FoonLudum Dare ExplorerLD38 → Mallows World Adventure

Mallows World Adventure

By geeitsomelaldy

View on ldjam.com

CategoryRankScoreCount
Overall2953.2674
Fun3113.0675
Innovation4182.6674
Theme2573.4374
Graphics3093.1175
Audio1113.4772
Humor1553.0273
Mood2273.2172

Comments

avavt 2017-04-26 14:45

Quite an enjoyable game!

I didn't really know what to do at first, and felt quite lost. But then I noticed the map name at the bottom right and it got much easier to navigate the world.

The game is quite interesting, but I wish there was a bit more guidance, like making the research base close to the starting zone (and easier to find). During my run it was the last thing I found.

samurai-spark 2017-05-01 11:39

Really cool game @geeitsomelaldy

I love the sweet little marshmallow guy :) Funny how he gets killed by fire :laughing: As AVAVT said it gets much easier to navigate after you found the map. Nice experience with cool sound and awesome pixel art. And the gameplay feels really good.

Great job! :smile:

nofxboy1234 2017-05-01 11:42

I enjoyed that, and the music was pleasant.

alisoncox 2017-05-01 11:50

I too liked the look of all the marshmallow men and the music was very in keeping with the dizzy look and feel!

I also learned that Sri Lanka looks like an Avocado... Did not know that! :)

2kah 2017-05-01 11:50

Looks really promising but I couldn't find how to proceed after finding the snorkle, crowbar, and shovel. What are you supposed to do next?

smbe19 2017-05-01 12:12

I think I saw the whole map but I did not find any way to thaw the dude.

binaryferret 2017-05-01 13:12

I played a lot of the Dizzy games when I was younger and this felt like a nostalgic throw back :D Good work. I enjoyed the art style, and the subtle humor. Alas I couldn't find a way to thaw out your brother, but the game felt very complete and polished. Well done! Also I liked the music.

geeitsomelaldy 2017-05-01 13:46

As some people, like @2kah, are getting stuck on certain bits I'll let you guys know what to do:

The Shovel is used to dig the hole,

The Crowbar is used to free the Guinea Pig.

jackyjjc 2017-05-01 13:57

I wish I'm smart enough to solve the puzzle. I got crowbar and shovel and snorkle. I thought I would use crowbar or shovel to break the ice but I couldn't find a way to use it. The music is quite nice though. I may do a second playthrough if someone can post some tips here :p

I was also quite confused about why I kept losing health under the sea near south pole and it turned out the ice spike actually damages you and there was no indication of it happening.

Anyways it looks quite promising but a bit more tips or guidance would be nice :)

2017-05-01 16:36

Neat world! I included it in my Ludum Dare 38 compilation [video series](https://youtu.be/CCYaVM8tRMM), if you’d like to take a look :)

toonteamj 2017-05-01 18:58

Very interesting. The music works well with the game.

multiplexor 2017-05-01 19:16

Cool adventure game!

I love how you managed to create so many maps and interactions in just 48 hours! Also the environments look great!

I have to say that I didn't find a way to melt my friend since I accidentally misplaced my scuba diving mask, but I found all the maps and most items (I think :P).

If I had to improve something, it would be the controls (I feel that being able to leave stuff around didn't serve much purpose).

All in all, I quite enjoyed this entry! Keep up the good work!

endurion 2017-05-01 19:20

Very good game, works also nicely in Edge. Quite good for 48 hours, and a good fit for small world due to the country flags :)

clegamecoop 2017-05-01 19:20

Neat approach! Definitely getting confused at parts where I think I should be able to use items like the shovel though. I really like your use of multiple countries! =)

chronosv2 2017-05-01 19:22

I've never had the opportunity to play the original Dizzy games (American and was late to getting a computer), but now that I've played your game I want to! A nice simple exploration adventure. The music was awesome -- I quite liked it.

Keep up the great work!

spaceman 2017-05-01 19:25

Very cool. I like the music and I think the interpretation of the theme is actually pretty unique. I accidentally dropped the snorkel underwater though. I couldn't pick it up again before dying. It would be cool if your inventory was reloaded when you die.

scriptorum 2017-05-01 19:36

Nice! I was able to thaw my brother, but the controls were fighting me. Many times it would give the message as if I didn't have the item needed. Dropping all but the item in question sometimes helped. I had no idea that the Sri Lankan gave me a hat, I thought it was some freshly baked bread. :smirk: I liked the music variety and the marshmallow people.

kosmo 2017-05-01 19:39

Nicely done! Very complete for the short timeframe, has an entire storyline, good audio, humorous, and it involves the theme in a clever way. I want to take Mallow on more adventures!

My only critique is that it was hard to tell what the hat was before I gave it to the guy who needed sunglasses, and I still don't know exactly what it was I used to thaw Mallow's brother out.

Thanks!

izunah 2017-05-01 19:56

I enjoyed the humor of the game, and it was a really pleasant experience, from the music to the concept. I found the world a little disorienting and it took a bit of time to get used to the warping that the doors seem to do. I got stuck after digging out the dirt; I see in the comments here that the crowbar is support to open the guinea pig cage but it did nothing for me, I am sure I missed something.

Overall a cute little game.

james-dunlap 2017-05-01 20:14

Cute and interesting game. I love the detail of the marshmallow, especially when he jumps. It was a very fitting game for the theme. I think that what is leading to the confusion for many is an easy fix. In order to use an item from the inventory, it seems to have to be the item on the right, so I found myself dropping and picking up items in order to rotate them. Perhaps allowing the use of any item or adding a selector for which item is being used would be greatly beneficial. Very well done, though, for 48 hours.

superpokeunicorn 2017-05-01 20:17

This is a pretty good game. Sort of like Fantasy Wold Dizzy with marshmallows. Very expansive given the time constraint. I really like the globe trotting idea, an excellent use of theme. I did run into a few problems, however. Firstly, it took me a while to realize that the shovel was an item and not the background element. Also, the inventory system was a bit difficult to use with the way you had to put down items to get the one you wanted in your primary slot. Also, the expansive world got a bit confusing, especially when I went through doors. The layout could definitely be a bit more intuitive. Despite these problems, this is a really great entry. The visuals are good and the audio really fits the world. There is a lot of content on offer for a Ludum Dare game. Good job!

tombishopspg 2017-05-01 20:25

Loved the flags and the adventure game feel. Thoroughly enjoyed this game.

khorm 2017-05-01 21:09

Really cool little adventure game, kinda reminded me of those oldschool games like monkey island and whatnot. Impressive level design and complexity for a compo game, agree to some people that it was quite hard to see what could be used and figure out where. Overall great experience.

Oh, and a tip: don't drop your diving gear while under water...

danbolt 2017-05-01 22:03

I loved the adventure/exploring mechanics of this game. There's a good amount of content for a compo entry!

The flag effects are also a really good way of quickly indicating that the players has stumbled upon a new place. I really enjoyed that.

rixud 2017-05-02 00:56

Really good exploration! At the beginning i get a little lost but i'm happy to finish it! I didn't expect the chili make your brother free hahaha i get a little stuck in this part... very round game, good music nice game play nice graphics

bookworm31 2017-05-02 05:11

Very cool game, I was impressed with how many different parts of the puzzles/different map zones there were and how they were all connected. I did have a couple issues with the items; my first game I dropped the mask in the water and couldn't pick it up again.... It was also a little bit tricky swapping items around, as well as talking to people, but I eventually got the hang of it and thoroughly enjoyed the game.

dusho 2017-05-02 05:22

Impressive how much stuff there is. For me as non-adventure gamer it was hard to know what to do and keep track where I am. Overall very nice work, game feels well polished

hector-pineiro-ii 2017-05-02 05:30

The groove on some of those songs is pretty good! But oh man that water song needs some substance :rofl:

Navigation was difficult which dragged out the game time, but in turn it provided a sense of exploration.

My biggest complaint is probably the action button (Z). Since the action button can drop your item, interact with people, and go through doors, I frequently found myself dropping items when I actually wanted to talk or enter a door. (By the way, it seems if you drop an item right outside Mallow's house, the item will be drawn behind the house). Not all items in the world really stand out as items to pick up, so if I tried to pick up what I thought was an item, I'd end up dropping an item (frustrating!).

It seemed as if some character events would only trigger if a certain item was first in my list, otherwise I'd have to rearrange my items until the relevant item was first. Not sure if that's a bug or feature, but it threw me off.

Overall: The exploration and "puzzle" elements were nice, but the oversimplified input system, odd world layout, and inconsistent event triggers led to some confusion during gameplay.

alxm 2017-05-02 06:04

Nice music and art, and an impressive amount of content for a 48h game!

makiki99 2017-05-02 06:06

Interesting game, but the behavior of action button is plain stupid. I also had no idea how to thaw/break/whatever the ice. I also dropped one item once and couldn't find it again.

megalink 2017-05-02 06:29

I love this game! It has some great music that will change to better suit the environment, the art was mediocre but had an interesting style, and I loved how open-world this game felt. It also had some great writing, and lots of content! If I were to give this game some criticism, i'd say that the movement felt a little floaty (if you can even call that a word), and I think the game could really do with a map (unless there is one and I just never found it)

Overall, this is a fantastic game, probably my favorite so far! I'd be surprised if this doesn't get within the top 10 for at least one of the categories. Good job! :)

geeitsomelaldy 2017-05-02 09:08

Thanks for the feedback guys.

The inventory system is a bit janky, as it only 'uses' the item in the last slot of your inventory (you need to do inventory juggling to get what you need in the last slot). If I were doing it again I would just have it look in your inventory to see if you have the right item regardless of its slot.

kayz 2017-05-02 13:58

This game really put my non existent sense of orientation to a challenge. But I was still able to finish it. Bit I discovered the name of the map faaaar too late in the game.

neowhoru 2017-05-02 19:42

Gret Game :) Really respect for what you done in 48 hours.

seth 2017-05-03 06:13

Nice Dizzy tribute :) I couldn't figure out if you could dig with the shovel...

fiote 2017-05-03 13:02

Nice entry! Had fun with it. Loved the music & mood ^^

cheesymoo 2017-05-03 20:24

:laughing:

good job!

congrats on the compo!

chunkybrewster 2017-05-03 23:55

Nice adventure game. Love when you ask yourself "can I go down here" and the answer is yes. Nice little bit of exploration. Controls are a little weird, I found myself accidentally picking stuff up and dropping it all the time. Also same for dialog, found myself instantly closing window and have to talk 3-4 time so I could read.

adrian0901 2017-05-04 05:23

Nailed the Dizzy feeling! Thanks dude, I just replayed Wonderland Dizzy.

candlesan 2017-05-04 06:48

Great art. Solid music. I love the animations.There were way more environments then I was expecting to find!

fangzhangmnm 2017-05-04 07:19

You reminds me of the years when I was wondering a overworld adventure by digging a hole in my backgarden Using national flags is a very very clever idea. That boost the atmosphere of the game.

suggestions: The game goal and instructions should be clearfied espically in open-world games Item usage system is difficult to use

pcmaster 2017-05-04 12:07

Indeed, it reminds me Dizzy, too :) Cool graphics and music, also gameplay. But I, too, don't like the buttons. Good job anyway, the game is big and awesome! :)

iago-silva 2017-05-04 12:07

Nice art game man

please rate us https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/38/deep-bottom

markusfisch 2017-05-04 20:03

Lovely idea! Had quite some fun exploring the world. I really like that the viewport doesn't always follow Mallow and so you can never be sure if that border is really the end. Well done!

cvetk0 2017-05-04 21:10

Nice game and great idea. I found it amazing how all those places were interconnected with one another. The graphics and music really bring out the spirit of those 80s platformers.

Congrats for putting this all together for the Compo and keep up the good work! :thumbsup:

altron 2017-05-05 14:05

Finally managed to finish it! (but not without your hint here) I was already getting desperate and to thaw my brother out, my idea was to set something on fire and bring it - tried putting the letter in fire, the spade and (even though I am not proud of it) even the guinea pig. The controls were somewhat clumsy - especially the work with inventory (I died underwater because I accidentaly dropped my snorkel). But otherwise I think you have done quite a lot of work in the little time - the game is not that small and the graphics and music is nice and overall the game is great.

keckles 2017-05-05 16:51

it was pretty good i got stuck after getting the avocado half the only thing i could think to do with it was give it to the guy who said he had never seen one but it would not work so idk anyway nice job on the music and overall pretty good

iluvatar 2017-05-05 18:30

Nice and fun game. The only thing that could have been better, was the inventory. It was kinda buggy, since you had to have items in the right possition to give exact item to those people. Overall, cool, very much similar to classic NES games, imho.

jakob-willforss 2017-05-06 16:42

Enjoyable game. I was a bit confused about controls and how to approach the frozen brother, and the fact that I suddenly was at Antarctica (thought I would gradually get there, country by country, but might hard to do in 48 hours...). I liked the idea, visuals and music. Good job!

somnium 2017-05-06 16:43

I've never played any of the Dizzy games, but I got a strong "Auf Wiedersehen Monty" vibe from it, due to the similar gameplay, and theme of travelling between exotic places around the world.

The art style and music worked really well - I think that Mallow looks a bit worried, which is to be expected, with all the hazards in the world.

The various environmental hazards were easy to avoid, and yet could still leave the world in an unsolvable state if you died at the wrong time. Hence I think the game would have worked just as well without that element, but just focusing on the exploration. Similarly, there did not seem to be a specific purpose to the snorkel - you pick it up at the beginning, and keep it in your inventory for the entire game, to be able to navigate freely - and it might kill the player if he use the wrong button at the wrong time (and if you drop it in the wrong place, it could make the game unsolvable).

The amount of content is really impressive for a compo game - there is a lot of explorable space, and the fact that each location has its own unique theme and theme music was astonishing - and you even found the time to add a unique look to the NPCs as you solve their quests as well. The puzzles were fun to solve (the shovel-puzzle in particular had an unexpected result), and the game really managed to convey a good abstraction of the difference between the various exotic locations.

All in all, it was a quite impressive Compo game!

>Exploring the world, >trading foodstuff with locals. >Gurgle, gurgle, wheeze.

gundatsch 2017-05-07 10:21

The platforming part works out really well and music is cool. The only thing which confused me at a later part was the inventory management. The avocado guy has never seen an avocado? ... well lets show him my avocado. Nope ... doesn't seems interested.

I had to drop the other things first (and he seems to drop random things :D, ... maybe not random, just not controllable).

After solving it, he just gives me a brown something? :D ... luckily there weren't that much guys around which had any problems. And after delivering the "hat/sombrero" i got another "i don't know" ... and i still don't know, but it helps me finishing the game.

So yeah ... it's a compo entry so i don't want to be that harsh that the inventory was confusing. Other than that the game worked out pretty well.

zener 2017-05-07 18:17

Really solid and nice game! It brings me a lot of memories from Dizzy and other games, music is also very cool. Congrats

aggrathon 2017-05-15 22:01

I was a bit lost in the beginning, but after awhile I got the hang of it. And I was blown away at how good those flags looked!

geeitsomelaldy 2017-05-16 07:58

@Aggrathon - Those flags took me too bloody long :D

mrtroy 2017-05-17 04:23

I finished the entire thing, I never found out what the tents and fires were for. I figured it was for the pie but... nope. :(

My only beef was that I couldn't figure out how to cycle through items. So I had to drop things one at a time to get to the item I wanted to get to. Was there any reason to continue to hold on to the letter?

yetikatt 2017-05-17 15:03

I honestly was not expecting a curry to be the solution.Good job on the game, a solid entry.