
Personal Item 1-2/3 & Movie 1/1
Using the base as a starting point take a left and go to the far upper corner of the map. Here you will find both a movie and the rubber duck.
Personal Item 3/3
Now with the base again as the reference point you want to go pretty much behind you to the right of the base. Follow the coastline for easy reference and once you get to the very corner of this section you will find the multi tool kit.
Act 1
Personal Items 1-2/5 & Movie 1/2
Luckily these maps are relatively small and easy to navigate.
From the base head slightly forward and to your right. There will be a metals deposit and an enriched metals deposit. Pretty much directly inbetween the 2 will be a little space where you can find 2 personal items and a movie.
Damaged Chip
We're going to include this here as well even though it's not part of the guide. These are very valuable to you as they can upgrade the quantum computer and get you more alters.
Across the map from the base you will find a minerals deposit. You have to head this way for the bridge. Along the path towards the bridge just past the minerals deposit will be the damaged chip.
Movie 2/2
From the damaged chip continue along the path. The path will then split. Take the right hand side up a wall you can climb. At the top and a little bit down the path will be the movie.
Personal Items 3-4/5
Head slightly back from where you came from back to where the path forked. This time take the left path along the cliff face to find 2 more personal items.
Personal Item 5/5
Head over to the opposite side of the lava where you need to put the bridge pillars. You should have the Luminator by now to help spit the anomaly. Just to the right of it is a ledge you can jump up to. Here you will find the last personal item of act 1.
