FoonLudum Dare ExplorerLD54 → ASTROLIZWILL - An 80's Handheld Space Adventure

ASTROLIZWILL - An 80's Handheld Space Adventure

By designernap

View on ldjam.com

CategoryRankScoreCount
Overall464.0528
Fun494.0128
Innovation294.1528
Theme1963.5928
Graphics54.5128
Audio204.0928
Humor1173.0624
Mood144.0927

Comments

sisuisa 2023-10-02 18:11

Looking so cool! Love the tactile feel & sound design. Feels very realistic clickety with ASMR vibes. If you wanted to expand the idea, I think having multiple levels with different handhelds could be nice, there is not really much complexity to the gameplay itself. But there doesn't need to be - it's still very cool and perhaps the most polished version of the core idea of very-simple-shoot-aliens-game. Nice job!

jk5000 2023-10-02 19:44

A very well made game. The game looks amazing, and it's pretty fun to play. A bit more sound effects and perhaps a bit more music would have been great. But overall a good jam game. Well done.

jammygunns 2023-10-03 07:06

Been looking forward to playing this one since you first posted your idea. Looks just as cool as I had hoped it would and was fun to play too. Even if my potato laptop had troubles with running it (unfortunate issue I have with Unreal Engine) Still a very fun game to play, you could create a number of these as a collection r as levels you progress through.

lain94 2023-10-03 20:12

This completely had the vibe of those toys that you play when you're a young kid. But you returned those 90s toy vibes to an arcade videogame. Personally, I need to rate this very very well. Congratulations because the mood and vibes of this game were pretty nice and innovative. Congratulations for it, maybe next time add some cool music in the background, but anyways, the sound effects were also very cool as they gave to this game those 90s vibes!! ^^ Thank you for this retro-arcade experience!

akitl 2023-10-03 20:16

the idea are good, i need more interaction with this toy !

pascalbros 2023-10-03 22:08

Woah this looks fun! I love the sound effects.

wisstopher 2023-10-03 22:17

Really impressive, your games have had a real leap forward with the introduction of Blender to your toolkit. A concise little game that feels good to play and is so moreish. Slick and cool. Fine work as always!

miller 2023-10-04 01:51

so sick! I like the idea of expansions to the levels as you progress being physical add ons that you would configure onto the existing device in some way. Like each time you progress, you'd be presented with 2-3 add ons and you'd want to place them/ switch them with another module in order to get to the next level

croze 2023-10-04 01:54

The graphics and audio are super satisfying, I would love to see more little handheld sims like this. Great work! I got 790 :)

soloadventurergames 2023-10-04 02:06

that was stunning, fantastic job, felt like a very polished and complete game.

gamedevtraum 2023-10-04 02:53

game looks amazing! and the sound effects are very pleasant :drooling_face: Excellent job :D

quasilyte 2023-10-04 13:24

This is one of those games where I know what to do with the Mood rating, it's 5/5. It's so immersive.

The way the game looks, sounds and plays is so amazing not only for a compo game tbh. If it would have more content to make it more interesting for a longer play session, this would be a solid game even outside of the LD context.

I have my fun playing this game. Very well-made.

I wish there was a web export though. It's so much easier to play the game this way when we're talking about the jam.

incd021 2023-10-05 18:34

WOW, just wow :eyes: What did you use to make the sounds? The sound when enemies are hit, sounds like my childhood, plastic being pulled down onto plastic by spring.. Love it all, the controls are solid, the graphics AMAZING, sound AMAZING... VERY well done.

designernap 2023-10-05 21:23

WOW! I have just come back to all these amazing comments! Thank you so much. I will reply in line! :D

@sisuisa - Thank you! I had a lot of fun making the sounds with old bits of metal and lego and a metal tin lid :D

@jk5000 - Thank you and yes! good shouts :) I tried to make it play music but having a song play took something away from the dated "clacky" feel of it all.

@jammygunns - that means a lot! :D It's so rare to have someone see the game in dev and then come back to comment like that. I really appreciate the kind words, thank you.

@lain94 - You are most welcome my fellow jammer. This was a joy to make and I am proud to see so many people enjoying it.

@akitl - I have a few old games like this still from my childhood. I feel like breaking them out to play in celebration!

@pascalbros - thank you! All hand made!

@wisstopher - the legend who walks among us! thank you good sir. I tried hard with this one.

@miller - that is an awesome idea to develop. I wanted to make one of these games but one that could not possibly exist due to the tech at the time, so making a modular one with add-ons entirely fits that. Really nice idea.

@croze - 790 is good! Thanks for the kind words and glad you enjoyed it

@soloadventurergames - aaah thank you! So much kindness here!

@gamedevtraum - Thank you! I am somewhat overwhelmed by the positive feedback here.

@quasilyte - I always fail to make web exports as my games are too big gig wise! Maybe I will aim for a small game memory wise next time and aim to host it :)

@incd021 - I made the sounds! I used bits of lego a screw, a metal tin lid, a spring, all sorts! Thank you so much for the postive feedback.

I am off to play and rate all your games, if I haven't already!

Thank you so much again!

leviathonk 2023-10-05 22:47

What a wonderful and charming game! I got joy out of seeing the credits on the back of the toy and it felt heartwarming. I had trouble seeing the theme represented in the game, and I would've liked to do more with the toy, but the wonderful audio and style well made up for it. Thank you for letting us play this game! :)

designernap 2023-10-05 22:59

Aaah, thank you @leviathonk ! The theme for me was that when I was a kid with no videogames and dreams of space... this was the space we got! A limited, wind up arcade version :D glad you enjoyed it though and I appreciate the feedback.

fnkee 2023-10-05 23:27

AH you're the person posting about those TOMY handhelds! That sent me on a nostalgic trip on youtube - I got vague memories of playing one of those way back!

This is one of the most creative game jam entries I've ever seen. Imagine making a physical hand-held game, and making it feel like an actual toy. The only thing I was missing, was a friend whom I could share my super secret strategies with.

Asymmetric design, well placed obstacles and neat balancing! Scratches and marks from being used - genuine sound design, and an assortment of suitable backgrounds to boot. Very impressive.

The frustration of missing the hidden weapon was real, but I ended up at 1090! Thanks for making this

mahalis 2023-10-06 03:08

This is cool! It feels very tactile, like it could be a recreation of an actual game from the era. Wish I had a working gamepad to play it with—the discrete keyboard controls pushing things all the way to one end or the other made me feel like I was missing out on the intended experience. That’s kind of on me though: I can tell with analog controls there would be a lot of finesse to the gameplay. Well done!

designernap 2023-10-06 07:00

@fnkee so glad is has resonated with folks :D you know I even added that hidden system factor... when the rocket goes out you get 100points for hitting it... but if you can hit it on its way back you get 200! I wanted to add a secret like that as back in the day, pre internet, that stuff was like myths and legends passed between people. Ace high score too! Thank you so much for playing and the kind comments.

designernap 2023-10-06 07:02

@mahalis aaah thanks :D I am generally a console player first so I am always thinking about how to use pad controls. I always make sure to include PC though as best I can :D there isn't that much fidelity change but yeah, it is noticeable. I might try a patch with mouse controls for aiming.. but thanks for playing and the great feedback!

drumgadget-433 2023-10-06 18:32

This is such a tactile, nostalgic gem, and I wish it was real!

The simplicity of the gameplay makes the workings of the handheld believable, yet they are interactive enough that it's still very fun to play. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you had just created a simulation of some forgotten, handheld retro game.

And the sound design is such a treat. It definitely hits the mark. I don't have much to offer in the way critique - excellent job!

javasaurus 2023-10-07 09:22

Many years ago... I remembered my grandmother had an attic with some retro toys and games from the early eighties. These sounds, this feeling, it brings me back there. For people that know the movie "Ratatouille", I had the same moment the criticaster had at the end. Well done, great entry. I have trouble putting it down :)

designernap 2023-10-07 10:12

@drumgadget-433 This is so great to hear! From growing up in that time I kinda channeled my younger self and wanted to make something that I would have loved as a kid.

@javasaurus This comment moved me more than you know. Thank you so much. Being able to recreate a tenth of that feeling would have made me proud but this is just incredible to hear. Thank you.

srynetix 2023-10-08 12:24

Whoa that's a really nice game. Everything is perfect, the feelings with the realistic handheld threw me back in the past. I'm looking for a collection of these now!

(It's lagging a little on my laptop, but my fault, the thing not made for Unreal :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:)

Really good job!

sentmoraap 2023-10-08 12:51

Fun game, I have not played with those toys but it looks like a nice throwback. I like that it displays the controls, and that you can tilt it.

PB: 1010

designernap 2023-10-08 18:50

@srynetix PERFECT?!? aaah thank you! This one has really hit home for a lot of people it seems.

@sentmoraap I am tempted to dig out my old toys to see, but I have a feeling they won't play as well anymore! :D

a1stakesauce 2023-10-09 01:07

Amazing. You killed it. This is nostalgic and fun. Sound is great and the game is on theme. The atmosphere is awesome. Could see this as a mobile game with gyroscopic phone controls. Amazing job. On one play one of the balls fell out of the screen with the handheld tipped all the way back. But only bug I could find on a few play throughs. Excellent job!

designernap 2023-10-09 07:17

aah thanks @a1stakesauce ! (You know I have never ever tried A1 steak sauce... I don't think we can even get it in the UK!) Funny story with the balls flying out... there is complete invisible collision around the case, but with direct controls you can shake it enough for them to fly out!... so as a safety measure, there is a trigger below the case that if the balls fall out and into, they get destroyed and respawned in the game :D Good spot and thanks for the wonderful kind words.

soul-grinder 2023-10-09 16:29

This was a great idea, blast from the past from these style of hand-games. Even the audio sounded authentic and the game was fun too, nice work!

designernap 2023-10-10 07:56

thanks @soul-grinder ! Audio was a lot of experimenting with tin lids, ball bearings, marbles, lego and nails :D

hakro 2023-10-10 19:00

Looks and feel great. I loved the number of details in the modules, and the general mood. Very nice entry overall. GG.

strangeryann 2023-10-15 10:58

really cool game!

love the concept

little touches like being able to change the background I enjoyed a lot

it's minor but it would be a tad better to leave the controls shown either until you start the game or always there at the bottom left - potentially with a button to enable/disable them?

it's fun and well-balances, quite challenging but then again I can't aim for shit ^^#

well done and keep at it :grinning: :sparkles:

designernap 2023-10-15 18:08

Hey @hakro ! Thanks for the kind words. It's my first jame where I created scratch textures and anything like realistic visuals so I am very happy with it.

And yes, totally @strangeryann ! I added the instructions with about 2 minutes left on the jam so they were a panic last minute addition. If I had thought of it earlier I would totally have done that :D best I could manage was making them pop back up if you toggle the credits :D great shout though and thank you for the kind feedback.