CREATION EXCAVATION

ree-rolph 2020-10-06 03:28

I liked this a fair bit, although I didn't finish it. The fully destructable landscapes meshed well with the time loop, as it meant you couldn't tear up the whole game too much. The aesthetic was lovely, quite Downwell like, although I don't know if there's a proper name for it. I felt it could've used a bit more direction - I found 4 of the totems, three destruction, three creation, and couldn't find any more clues of where to go. It's possible I was just being boneheaded and missing them, but after a few resets I decided to throw in the towel. The pre-mined parts of the map worked well as in-game clues, but sometimes you had to mine in random spots to find things (I think.) The destruction and creation tools were fun to play around with, although they could be a little finicky at times when you missed a block and got stuck. I always like to see games made with Godot as well, even though I still haven't figured out how it works. Overall, good job.

torcado 2020-10-07 00:00

ough this is gorgeous as always. looove your style so much this is a really cool game! again, really like being forced to figure out what to do. also ive always liked these types of metroidvania/progression games, finding powerups to help you get through places you saw previously right before the creation upgrade theres some blocks you break to get up, if you happen to break all 3 do you just have to wait the cycle out? i only accidentally did it correctly and realized afterward

squimmy 2020-10-09 02:03

The visuals of this game are absolutely beautiful. The two-tone palette and unusual dither pattern give it a really distinctive look.

Unfortunately, I found the gameplay about as fun as the mspaint eraser tool. After the first couple of upgrades, I couldn't find any big hints about where to go next, and after a few minutes of wandering around, I gave up. I'm _not_ trying to say I think there's irredeemable flaws in the game's design--just that it's probably a game for people more patient than I.

chispalbc 2020-10-25 13:11

looks fun but unfortunatelly it does not work for me. It launches but then black screen. Maybe i did somethign wrong? Windows 10

yword 2020-10-25 13:20

Wow, the mechanics of destruction and creation are so cool! And the visual is quite stylish too! Great works! Maybe it will be better to provide some hints to guide the player. ^_^

moski 2020-10-25 13:29

I mean, you gave me the tools.

CREATION_EXCAVATION_PMfn9HhRYd.png

I'd call this an underrated entry. It's very polished for what it is, with great spritework and fitting sounds. The gameplay mechanics are quite good even if there's no real indication of where to go next nor a more clear sense of progression. Still, it achieves its purpose and the things it does, it does them very well. The destruction and creation feels satisfying, and the time loop isn't too long nor too short.

Here's hoping you get your 20 ratings! Spread the word of your game more! :whale:

copito 2020-10-25 13:34

I really enjoyed this, Mechanically I think I might have preferred a ray cast to destroy blocks over the point based destruction as I often found myself trying to run while sweeping away blocks and ending up bumping along stop starting. I wasn't sure what to do after I got the ability to create and explored a bit, I wasn't quite sure if there was more to do after that. Still a good entry one of my favourites this jam

revanj 2020-10-25 13:50

This is such a well made game for 72 hours. It has all the simple hints that made the interactions fun. Though I have to say after I while I don’t know what to do, and the looping mechanism seems to be hindering progress (because you can destroy and create of course someone will try to do some builds?). But still, awesome game, and thank you for the experience!

2020-10-25 13:57

the game looks so good like wtf

i didn't really get what i was supposed to do though, and the time loop felt was a bit irritating

erikiene 2020-10-25 14:17

Cool mechanics that are made even better by the effective use of sound! The visuals are appealing, perhaps the only thing I'd improve on that side is making the cursor somehow more obvious as it's already hard to destroy enough tiles when traversing sideways, but then you find yourself unaware of where your cursor is due to the effects. As with other comments, I found that the game would have been even better if it had some more obvious direction to it, instead of leaving the player to randomly seek out objects (apart from some obvious pointers for a few of them). It has great potential i'd say, good work! Hope you get the 20 ratings needed.

mackandrius 2020-10-25 14:19

Game looks great and I think the movement and destruction mechanics were very well done, however after finding the first upgrade, I couldn't locate the other one and was a bit lost as to what I needed to do? Perhaps I missed something. Regardless, very impressive aesthetic and great job, just some guidance for people like me would've been a good addition imho. Congrats tho!

pee-thief 2020-10-25 16:51

Really cool game! love the one bit art, the destroying sound effect is really satisfying

chesschaser 2020-10-25 17:26

Really good game. Excellent art style!

chesschaser 2020-10-25 17:27

A joy to control

toccio94 2020-10-25 17:51

This was a great entry!

The atmosphere of this game is pure joy to me. You've managed to improve it with everything you have. The minimal visual with only two colors improves the feeling of discomfort, of uneasiness, while the way the character moves makes it even more alienating, mystical. The sfx you used also gives these same feeling, improving even more the game. Then you have the gameplay itself, where you must explore this weird ruins, and you feel lost, again improving the mood. I mean, this is a 5 start mood for me, I'm really amazed at how you've managed to create that world.

Visually speaking is also very beautiful, the way the gem moves is so elegant and makes it funny to control, it also makes it feel the movement fresh, not some plain movement control always seen in a lot of platform games. You've also such a high attention to details (right now I've scrolled to see if this was a compo game but fortunately it's not otherwise you would be god), like the dots that stays with you all the time, changing form and fusing with you for the jump. This details also improved the world atmosphere, make it feels even more believable, and, as all the other things, makes you totally immersed. The level itself is also nice built, with just a few different tiles that makes the difference in establishing where you are. Those shrines are cool. Obviously the creation power is amazing visually, I've decided to play this just after seeing the gif on the home page, I was charmed by it.

The sfx were really cool and the fact that they are annoying to me helped the atmosphere of uneasiness and alienating-ness. Maybe some of them are a bit too loud, but I've just lowered down the volume to fix that. I also liked that there is no background music (even if I don't know if it is on purpose or by time constraint), it helps in making you feel uncomfortable.

Even though I liked a lot the way the gem moves, I think controls could have been a bit easier to use, since you have just a few tricky platforming that, let's say, ruin a bit the immersion, because it's a spike in difficulty that seems artificial. Another way to fix that (and the best probably), if you don't want to change the control, could be to just adjust a bit the level to avoid those tricky part. I mean, if you like that difficulty is ok, but for me they made my "fluid" experience, like a dream, less fluid.

Pacing was also another issue I had with this. I like how the game makes you explore and give you more option bit by bit, I think you did a great work in leading the player without it being too clear, just hinting. But when you have to destroy a lot, it feels good but it's also a bit slow and confusing. The screen shakes every time so basically forever when digging to find the way, and you also have to be precise on clicking the squares. Maybe if the destroy had a bigger radius it would have been a more fluid experience.

The other issue with pacing is the last section, where you are left wondering where to go, and being so slow in digging, and also having the change to go up (where there seems to be nothing) it could be a turn off. I liked the game a lot so I keep playing until I managed to complete it, and it also has some kind of hint since the last part where you have to dig is one where you don't find anything before, but it was maybe too much. Maybe with a more powerful destroy this could be instantly change and not be a "pain".

As last, the theme is surely there having that thing killing you every x seconds (and I liked that you don't specify the timer so it makes it even more stressing "will I get there in time? dig dig dig"), but it's just that, it's not bad but compared to the rest of the game is just good enough.

That said, wow, this game was just so amazing! It's really a shame you have so few ratings but you also have rated few games =/ Please play and rate some game (and leave comments for karma) as long as you have time, this game deserves to be in the final ratings! (or not, so I have more chances to be higher ahah)

ismael-rodriguez 2020-10-25 19:58

Cool game. I like the visuals, but I think the screen shake is over-done. It shakes for pretty much everything. I also wish the player was as tall as a block, because digging horizontally is kind of annoying. Sound effects are good, the lack of music is probably a good decision. The ending animation is cool. I like the progression flow, but I almost quit after finding the power to destroy the lava looking blocks because I didn't know where to go from there, and digging horizontally was a chore which means exploring underground isn't really fun.

Overall this is a great game with great style. Good job!

end.png

thegreenworm 2020-10-25 20:14

Well, I was about to put my thoughts in this comments, but I 100% agree with @ismael-rodriguez, so yeah !

azagaya 2020-10-25 20:23

I really liked the art, Mechanics are great and fun to play. the sound effects tometimes were too high, or too sharp and i had to turn down the volume. But it was a great, and well done game! I would like some ambiental music though.

nolnad 2020-10-27 01:37

I thought this entry was extremely cool. I love the sounds the concept the mood. It creats a very interesting atomsphere. It was really fun to play aswell. I can't really think of anything I would change so thats a solid 10/10 frome me.