FoonLudum Dare ExplorerLD57 → Caver

Caver

By harmadillo

View on ldjam.com

CategoryRankScoreCount
Overall2233.1722
Fun2292.9522
Innovation963.5522
Theme434.0922
Graphics2582.8022
Audio2142.6521
Humor2112.2919
Mood1313.4722

Comments

zettasimp 2025-04-07 02:42

I enjoyed it. The game didn't let we go any deeper after 24 layers, but I don't know if that's an intentional feature or not. Either way, good job!

kroltan 2025-04-08 15:54

Impressive mood-setting with just writing and simple drawings! Very nice!

Maybe I am dumb, but I found the control scheme very confusing and a bit tedious, having to click on tiles then either explore or move, yet I never saw a situation where both options were available. A simple arrow key movement would have been more enjoyable for me.

harmadillo 2025-04-08 20:16

@zettasimp The 24 layers is intentional but completely arbitrary.

harmadillo 2025-04-08 20:44

@kroltan It's not you, the controls are a bit tedious. Originally there was a search option too but I didn't flesh it out in time. With 3 options the buttons didn't feel as unnecessary(still not great).

axlplosion 2025-04-11 17:08

The text-based descriptions are really charming to me, I dig the vibes. The gameplay is simple but it feels surprisingly immersive! I'm also always happy to see another Godot game - good work!

floppynub 2025-04-11 17:20

Very interesting idea, pretty ambitious for a jam from a coding perspective. I thought your art did well to support it too! I wasn't sure if there was a way to win? I explored a whole lot, made it all the way down, and eventually ran out of light. Cool game though, great concept and it worked without any bugs as far as I could tell. Great entry!

flying-dog-fish 2025-04-11 17:26

A nice little mostly-text-based adventure. As others mention, the controls could be improved.

pincushion 2025-04-11 17:57

I like the mix of sketches and text descriptions per area. It's really a nice experience.

The select a tile+click an action is a nice control scheme for this kind of game, though I agree that as-is both actions can be handled by arrows. With search, it would have been great.

I didn't feel that I had much agency, so the game felt very random. It was enjoyable to see what was down the tunnel. It felt less like a game, and more like a non-linear story.

A bug for you: the heading for "ropes" is "torchs".

mod-wiz 2025-04-11 18:23

I do like this concept it's quite unique! And having a procedural generation is very neat, specially in a COMPO! I do agree with @axlplosion that the text descriptions are really elevate this concept, but i am also not sure if its possible to win like @floppynub mentioned. I feel possible goals could be just to reach the deepest level (and perhaps go into new run) or find and retrieve something to the surface While i don't get confused by control scene like @kroltan i do agree that keys would be slightly better, but current t control scheme don’t detract from this COMPO game for me personally. What i am not a fun is music, but it's very easy to turn it (Thanks for settings) off in the setting and listen to something that i find more moody. And i also feel that balance is a bit off, too much rope and not enough torches.results1.png

captaindreamcast 2025-04-12 14:18

Neat, I made it all the way down to the final level on my third attempt! I got super lucky and was able to find a ton of torches and tanked all the bear and scorpion attacks.

Very cool game! I like how every movement is a decision and how you're juggling all your resources, torches, health, ropes. I was always on edge trying to make sure I'm not running out, I had to take some nailbiting decisions ("Yes, 4% chance MIGHT sound bad at first glance, but it doesn't say impossible AND it will save a torch!" - final statement before disaster strikes). Had lots of fun and a great time with this game, I was really getting immersed while trying to find a way through the caverns. Great job, very well done!

harmadillo 2025-04-12 17:36

@floppynub There is no win condition. I did think about it but never go around to adding anything.

@pincushion Fixed the rope label. Don't know how I didn't spot that.

@mod-wiz The procedural generation I found relatively easy. I struggled with thinking up different description of caves and features/events to put in them.

jovialknoll 2025-04-13 02:15

cool to see some dungeon diving (or close enough). I'd love some quality-of-life upgrades like keyboard controls to go through text boxes quicker and make gameplay actions without the mouse. Love me some proc gen.

gdman 2025-04-13 23:23

screen.png Curious exploration proc-generated game. I managed to get to the bottom, now I'm heading to the exit. I guess there is nothing to look for, just visit some rooms with descriptions of ancient mysteries.

eugenik 2025-04-14 10:19

Its very fun!.

littlegamer 2025-04-14 14:04

This was a nice trip, I liked the atmosphere. A bit confused that there was no real win condition, thought there would be something at the end of the cave, but I liked the whole concept. Only real downside is that the graphics were a bit simple and the depictions quickly repetitive.

grid96 2025-04-14 18:20

Nice little game you made there. I really liked the icons for the stats on the right. Keep up the good work!

kristinamay 2025-04-17 19:36

I liked this! I made it to the bottom and was a bit sad to find nothing there. This feels like the basis for a really cool exploration + storytelling game, and it's a lot done for a compo game! I found that the torches maybe got stuck and stopped updating? Or maybe I just had way more than I thought, but I ended with a ton of every resource. Anyway, good work!

euler-moises 2025-04-19 01:15

Although a bit hard and repetitive, it is a good game. Needs a lot of polishing though.