GooBall

cptalbertwesker 2017-12-04 09:05

Nice and simple concept that you've pulled off very well, the different speeds for the different sized ball all feel very fitting, and I love how you can change up the levels. I managed to get all 200 in -33 seconds, it didn't seem to finish when I had gone over 200 seconds, but that way it meant I could still win!

11tomi12 2017-12-04 09:07

Is it just me or can I simply walk up and down all the time to collect goo?

ashtrail 2017-12-04 09:39

I'm not sure exactly what you mean @11tomi12 but if you mean "is there a simple way to cheese the game as hell" then yes there is. I'm gonna add a second patched build, a bit less buggy and more balanced.

dr-v 2017-12-04 10:43

I liked the way you can modify the level, however the game as it stands now doesn't have much mechanically interesting.

ashtrail 2017-12-04 12:24

Added a new build (Patch-1.1) with a few bug fixes and enhancements (you can read about it more in the dev logs) you still have access to the jam game (you just need to go to the download version, unzip the game and launch the index.hmtl)

oliverlevay 2017-12-04 13:18

I really like the spin you have on the theme! Fits very well. Nice job.

noa-calice 2017-12-04 13:37

Good little game ! I do however get stuck quite easily trying to squeeze through the walls !

ashtrail 2017-12-04 13:40

@noa-calice Normally you're supposed to be able to pass through the small walls only in the first form (you may be able to glitch out of the collider in intermediate form though, I didn't test it intensively), but maybe that is not very clear when playing.

zapakitul 2017-12-04 13:50

I managed to get 150 goo balls! It's hard to understand how to reset the level while standing on the switch. Sometimes it catches me, other this it does not.

Art style was cute and the characters remind me of Edmund McMillan's Gish!

ashtrail 2017-12-04 14:22

@zapakitul Yeah didn't have much time so the way the slab works is a bit messy. Basically when you enter in contact with it, if you can switch phase (-> you changed form) it will put you in its middle and load up the level change (because it would be a huge pain to move towards it back and forth to load up the new map configuration, and I don't want people to enable it without wanting too just by touching it hence the loading time). However if you are not in a state were you can switch the map it just loads in emptyness and doesn't suck you in, I guess I should just disable the loading bar in that case.

seano 2017-12-04 18:19

Good stuff, great idea and theme matching

magonx 2017-12-04 18:44

Played the game twice, in the first version you submited and the patched version. I liked the way you used your voice to do the "Gom" sound hahaha that was funny! I enjoyed the game, my highscore was 167 (I wanted so much to touch the void monster that when I did, I lost everything hahaha). Good game! (I also read your profile description, and I sympathize with the feeling about loving to make games, but not being that good about it lol hahaha) Cheers!

strelly 2017-12-04 23:16

Be proud of what you did, you can only get better! Good job with this cute game :3

eerongal 2017-12-05 02:00

That was an enjoyable game. i really like the idea of the shifting maze.

valkyrie 2017-12-05 07:38

I got 113 goos. I like the tiled art style, it reminds me of a Windows 95 era game. If you expand it, I would like to see more and shorter levels.

ashtrail 2017-12-05 08:02

Thanks for all the feedback !

2017-12-07 15:07

Nice little game! I included it in my Ludum Dare 40 compilation video series, if you’d like to take a look. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yel2Ap19z6s

ashtrail 2017-12-07 15:17

Yep I saw thanks :) didn't realize the mechanics of the game were so obscure for a new player ^^"

velvetlobster 2017-12-08 00:33

It does take a while for a new player to get the dynamics, but I see not a big problem with that, perhaps a quick tutorial would solve it. The only problem I had though was with the music. That may be just my opinion, but I think perhaps a not so frenetic song would do better in this.

ashtrail 2017-12-08 01:32

@velvetlobster I agree in hindsight ^^, the fact that the play time is 5 minutes whatever happens and the music only a 1 minute 20 loop makes it annoying quite quickly on top of it(and it's pretty repetitive too). I'm just very new to music making and have yet to learn how to make calmer music (although I'm pretty sure lowering down the volume would already be better).

jebouin 2017-12-10 06:52

Interesting take on the theme, I played it for a couple of iterations but I wasn't close to saving all the goo. It's hard to tell if it's better to use the 3rd form or to save the goo as soon as you get some. My strategy was to use it only to go to the last level that gives more goo (I think), then forget about it for the rest of the game.

The game could benefit giving the player more feedback (What are the pink walls? Why would I want to change levels? Why can't I stop the charcter?). Of course these questions are answered on the game page, but it would feel more natural to explain that in game.

Congrats on your first compo :)

arron-fowler 2017-12-12 09:47

I found it hard to care about saving the goo in the end. The controls slightly frustrated me, and by the time the timer ended I was relieved. That said I think there is potential to continue with it, It just lacks intensity. It seems like LD40 is all about growing intensity, whether that's a good thing I don't quite know. Maybe less time would be better.