Foon → Ludum Dare Explorer → Users → gamebuilder
| Year | LD | Theme | Game | Division | Rank | Ov | Fu | In | Th | Gr | Au | Hu | Mo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 59 | Signal | đ„ | I Contact | jam | 812 | 2.69 | 2.31 | 2.84 | 2.57 | 3.24 | 3.14 | 3.30 | |
| 2025 | 58 | Collector | đ„ | §hadows | jam | 544 | 3.30 | 3.05 | 3.22 | 3.37 | 3.58 | 3.43 | 3.96 | |
| 2025 | 57 | Depths | đ„ | Party Crasher | jam | 868 | 2.36 | 2.18 | 2.89 | 2.78 | 3.32 | 3.10 | 1.86 | 3.47 |
| 2024 | 56 | Tiny Creatures | đ„ | Pick Up Lines | jam | 1059 | 2.58 | 2.25 | 2.78 | 1.82 | 3.11 | 3.33 | ||
| 2024 | 55 | Summoning | đ„ | A Long Hello | jam | 1053 | 3.10 | 2.77 | 3.08 | 3.02 | 3.38 | 3.52 | 3.83 | |
| 2023 | 54 | Limited Space | đ„ | Ghosts | jam | 1002 | 3.01 | 2.73 | 3.12 | 2.78 | 3.79 | 1.95 | 3.60 | |
| 2023 | 53 | Delivery | đ„ | Mortality | jam | 1071 | 3.01 | 2.54 | 3.06 | 3.25 | 3.11 | 3.56 | 2.15 | 4.01 |
| 2023 | 52 | Harvest | đ„ | Alice Redux | jam | 775 | 2.68 | 2.27 | 3.18 | 3.90 | 2.47 | 2.42 | 2.22 | 2.79 |
| 2022 | 51 | Every 10 seconds | đ„ | Nightfall | jam | 1174 | 2.71 | 2.40 | 2.78 | 2.81 | 2.54 | 3.32 | 3.62 | |
| 2022 | 50 | Delay the inevitable | đ„ | Nanna III: A Girl and Her Bear | jam | 3.40 | 2.90 | 3.16 | 2.60 | 3.75 | 3.58 | 2.75 | 4.16 | |
| 2021 | 49 | Unstable | đ„ | Il Bambino | jam | 1406 | 2.90 | 2.72 | 2.79 | 2.42 | 3.32 | 2.61 | 3.43 | |
| 2021 | 48 | Deeper and deeper | đ„ | Nanna | jam | 1761 | 2.82 | 2.65 | 2.92 | 2.90 | 3.17 | 3.65 | 3.42 | |
| 2020 | 47 | Stuck in a loop | đ„ | Star Crossed | jam | 1548 | 2.77 | 2.52 | 3.02 | 2.45 | 2.92 | 3.26 | 3.47 | |
| 2020 | 46 | Keep it alive | Crossroads | jam | 1566 | 3.34 | 3.00 | 3.46 | 2.84 | 2.82 | 3.36 | 2.29 | 3.75 | |
| 2019 | 45 | Start with nothing | đ„ | The Blue Girl | jam | 828 | 3.16 | 2.84 | 2.85 | 2.92 | 3.06 | 3.50 | 2.03 | 3.70 |
| 2019 | 44 | Your life is currency | đ„ | Life Is Not Currency | jam | 729 | 3.26 | 3.11 | 3.51 | 2.86 | 2.63 | 2.71 | 2.69 | |
| 2018 | 43 | Sacrifices must be made | đ„ | Stjarna HöfuĂ° | jam | 1044 | 1.89 | 1.82 | 2.12 | 1.85 | 1.83 | 1.74 | 1.65 | 2.19 |
| 2018 | 42 | Running out of space | Gretchen's Head | compo | 686 | 2.60 | 2.45 | 3.47 | 3.22 | 2.17 | 2.19 | 2.26 | 2.58 | |
| 2018 | 41 | Combine 2 Incompatible Genres | Nmbr Krncher | compo | 677 | 2.52 | 2.41 | 2.54 | 2.56 | 1.67 | 1.95 | 1.41 | 1.84 |
Great game. It took me a while to think in "reverse" but once it sank in, I was able to make good progress. The underlying concept is brilliant and you nailed the theme as well. I also love the music.
P.S. I wasn't even aware that some users don't have QWERTY keyboards. It was thoughtful of you to take that into account. I am curious now as to which keyboards don't have this layout.
Nice work. The game was challenging but not too difficult. I found myself having to strategize and it was fun to see my planning actually pay off. You did an amazing job with the graphics, I like especially the flower patterns at the end of each level.
Simple game mechanic that put my brain in overdrive. Music is spot on.
This game is good for developing concentration; I noticed that whenever my mind started to drift, I would wander too close to a wall and end up back at the starting point. Completing a level was fun because I was curious to see what the next level would look like.
A fun game. I think you did a good job with both the mechanics and the aesthetics (nice choice of icons and sounds). I found it interestingly difficult to plan ahead by getting luggage off the outer rings, while being careful not to neglect the center. The only bug I noticed is that the score remains at zero.
I played the game again and noticed the score _does_ work, it increments just when you said it would. Probably I didn't get far enough in most of my earlier games and I misunderstood the score of zero as being a bug. My apologies.
After I stopped the darkness I couldn't stop playing. I never knew that mining rocks and growing forests could be so much fun. An addictive, well-designed game.
I love the _art brut_ style of this game, it creates a powerful mood and it put me in a different state of mind. As for moving from hand to digital, the latter has its advantages but then again there is something more authentic about hand-drawn art, as this game makes evident. I look forward to seeing more games with Cynthia in the future.
A nightmarish cacophony of insidious marketing â and fun at that. Great job. I wonder if you've been inspired by Holly Herndon (especially her videos "Home" and "Chorus"). She has turned this kind of thing into an art form.
Sure thing! Feel free to use that quote.
It felt good to gather resources, but at the same time in the back of my mind there was a lurking worry about the crumbling. That created an interesting tension.
I especially liked the music in this game, it really added a lot to the mood.
@jelbre thank you for the feedback. After submitting I was a bit worried that the game was too easy. After getting the basic game mechanics in place I had spent a couple of hours looking for different patterns for each level, hoping to find at least a few difficult levels. I thought I had found a few but apparently they are not difficult enough. In the final hours I got side-tracked with some other aspects of the game (such as the portraits of the ten children) and that left me little time to hunt for challenging levels. I think next time I will spend less time on content and more time on game mechanics, though I do believe that the ten portraits of Gretchen's children add an incentive to complete the game.
The "Game Over" message just means that you completed the game, regardless of whether you win or lose. After reading your comment however, I realize that it is redundant, as a simple "GAME WON" message would be sufficient.
@adonisdevs thank you for playing. Complete just two more levels and you will see images of each of the ten children, as remembered by Gretchen.
@mrjorts thanks! The story took longer than I thought it would. To be honest some of the ideas for the background story came to me before the theme was announced. The idea of an older mother in search of her lost children gestated in my mind for several days before the competition began. As I was working on the game, I decided that Gretchen would have ten children, one for each level. The result is that each level is a mini-quest, replete with obstacles, a sub-goal (find the memory cell) and a final goal (exit the SEER state).
In addition, I wanted to have the game based on being inside someone's head, since I noticed that while I was thinking of various game ideas before the theme announcement, I spent a lot of time inside my own head. I think we all do to some extent. In this way Gretchen's head is like a mirror to each one of us.
@goutye thank you for the comment. For the theme I wanted to experiment with the idea of memory and space. There is a long history of using the concept of space as an analogue for memory, as is evident for example in book 10 of St. Augustine's _Confessions_, where the metaphor of a mansion is used to express the vast, rich expanse that is each individual's memory.
To use LĂVE was an easy choice for me. It is the only game-development framework I am familiar with, and on top of that I like Lua for its speed and ease of use. I do regret however that LĂVE games are less accessible for users who don't have Windows. I am a big fan of Linux but unfortunately I don't have the time or resources to create a Linux executable. Hopefully the Linux users out there can use the source code to play on their own platforms.
@johnnydalvi I hear you. Originally the game was meant to be more like a turn-based game in which the player takes his or her time and strategizes, trying to predict VIPER's next moves in Gretchen's head. But for better or worse it turned into something like a race game, where in some cases the avatar must rush to the exit before being trapped or blockaded; I agree that holding down the walk button would help but I didn't have time to implement it.
@chaitae thanks for your comment. The close-up portraits were done rather quickly using Gimp; they don't quite look like children (more like worn-out adults) but it was the best I could do given the time and resources.
@rodrigo-molina, I hear you about all the text at the beginning. My wife gasped when she first saw the instructions. This was my intention as I wanted to break some of the sacrosanct rules of game design. Also having all that text crammed into one page jibes with the theme of running out of space.
@incobalt Thanks, I think your suggestion about generating puzzles instead of having static puzzles is a great idea; I vaguely had some idea like that during development but I didn't want to risk having the player get stuck in impossible levels. But your idea has a lot of potential and with more development time it would have been feasible.
@lerc I salute you for your honesty. It's true that some of the kids do look a bit beaten up (Sally and Mary clearly being exceptions). However, I think this adds to the story because it shows that Gretchen loves all her children regardless of how ugly they are (and in this sense she triumphs over Ujarak, who sees the children only as lifeless objects to be _used_).
@phlip45 glad you had fun with the game and thank you for the suggestion. I agree that requiring the player to plan several moves ahead would make the game more challenging and fun.
@james-dunlap there is a lot of food for thought in your remarks. It's true that often the rules of game design have solid reasons behind them. On the other hand breaking rules in itself is a form of play. Case in point is Ludum Dare â its underlying premise breaks the rule that a good game requires a long time and a large team to develop. Ludum Dare puts the fun back into development and in my view it encourages us to break the rules.
Great game. Music is edgy and the gameplay is fast and furious. I had a blast playing this game.
An interesting game. It was challenging without being frustrating. As mentioned above, it was nice having a reward every time the clock clicked down.
I also noticed a bit of flickering the first time I played, but when I quit and restarted the game it went away. That was the only bug I noticed. Nice work.
I like this game. As progress is made, the player is boxed in. It fits in well with the theme and it also reflects life to an extent. A philosophical puzzle game. Well done.
This took me a few minutes to figure out. Once I figured out how to reach the next level I made good progress, but near the end it seemed I was going in a loop. It would be good to have a level or turn indicator to see where I'm at. Or maybe that's part of the puzzle too? Anyway I love the music and atmosphere of this game. Good job folks.
I was able to get it to run without any trouble. The only bug I noticed was when I completed a game (win or lose), it seems to freeze at the main menu. Otherwise it worked fine. The two similar-looking human icons made this a bit challenging, but I was able to win within a couple of tries. You could expand this game by having a series of levels with shorter time limits and/or different icons. The gooey brain-like background is uncanny.
Same here, I get a '404 Not Found' message. Screen shot looks tempting though.
One of the better games I've played here. You did a great job in many of the categories â graphics, audio, and fun, to name a few. The toilet sound effects and bunny face are impeccable. Great job folks.
A fun game. I set myself a goal of lasting at least 100 seconds, and that was no easy task. At first I thought that the key is to perch the ball on top of a hex that is surrounded by high numbers â until I discovered that remaining motionless only makes the numbers go faster. I learned that by constantly moving I can survive longer.
In any case the end is inevitable, and in my mind the game symbolizes the creeping forces of time and mortality as they encroach upon the lone individual.
countdown.png
It wasn't clear to me what the 'E' key is for but then I realized it's needed for jumping on the second level. At first I thought there was a bug on the third level but then I discovered the 'E' key is needed there too. I got stuck on the tongue level. In any case this is a good start with potential. I like the way the blocks disappear as one moves forward.
It took me a while to figure out the difference between hitting and kicking, but with some help from the comments here I figured it out. I felt an overwhelming urge to be able to _jump_ on top of the boxes as they landed on either side of me. Either that or a way to destroy some of the boxes. In any case you nailed the theme with this game and it sure is challenging.
One way to improve your game is to have a score at the top of the screen that indicates the number of boxes that landed. The highest I got is 20 (including the box that landed on my head), as shown in the screenshot. I am curious if anyone got further, and if so how.
boxes.png
Cool beans. I like the fact that you have different difficulty levels. I got 15 on the insane level, I guess I ain't a good typist but still it was fun and I got some typing practice in. I wish I could rate sound as well because you did a good job with the music.
It took me a while to figure this out as well. In any case, it's always pleasing to get the triangles to unite. I am curious now as to what the purple triangle looks like. She seems to be extremely patient, waiting for her beloved to build a path to her. I felt as if I were fighting against the forces of destruction while she waited for me, never giving up hope. There is a lot of poetic value in this game.
I read your post-mortem and was impressed that you did this in C. I'm familiar with the language and I realize how recalcitrant it can be.
I played the Web version of your game and didn't have any problems. In fact, I thought it was a lot of fun. I loved the minimal graphics and the music added to the tension without being repetitious. Overall I think you've done an excellent job.
Yeehaa that was fun! One of the better games here.
Yeehaa!! Maybe I got the high score.
It's relaxing in a way once you get used to it. I kind of miss having a destination, but then again, maybe it's up to the player to imagine the dream. Good jobs folks.
ld43-screen.PNG
This reminds me of the old "Asteroids" game from way back when:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZfsnA7dAHI
One possible bug I should point out: I hijacked an asteroid early in the game but nothing else appeared. I was hoping to smash some of the enemy ships. I like the concept though â being able to hijack is an interesting twist, and it seems to work well with enemy ships.
I also came here for the hand-drawn graphics (Cactus Madness! was one of my favorite LD42 games). You've done a great job again with the artwork and I love the drumbeat.
One thing I wanted to point out is that I get stuck in certain parts of the game (as in the screen shot below). It's impossible to move and I have to restart the game. It seems to happen when I touch a tree in some areas.
ld43-screen.PNG
I wish there was some way of conquering or at least temporarily disabling the evil spirit. As others have mentioned, the spells didn't have much of an effect against it. Perhaps a spell that would paralyze it for a few seconds (like Time Stop in D&D), or one that would give the player invisibility.
I also had a bit of difficulty moving around quickly (at first I used only WASD, not realizing the mouse needs to be used as well). The audio, lighting, and mood are the strong points of this game. With some adjustments it could be turned into a solid game. Nice work.
Loved the music, and the old cartoon style is convincing. Gameplay is simple but engaging. Nice work.
Fun game, though as others have stated, I wish that luck was less of a factor (although I realize that's hard to do in a card game). The card drawings were fantastic.
I also got stuck on the floating bottles page, until I learned that I could type and catch bottles at the same time. Eventually I was able to see it through to the end. I'm glad I did. All in all, this was truly a unique experience. All the details fell into place to create a powerful mood.
I felt bad about butchering some of the animals and wish there was a vegan option. Anyway it took me a while to figure out how to breed the animals and make enough cash to get the right hints. Challenging but not too difficult.
I agree with @willoxs, the evil laugh was well done.
Great job with the sound â I agree that the voice acting really adds a lot to the game. It took me some time to find the last critter but I got the job done. An unusual experience.
I had a lot of trouble getting the bird to do the right pecking, and changing from left to right and vice versa were very difficult. Still, I like the graphics and story-line, and in some ways it was fun keeping the bird afloat. With some more development I think you'd have a great game.
@foxxy and @publicidadeba thanks for the comments. Alice's head is very slow in the beginning because her mana is low. She has to eat stars and gain mana, then her head becomes much more agile. Stars are fuel for the head.
@rocketship thanks! I wanted the stars to start off small and slowly grow as they chase the sun. This makes the game a little more challenging and less monotonous. Anyway I'm glad you liked the game.
@antti-haavikko thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure what happened with the audio; every once in a while I hear crackling but it seems to be an intermittent browser glitch, though I could easily be wrong about this (this is my first HTML5 game and I still have a lot to learn about browser games). I think having a fail state in the moon stage is a good idea, something like that would be a solid improvement.
@mrjakhpil you may be right. With my first two games, a frequent criticism was that they were too easy. I may have made the opposite mistake with this game.
@justalocalhero and @deathstorm thanks for your feedback. When first starting out, mana is low and you need to build up speed by holding down one of the WASD keys and heading in a particular direction (ideally toward a yellow or purple star, but this isn't always necessary). Once you've built up speed and eaten a few stars, you can bounce off the edges, at which point you can cover a lot of territory in a small amount of time. @mbc explains it very well.
@mbc thank you for your detailed feedback. I've referred other players to your comments because you've summed up the key strategy very well â as you said, the player has to gradually gain speed, and then bounce off of walls, much like in a pinball game.
@genie, the creative artist for this game, made the same suggestion about having an indicator that tells the player when the head is large enough to eat the sun. I think that's a good idea, although making the player use his or her judgment also adds to the challenge a bit. It's something I'll consider implementing if the game is developed further.
Anyway, I'm glad you were able to reach the winning screen. I can't recall ever gaining 1105 mana, I think you set a new record! Thanks for playing.
@ynneblack thanks for your comment. To answer your first question, I was going to make a game inspired by my previous game, Gretchen's Head (LD 42). There were going to be several heads floating around, and the player would have to sacrifice some of them so the others could be saved. That turned out to be a dead end, so I just stuck with one head for this game.
As for your second question, the moon phase is sort of a "second chance" for Alice if she happens to run into the Sun. It's an opportunity to get more mana and return to the Sun phase. What you need to do in the Sun phase is grow at least twice as big as the Sun, and then eat it as if it were a star. Then you win the game. Admittedly the instructions aren't really clear about it, but that's the goal. The moon phase makes the game a lot less difficult, although it is possible for a skilled player to bypass that phase entirely.
As for the stars, they grow bigger as they age, and eventually die and become the "ghost stars" that you see in the background. These can be eaten during the moon phase, when the ghost head is active.
@mza often what I do at the start of the game is accelerate toward one of the screen edges (even if there is only a white star or two in the general direction) and build up speed by holding down the key. Along the way, I make small adjustments in direction if necessary (e.g. to eat a yellow or purple star). When I bounce off the edge, I adjust the direction toward the nearest, or most lucrative, group of stars, slowing down if I need to avoid hitting the Sun. If you can last a minute or so, you'll notice that the stars follow the Sun in its path, and you can use this to plot your course.
This is one strategy; perhaps there are better ones. Typically, you just have to play it by ear. You'll get a feel for the game with practice. I'm able to win most games now without even going to the moon phase, if I'm lucky.
The name of the game is Icelandic for "Star Head." The postmortem blog post (the link to which is above in the game description) says more about that. Glad you enjoyed the game!
@miley I'm glad to hear there are other "floating head" fans out there! As for the drifting movement, admittedly it takes some getting used to, but with practice it becomes natural. In any case, I like your idea of having obstacles or something similar; it would be worth adding to a second iteration of the game, if there is one. That would probably be a better way of making the game challenging. Thanks for the feedback.
@secretpocketcat sorry about the difficulty level; if there's a second version of the game I'll rectify that. Anyway, your remark about jQuery caught my attention. Is it jQuery itself that you're suspicious of, or JS in general? Just curious. Back in the day, I used to shun JS and its ilk, but things have changed a lot since then.
@secretpocketcat that's interesting about jQuery not belonging in the current JS ecosystem. Actually for Stjarna Höfuð I didn't give it much thought; I had worked with jQuery a few years ago and became used to its syntax, so I decided to add it to my toolset (my knowledge of JS itself leaves a lot to be desired). Anyway I will look further into Phaser and ES6, maybe they'll be handy for LD44.
@mrspeaker thank you for the encouraging words, and the feedback. I agree that the brutal beginning is a major drawback of the game. Oddly enough my wife and I were worried that the game was too easy when we submitted it. In hindsight I think we both fell prey to the illusion that comes with over-familiarity. I'll have to be on guard against that in future jams.
I checked out the WebGI game and was impressed; I wouldn't be able to do something like that from scratch. In any case, I agree that the simplicity of game development using JS makes LD a lot more fun. I will check out Phaser again, I keep hearing good things about it.
A fun seed game that can be grown into a full-fledged game with enough development. I liked experimenting with building things. I was able to build a "pen" with the stones to trap villagers, and was able to gain a lot of strength that way.
You could make the game more challenging by having the strength count down to zero if villagers aren't available, at which point the game ends. Just an idea. Overall, a cool game.
This is very good for your first game. I had fun trying out different combinations until I got the lucky clover. It was challenging but not too difficult, and every time I lost I felt compelled to try just one more combination. The graphics and sound work well together. Nice work.
Fantastic game, though the second level is a killer. I wasn't able to finish it, but I had a lot of fun trying. All in all it's an unusual concept, and you've done a good job with the physics and shading. I can see this being developed into a full-fledged (and very addictive) game. Nice work.
A fun game, though super-challenging. As others stated above, the trick is to send most or all of your bees into the flower patch at the beginning.
One way to improve this game is to have the bears slow down or pause when they're hit. That way shooting a bear can buy the player some time to get the next shots ready. Overall a very good game though!
It took me a while to figure out what to do, but I was well rewarded when I finally completed the game. The final painting is beautiful, kudos go to Ms. Paganini for the artwork.
I had a blast playing this game. Nice-looking princess, yet sacrificing her was satisfying in an odd sort of way. Overall I love the graphics and sound effects.
I was intrigued by your postmortem and decided to give your game a try. I think you've done a very good job with artwork and sound. I agree that the game-play leaves a lot of room for improvement, but even so, I enjoyed tossing babies into the gigantic jaws of the robot (as sad as that sounds). For one person with only three days with an unfamiliar tool, you've accomplished a lot, and I think you should give yourself more credit.
Awesome! A lot of fun â challenging but not too difficult. You nailed the theme as well. Great job folks!
I had a blast! One of the more unusual â not to mention fun â games here.
Fun, simple game that fits the bill. Nice work.
I like the B+W graphics a lot. The music is very good too. I don't like giving or stealing blood though.
This game is fun and challenging. Great job especially with the audio.
This reminds me of Dr. Faustus (Marlowe's version). There is a lot of potential here.
J'aimais sauter sur les quais. Je n'arrivais pas à comprendre les rÚgles du jeu, mais j'ai trouvé le jeu relaxant d'une certaine façon. J'ai aussi aimé l'introduction manuscrite et le dessin de fin de partie.
You nailed the theme with this one.
I thought you did a good job all around, especially with such a bad theme. The graphics are pleasing to the eye and gameplay is fun (and good typing practice too). One of the better games out there.
@ogma thank you for the suggestions. The music, composed by @bcav, is one of the best things about the game.
@geckoo1337 thanks for the feedback. I think some versions of Chrome do not like this game very much, but I'm glad to learn that it works well in your version of Firefox. Thanks for playing.
@jezzamon thank you so much for the detailed feedback. I think you're right about the Math.sin() and Math.random() functions slowing things down. No doubt your revisions would really speed things up. It's something I'll keep in mind for next time around. Thanks for the suggestion.
It's amazing what you can do with PICO-8. Working within narrow limitations has its advantages. All in all this is a beautiful game, one that hearkens back to the Atari 2600 and beyond.
On a coffeeless day, this game is challenging.
A linear tower defense game â itâs an interesting idea. In terms of graphics I thought you did a good job with the queen. The music was a bit repetitious, but overall this is a playable game that I found to be challenging enough.
"Do you think it will remember this?" Well done comrade.
I didn't have any problems playing this game in Firefox using Linux. Very smooth. Overall, a fun game. I'm glad to learn that no balls were harmed in the making.
You nailed the audio category. I felt like I was transported into bitspace. Well done compadre.
This is a fun, addictive game. Once I learned how to get the mill going, I couldn't stop. I wish there was music, but you can't have everything. Nice work.
I found this game via your post-mortem earlier today. I usually don't like platformers but this is exceptional. I like the fact that you can accumulate HP and abilities. It makes the game a lot more fun and playable. It took me many rounds to finally build up the HP to defeat the beast, but I did it. Well done compadre.
A fine use of PICO-8. I was reminded of Adventure for the Atari 2600.
This is a great game, especially for Halloween season. You nailed the mood and sound. Like others here, when I was killed in combat, it appears the game gets stuck on the same screen (the only difference is that I can't see my character; this is in Firefox for Linux). Even then I enjoyed the new music. Good job.
An interesting game. I found the crystal on the first level, but I couldn't find anything on the second level. Also, the right-click items don't seem to make a difference (either that, or they wouldn't be added when I left-clicked on them). In any case, I like the graphics and the lighting effects are especially pleasing. This game has potential. I'm sure sound will add a lot to it.
Nice work! I love the retro graphics and audio.
This is the real Call of Duty. Well done.
A very interesting concept. I like the central message of this game. The imagination knows no bounds! Nice work.
A Zen game is no game. Still, this is close. You did well with the theme, and overall this is a solid entry. Nice work.
A lonely eyeball in a windy landscape. Very moody. You nailed the audio category. Good job.
This game is colorful and oddly satisfying. I didn't even notice the friends buttons until after I read some of the comments here (I was distracted by the "?"), after which the game became much more interesting.
It seems The Blue Girl paid you a visit.
"silence can be itself an art"
A good use of PICO-8. I like how you used the theme to build the game â you took a philosophical approach. I think music would add a lot to this game. Even so, this is definitely one of the better entries here. Keep up the good work.
@velvetlobster thanks for the comment. I e-mailed Brian (he did all the music) about your question. His reply:
"Never heard of the movie they mentioned. You can say we used garage band and a simple chord progression but played in reverse for the errie effect. Later we use the same chord progression with echo/delay effects over it. I tried real hard to stay on beat but the drums were more or less filler."
In the early stages of the game I just asked Brian to make something moody, eerie, and ambient. He got a lot out of the reverse effect â it fits well with the ghostly feel of the game.
@slovnoslomo @dizzy-dalvin regarding David Lynch, I am a big fan of his. I've been watching *Darkened Room* lately as well as *Inland Empire*. No doubt these films have had an indirect influence on the game's story and images. Thanks for the feedback.
@moechen the lead artist, Dr. Chung, was also confounded by the doors. She gave up during play-testing. If I had more time, I'd have the doors follow a pattern. Anyway, if you explore every area (and look at each item you find) and climb the ladder you're all set. Thanks for the feedback.
@tab1bit0 it is sad for the brute, who will have to live with his evil crime for the rest of his life, and perhaps beyond (unless he repents). The victims have attained eternal bliss since they were innocent. But yes, while in limbo it is sad indeed. The gloom lifts once the mystery is solved.
@robowarrior1982 thanks for the heads up. I thought I had fixed that bug but I guess it still lingers. The code needs to be adjusted. I believe that reducing the font size in your browser (using CTRL minus in Firefox) will solve the problem for now.
@velvetlobster I'm glad to learn you enjoyed the replay, that is a big compliment. Thanks also for the tip about TrĂŒberbrook. I looked at the previews on Steam and it looks impressive (though outside of my budget alas).
@nickykendy I hear you. Sadly I ran out of time. I am tempted to make an expanded post-LD version. In any case, I'm glad you enjoyed the game.
@despdair I was going to add more variety, but time quickly ran out on the last day. I barely had time to add wallpaper and floor patterns. Next time I should start sooner (I didn't start until later Saturday morning).
@wxzuir thanks for the comment. Your idea is a good one. If I write another story-based game like this one, I'll keep this in mind. Actually the story didn't even get off the ground until Sunday morning. A dream image I had shortly before waking up led to the idea of The Blue Girl, and the story as a whole took shape as I developed the game on Sunday and Monday.
@mashas thank you. I sometimes play the music in the background myself. Thanks go to @bcav for recording a mesmerizing soundtrack.
@boxedmeatrevolution thanks for the comment. I added looping rooms to increase the challenge a bit (and indeed it confused Dr. Chung so much that she stopped playing). If they give the game a "dreamlike quality" all the better! That's the effect I hoped to achieve. Thanks for playing.
@niborious thank you for the encouraging words. I'm glad you enjoyed it. As for JavaScript, I wanted to keep it simple. In the past I got caught up in learning new libraries and tools just before a jam, and that wasn't much fun. Plus I was in the mood for minimalism this time around.
@khaotom @drrozza thank you for the comments. I never really got into _Twin Peaks_, for some reason, but I should try watching it again. For me, *Inland Empire* and *Mulholland Drive* are big inspirations. David Lynch is a creative genius. Thanks for playing.
@el-fideo-rubio I wish!!! Thanks for playing.
@bilalch213 thanks for the feedback. I agree about the room variety. Still, at least you get to go outside. With more time I would have expanded the wallpaper patterns etc. If there is a post-LD version that would be at the top of my list, as well as story development.
@geckoo1337 "Poetic" â un trĂšs beau compliment! Merci!
ĐĐœĐ” ĐœŃĐ°ĐČĐžŃŃŃ ŃĐČĐŸŃ ŃŃбаŃĐșĐ°.
@geckoo1337 ŃĐŸĐ»ŃĐșĐŸ ŃĐ°Đ·Đ° â "son mode rĂȘve." Elle vit dans la vision bĂ©atifique.
@daria-toni "nostalgia" â a very interesting word. Maybe she awakened a memory in you. Thanks for playing.
@dis0rder I did implement an inventory at one point, but it introduced a nasty bug and then I realized an inventory wasn't necessary (though it would be a nice feature to have). Yes, the disorientation from the doors was in a way intended (otherwise, there is very little challenge). Even so, I would have made it more logical if I had more time. Thanks for playing, and I appreciate your useful feedback.
@hartvichio @asfdfdfd @ancient-pixel the doors and the architecture are the root cause of many who give up, I suspect. Even the lead artist, Dr. Chung, was unwilling to finish the game. I agree that one might call the architecture "sadistic" but then again, self-inflicted cruelty is no stranger to gaming. Anyway thanks for playing. Good luck tonight.
It took me awhile to get used to the interface, but eventually I got the hang of it. The modulus puzzles killed me. Even with so many lives, I found this too difficult. Even so, this is very innovative. There's a lot of potential here.
It took me a while to learn how some of the cards work, but then it became challenging in an interesting way.. I like the feeling of expansion.
I had trouble with the 'E' control (the item circle would flicker and I would have to restart several times before picking up the item). Otherwise, a very good game. I like the graphics and the story.
There wasn't any debris over the memory spot. I'm using Firefox with Ubuntu. I was able to reach the end of the game, however.
I love the art in this game. You did a great job with the girl. The concept of rebuilding her part-by-part is beautifully executed. One of the better games here for sure.
I like the concept: a bloodless fighting game. It fits the theme well. You also did a great job with the mainly B+W graphics. A very good effect.
I love it when a sword goes flying. No lack of suspense here.
Cool game. I wish I could see my whole story at the very end. Even so, I had fun writing it. The memory test is a good idea.
Beautiful artwork. You have talent.
I've come back to this game more than once to hear the music and see the art. The latter is striking, I wish I could see more. Nice work compadre. Keep at it.
Fun game! The speedup and pause controls are very handy (I just wish I had noticed them sooner). I like the bitsy graphics a lot!!! Good work Fax. You have the gaming spirit.
You may want to try itch.io for uploading your game so others can play it.
It's a bit early for Christ mass but hey why not? I love the artwork in this game. The audio is unusual and it complements the visuals.
RIP Tabitha.
I like the plethora of alien civilizations. Whoever concocted them has a lot of imagination. The music is excellent. Some of the planets (e.g. the "ash" planets) are beautiful. As others reported I had some trouble with the pan controls (in some cases, I couldn't stop panning), but overall this is a very good game.
I was playing in Firefox using Linux (Ubuntu).
I think this game is off to a good start. In a way it was fun dodging the bullets and finding the exit. Audio would add a lot to this game (consider using something like Bfxr).
When I reached the end it hit me. Yes, it pays to step back for a new perspective. Very interesting concept.
I was able to get the little man to move left and right but that's it. Not sure how to make progress in this game.
Uhg, this game is really hard. Me and my teammate Dr. Chung tried this but we got stuck on Level 3. I'm not good at this kind of thinking game. Still, you did a good job. The graphics especially are very good, and I like the text messages with each level. You also did well with the mood.
I agree with @adonisdevs â I wouldn't want to have your coworkers.
Same here, I don't see a link to your game. The screen shot is intriguing though.
@notpresident35 thanks. A pity. Maybe next time around.
I like this game a lot. The audio and graphics combine to create an eerie mood. I'm especially impressed by the audio. You have talent.
The audio in this game is top-notch. I also like the visuals. The screen shot in the LD forum really caught my attention. The difficulty level is too high for me but I did make a bit of progress with practice.
The controls are very difficult for me to master. I tried several times but I couldn't get the hang of it. However, the graphics in this game are top-notch, and the premise is interesting. This game has a lot of potential.
Very unusual. I like games that have controls for seemingly simple tasks. It was difficult for me to outrun the void, but I improved with practice. Even so, I wasn't able to get higher than 60, but then again, I'm not very good at this kind of game. A challenging and innovative game.
This game hearkens back to the old arcade classic, Asteroids. Stupidly, I didn't even know I could shoot until I experimented in the second game with the space bar. Keeping the planet alive is hard but it's fun to shoot stuff, especially when power-ups are to be had.
I made it to level 8 with a score of 300. I guess that's the high score. Anyway, I like this game; the simple graphics are appealing in a way.
One way to improve this game is to allow the player to restart on the same level. I also like @zimny11's suggestion of having an option to pause. Anyway, thanks for the experience.
wreckless-survivor-screenshot.png
A very interesting concept, it's just too difficult for me (but that's probably just me â I am used to turn-based games). I'm also impressed that you wrote this in C. You did a great job given the time constraints and the difficulty of C programming.
You did a really good job recreating the ambiance of a night club. I love the pixel art, and the audio is top-notch. The last stage is too difficult for me, but that's probably just me. Nice work.
The artwork in this game is amazing! You have a lot of talent. Thanks for your entry.
I like the graphics and audio in this game. You have put black, white, and grey to good use, and the music fits the mood very well.
I don't use social media so using the phone was a learning experience for me. But it was fun posting different images. I liked going outside and exploring as well; I only wish there was a larger map. In any case, I think this game has a lot of potential. I can imagine having the phone be a means to find damsels in distress and so forth. Good work, keep at it!
@ryzy27 thank you for the encouraging words. It's funny that you say it is too short; most people give up on the game before reaching the end. Anyway, I'm glad you liked it.
The music was made by my buddy @bcav. I passed your compliment along to him.
@niels thank you for your comments. The hunt for the Wandering Spirit is the most difficult part of the game; if there's another incarnation I'll revise that part of the game. In any case, there are hints in the game description if you need them.
Dear Ms. @kate90:
Thank you for your feedback. Yes, technically it is possible to complete the game without finding The Headless Virgin. Stella should turn to dust without the jar of flies that she holds, but this does not happen. This is one of many bugs which I didn't have time to fix. If there is another incarnation of this game, I plan to fix it.
Regards,
Gamebuilder
@kjscott thank you. I was attached to the idea of having a company of companions rather than an inventory of items, and fortunately I was able to pull it off. I guess this idea comes from "parties" in role-playing games.
@williamcarter thank you for your comment. It's funny, the map started off as 20x20, then I expanded it to 50x50, then to 100x100. I don't know why I did this; I guess I felt constricted by a small grid. I agree however that a smaller map has its own set of advantages. As for houses, I did want to add more, but I ran out of time.
@etrohar thank you for your comment. "Creepy" I take as a compliment, it was my aim. I'm glad the game fits the bill!
@injured yes, that's the bug I had in mind. One doesn't even need The Headless Virgin to complete the game. There are other odd bugs in the game too (for example, pressing '1' while near the chapel brings you inside a building with a TV â this was never intended).
There are some buildings in the northwest which are just relics of old testing code which I forgot to delete. I was surprised to see some players discovering them randomly; I had forgotten they were even there. I like very much your idea of cryptic hints and hidden buildings in the Land of Sorrow and Desolation â perhaps in the next incarnation of the game. Thank you for the idea.
@rubixnoob13 thank you for the suggestion. I have noticed other players doing that as well. I will try to fix that in the post-LD version of the game.
Thank you for the positive feedback. I will pass on your compliments to @genie and @bcav.
@geckoo1337 thank you for your comments. Unfortunately fullscreen is not possible. The playing area has fixed dimensions of 960x540 so I can keep a 16:9 ratio. In the past resizing messed up my images. There is probably a way around this but I lack the know-how to make it happen.
@fishbrain good to see a VIC-20 veteran here! I thought I was the only one.
@jspacek yes the whole pond comes with Ghost Girl and that was completely unintentional. It is funny. It's one of many little bugs that crept in during the final sprint. I will pass on your compliment to the musician, @bcav. Thank you for playing.
@velvetlobster thank you for the compliments. It's odd that the image from the Land of Sorrow and Desolation seems to be moving. That wasn't intended; maybe the cloudy shape somehow indicates motion. You are the first to report that.
I'm glad you like the Stella character; the game wouldn't be half as much without her. If you're curious, I had the artist Dr. Chung use the following image as a reference:
manequine.jpg
From: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/221752530864-0-1/s-l1000.jpg
@kristinamay thank you for the kind words. I am most comfortable using just the keyboard, that's one reason why I came up with this interface. I'm glad to see that others feel the same.
The sound is a bit repetitious but I like the pixel art â it was the screenshot that attracted me to this game.
The rotation before each step really had me confused at first. I thought one key was for rotating, another for stepping. But eventually I figured it out. The puzzles are challenging and I love the sparks that fly about when the light gets low.
It was fun deleting all those cat pics. "Task failed successfully" â doublespeak at its finest!
I managed to survive all five waves! It was fun. I like especially the upgrades.
A very good game. I like the retro graphics and sound. I was hoping for a bit more variety (even a change in colors would help) but given the time constraints this is a solid entry. Well done, mates.
A very good game. I like the pixel art and the music; they both fit together well. It was fun exploring the map, and once I became determined to find a way to Mike's back yard, I never lost interest. You kept me in suspense. Definitely one of the better games here! Nice work!
The soundtrack hearkens back to Moonlight Kingdom (that's one reason I came here). The creative juices are really flowing in this game. I like the raw artwork and the music is top-notch. You have a lot of talent. Combat is interesting and whenever I cast a spell I was in suspense. It was also fun choosing spells and guitars. Alas I was unable to complete the game; I think maybe a little less randomness (and more opportunity for pure tactics) in combat would go a long way. I realize however that this is not easily done.
The writing in this game is brilliant. There are a lot of gems buried in the text, like "...Their telepathic whisper has already eaten hole in my brain." Keep up the good work, comrade.
"Death helped me to keep alive what was dead and buried when I was alive." There is food for thought in this!
Same here, I get a 404 not found error.
Same here, I just get an error when I click on the link to your game.
The graphics are sumptuous. I had fun playing, I just wish I had more time to read the response text (but I guess that's part of the challenge). The choices are interesting. I wish I could see more of her. Maybe someday.
I agree with @zondarg, this game is "not ungood." My browser (Firefox in MX Linux) gets really sluggish during the large ghost waves, but otherwise this game runs smoothly.
A good use of PICO-8. It was fun exploring the space station. I only wish I had more bullets, and a way to kill the beasts. I headed south as suggested, but encountered rooms that were full of a yellow item that I could not pick up. I kept dying from lack of oxygen, but I was able to make progress with practice.
I think this game would be more playable with a smaller set of objects. It was hard for me to keep track of what's what. In any case, there is a lot going for this game, and the graphics and sound combine to create the right mood.
Unfortunately I had a lot of trouble placing the actions in front of the runner. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. It's an interesting concept, though, and I like the music.
I didn't get very far (I'm not good at platformers) but I really like the pixel art in this game.
I love the graphics in this game. The screen shot really caught my attention, and I spent some time just staring at it. You have talent as a visual artist.
A fun game. I really like the graphics and audio. It reminds me of Christmas.
I'm not sure what the purpose of dash is, but I was able to get rid of a few nightmares with the paw attack. I really like the pixel art in this game. I wish I could see more.
I like the dance party at the end! Unfortunately I couldn't hear the music in this game.
Very imaginative, yet in some ways realistic. I like the way that time moves forward and backward. Some of the levels were too hard (e.g. the teenage years) but that's probably just me. Well done.
This game is very impressive. Graphics and sound are top-notch. I especially liked the "NO SIGNAL" screen. Alas, we could not find the core. It was too difficult for us, but maybe that's just us again. Overall, a very good entry.
You nailed Audio â I really like the music in this game. Graphics are also very good. Like others I found the stick, but couldn't figure out how to use it. I kept getting killed by the bugs. Even so, it was fun exploring the map, and I like the simple mechanics. Good job.
I like this game a lot, even though I had to spend Saturday drunkenly with Matt. Not my idea of a good time. I really wanted Hope. At least you give a second chance...as real life often does. A good lesson. Nice work, mate.
Plato and Heidegger are great minds â don't let politics get you down.
I like retro games like these. One suggestion I have is to change or remove the character movement sound â it can be grating after a while. Also, I wish it were possible to attack diagonally. Otherwise, you've done a very good job with both graphics and sound. Well done.
@mikesalyh thank you for the feedback. I relayed the compliment about the introduction to Dr. Chung â she is the one who drew the comic strip, as well as the rest of the art.
As for the eyes, they are part of a picture, which you have to find and click on (see screen shot above). There are two pictures like this; finding and clicking on both will complete the game.
@johnsensei the goal is to find two pictures (one in each maze) and click on them â this will complete the game. FYI there are clues about the mazes in the final panel of the comic strip.
@meatball @sophiemae0 thank you for the feedback. I will pass on your comments about the art to Dr. Chung, the lead artist for the game. As for the walking speed, that appears to be a common complaint. Next time I'll find a way to reduce the speed.
@dotsquare I like your idea of putting the comic strip in the game itself â maybe next time. As for wall textures, that is something I haven't mastered yet. It's very difficult with Babylon.js. The texture I chose was one of the few I could get to work. Sorry about the dizziness â you're not the only one.
@lazyalarm "sweet but creepy" â this is a good way to sum up the comic strip, and the game in general. An effect I was aiming for. Glad you liked the game.
@saurterrs you are right about Alice in Wonderland: the main character is named after her. Her twin sister's name, **Celia**, is an anagram of **Alice**.
@chispalbc thank you, that is what I was aiming for. Glad you liked the game.
@100th-coin thank you for the kind words. I have to admit, it is creepy. I don't even know what it means â which is strange, because I wrote the story. In any case, I'm glad you liked it.
@ava-skoog thank you for the comments. You are right about WASD/ZQSD, it's just that I never figured out a way to do that in Babylon.js, and I ran out of time. Good point about the camera speed as well. As for the ending, there isn't really anything hidden. It's mainly just the ability to fly. On the grid is Celia's face â that is the only new element, along with the victory message.
I'm glad you enjoyed the game.
@flying-dog-fish good point. I struggled to learn textures in Babylon.js during the jam, but ran out of time...
I had trouble with transitions between rooms (a long delay in some cases). I'm using Firefox in MX Linux. Aside from this, I like this game. You did a good job with the physics and the graphics are edgy and appealing. I like the minimal sound effects.
A good game. It was fun falling and collecting the coins at the end. I like the catchy music as well. Well done.
I love fantasy-console games like this. It's amazing what you've done with such limited resources. I only wish there were a bit more sound. Even so, this game is impressive. Well done, Sir.
This is a fun game, and it fits the theme well. I like minimal games like these.
I would ditch the word "Meh"; otherwise, the choices are intriguing. Nice work. This game has potential.
I like the minimal graphics and the B+W aesthetic. The music is also good. I had fun playing this game. It reminds me of old arcade games from the '80's. Good job compadre.
"Smoke is playing with your expectations constantly morphing forgotten beasts and lost loved once." â you nailed it with this one, Chief. Overall, this is a very good game. I love the artwork and writing, as usual. Your imagination knows no bounds. I just wish it was a little less random and a little easier to win. Even so, it contains the spirit of your previous games. Well done.
Ha! I finally got it, after a few more tries.
"But no time for sadness, itâs almost time for lunch." â I should use this line on some of my co-workers. Thanks for that.
The background images are impressive â nice work with the graphics. The music is charming and meditative.
One way to improve this game is to add a bit of variety with the moving circles: different colors and designs for each level would go a long way, for example. All in all, an unusual game.
I love the minimal graphics and the color scheme in this game. It creates a new kind of mood. Well done.
For a "troll game" this isn't bad! A bit more color would be an improvement, as well as allowing the player to make more than one mistake before the game ends. Even so, it's challenging and fun in its own way. At the very least, it's good for typing practice.
This game is a little too difficult for me to beat, but I had a lot of fun trying. I love games like this: a real blast from the past. I've never used a ZX Spectrum, but everything about this game, from the color scheme to the primitive sound effects, feels authentic. It brings back the days when I used to play the Atari 2600. This is definitely one of the best entries here.
You folks certainly have talent. This is precisely the kind of game I need right now. One suggestion I have is to make the clues a little more evident; I ended up just scraping the whole surface most times. Regardless, the paintings and the music are beautiful. Without a doubt, one of the best entries here.
I was a bit confused at first, because there was an inner scroll-bar in Firefox that I needed to use to see the rows at the bottom. Other than that, I found the controls to be intuitive, once I understood the mechanics. I found it to be challenging, but not frustrating. The leader board is a nice touch. Games like these show how far simplicity can go. Nice work.
A very good game! I only wish the cards were a little less randomized â I got stuck with 3 "anti-spider" cards at once, for example. I also wish there were a few sound effects, at least (ChipTones would be useful for this). However, overall this is a fun game. Nice work.
This is a fun game, though a bit too challenging for me. The audio is top-notch and I like the art style very much. Overall, one of the better entries here.
I had trouble figuring out the controls â some instructions (e.g. about the 'E' key) would go a long way. But this game has a lot of potential, and it matches the theme well. All in all I like the idea of digging deeper for treasure, and returning to the surface.
@lereveur @lesinvisible please accept my apologies, the server was down for quite some time. It's up and running and the game is accessible now if you're still interested in playing.
@peace-of-cake-games thank you once again for the encouraging words! Insofar as game design is concerned, this game is lackluster at best. That's entirely my fault. I think I was burnt out after coding SHH. But I agree that @bcav and @genie have done very well with the music and artwork. Kudos go to them for pulling through, once again.
@prof-suarez it should work in Firefox and Chrome for Linux/Windows. I didn't test in other browsers or platforms. It may take a minute or so to load, initially.
@lesinvisible thank you for giving the game a go. There's nothing sophisticated about the movement code; it's pretty much something I stumbled on by accident, using the **document.onkeydown** function in JS. This I discovered with the warm-up game, [SHH](www.pub22.net/game/shh2/). As for finding "something," and the difficulty of the puzzles, that was due to running out of time. I don't know why, but I kept re-designing the game until the last day of the jam. For that reason, I didn't get play-test feedback until the last couple of hours, and on top of that the play-tester was not sober. I blame only myself.
@honey-pony your remarks are thought-provoking. I've been thinking about them quite a bit. It wasn't my intention to have the protagonist be the "creator"; if anything, the lost baby in the woods represents him. The witch in the introduction and the "ABC" were inspired by ["Semiautomatic,"](http://www.pub22.net/game/ld47/semiautomatic/) a story that came from our LD47 game. The story in some ways reflects the writer's own experiences; maybe Nanna inherited some of that. I don't know. It's always interesting to read interpretations such as yours, in any case.
@lesinvisible I see what you're asking now; the landscape is all one big image, about 1.2 MB in size:
http://www.pub22.net/game/ld48/a1.png
The code always draws the player in the center, and changes the margin of the image whenever the player moves:
``` 
... function draw_area() { mleft = -1 * (p.ai * CW * 0.1); iarea.style.marginLeft = mleft + "px"; } ```
**p.ai** is an integer representing the player's horizontal location, **CW** is the inner width of the window.
With previous games I couldn't get Firefox to preload a lot of images. When everything is combined into one image, the browser has no choice but to load everything at the beginning.
Once I was able to buy turrets, I made some progress â but then I couldn't find any more waste to clean up, and kept sinking. A mini-map that gives an overview of the area would really help â easier said than done, I know. Just an idea if you decide to expand this game. On a positive note, I really like the character art. Also, I like the idea of mining/cleaning and returning to the surface for improvements.
I love games like this â simple, easy to learn, and super-fun. Nearly everything about this game, from audio to graphics to gameplay, feels right on. This is a fine use of Pico-8.
Like some other games I've played here, this game is simple but fun â challenging, but not frustrating. The music is OK, but it does become a little repetitious after a while (IMHO). Also, you could add more flourish to the winning screen. Just some ideas if you wanted to improve the game. All in all, good work.
I tried playing this in Firefox for Linux, but got an error (screen shot below).
But it works fine in Chrome. Probably it's just a fluke in the version of Firefox that I have. Anyway, I like this kind of game, and I had fun exploring. It would be nice to see some alien life forms (even if via primitive graphics), bu given the time constraints, you did a good job. Nice work.
tmp-ld48-screenshot.png
As usual I really like the game world you have created. You have nailed Mood, once again. Oddly enough, I think the best part of this game is the map â every time I looked at it, I was curious to see where I could go. It gave me a sense of freedom.
As others have mentioned, I found the combat system a bit confusing. Tool tips or labels under each button would go a long way. Even so, combat this time around is an improvement over your last game, which I found to be too difficult in that respect. The journal entries are also impressive. "You may even become a dream itself" â if that isn't philosophy, I don't know what is. Nice work, compadre.
A very unusual game. It's good that there is no "end game" state. I had trouble figuring out what exactly I was supposed to do. Given that, I like how you tied memory into the game-play. A good use of the theme. The audio is top-notch.
I didn't get very far, but I'm not very good with platformers anyway. The music is OK but could use a bit more variety. I like the color scheme and retro-graphics. The use of springs is an interesting twist.
The graphics and music in this game are top-notch. I made progress but in time I gave up, as I'm not very good at puzzle-games like this. I wish there were a way to get an overview (like a simple map) of an entire level, so I could see where everything is, like a chessboard. Just an idea. All in all, this is a good game.
A surreal experience. I had a lot of trouble learning the controls â it took me some time to figure out what to do, and even then, I couldn't make much progress, vacuum-wise. The music is top-notch. I love the title art for this game.
A good game. Short and sweet. You nailed Mood, and the music is excellent. I like simple puzzle/adventure games like these, especially when they have a positive message.
Similar to @junamai and others, at 45,000+ (or thereabouts) all I saw was darkness and a Green Guppy message. I wasn't sure if there is an ultimate depth level or not. One way to improve this game is to let the player know what the maximum depth is, and have an indicator that shows how much progress has been made. That way, a clearly-set goal will motivate the player to finish. Aside from this, I had fun playing this game. The background music is great. Nice work.
It's an interesting combination of two genres. I wish there were more variety in the dungeon â all I could find were torches and vicious crabs. Perhaps I didn't dive deep enough. Even so, I think this game has potential. I especially like the graphics and the color scheme.
A very grim story. I was reading about the cremation fires in India around the time I played this, it really set me on edge. But I like the fact that you have multiple endings. The positive ending â not being "consumed by the darkness of hate" â is reassuring. I guess it's just me, I always like stories with positive endings (or relatively positive, as in this case). The graphics, music, and game-play all fit together very well.
I would say more but I am way behind on play and rate â our server was offline for a while and I was busy with some other things at the same time. Now I need to scramble to catch up with LD. Anyway, congratulations â this is a very impressive entry for the Compo.
This is a fun game, though a bit on the difficult side. Maybe it's just me. Audio is well chosen. Overall, game-play is excellent. Nice work.
Ha! I like this game a lot. Short and sweet. I love the graphics. The use of audio instead of visual clues is a nice twist. I only wish this game were longer! Nice work.
This is truly a blast from the past. You've done an excellent job of recreating the feel of some of those old BBS games. I had nearly forgotten about them. The only suggestion I have to make is to simplify the gameplay. It took me quite some time to figure out what to do, how to sell things and etc. On the other hand, it may be just that Iâm slow to learn. So, take that with a grain of salt. Overall, a very good entry.
An interesting experience. Sadly, like others I remained stuck on Level 2. I'm not good at puzzle games like these. Even so, it's a unique game, and I like your interpretation of the theme. Also, I like the minimalist graphics. It was a screenshot that captured my attention.
A fun game! I love the sound effects â your daughter is a talented voice actress. 5 stars for Audio. Graphics are also top-notch. Also, I like the difficulty level: challenging but not discouraging.
pixel-art-game-screenshot.png
Great game! The artwork is creepy but beautiful. As for Audio, I gave you the max. Everything in this game fits together well.
This game is a perfect candidate for a leaderboard with scores based on number of seconds survived.
I got 15 out of 20 units inside and the waves stopped coming. I guess that means I win? I like the upbeat music in this game. It was fun casting spells and protecting the castle. One suggestion for improving the game is to increase the frequency of the monster waves. Also, tool tips for the spells would help. Overall, a fun game.
@peace-of-cake-games thanks! I told @genie about your comment; it's always good to see encouraging words like these.
@lesinvisible the ants and random critters and various objects that can be found are there to discourage players from pressing the space bar at every location. With my previous games it was easy to win this way. My wife who is not very good at puzzle games would do this every time. Plus, the random critters and objects add a bit of spice to the game.
The inventory system is a vestige of the framework I made; itâs not needed in this game, but I didnât have time to remove it.
As for the spells, two of them require special locations â Lua's dream message is indispensable if you want to know how to use them.
@queenofsquiggles thatâs exactly right, I was aiming to reproduce the feel of a childrenâs story book. In that respect Luaâs dream-story is an integral part of the game. Thanks for playing.
@ronanrory @cloudlunar it's an unstated rule that a game shouldn't have too many words â but this is a rule that I like to break. If I had the time, I would have made the story longer. @queenofsquiggles explains it well enough.
@violetta, strange is what I aim for.
@lesinvisible yes, Lua provides the key. Always pay attention to a beautiful woman who appears in a dream â something I've learned over the years.
@honey-pony I can always count on you for insightful feedback, thank you. And Iâm always pleased to hear that people have found âahaâ moments in my games. I tried to make things fit together in this game, and Iâm happy to see it worked.
As for the step-wise movement it is all because of JavaScriptâs 'onkeydown' function:
``` document.onkeydown = function(e) next(e); ```
With this function a continuous key press automatically translates into repeated presses â itâs built into JS, apparently (though the OS may also have something to do with it, as you suggested). In general Iâve always been intrigued by stop-motion as seen for example near the end of *Mulholland Drive*, and in the earliest films from days of yore. The roots go way back to Parmenidesâ poem.
@zeilanda thank you for the feedback. There are two hints (or more like answers) in Lua's dream message. Lua is a beautiful, pale-skinned woman who will appear in your dream once you go to bed in the house in the cave. Toward the end she'll tell you how to use the spells.
The abilities icons were hard for me to figure out â you could make it more clear how the elements align with the abilities. Also, I came across a bug in which I was stuck in a wall, and couldn't move (see screenshot). Other than that, this is a solid entry. I like the music and graphics a lot. This game has a nice feel to it. I also like the way in which the abilities change after a few seconds (hence the theme), and you did a good job of incorporating the different elements.
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I think this is your best game yet. The music and artwork are beautiful. Great work! I like how mental states serve as the âscoreâ of the game. I felt like I was exploring someoneâs mind. Never a dull moment with this game.
I looked up Bryan Charnley, I came across the following words in a statement of his:
>âIncreasingly I became aware that my paintings had no bearing on the darker aspects of my life which threatened to overwhelm me. I turned to the psychology of art to see if this could throw any light on the problem. Before long I came across the idea of art as a form of exorcism and the theory that the cave paintings of early man were painted to gain control over the animals portrayed. From this, albeit hypothetical ground, I saw that painting about my inner upheavals was perhaps to gain some measure of control over them.â (https://www.bryancharnley.info/statement/)
This reminds me of your work, especially this entry. You captured the mood of psychological collapse very well.
You may want to watch the short film *In Absentia* by the Quay Brothers, if you haven't already; it seems to be in the same spirit. Anyway you hit a home run with this one. Nice work comrade.
If you don't mind my asking, is there a significance in the time in which this game takes place, eight days starting from 16:49 on Nov. 19th, 2004? I thought at first it was a reference to Bryan Charnley, but I couldn't find a connection.
So there **is** a connection with Charnley â interesting. As for Istanbul, that comes as a surprise. I always assumed you were in Russia, but it seems I was wrong about that. I mention this because Russia and Russian people have been crossing my path a lot these days â writers, musicians, and philosophers, especially. Iâve learned a lot from them.
Short and sweet. The artwork is very good â I like especially the buildings in the background. You did a good job with sound as well. If you wanted to develop the game, you could add some variety to the trick-or-treaters and the flying critters. But this is just a suggestion. Overall, a solid entry.
You did a beautiful job with the architecture and the landscape. For me that was the most interesting part of the game â exploring and looking at the buildings and trees and so forth. I can see you put a lot of work into it. I was able to solve some of the programming puzzles, but I confess that Iâm very slow when it comes to programming games. Nonetheless, itâs an interesting concept, and the way in which you have the notes scattered about adds a new twist to the game. It appears to be two genres combined into a single game â this hearkens back to Ludum Dare 41. Anyway, itâs quite impressive for a compo entry. Nice work.
Beautiful pixel art. This game reminds me of that old SF classic, Beneath a Steel Sky. Top-notch graphics. It took me a while to figure out how to interact and make the shake, but once I did it was smooth sailing. Interesting ending â a pyrrhic victory.
Very unusual game â you certainly nailed Innovation. Graphics are also very good; I like the way you recreate the feel of old terminals with green scan lines and monospace fonts.
I too struggled with the controls; I was hoping there was a way to play the game only with the keyboard; but I suppose the challenge of learning the controls is itself part of the game. In any case, it's an unusual blend of two genres, task management and interactive fiction. One idea I had if you'd like to improve the game is to add more variety to the environment: maybe have some colorful planets or what have you. Also, you could have it so that you interact with Grace â e.g., you have a list of options about how to reply to her after she says something. These are just some ideas if you'd like to continue developing the game, or design a similar game. Overall, this is a very good entry for the Compo. Nice work, comrade!
I didn't get past the moving platforms level â too many spikes. But I am not very good with platformers in general, so take it with a grain of salt. In any case, both the graphics and music shine. I like the background story as well.
It's not bad for a prototype â I like the pixel art. It has a nice look to it. As with popertots I could only shoot to the right after the first shot. But I hope you develop this into a full-fledged game. It has a lot of potential.
I couldn't get very far as I kept encountering a bug where the game would freeze during a dialogue. But aside from that, I like the pixel art and color scheme. The shadow effects and music are also very good.
A very good game. I like the way everything fits together: light patterns, energy, movement, etc. Itâs challenging without being discouraging. The graphics and sound are a good use of PICO-8. One of the better games here. Nice work comrade.
An innovative, fun game. Sound and music would add a lot, but I realize you can only do so much given the time constraints. There is plenty of opportunity in this game for strategizing â I like how you can use houses to slow down the lava. I also like the fact that you have some idea of where the lava is heading â yet there is also enough uncertainty to make it challenging.
A fun game. Nice graphics; I just wish the enemies were more fleshed out. Some details like trees and plant life would add a lot too. Also, it was very easy to make progress by constantly swiping in both directions. So, I think the difficulty level should be increased. But the music is great, as is the animation.
@elijah-wickerham @peace-of-cake-games @lesinvisible @lereveur @thecritterscove @ilbini Thank you all for your feedback. Apologies for the late reply. I got involved with some things at work which took longer than I thought.
@peace-of-cake-games as always your feedback is encouraging. I'm glad you enjoyed the game.
@lesinvisible yes, I was hoping that the town was spam-proof, but apparently it isn't. So be it. At least you didn't go crazy with ants this time, eh? As for a combined 3-in-1 game, I have toyed with the idea. Perhaps someday. I don't want to make a false promise, however. Often, I tell myself I will make a post-jam version, and I end up regretting it. We'll see.
@lereveur thank you for the compliment. It seems we won't get enough ratings this time. So be it. They are usually disappointing anyway.
@thecritterscove yes, we designed it so that it works as a stand-alone game as well. Your idea about number indicators is a good one. I think it would improve the game significantly.
@ilbini that is perhaps one of the nicest comments we've ever gotten â I am a big fan of poetry and literature. A lot of it comes from @genie's fantastic artwork â it is instrumental to the overall feel of the game. As for hunger, there may be a way to avoid collapsing if you work hard enough in the town. But personally I think she is all the more adorable when she falls :smiley:.
Once again, amazing sound and music, and I love the artwork. It reminds me of the games you made before Ludum Dare 49. You are very good at storytelling and creating a mood. I'm not sure why, but I am reminded of the 1st edition of the old TSR game, Gamma World.
As with others here, it took me a while to figure out how to play the game. At first, I kept clicking on Wait. Then after quite some time I finally discovered that I can select characters as well. But maybe that's just me, I tend to be slow.
I love how the music, story, and map all fit together to create an eerie world, a world haunted by death, horror, and mystery. Well done my friend.
Very interesting, especially your choice of tools â I think you put ink and graphite aquarelle pencil to good use. There is a kind of raw, edgy feel to the game that is unique; I haven't seen anything quite like it. And I like your idea of integrating the interface with the in-game graphics. Apart from the difficulty I had in learning how to use it, I think it works very well.
Thank you for posting the concept art. It is always good to see how game development unfolds, especially in this case. Itâd be great if you could write a post-mortem â though I know it can be time consuming. Lord knows I haven't written one in some time. Even so, I think a lot of folks here would love to read something like that. Anyway, thanks for making another wonderful game.
That is truly amazing â I didn't expect such a detailed report. I'll be happy to post a link to it on the main blog page, if you're interested â I think it deserves a wider readership. As it stands I fear not many will see it.
**"The game seems much less than it really is..."**
These words hit home for me. I think it's true for so many games. And it's true for much of what we do in the outside world as well. Sometimes even just a few words seem much less than they really are. The key is to know the true value of what you do, regardless of what other people think (or don't think). I am trying not to forget this.
I'm curious to know if you chose the names â Berk, Seda, Feast, Hron â by design. Do the names mean anything, or were they chosen at random?
Will do Chief!
I like the simplicity of this game. The music is somewhat repetitious; perhaps a variety of sound effects would make a big difference. Even so, I did have fun trying to get enough blood to stay alive! I like the artwork.
I think you did a great job of creating an uncanny mood. I love the aesthetics as well â a very good use of grey, black, and white. I felt like I fell into a pit of gloom and despair â no doubt, that was the intended effect! At the same time, it was fun exploring the area, shooting through barriers, and entering houses.
The sound effects complement the graphics very well. It feels good to overcome depression and anxiety, even if symbolically. Nice work!
I love the music and sound effects in this game. It's a lot of fun. Strangely I enjoyed punching strangers at random â I hope that doesn't say anything about me. I also like the mood and ambiance. The stats at the end also add a lot to the game. Nice work!
Very unusual puzzle game. Also, it is a thinking manâs game. I got to Level 5 â I gave up then, as it became too difficult. But that is a criticism mainly against me â I tend not to be good at games like this. Anyway, this game very much fits the theme. Certainly, it is something different. Well done for ~10 hours.
Very interesting concept. It took me a while to figure out how to explore, but eventually I got the hang of it. I only wish there were a way to overcome the âno loopâ limitation. It would have made the game more interesting. On the other hand, it makes for a good puzzle game. Overall, a pretty good entry â certainly innovative. Nice work.
Very impressive game! I gave you top scores for Graphics, Audio, and Mood. The images and sound effects in this game are stunning. I only wish there were a mini-map; I kept losing my way. But that's just a small complaint. One of the best games I've played so far. Good work, folks.
The artwork in this game is eerie and very striking. I like the feel of it. Very impressive. I gave this game a top score for mood. It seems to fit the theme well. I made some progress but could not figure it out â but I am not very good at this kind of game. Still, it was interesting exploring. Very imaginative.
A fun, simple game. It took me a few tries to get the hang of it. One way to improve this game is to add a score, perhaps based on time. That way, I can measure my progress. Also, it would be good to add some variety to the game â music is one way to do this, as well as changing environments. Overall, however, I had some fun with this game.
@lesinvisible the main track (the first one) was composed by @bcav. The other two were made by me with BeepBox during the final stretch.
You are right, this is a short game. I gave myself âtil Saturday night to finish the game (apart from @bcavâs music), and didn't have much time for playtesting. It was a self-imposed deadline, to make this more fun. My goal was to get it done in 24 hours, but that just wasnât possible. Who knows, maybe next time. Anyway, glad to see you are still here and playing these games. Your comments always make for interesting reading.
@honey-pony the star gives you 100% light. Originally, my plan was to have stars scattered throughout the game, so that you would have to explore to find stars before running out of light. I should have increased the rate at which night falls; as it is, the star isn't really necessary.
The navigation-through-numbers scheme comes from some of my older games, like Maximum Overdrive and Mourning, as well as the Nanna series (LD 48-50). But my original idea was very different. Instead of horizontal movement, there was going to be a world of unique locations: woods, houses, mountains, cemeteries, etc. â more like a traditional adventure game. But I fell into my old pattern of horizontal movement, just like in the Nanna games, even though I wanted to try something new. It's funny how that works. Maybe next time. We'll see. Anyway, thanks for your comments â they are insightful as usual.
@kr4ft3r Thank you for the feedback. The game you are thinking of is probably **Mourning:**
http://www.pub22.net/game/mourning/
It fits your description, anyway. If it wasnât that then maybe it was **Maximum Overdrive** â there is a link on my profile page. Both of these games have number interfaces.
@kr4ft3r Excellent. I replayed it myself â I had forgotten what it was like.
I like the sound effects in this game. It took me some time to figure out what the goal is, even after reading the instructions. I am in the habit of thinking in terms of Tetris; the differences in this game threw me off. I think this game is out of my league. Even so, it is a good use of the theme. I like the bitsy graphics and the controls seemed to work smoothly. Itâs just something I couldn't really wrap my mind around.
This game is a lot of fun. I like the simple, intuitive controls. I wish the speed were a bit slower, but itâs no big deal once you get the hang of it. The music is top-notch: 5/5. To eat the dots and diamonds at supersonic speed â that gave me pleasure. Nice work.
A fine game, albeit with a grim ending. What is Ludum Dare without your surreal and mind-blowing artwork? Nothing. Or: Not much. It is good to see you are still contributing here. Your games never fail to convey a unique and powerful impression. Vous ĂȘtes un vĂ©ritable artiste, monsieur.
@lesinvisible Well I hope you donât quit Ludum Dare. That would be sad. Your games are always among the best entries here. You could do something like what I tried to do: give yourself 24 hours (or less). It doesnât eat up too much time, and itâs in the spirit of the original Ludum Dare. Just a thought.
I was finally able to borrow a Windows machine (on Linux, I couldn't get the keyboard to work in Firefox). At first it was soothing, exploring different planets and collecting resources. I played for 20-30 minutes and was able to get several upgrades. The mystery resource (it looks like a round rock) I was unable to find, alas.
The music adds to the ambiance, but a bit more variety would help. The planet graphics, though very simple, somehow added to the mood as well. I felt like I was playing a game from the 1980's: it was nostalgic. You are right, it did become tedious after a while, and it would help if you shortened the length of time needed to beat the game. Even so, this is an unusual game and it was fun exploring the world you created. A solid entry. Nice work, compadre.
Very interesting game, though too tough for me to crack. Still, I did make progress, and it was fun trying. You definitely nailed the theme. The ticking of the clock certainly adds to the ambiance. Overall, a solid entry.
I like the primitive graphics and simple gameplay. It reminds me of old-skool games like the Atari 2600 and so forth. I didn't encounter any bugs and the controls worked smoothly enough. It was a challenge to know when to use bombs. Some music (even a simple BeepBox tune) would add a lot. Overall, not a bad entry. Nice work.
The music in this game is beautiful. You got a top score in Audio. I had trouble learning how to shoot at first, but then I got the hang of it. This is very much reminiscent of Pac Man You did a good job of applying the theme nonetheless. Yes, moods do come and go in cycles. One of the more fun games here.
Very unusual puzzle game. I like the sound effects quite a bit. Also, the graphics, though simple, are appealing. I'm not good at games like this, but I did make some progress. So, the difficulty level seemed to be right on. Everything seemed well-integrated. The tips at the end of each level were helpful. A solid entry.
Beat it â though I was about to give up. Usually I'm not very good at platformers. You did a good job of making challenging levels without making them too difficult. The theme is integrated very well. The sound effects â e.g. of the falling block and Sleepy â are very good. I like the simple color scheme. The controls worked smoothly. Well done.
Muchas gracias amigo. This is a fun game. I played it with @genie. We both had a good time. The chimes were relaxing and mood-lifting. Also, the game is challenging without being too difficult.
As someone else mentioned, the red dots could be more helpful (maybe make their light last longer?). But it's just a small thing.
Overall this game has just the right amount of complexity. A well-designed game. Nice work.
A relaxing game once the helpers begin to take over. Though as with others, my hand began to ache. A small price to pay. Interesting concept and it definitely nails the theme. @sirlich raises some good points about the end screen. Otherwise, a fun game and very good work I must say.
A fun game. Simple, intuitive interface â you canât go wrong with that. I like the vibrant, painterly graphics as well. They match the mood of the music, which also has a lot of character. In terms of gameplay, it would have been good to see more variety â e.g. different areas and perhaps different monsters. But overall, this is a solid entry. Very creative.
The graphics in this game are superb. It took a while to figure out gameplay but after a while it became more clear. Played it through to the end. Maybe it would be good to make the goal (the final level) clear from the beginning. Just a suggestion. Overall, a fun game. Nice work.
A very unusual game. The graphics are polished and the music is catchy. I had a bit of trouble learning the rules, but got the hang of it eventually. I was confused partly by the explosion effects â didnât realize it was my plants growing. It was easy to confuse my plants with those of the opponent as well.
Also, I seemed to get a preponderance of water cards â I wish I had more rocks and plants. Maybe it was the luck of the draw. Still, itâs a challenging game that wasnât too difficult. Overall, a solid entry.
Ha! You nailed the theme, albeit darkly. Excellent music and sound â the best thing about this game. It was also challenging, especially after Level 1 â there were some intense moments fleeing from the watchmen.
I was hoping to see a little more variety in the environment (e.g., different grave stones, etc.), but thatâs just a suggestion if you decide to develop this game. Overall, it is fun and imaginative. Nice work.
A good use of Pico-8. Challenging, but not too difficult. In the end however it was lightning-fast and there was no way I could keep up. Even so, I got a score of 50. Not sure how high that is in the scheme of things, but it's the best I can do up to now. A fun, well-designed game. Lovely music and sound effects. Nice retro graphics as well.
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An interesting environment you have created. I was able to get a tomato plant to grow but could not get the knife to work, try as I might. If you could improve the controls and UI, this could be a lot of fun.
@hitchh1k3r that is an impressive score: 50, twice times 25. And itâs a brilliant strategy you came up with â I hadnât even thought of it.
As for the music, chances are you are using Chrome. If you use Firefox, youâll hear @bcavâs main track at the start of the game. Apparently Chrome requires a keypress before music plays. Anyway, I prefer his second (i.e., winning) track myself â I sometimes play it in the background. A nice moody effect.
Thank you for your insightful review.
@caranha it seems in hindsight you are right: the main track doesn't play in Firefox either. It seems to be some kind of bug â something I missed given the limited time I had to test. Honey-Poney gives instructions on how to play the track if youâre interested.
@honey-pony thank you for the encouraging words. Itâs funny how a shorter amount of time yielded a better game. I should try that out with my work.
As for your question about the code, every fifth tree has seeds. This is the line which sets the tree type whenever a tree is planted ('planted' is the tree count):
**type = planted % 5;**
Tree type 4 yields seeds, the others are regular trees.
As ever, thank you for the insightful review.
Very good graphics, the best thing about this game. Took a while to figure out how to play, however, even with the instructions. I agree with @jamesboink. Even so, mood, images, and sound all seemed to fit together well.
This game was a tremendous amount of fun. I played it with @genie. We were both impressed with how well-designed this game is. Definitely one of the best here. I got hooked within the first few minutes, and couldn't stop playing. Eventually played the game through to the end, and enjoyed every minute.
Only suggestion I can make is to have a more exciting Win screen. But that's no big deal. Superb game.
Very challenging and addictive game. Could not get past a score of 5, but will keep trying. There seems to be a bug when the white line overlaps with food. Other than that it works smoothly. The retro music and graphics fit together well.
As others have mentioned, I think 100 for a goal is too difficulty. Or, you could slow down the scroll speed. Anyway, a fun game. Good work.
A very unusual game, in my experience. The colors are vibrant and it's fun to scatter the shapes. It wasn't clear just how the percentage score is measured, but I was able to progress to Level 13. I got the magnet but couldn't get it to work. Very good graphics and striking mood. This game, simple though it is, shows a lot of imagination.
A difficult, cerebral game that has a strange appeal. Sadly I got only to Year 24 before starving to death. I like the minimalistic graphics and the unusual mechanics. Just wish I had more clear instructions. Even so, it makes for an interesting puzzle game with a unique feel. A solid entry.
Ha! A lot of fun. I couldnât stop playing until I beat it. Took me 4-5 tries. How I wish there were a "hide" key â but you canât have everything. Also, I was hoping for a more exciting âwinâ screen, but who am I to judge? Lord knows, my win screens are often lame. Anyway, one of the better games here. Nice work.
This game is a lot of fun. I competed with one other, we took turns playing. I got a score of 53,000! Not bad, eh? Anyway, one thing I can suggest is to make the timer a little more prominent; we didn't even notice it until the second game. But that is just a small thing. Some music would be good as well. Otherwise, a super-fun game. Nice work!
So, Ava, you are a philosopher. I should have known. Brilliant game you have here â as if ethos, pathos, and logos constitute a musical instrument that woos the audience. I aspire to make a game with so much insight.
It would be good to see how truth fits in here â if you develop this game then you could have that be the basis of the other three. Logos depends on its starting point. Anyway, one of the best games here. Nice work my dear.
Compliments to both of you then â implementation is half the battle. I look forward to seeing how _Ao_ turns out.
A fun game. Kept getting beat on the second level though. Maybe I just need to keep trying.
Graphics are appealing and the music is upbeat and fits the gameplay. It was fun getting new weapons and rescuing the damsel in distress. Not sure how it fits the theme, aside from the brief explanation, however. Even so, a solid entry. Nice work.
The Egyptians had âhighly advanced knowledge of mathematics and especially geometryâ â this is very true, but sadly overlooked nowadays. Itâs good to see it recognized here. I also like the artwork in this game. It brings to mind Jean Giraud/MĆbius of _MĂ©tal Hurlant_ fame.
The multiple endings and the overall mood of this game remind me of the _Choose Your Own Adventure_ books from way back when. It seems that the far future and distant past serve as bookends here.
@mahc talk to Ivanova after you find the star and you will see the winning message, about ascending to Heaven, etc. Once you see that the game is won.
@arsher thank you for the reference to Fran Bow, wasnât aware of that. Its art style is very appealing.
@david-yates youâve touched on some important issues. Iâll try to answer your questions with brevity.
First, Ivanova manifests herself in different ways, as many spirits do. When she fought against the witch she took the form of a giantess, hoping her imposing body would bring victory. Unfortunately this strategy failed. Ordinarily, when she visits a house she shrinks, though she maintains a ghostly form that is just barely visible. Like many spirits she can even enter oneâs dreams from time to time.
Second, I donât see why a convent would refuse a disembodied winged head. She can sing, pray, and teach, just like the rest of us. Godâs creatures manifest themselves in different ways. This brings me back to my first point, and so the circle is closed.
@aile once in a while I use animation in my games, was hoping to do the same with this one but ran out of time and motivation.
In general I like games that tell a story and end in a particular way â but Iâm not against multiple endings, either. The latter has its advantages. Perhaps down the line I will try that out. Anyway I appreciate your feedback.
@honey-pony thank you as always for your thoughtful comments. Try as I might I could not play your game, unfortunately â I kept getting web server configuration errors. Well, I hope next time.
As for the giant tooth fairy, that happened by accident. When I first copied a scan of @yumi8âs drawing into one of the gameâs image files, she appeared as a superhuman figure, way off scale. At that moment it occurred to me that she is a spirit, almost like a demigoddess, and so why not make her a giantess â some beautiful, imposing figure who towers above the rest? And it turns out that it adds a twist to the game: the avatar must cross some bridges to finally meet her face-to-face.
But I fear Iâve said too much already. Once again we are grateful for your comments.
I kept thinking of Pac-Man, as if I were gobbling sheep instead of dots. Oddly, a pleasant feeling. The sound effects are strangely appealing, and they add a lot to the game. Did it in 6:55. Fun! A good use of PICO-8.
I was reminded a bit of Night Driver, the Atari 2600 game.
It took me a while to figure out what I had to do, but then it became smooth sailing. One way to improve this game is to make it impossible for the car to go off-road (it seems I could go anywhere on the map). Music could also use some variety. Just some suggestions if you want to develop this game further. Other than that, the controls are intuitive and it was challenging trying to get the delivery done in time without running out of gas.
A fun and innovative game. It took me a while to figure it out, but once I did, it felt right, somehow. A breath of fresh air, and a chance to sharpen oneâs wits. Music and graphics are both well done. Nice work.
I like the music in this game very much. The graphics and lighting are also impressive. It took me a while to figure out how to fend off the ghosts; couldn't find the instructions for that control. It was found by accident. It was difficult to stay alive, but managed to deliver a few things and level up.
A strange creature in a strange game. Physics work well enough. I was able to get past the first level, then got stuck. Unusual mechanics and game-play â you did well in Innovation. Music fits the ambiance.
A unique puzzle game. It's educational to think about the spaces. Challenging but not impossible. I reached Level 6-7, I believe. The graphics are very good and the music is upbeat and entertaining. This game is good for teaching people how to think and make connections.
Yes, I agree, some conspiracy theories are factual. The ending has a useful message. History is full of conspiracies. Anyway, a very moody and perhaps even surreal game. The music is very impressive, and it fits the story line very well - the best part of the game. I like the raw, edgy graphics as well. Nice work.
The graphics are superb and the music is jolly and upbeat. Like others I had trouble with the mechanics. In one case I threw the cheese and it just got stuck at the top of the screen. I wish there were a simpler interface for giving items. But other than that this game has a lot of potential. Mood and humor are excellent.
Music and artwork in this game are fantastic. Interesting story-line as well. I would have preferred a more human-like ghost, but that's just me. Overall, a solid entry. Nice work.
A remarkable game for PICO-8 â youâve created a little world and populated it with strange characters. Some of the levels are beautiful â e.g., Level 6. It is a very good use of pixel art.
As for Christian art â it is violent but that is the point. How else can you depict crucifixion? But depressing, no, not at all, if you read it the right way.
One improvement you could make is to reduce the text â I think the game would be more fun with concise dialogue. Then, each word carries more weight. That being said, overall itâs a very imaginative game.
I love the black and white aesthetic in this game, and its simplicity. A breath of fresh air this game is. Nice work.
Very good graphics and music. The background story is very interesting. The puzzles are challenging enough but I couldn't find a way to reset a level in the HTML version. This is the biggest drawback. Also, the connection with the theme is tenuous. Otherwise, an unusual game with an remarkable storyline.
I love the art style of this game, and the mood is indeed magical, as others have pointed out here. Certainly no nerdrage on my part. Good job for your first entry. Hope to see more from you in future jams.
This one sure as heck is difficult â controls are beyond my ken. The throttle was easy enough but the rudder I constantly wrestled with. I was able to steer somewhat, get gas and get some goods, but coulndât win. An innovative game with appealing graphics and sound nonetheless.
Very unusual! A solid entry for a first game. The tutorial was very helpful and the gameplay itself is intriguing. I haven't seen anything like it.
One way to improve the game is to decrease the difficulty in the first few levels. It was hard to make progress. Even so, a fun, imaginative game. Nice work.
A challenging running/jumping game. Very unusual mechanics â I like the idea of having the packages serve as instruments for delivery. The difficulty of this game is beyond my ken, alas, but nonetheless I find the graphics and music to be very appealing. Together they create a wonderful mood. A solid entry that no doubt will rank well in the end.
I love the art style of this game. It has a raw, surreal feel to it. The mom in her room â this image in itself is a work of art. The music is good as well. Itâs relaxing to watch the baby bounce around, listening to the music.
In a way, itâs like life: one bounces and rolls until one stops. What happens afterward? Perhaps a sequel to this game can answer that question.
I got to round 10. A fun game which got me to think and strategize. I like the simplicity of the gameplay. It would be good to have sound effects or music but that's a minor point. Had a good time playing this game. Nice work.
My teammate @genie set a new record just now:
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And today @genie reached Wave 24!
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@lereveur youâre welcome, and Iâll pass on the praise to @genie. It took her many hours of practice to reach Wave 24, but she had a lot of fun in the meantime.
That was some driver! I guess he had a tough time in the bathroom, eh? Happens to all of us, I suppose. But I have to say, I was spooked out in the meantime. In a way it's good that we can't see the pursuer - the imagination conjures something very creepy. The element of suspense in this game is very good.
Yes, the gameplay can be developed, but there is a lot of potential here. It is a cinematic experience and the sound and graphics create an eerie atmosphere. An unusual and creative entry.
Great job. You definitely nailed the theme! Took many tries on some levels but beat it in the end. Fun and challenging. Music fits the gameplay well.
The graphics in this game are most impressive. You have created a beautiful environment. The same goes for the sound effects. Certainly, a solid entry. The gameplay is unique as well, albeit too challenging for me to make much progress. Still, a remarkable game. Well done.
Very unusual and addictive in a way. Learning how to survive the winter was tough but eventually I figured out a strategy. Malthus would be proud. Good game.
Your game looks very interesting but unfortunately I was unable to play; I get this error (Firefox using Linux):
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Actually, I just discovered it was a problem on my end. Firefox security settings were too strict, and that caused some sites to break (including many games). Just so you know.
A fun, old-skool game. Once I got the hang of the controls I was able to make progress. A nice use of bullet mechanics. The fact that the revolver has to be reloaded from time to time is an interesting twist.
Very interesting â the ending is ironic and comes as quite a shock. As others have pointed out, the dialogue interface is clunky. Aside from that, it was fun exploring the courtroom and the area outside. And the concept is very unusual â will not say more lest I spoil the game for others. Very imaginative.
The graphics and music are very impressive and the game-play is unique. Once I got the Morse code sheet I was able to make some progress. Still, one has to think fast to beat this game. Very unusual and without a doubt a unique experience. Nice work.
@daniel-grinshpon the map is supposed to help make navigation less confusing, but it is challenging nonetheless. Regardless I hope in future games to find a better way to integrate the map.
@fnkee thanks, glad you enjoyed the game. Interesting that it felt âweirdly nostalgicâ â October and Halloween also summon the same feeling in me. No doubt that spilled over into the game. Good to see you found the map useful.
@ava-skoog good to see you again. Yes, that is one of the drawbacks of the game: too often you can win by wandering more or less randomly. That came up quite a bit during playtesting and I was hoping the nightfall deadline would prevent that. Perhaps next time Iâll have a larger map.
Your connection between the map and the stars in the night sky is brilliant â I had not noticed that myself. No doubt there is a meaning behind it but alas it escapes me at the moment. Anyway, an astute observation.
One out of five is the best weâve done. Very creative game but difficult. Itâs hard to know what to say with the given words. Regardless, the graphics and sound in this game are top notch. Well done.
An unusual and imaginative game. Unfortunately, try as I might, I could not get the final key to leave the room. But it was fun trying. As others pointed out, the controls are a bit âslipperyâ (especially when Alice is under the table), but I was able to get the hang of it in time. This game has a lot of potential.
Very unique and innovative. Sadly I lack the skills to get high scores. It was quite difficult to choose the right colors and arrange them in the best way. Regardless, this game is in the spirit of the theme.
I suppose you could improve this game by including less complicated paintings. The art you chose is beautiful but the difficulty is too high given the constraints. Still, overall this is a very creative entry. Nice work.
Very difficult game that is beyond my ken, alas. But I love the color scheme and the vibrant graphics. I was able to get a few shapes in place but that was about the extent of it. Even so, I like the idea of having Tetris combined with an avatar. Overall, very creative idea and it looks great. The sound effects have a retro feel and they fit in very well.
I suppose that compiling the code is a game unto itself, if one is into that kind of thing. Unfortunately this is beyond my ken. Anyway, congratulations. Perhaps that code will be useful for LD55.
Took me a while to learn how to play but after that it was challenging enough. One problem I noticed is that if an attack against a town fails, no notice is given. Other than that, the game seemed to work smoothly enough. The audio in this game is fantastic.
I love the audio in this game, and the old-skool graphics brought me back in time. I think game-play can be simplified by having fewer units â just a suggestion. Regardless, a creative and unusual entry. Somehow it seems well suited to Halloween.
I felt like I was in the 1980âs again in a video game arcade! Great game with fun, simple gameplay. The sound and graphics go together well and you certainly nailed the theme. Well done my friend.
Amazing graphics and sound. The multiplicity of units and their descriptions confused me, however. Even so, a beautiful game overall. Perhaps it could be simplified with fewer units â just a suggestion. For me, it would be more intuitive to simply eliminate enemy units. Anyway, certainly a game with potential and one with a lot of imagination.
Interesting concept, but I could not figure out the controls. I was able to pull the price tags for the bombs but could not pick them up and use them. Even so, a lot of potential here, and I like the raw feel of the graphics.
I love the music and voice synthesis in this game. They go a long way to create the right atmosphere. The old-skool pixel art reminds me of *Beneath a Steel Sky*. Gameplay is simple but fun. A solid entry.
A lot of fun! I played the 2-player version, got $4,800 in the end. Very creative! One of the better games here. Some music would be good but other than that, a fantastic game.
Simple but very challenging. The closest I got was 1.4 seconds. After that I couldn't even get close to that time. Perhaps I'll revisit this game, or have my teammate give it a try. My reflexes ain't that good. Anyway, there is something addictive about this game.
An interesting game that certainly fits the theme. Old-skool pixel art fits the bill. The music is not to my taste but aside from that, it goes well with the game-play and adds spice to the game. It was fun discovering new characters and their needs tell a âstoryâ in a way. I was hoping for a bit more variety but this game certainly has potential.
A simple but fun and addictive game. I love the intuitive controls and retro graphics. After many tries I got to a score above 1,000:
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I like the unusual mechanics in this game; it is good for developing concentration skills and hand-eye coordination. I also like the simple game-play as well â there are times when I need a break from thinking.
The story is interesting but I am wary of the demon element, even (or especially) if it's fictional. Aside from this, another imaginative game with much potential. A solid entry overall, as usual.
I was very impressed by both the images and sounds in this game. The contrast between light and darkness and the color scheme are especially striking. The story as well is off to a good start, and I wonder how you would have developed this. Did you have the story planned out when you began coding, or were you intending to flesh it out during the jam? Regardless, I would like to know what inspired you to make a game like this â not just the dialog, but the images as well.
I love the mood of this game. The graphics are also impressive, and I donât mind the Halloween spirit at this time of the year, either. Overall, very creative and fun game.
A unique game, and a surprising interpretation of the theme. You are right, one can be "summoned" to court. That being said, I had a hard time understanding the pros and cons of each card. Mainly, I aimed for a balance as much as I could. I did fairly well, with just one or two categories "too high."
I especially liked your write-up on the TIC-80 on the main page. It is good to see people are still developing for this system.
Overall, a very good game. Itâs almost addictive â I would keep playing but for lack of time.
Also, the division into the five ailments is a brilliant idea and I like the way you incorporated the spirit data. I was not even aware the latter existed â live and learn. Audio is top-notch and very rewarding. Definitely one of the better games I've played of late.
@kr4ft3r sadly that has been true for a long time â yea, since before the Middle Ages even.
Anyway, glad you gave the game a go. Look forward to seeing you again in LD56.
@lereveur not everyone finishes the game this time, so you did well. I tried to make it more challenging (the last few games, if I remember right, took less than five minutes to beat, on average). It's easier to get lost this time.
Yes, âmelancholy labyrinthâ is a good way to describe it, although completing the quest serves as an antidote. Thank you for playing.
Everyone, your comments are appreciated.
@satacat it turns out the game is too short after all, as you stated. I was hoping it would be different this time, but was wrong about that. I'll see if I can make a more time-consuming game next time. Anyway, glad you liked the vibes.
@maxgun tools are key, and we played around with new material this time, construction paper, to give the game a different feel. At the very least, it adds texture to the images. Maybe we'll use it again next time as well. I think it has a lot of potential.
@ava-skoog it is good to see you again. I hadn't thought about it but yes, I suppose the portraits are unsettling, given they are in a crypt. However, the ending is not unsettling but uplifting, and so that makes everything all right, one could say.
@whirlguy yes, I was hoping for a different effect with the keyboard interface. I did not realize it would be such a different experience, however â I'm glad to read you felt that way about it. Perhaps Iâll use the same interface in the next Ludum Dare, we'll see.
I love the artistry of this game â definitely a unique style. One recommendation I have to make is to use actual handwriting instead of a font â this would add to the raw feel of the game. Also, you could have left and right arrows on the side of each screen so the player would know how to move backward and forward. Other than that, I enjoyed playing this game and exploring the world; unfortunately I got stuck with the honey.
I take back what I wrote before, about getting stuck. I was able to win on the second try â the screen shot, I noticed, gives a big hint. A bittersweet ending. Well done, girls.
A very good game. I love the pixel art and the simple game-play mechanics. Yes, it would have been great to have music as well. Even so, one of the better games here, and very imaginative. I like especially the idea of incorporating the stars into the game â I havenât seen that before. Nice work.
Weird but oddly fun game. Finally made it to the finish line. Ironic that I have to run away from the girls â would like to see more of them.
I kept getting swarmed and was unable to win at this. But that's probably just my own incompetence. This is a fun game, I love the graphics and the sound. One of the better entries here. Very imaginative.
Graphics are very impressive â 5/5. I especially like the color scheme and the creature drawings. The music is also very good. You seemed to have nailed the theme as well. A lot of imagination went into this game, I can see. One of the better games here. Nice work.
I got stuck but could not restart for some reason. Anyway, I like the retro-graphics and the minimal audio â it hearkens to the days of the Atari 2600.
Sadly the game, like so many other puzzle games, is beyond my ken. However, its sheer simplicity is striking, and I love the aesthetics.
Graphics and audio in this game are top-notch. I especially like the drawing of Lilith the White â a very beautiful woman. Unfortunately I only have 6GB of RAM and there was too much lag time with the game itself, though I did make some progress. Music is just as good as the artwork. In general, the idea that you can "summon" different personalities is very imaginative. Nice work.
Music is top-notch. Graphics are very good as well, with the only exception being the inverted pentagram â a false symbol that derives from the true one representing Christâs five wounds. That being said, there is a lot of creativity in this game, and I like how youâve paid attention to the details. Flying is fun, although it was difficult to know exactly where to search for the elements.
There seems to be a bug with the camera movement â pressing W/A/S/D causes the screen to blank out in some cases (I'm using FF in Linux, if that matters). When this happens I am unable to retrieve the display and I have to restart. That being said, it's an unusual concept, and I love the black-and-white aesthetics. I also like the music and audio.
This looks like a fascinating game. Sadly I didn't get very far due to the lag time â I am using an older system, unfortunately. Regardless, graphics and sound are impressive, judging from what I saw.
I like the raw feel of this game â sound and graphics go together well. It'd be good to have a damage meter for the door to see how much progress I'm making.
It took me a while to win and I wasn't sure how much progress I was making. But regardless, it was fun â I liked choosing different card combinations and seeing the results of my choices. I love the hand-drawn graphics. The handwriting on the cards was difficult to read in some cases, but I prefer that over fonts in any case. Overall, a very imaginative game.
As others have pointed out, this is a fun game â just wished it lasted longer. I also love the artwork, it is very appealing and gives the game a unique feel. One problem I noticed is that the buttons in the lower left of the display and the control instructions on the right are chopped off. Other than that, no bugs were noticed. A fun game with a lot of potential.
A very unusual game with a unique ambiance. I like the graphics a lot.
I had trouble at first because I thought I was the enemy â it took me a few tries to realize I was the girl. I wasn't able to figure out how to win the game, however. I was able to summon Matny Gnomik and survive longer that way, but always got killed in the end.
Very creative, and it was fun dating various beautiful gals. Sadly it froze when I got 23 points with Tina. Not sure what happened â perhaps it is just low memory on my system. Regardless, this is an engaging game â well done.
An unusual game with a unique flare. I especially like the colorful graphics, though it would be nice to have music as well.
I wish there were a way to speed up the text display â I found it too slow for my taste. That being said, there is a lot of potential in this game.
I love the music in this game. I was able to summon creatures 1-4, but didn't encounter any enemies as far as I could tell. Regardless, there is a lot of potential in this game. As @semenov stated, add some structure to the game world â that would make it much more engaging.
An unusual game, and one I never would have considered for my own entry â I eschew science when I can. In any case, you certainly nailed the theme. It took me a while to figure out what was happening and what I needed to do. It seems that *Start With* and *Divide at Age* are key. Once I learned how to manipulate those factors, I had a series of winning streaks. I am not sure how the other factors work, though I experimented with some of them.
In a way, it was relaxing to watch the tiny creatures battle it out. It is almost like a tower defense game in this respect, although there are some important differences. Overall, a unique entry that shows a lot of imagination.
An interesting exercise in manual dexterity, path-finding and energy management. The music is upbeat and fits the graphics well. I had a lot of trouble with the third level â the algae gave me a hard time. Perhaps a more gradual increase in difficulty level would be an improvement. Regardless, it's a very unusual game, and you get a high score for Innovation, among other things. Nice work.
A very unusual game â I have never seen this before, and Iâve seen a lot of Pacman variations over the years. I suppose each dot is a tiny creature â an interesting twist on the theme. I just wish I had more control over Pacman himself. Even so, very imaginative.
An amusing entry â seeing those tiny critters run in fear and panic is both comedic and tragic. I imagine this is what ants and other small creatures experience every day. If ants had a religion, Hoover would be Satan. There is definitely a movie in this, albeit a strange one.
An innovative game. Once I got used to the controls and the unit types, it was a lot of fun. It seems the key is to âdig a holeâ into the enemy swarms, as below.
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As others have said, a very impressive entry. Well done.
Beat it! I almost gave up on the second level â for some reason, that was the most difficult. After that it was relatively smooth sailing. Very unusual graphics and sound effects â I like it!
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A shocking ending â I can't help but laugh, given the cuteness of the robots. I guess they are going after the Froggin tribe, if I read between the lines correctly.
Overall, a fun game. I like the retro graphics and the color schemes. The spaceship as a flying box in outer space is imaginative, as is the futuristic music â a nice touch. This is a solid entry and one of the better ones here.
A very addictive tower defense game â I played this for a couple of hours and intend to play more later. It's just challenging enough not to be frustrating. The most fun game yet.
Finally won! Great game you've given us.
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A nice meditative game. It took me a little while to figure out what to do. After a couple of minutes however it became almost second nature. The sound effects are top-notch â they add a lot to the ambiance of the game. The images are very imaginative as well. This is one of the more creative entries here. Nice work.
I get it: tiny creatures we are, most of us anyway. Very true, and I like the way in which you brought the point home. Iâll add that the United States is no exception â the MIC rakes in the cash while the lower class struggles. It seems our plight only grows worse over time.
Overall, a very good use of Twine. I like the way you compacted several millennia into a single story â an impressive feat of writing.
Itâs good to see folks are still programming for the TIC-80 and similar machines â minimalism and video games go hand-in-hand. I must admit, I usually don't care for puzzle games of this nature, but this one is more fun. The difficulty level is not too high, but the puzzles do require some thinking and planning. I like how the different creatures co-operate to solve the puzzles.
In general, you have built an interesting game world. Nice work.
@ava-skoog it was very kind of you to be so determined to complete the game â rarely do I spend an hour on an LD game. Iâm glad you found it to your liking.
You are right, the maps are not as clear as they should be. On the final day, when @genie play-tested and gave up in frustration, I tried to make the maps more useful, but I didn't have much time at that point. Hence, I didn't do a very good job. Still, as you implied, the maps add a bit of mystery to the game.
Yes, the moon ping is a result of recharging. The avatar, Sasha, never completely fades away, but she becomes so ghostly that she is hard to see. The moon brings her back to life, one could say.
As for the portraits, they are sketches that @genie made in the early stages of the game as possibilities for the avatar. I added them to the mazes to break up the monotony â too many rooms look the same.
Thank you for sharing your colorful map. It is a work of art unto itself, in a way.
I look forward to seeing you again in LD57.
@honey-pony thank you for your detailed comments, they are very interesting to read, as always. I realize there is an unspoken rule in LD about keeping games simple and short, but I wanted to break that rule this time. In the past, too many of our games were too short â the other extreme. Itâs good to see some folks here are patient enough for games like this. If you internalized the structure of the maze, as you stated, you are in tune with the spirit of the game. Glad you liked it.
A lot of fun this game is. I like choosing creatures, learning their special abilities, and sitting back while the battle rages. The variety of creatures is very impressive. The sound and graphics are top-notch. Excellent job!
I love the colorful environment in this game, especially the groundwork â a combination of abstraction and realism. I wasn't able to release tiny's from the hunter-bushes, but did learn how to feed and protect some of the tiny's. The music is simple but catching, and it fits the mood of the game very well. A lot of potential in this entry.
You definitely nailed the theme. I love the primitive graphics and the mechanics are simple but engaging. The music, though repetitive, fits the rest of the game very well. I feel bad for that poor dog! Controlling an army of fleas has never been so much fun!
I should note that the game got stuck in a loop on this level:
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I'm using Firefox in Linux. Perhaps it is just low memory on my part. Anyway, very creative. Thank you kindly.
Beat it! This is a *fun* game. You give the player interesting choices to make â the essence of a good game. It took me a few tries to finally win, and it was a lot of fun trying out different strategies and different combinations of imps and relics.
At first, I wasn't sure what the tiny blue explosions signified, then I realized they were disappearing imps. I thought at first they were enemy fire. I guess that's one improvement you could make. Also, it would be good to have more variety and detail in the surroundings. These are just suggestions if you want to develop the game. Overall, a solid entry, and the most fun so far. I'm glad to see you've returned after your hiatus.
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We just need radar.
Glad I had a chance to play your game before the ratings end. I took a look at some of your previous games as well (like âImminentâ), I like your style. The art and music in this game are beautiful. Keep up the good work. Look forward to seeing your entry for LD57.
A powerful game â you nailed Mood and Audio, which both fit together so well. I love especially the whispers in the background, as if we were inside the protagonist's mind. One of the best games here.
I too wish there was an English-language version of this game. Unfortunately I can't read Russian. The graphics are very impressive and the story looks intriguing in any case.
A fine use of ASCII and the DOM â your ingenuity knows no bounds. I love it!
I like this game, especially the artwork â you certainly have talent in that respect. Also, it feels good to take a break from the high-stress/high-octane games that populate Ludum Dare. This was a relaxing way to spend some time with beautiful art.
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I like this game. It was fun squashing the mosquitoes, and it seems I got better at it over time. The graphics in this game are top-notch. Also, you nailed the theme with the game-play â very creative. A solid entry.
The graphics in this game are very good, and I really like the color scheme. I was able to swarm the enemy with mages and archers early on in the game, and just kicked back for the final two minutes. A tower game with potential â it was fun placing different skeleton warriors and waiting for the outcome.
I like the magical shift key that brings the player to a mirror world. That puts the game into a league of its own. It was challenging but not too difficult, except for the fact that I have only one life. It would be great if I started with three hearts, and if I had the chance to heal along the way. That being said, this is a creative game with an unusual twist. A solid entry.
An unusual game â very creative. I just wish I had a map, or the ability to zoom out. The sound effects are simple but they add a lot to the game. I also like the star-creatures â that too is imaginative. An uncanny game with a lot of potential.
The poor cat got stuck in the bottom of the bookcase (even when I pressed A/E, there was no escape). Other than that, there were no game-stopping bugs. I like the B+W aesthetic very much â the graphics are very impressive, and the sound-track is well chosen.
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I will give this another go to see if I can make more progress. Anyway, a beautiful game you've given us.
To give you an update, all I had to do was change back to a mouse again, and I could free myself. So it wasn't a game-stopping bug after all.
I'm not good at platformers, forgive me. Still, I made some progress after many tries. As others have mentioned, the graphics are very good. I like the depiction of Alice, especially. And Alice is perfectly suited for a "tiny creatures" theme. I also like the gain-an-ally feature.
It's funny, I've been obsessively watching "Head Over Heels" by the Go-Go's; it seems you wrote the theme game for this song. Good job, everyone!
A difficult game (at least for people like me) but I set myself a goal of 1,000xn and was able to surpass it:
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I experimented with the depth levels but, as you suggested, found that one level (the top) was best. I imagine with a little tweaking you could make the game more balanced so that each level has its own pros and cons. Perhaps you could reduce the number of obstacles on one level, but increase the speed, or something like that. Regardless, overall this is an unusual entry, one that shows thought and creativity. Certainly it has potential. Well done.
I finally got a chance to spend some time playing this game. I played a couple of solitaire games using the lane mode. Sadly I couldn't win, though I survived for 11 rounds in one game (assuming I understood all the rules).
I didn't have playing cards on hand so I created a numbered list for each deck (the appeal cards and the challenge cards) and used an RNG to "draw" from each deck. In addition, I didn't have any dice so I used this instead:
https://flipsimu.com/dice-roller/
The flow chart on pg. 9 of the instructions made the rules much easier to learn. However, there was at least one section of the chart, shown below, which confused me at first because of the two **NO** branches:
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Even with the flow chart, however, I struggled to learn all the rules. I started to become a little more confident with the rules after several turns, but even then, I wondered if I understood everything correctly. So, maybe the rules could be simplified somehow. Perhaps you could remove the cards and just have dice with a grid and pawns. In that case, you could have rules reflect various outcomes of dice rolls. For example, if one rolls three dice and the outcome is symmetric, as shown below, then a special rule is triggered:
screenshot-dice.png
That being stated, one of the more enjoyable parts of the game was drawing a challenge card and rolling the dice to see if I met the challenge. So maybe you could have two sets of dice, one to replace the cards â just an idea. I'm sure others feel differently about this game, it's maybe just me being intimidated by complicated rules.
Overall, a unique game, especially since you mix genres, and the rules, though complicated, seem well thought out. You get 5 stars for innovation.
I like one-button games like these; the B+W scheme is icing on the cake. It would be good to have some kind of depth indicator. Overall, however, a good game that goes a long way. Nice work.
Truly a unique game, and a lot of fun. All one has to do is turn the mouse wheel. Who can complain?
The whole time I was very eager to find out what was at the bottom. Turns out it was â Justin Bieber? or Rick Astley? Is that what happened to them? I should have known. Anyway, I wonder if this was a descent into the depths of the unconscious... or a mixture of earth and imagination. I never knew what to expect. I especially liked the LLVPs. Top score for **humor** and **theme** â a solid entry (pun intended). Well done, Sir.
One of the more fun games around here. I love the destructible environment. Also, having a choice of weapons makes the game much more interesting. I could use a bit of variety in the graphics (e.g. with the enemies), but this is no big deal. Overall, a solid entry.
@monogatari I added some clues to this page that may help (see translations above).
@smilewood the trick is to avoid the monsters as much as you can, at least until the final stage of the game.
@icks I like your comment â âsurrealâ is what we aim for. Thanks for playing.
@kurakurture yes, the music can be loud, but it's just a matter of adjusting your system's volume setting. As for the darkness, there is a solution for that, you just have to look closely.
@dovodx Godot would spoil the game, we are not aiming for polish or anything that smacks of professionalism, the bane of creativity.
@mikemikemakes you win the game by defeating Pride â the monster at the lowest level. As for the âominous, occult vibeâ â thank you, that is what we wanted for this particular game. I agree that having more ways to interact would be an improvement, but sadly we ran out of time...
@lereveur you are one of the few to actually complete the game â congratulations! Thank you for the compliments, they're much appreciated.
@ava-skoog yes, a lot of people struggled. You are one of the few to beat the game, congratulations.
Actually, there is no need to press space to get by the monsters. Before the protective bubble is obtained, you just have to avoid the monsters as much as possible.
There are only five sins; I didn't have time to squeeze all seven deadly sins into the game. Humility is, in fact, a virtue â it is the mirror image of pride, one could say. Hence, it plays a key role.
@kr4ft3r better late than never. I wondered what happened to you. Well, no worries. That you beat the game after only three retries â that is impressive. Usually it takes much more effort. You must be getting used to my games. Thanks for playing.
For a typing game, there is a lot of variety in this. The audio is top-notch. Visually, everything seems to be in place. The graphics and audio fit together well. That being stated, the connection with the theme is not so convincing in my view. Even so, a fine game you've made.
A very unusual game! Well done. It fits the theme well and on top of that I had fun playing. I loved the music in this game â unique and mesmerizing. The variety of items and relics adds a lot to the game.
I wasn't able to beat this game but I did solve some of the puzzles. I think the main idea (a 3D platformer) is well executed. The graphics and music fit together well.
Got stuck in one of the levels through some weird bug. Not sure how it happened. Could not extract myself. Still, very creative. An unusual game.
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A remarkably unique game â I like it. The cats are well done. Took me a while to get used to the controls, though â could use a bit of clarity in this respect. As for the suggestion of alcoholism or lack thereof â do not for one moment worry about this. Anything and everything can offend â this is unavoidable, unless you remain utterly silent.
A unique game that caught my attention. I tried playing without full-screen at first and then realized that it doesn't work that way (though even in that case it was interesting to read the story). Artwork is very impressive. A solid entry.
An unusual game, one that fits the theme well. I don't think I've played a game like this before. It makes me wonder if this is what it's like for collection agents and tax collectors. Curious also are the sinister overtones of surveillance and government intrusion â a nice touch.
I especially like the font, Oxanium. It really makes a difference. I hadn't even heard of the Open Font License before, I'm glad you brought that to our attention. The color scheme and layout are also well chosen. On the other hand, it would help to have bleeping sounds or something similar as @wouter52 mentioned. Also, like (s)he implied, it would be good to have a goal to reach, perhaps with a time limit as well. Otherwise, there seems to be little challenge. Then again, it was satisfying to get money even from the high risk/difficulty citizens, and I enjoyed calling in the bailiff. For sure, there is potential in this game.
Also, I read your comments about the Simple HTML5 Integrated Toolbox. I agree, there certainly are benefits to using your own framework/toolkit. Just having autonomy, and not being tied to another's system, is reason enough.
It's interesting how you resurrected something that you started eight years ago from scratch. There is something encouraging in this.
Ha! Glad to see you were able to complete a game. I was wondering what you'd come up with. I also caught the flu (or a bad cold), but fortunately that was after our game was submitted.
It's an interesting puzzle. I'm not really good at puzzle games like this, but with time and patience I was able to figure it out. I love how the creatures reveal a heart and behave differently each time they are helped.
There is a bit of room for improvement with camera controls. For some reason, the camera kept panning to the right in the built-in LD version (the one above). I didn't have this problem in the itch.io version, but the controls were a bit too sensitive â even a slight mouse movement moved the camera too much, I felt. Otherwise, everything seemed to work smoothly. The graphics are well done, and in combination with the sound, the game does create the right mood, the mood of being on some mysterious tropical island somewhere. The sun on the horizon and the cinematic sequences are nice touches. Also, the voice acting at the beginning is well done â is that your own voice? Just curious. Anyway, nice work, once again, and very imaginative.
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Thank you Ava! I'm feeling better but I'm a bit worried about you though. Get plenty of rest. Don't feel under pressure to play & rate if you're not feeling up to it â there's no hurry.
And I forgot to mention, I appreciate the heartfelt message of your game (including the title). I've been thinking about it â it's a nice contrast to all the fighting games out there.
I love the sound effects in this game. The B+W aesthetic also works very well. Between the audio and the graphics, I am reminded of old arcade video games from the 1970's. Not bad for 3 hours! You must be a good coder.
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Very unusual concept, and a good lesson on greed. It was difficult to win without causing both sides to lose.
I'm glad that we can easily restart a level. Audio would be nice, it would certainly add to the game. However, I like the art style. Overall, very creative.
It's a good thing I'm not a garbage collector in real life. This was too tough for me: I couldn't get past a score of seven. It would be good to have a slower pace and a bit of variety in the background. Then again, the concept is very unusual, and it fits the theme well.
This game is impressive, at least in terms of aesthetics. The sound and graphics are excellent.
Alas, I am not good at platformers, so I didn't get very far. Still, I felt nostalgic â it reminded me of Lode Runner for the Commodore-64. A solid entry.
You've done a fantastic job with the terminal simulation. The sound effects are also well done. I didn't really understand the game mechanics â that is more of a comment about me than the game â but I had fun trying different combos. In any case this is, sadly, a realistic commentary on corruption in the Anglosphere, the devil's playground.
A remarkable game. I haven't played Little Alchemy before, or anything like it, but I was able to make some discoveries. The most valuable, I think, was the Level 2 Attack Potion.
The discoveries I made were mostly trial-and-error, however. It would be good to have more clues about what should be combined with what. For example, what roles do moonlight and star dust play? I couldn't figure those out. Also, it would be nice to have access to all the ingredients and bottles without having to use a scroll bar, though I know this is easier said than done. Overall, it's quite an achievement for one person. I hope you're feeling better.
A fun game. I like especially the special powers that can be gained by defeating an enemy. The turn-based element also lends itself nicely to strategizing. I love the graphics in this game as well â the drowned girl is especially well done. Overall, very imaginative.
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Really neat game. I love the raw art style and the voice acting. It's almost like an interactive children's book. Bruno is talented. I hope to see more games like this in future jams. Well done.
A remarkable game. I like the art style and color scheme. It is almost like an interactive children's book.
At first I was confused because even though I had no eggs, I had the option of incubating an egg.
In any case, there's a lot of potential in this game. You could have patooties starve and die if they're not fed enough. You can also have cute patooties mate and incubate their own eggs, eventually producing more patooties. In which case, you'd have a fun idle game.
I like the variety in this game, though some of the minigames I could not figure out (e.g., bugs â what is that about?). Still, I was able to collect enough money for Timmy. Not exactly what Christmas is about, but I was the same when I was his age. A fun game, overall. I especially like counting sheep.
The real-life story of Laika is sad, because that brave dog, the first "cosmonaut," as you imply â and I agree, why can't a dog be a cosmonaut? â died in space. Poor Laika didn't have a chance.
Yet, it's fascinating how you mythologized her poo â a charming story. I also liked the romance of Ies and Sess. I chose to be hers, even though she was a bit bossy and cold at first. But deep down she loved me, and now we're in outer space together, and always will be. A happy ending, as all endings should be.
This game reminds me of Lunar Lander and (especially) Asteroids from days of yore. It took me a while to realize that leaving the central area causes damage. Also, I wasn't sure how the ? and ! symbols work â they appear to be like directional finders, but perhaps not. In any case, there are the seeds of a good game here.
The audio in this game is top-notch. The graphics too are well done. I am reminded of the old Age of Empire games sans fighting.
It took me a while to learn how to use the flags, but it wasn't too difficult. Near the end it started to feel a bit repetitious, but that's understandable given the time constraints â there is only so much variety that can be included. Anyway, there is a lot of potential in this game. Nice work.
I had fun playing with the different upgrades. I found that focusing on one shape (e.g. circles) is a good way to boost one's score. Dice come in handy for this reason.
Overall, a solid entry. It shows how a simple concept can go a long way.
@yibirabbit007 if you're asking about the controls, you can use WASD or the arrow keys to move, and use the space key to pick up and place items, etc. Press 's' to cast a spell. I hope this answers your question.
@lerkadverka thank you for your comments. I found them encouraging, but I was wondering if you could elaborate on your remarks about level design ("ĐĐŽĐœĐ°ĐșĐŸ, lvl-design ŃĐ»Đ°Đ±ĐŸĐČĐ°Ń Đž ĐŽĐŸĐČĐŸĐ»ŃĐœĐŸ ĐœĐ” ĐŸŃĐ”ĐČĐžĐŽĐ”Đœ, лОŃĐœĐŸ ĐŽĐ»Ń ĐŒĐ”ĐœŃ ŃŃĐŸ ĐżĐŸŃĐ»ŃĐ¶ĐžĐ»ĐŸ Đ±ĐŸĐ»ŃŃĐžĐŒ ĐŒĐžĐœŃŃĐŸĐŒ."). I would be grateful if you could provide specifics so the next game can be improved.
@kr4ft3r if you were able to collect five heads, that in itself is an achievement. The instructions aren't very clear, but that's part of the game. Anyway, you got much further than most I suspect.
@soleil the sources for the derivatives are indeed important, good to see that some folks have noticed them. We here in the "United States" should remember who came before us.
@x2shadow thank you for the screenshot, you captured a beautifully surreal moment. Well done.
@wallted thank you for the encouraging comments. You are one of the few to play this to the end â no mean feat by any stretch of the imagination. Good to see the game is not too difficult.
@ava-skoog **sorrow** kicks in when wounds and hunger are both relatively high. Otherwise, it was too easy to die of sorrow. Sadly I didn't have time to fine tune it. The tears (**sorrow** = 25+) were meant to serve a purpose as well, but here too I ran out of time. Perhaps there will be another version of this game.
As for the effigies, they are useful for gaining stars (perhaps too useful) â I didn't want to make that too clear, otherwise the game would be too easy.
Anyway, thank you for your comments, your input is always insightful.
A fun game. At first I had trouble navigating between the rooms, but quickly got the hang of it. The game concept is a good one, and the monsters are imaginative. Also, I like the raw art style â it adds a lot of character to the game. I wish all games here were as fun as this one.
An interesting game, though it took me a while to figure out what to do. A reset button would help (otherwise, it seems I have to reload the page to restart the game). I love the music in this game, and the concept is very unusual. Building chains and smashing rocks with flowers is satisfying.
It was fun collecting orbs but I had trouble distinguishing some of the monsters from orbs (I think this happened in the second level â I ran into a monster thinking it was an orb). Also, it would be good if I could move faster (I mainly got around by dashing). In any case, I like the graphics (especially the shadows and lighting) in this game a lot.
I like the color scheme and minimalist graphics in this game. The sound effects and bleepy music also fit the mood. Overall, it's a nice simple puzzle game that isn't too difficult, but offers enough challenge. You've invented a game world with a distinct character, and I enjoyed exploring it.
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Well done. I love the art style of this game. Humor and voice acting is top notch.
The hands were the worst (especially the marbles), but the game was merciful since it gave me some tasks that were doable. I appreciate that.
Interesting concept, and it has a lot of potential. I didn't really know what I was doing, and could not even guess what the codes mean, but I love the graphics in this game. I especially like the character art and the glitchy video screen effects. Perhaps more guidance about the codes can be given; otherwise, there does not seem to be a goal.
Thanks. Taptap looks interesting, though I couldn't find anything about their game jam in English (if there is, please let me know).
I love the graphics in this game. The audio is also top-notch. I couldn't figure out how the mouse wheel and button should be combined to get the best score. Still, I had fun playing. Nice to see London in the background!
This hooman had a lot of fun playing this game. I love the sound â very unusual and ear-catching. The color scheme and graphics also fit the overall mood. I like this game a lot. Nice work.
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An unusual concept. I like the artwork and the sound effects are well made/chosen. The music seems fitting, though it could use a bit more variation.
I was confused by some of the dialogue. A man asked me if I would mind if he took a document. I said "Yes" and he took it â but I did mind. Also, sometimes the same customer would arrive twice in a row with the same request (e.g., the man looking for food). However, with some adjustments, this could be a great game. I love the overall look and feel of this game.
Very unusual game. Finance is beyond my ken, but I get the message. I was able to make some progress, though I felt guilty doing so â but that is the point. A game with a keen message, very educational! Top score for innovation.
I couldn't hear any music or sound effects but I love the graphics. The enemies didn't put up a fight so I just clubbed them. That was easy enough, but I was confused by the physics, and I am not sure how some of the objects work (see below â the object appears to be a door but I can't be sure). Anyway, a promising game with a lot of potential.
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A lot of fun this game is and I wish there were more games like this. I love the menu of choices between each wave, though I was hoping to see more powerful weapons in later waves. Having multiple weapons is a nice touch. Well done.
I like this, it's a fun game. It took me a while to beat it, but not too difficult.
I had trouble distinguishing my avatar from the other critters, even with the color difference. Also, I wish I had more control â it would be good if I could specifically target a particular creature. Finally, you can improve the game by adding variety to the map (different trees, for example). That being stated, overall this is a solid entry. Nice work.
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It took me a while to learn the drag and drop interface (I thought just clicking would do the trick). Once I figured out that part of the puzzle, it was simple enough. Some of the messages hit home; e.g. "The void didn't shrink, it just took on a different form" (if I remember right). A bleak game, but then again bleakness is an appropriate subject, especially for a game jam like this one. I love the graphics and mood of this game.
Very relaxing, and the mood of this game is exceptional. It's a nice change of pace. I was able to grow several plants, but I was sometimes puzzled by Bumk (e.g., I couldn't figure out how to water plants, if that's even possible, though at times he would arrive with a pail). I love the color scheme and the animated fireplace. You are a talented artist.
A remarkable story, no doubt there are layers of hidden meanings. Sadly I lacked patience, and ended up using the skip option at times, but that's just me. The artwork and music fit together very well. Overall, very creative, and very unusual.
Great game â without a doubt, one of the best I've played so far during this jam. I love the graphics and sound. The puzzles were a bit challenging, but not too difficult. The monster was genuinely scary â I was a bit apprehensive whenever I entered a new room. Whenever it appeared, I felt like it was a race to the hiding place under the bed â loved it!
This game is a lot of fun. It was satisfying collecting coins and buying upgrades. Very relaxing game. I like especially the fact that I can hover without clicking to gather coins.
I love the graphics in this game, and the underlying premise. It certainly is unique. However, I had a lot of trouble getting around the bar. Often, I would get stuck, and would have to play around with the controls randomly to get unstuck. For example, I once got stuck in the doorway to the bathroom (see screen shot) and it took me a while just to get out.
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So, it would be nice to have a bar with more open space to move around in. On the other hand, I didn't mind the flat characters at all â they seemed to fit the surreal mood very well. Overall, it's a very creative game with a lot of potential. I look forward to the expanded game.
Yeeha!!! That was fun.
This is a fun game. I especially liked being able to plan out missile attacks. This reminded me of an old game called DeltaVee, you can see a play-through here if you're interested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_E1B39rsC8
This is kind of like a miniature version of Ludum Dare, where one has to create something under intense time pressure. Unfortunately I found that 10 seconds is barely enough time to type a meaningful sentence, let alone a script. Sometimes I just draw a blank and give up, other times I'm able to come up with an interesting image. I agree with the folks above who suggest more time or more difficulty levels. Still it was fun and it gave my imagination a good workout.
Cool beanz!
Never had so much fun fishing!
I got to Wave 37 and for some reason the game stopped there. I killed all the zombies but it wouldn't go to the next round, it was just stuck in fishing mode. Other than this bug however this is a great game, very addicting and a lot of fun.
Nothing else seemed unusual. I did place a fish at the top part of the screen (as shown in the screen shot), that's the only thing different but I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the bug.
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No problem! Glad you were able to track it down. Thanks go to you for an excellent game.
Ha! That was brilliant. You definitely earned yourself some 5's.
Great job with the sound and graphics. Running and reading is super challenging.
This put me in a different state of mind. Great job with graphics and audio.
This put me in a different state of mind. Great job with graphics and audio.
This put me in a different state of mind. Great job with graphics and audio.
Cool beanz!
Great job on audio and graphics.
Cool beanz!
The concept behind this game is brilliant, and I hope this can be developed into a full-fledged game at some point. You could have word-items like 'sword' and 'scroll' and so forth that can be picked up and added to the player's inventory.
Nothin' yet
Apologies to those who had missing DLL errors in Windows. I uploaded a .zip file that includes the DLL files as well as the Windows executable (nk-ld41-windows.zip):
www.pub22.net/ludum41/nk-ld41-windows.zip
@rjhelms thanks for the feedback. In an earlier version of the game zero was a wildcard, i.e. you could stack it on any number without losing points. But then I got involved in experimenting with the rules, and before I knew it I was knee-deep in bugs (and as batmanasb pointed out some bugs are still there). So one thing that should be fixed is to find a role for zero and nine.
In my first sketches of the game I had something like your adjacent columns idea in mind, but I spent too much time near the end just getting the vertical numbers to work without game-stopping bugs. I agree it would make the game a lot more interesting.
@jaime-paz-lopes I just uploaded a new version that fixes the arrow-key bugs (I hope) that were found by batmanasb and Jaime Paz Lopes.
Hopefully this works in Linux for those of you who have LĂVE installed and a way to compile main.lua. Unfortunately I have no way of testing in Linux (not that I don't prefer Linux, it's just a matter of expediency this time around).
Great game but got really tough around level 5 (the move-jump one).
Thanks. Actually I was way off the mark with the level, it's more like level 10 (screen shot below). But even so your advice to consider jump as rest paid off, and I was able to beat the level and eventually win the game.
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Neat game! I especially like the typewriter sound effects.
Cool beanz!
Awesome!!!
Cool game. I love the audio. You certainly nailed the theme with this one.
I was able to survive easily enough by just mashing 'A' and 'B' and skipping the bonus points. One way to make this more challenging is to have bullets run out unless bonus points are scored. Still, overall this was a lot of fun, and I especially liked the color palette and the sound effects.
I liked this game.
Looks interesting but there is no link for downloading this game.
A curious entry, monsieur. For some reason, I decided to start with the Gloomy Cemetery, and worked my way to the Spooky Garden. It seems I started (by sheer accident?) with the most difficult level first, and ended with the easiest. Regardless, I was able to improve my accuracy soon enough.
At first, I had trouble figuring out what some of the French (?) paralinguistics meant, but got the hang of it quickly. I didn't even have to write down the signals in the end.
The map and eyes are well done. On the other hand, music (even if not your ownâyou can opt out) would add a lot to this game, or sound effects. There is plenty of public domain music at Free Music Archive, for example.
The ghostly remarks about dancing and the time always being 5 o'clock hit the mark. Then again, some of them were beyond my ken. The cake is a lie? That one stumps me for sure.
All in all, an unusual entry. You certainly nailed the theme. Glad to see you are still here in Ludum Dare!
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This was one of your hardest games yet, at least for people like me. I really had to rack my brains for this one. I'm not good at figuring out puzzles like this. Still, I persevered. After making a bit of progress with the first 4-5 codes, I kept getting stumped. I then used trial and error and finally slogged my way through. It was a good feeling to finally hear the female voice and then the songâquite a relief. I was beginning to lose confidence in myself. I probably would have given up if it had been someone else's game.
As far as graphics and sound effects go, they are truly amazing. I had the impression that I was working with some old-fashioned electronic device for communicating with ghosts. In terms of imagination, this game is top-notch. A good mental exercise: hopefully this game will turn us into better thinkers. Lord knows, I have a long way to go in that respect.
Still working on *áșąo*? Or any other projects, for that matter? Just curious.
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Good job. Music and images fit together well. The theme of reunion and love is inspiring, though it would have been good to see a traditional storyâa man and woman, prince and princess, or similar. Call me old-fashioned. Still, there is an element of magic to this.
Beautiful artwork, and I like the unusual twist in this platformer. It would be good to have music, or at least sound effects, to add to the mood. Still, as a platformer, it's a solid entry, though the difficulty level is too high for me. In any case, the avatar is well-designed, to put it mildly.
A very bizarre, surreal gameâI like it. I couldn't figure out what exactly I had to do, but maybe that's part of the experience. It takes imagination to make a game like thisâit needs to be fleshed out, but there is a lot of potential here. I hope you develop this.
There is a kind of hidden harmony in this game that reveals itself at odd moments, or so it seems. There were moments when the cars, sound effects, and music merged into one seamless whole. But I wasn't able to maintain this for very long. Usually, I frantically tried to ensure that accidents were avoided by keeping the lights red more often than not. Such is the nature of my slow, dull brain. Every once in a while, however, I'd be in the flow of the game. Below is my highest score. Not much, but still, it was a good feeling to get over 100.
In any case, despite my clumsiness, this is a well-designed game that nails the theme. It put me in a different zone for a while. There is a lot of potential in this. Well done.
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Ah, another weird one from our old friend **kr4ft3r**. Once again your imagination has spawned a game that stands in a class of its own. This game oozes strangeness.
The sound effects add a lot of character, and the graphics somehow fit the raw feel of this game. Still, it would be good to have Napoleonic silhouettes (even abstract ones) or something similar. Also, it would be good to have different weapons or unit typesâcavalry, trenches, ~~plasma rifles~~, etc. A tall order for Ludum Dare, I knowâmaybe if you develop this game down the line. In any case, I was yearning for more firepower and weapons upgrades. Maybe that's just me.
As for gameplay, it was challenging to find a winning strategy. I found that stocking up on cannons and firing off a salvo before charging with infantry works well enough. It took me some time to figure it out. I tried snuff out of curiosity, but it seems to have no effect. Then again, maybe it improves morale? I wonder.
A strange game, very much in the spirit of Ludum Dare.
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A very tough game, but also very innovative. My memory skills aren't good enough to remember the paths of the signals. Still, it's a brilliant idea that matches the theme very well. I wish the signals traveled more slowlyâthis would make the game less frustrating for players like me. Then again, maybe for most players it is the right difficulty level. Let's see what others say. In terms of innovation and theme, this is a solid entry.
Great! I love the sound effects and raw graphics in this game. It's almost surrealâan unusual mood which hits home. I wish there was a bit more variety (perhaps in the sky, or with the hills?), but still I had fun. Well done.
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@lereveur it would appear you are the first to beat the game, other than the play-testers. Well done. In fact, you don't have to brute force itâthere is an important clue in the game that will make winning much easier. Still, whatever works for youâI hope you had a good time.
@kr0tyara thank you for your thoughtful comments. If some strange memory from childhood was resurrected by this game, then we have succeeded in our aim. It is quite a compliment you have given us.
@random-storykeeper the ease of movement between TV land and the outside world was intentional. Such is the nature of mass media, especially televisionâan insidious, diabolical force in my view.
Your remarks under **Fun** are most curious. I had no idea that folks would go clue-hunting outside the TV screen. Your determination and perseverance are impressive.
@genie, @yumi8, @AnatolyKarpov and I all worked on the art. I did the TVâI am a big fan of collage and cut-outs myself. I was reading about Soviet Constructivism in a book on graphic design recently, and perhaps it was an influence. Then again, there were many influences that shaped this game, but I shouldn't say too much about that.
In any case, I appreciate your detailed and thoughtful comments. Your kindness and consideration are greatly appreciated.
@kr4ft3r look carefully at the images on the TV screen, and remember that the witch's minions can disguise themselves. Some of the images are just noise, but others are "signals" from real children. Luke 18:15-17 is the keyâyou can also read @random-storykeeper's first post above ("Fun") for secular advice, which is helpful in its own way.
@ava-skoog that you found the game "short" bespeaks your sharp mind and your insight into our admittedly twisted games. Have we, over the years, rewired your neural structures at the deepest levels? I wonder. Considering the feedback as a whole, most players struggled with this game and failed to beat it. Whether that's good or bad I can't say. There's really no such thing as the "average player," so trying to create a game with said player in mind is a fool's errand, in my view. I've given up on that.
That being stated, I agree that it would have been an improvement to have a longer game with more content. I was aiming for such. It turns out that I had to scrap the framework I was using (Odyc.js) because it depends on Node.js (an abomination)âI found this out on Saturday nightâand resort to our old mainstay, REPLICA Framework. Basically I had to start from square one on Sunday morning, for the most part. Still, I'm glad you and others got something out of the game. I have my teammates to thank for whatever faults were overcome.
I wish you luck with the ratings, and look forward to seeing your work in October.
@kr4ft3r your thoughtful comments are appreciated. As you implied, some found the game too short, others too difficult. We had an extra-tight time-frame this time around. As noted above, I had to redesign the game on Sunday morning; a lot of the original content had to be scrapped. I had to hurry to put everything in place. But by golly, we pulled through.
Your attention to detail is also much appreciated; it means our efforts and struggles were not in vain. What better praise can one receive?
I hope to see you again in October.
I love the sound effects in this game. The TV controls sound genuine and the video game music is pleasingly beepy and retro. I did have some trouble getting the TV dial to work, and I found the joystick to be too sluggish for moving the avatar.
However, in general the concept behind this game is brilliant. That looks like an Atari 2600 in the background. The nostalgia is strong. A solid entry.
I noticed the sameâpage not found error. Would like to try your game, maybe you could submit to Extra.
There is a lot of nostalgia in this game. The graphics and bleepy music remind me of arcade games from the '80s. I mean that in a good wayâsome of those games were works of art. Aesthetically, this is a beautiful game, especially with the color contrasts of light against dark. There is an ambience of magic, to be sure.
In terms of game-play, I had trouble figuring out the difference between Q and E. It was hard for me to navigateâbut that might just be poor skills on my part. How I yearned for a map. Quite an unusual experience.
I had a lot of trouble moving around in this world, and it was easy for me to get stuck. I couldn't figure out what the goal is. Even so, you've created a beautiful world. The graphics are very impressive. There is a lot of potential in this.
A very unusual game. The graphics and sound are excellent, and they combine to create a unique mood. The interface works very smoothly, and I like the simple rules. I was able to make some progress, butâand this could be my imaginationâit seemed like I came across puzzles that had no solution. This appeared to happen around level 7. Perhaps that was my own fault; in any case, it would be good to see the solution shown when the player loses. All in all, one of the better entries here. Nice work.
I love the graphics and audio in this game. They combine to create a beautiful environment. Not sure if it's my platform (Linux with 8 GB of RAM), but twice the game froze on me. Aside from that, I didn't encounter any serious bugs. The game has a lot of character, though I had some difficulty in learning how the cards worked, and the goal was unclear to me. Aside from this, the game looks beautiful.
I'm not familiar with puzzle games like this but I was able to make some progress, though I had to use the skip option a few times. My brain is slow with this kind of activity (perhaps with activity in general), so my progress was slow. Nonetheless, it was good to have an **"Aha!"** moment when I solved a puzzle.
The music is well-chosen and adds a lot to the mood of the game. The graphics are top-notch and the interface is well-designed. The game as a whole is pleasing to the eyeâyou certainly have talent in this regard. I could see how puzzle-game fans would go gaga over this. Well done.
"You look out over the city skyline. Whatever else this night had in store, you were ready."âa nice way to end a story. I like the positive note. The game runs very smoothly, and I was happily surprised to see it wasn't too difficult.
I get a **404 Not Found** error.
This game is a lot of fun! I love the retro graphics and sound effects. And you nailed the theme: using Morse code for operating the towers is a brilliant idea. Rather addictive in some ways. I found myself having to think about strategies to survive, saving my money so I could buy more towers. The sound, graphics, and gameplay all fit together very well. Nice work.
You've created an unusual game, complete with a world of its own. The take on the theme is very interesting: using smoke to send signals to allies. I liked how you included details in the game world, like mountains, trees, buildings, etc. It was fun looking around and zooming in on the surroundings.
I wasn't able to figure out how to make progress, however. The tutorial was helpful, but when I started the game, I wasn't sure what to do. Detailed instructions posted here plus clear-cut goals spelled out here or in the game would go a long way. Also, it would be good to have the option to manually go to the next day/turn. Perhaps this was too ambitious for Ludum Dare as is; regardless, it certainly has potential.
I like the mood of this game: meditative and calm. It stands in contrast to the mental concentration required. I wish you could provide an ASCII table in the game, or use simpler codes. I liked solving the reversed-letters message, it was easy enough. Then again, maybe I am just intellectually slothful. The idea of being on the moon and receiving cryptic messages is a good one.
One of the most imaginative games I've played in a long time. I was able to beat 8 levels. You get top scores in Innovation and Audio. The increase in difficulty level was a bit steep for me, and I found myself using brute-force methods in some cases, but several levels were challenging enough without being too difficult.
I was very impressed by the ingenuity in this game. The artwork also shows a lot of talent and character.
Brilliant! One of the most unusual games I have ever played, here or anywhere. I love the surreal TV shows, and tuning into them was an experience like no other. I gave you a 5 in every categoryâI don't think I've ever done this before. You folks have a lot of talentâan inspiration to us all.
Very imaginative and very unusual. The title drew me inâI rarely, if ever, see games like this. You certainly have the knack for setting a mood. The music and artwork are alike beautiful, and the messages are both funny and oddly convincing. Well done.
Ha! I love this game, and I'm honored to be the first to review it. You've done a great job of creating a beautiful world of dance and music. The techno music is well-chosen, and the girls look great. I especially like the girl with the purple hair, but they're all good looking. I love to hear them laughâone of the best games here. A lot of fun this game is. I can't thank you enough.
No other game like thisâthat in itself is an achievement. Utterly bizarre.
The graphics and sound in this game are top-notch. Very creative. You certainly have artistic talent. I couldn't figure out exactly how the controls worked, however. It seems that I could make progress just by randomly pressing A and D. Maybe you could clarify the instructions. Still, the concept behind this game is brilliant, and the mood is beautiful. Well done.
Very impressive. You've done a fine job of creating a world with its own mood and character. The images are especially strikingâvisually, this game is an art piece. The story was difficult to grasp, but I never really felt stuck or lost in this game. I was too busy admiring the artwork.
It's good that the player can take off with his girlfriend and visit an alien worldâa hopeful ending.
I made progress, though I could not get by the evil guard (if that's what he is) despite multiple attempts. It would help to have a message stating "Game Over" or similar when one is caught by himâthe game just seems to freeze instead.
Regardless, between the graphics and the music, you created a sinister, disturbing mood. The occasional weeping added to the ambiance effectively. A lot of imagination went into this game.
A very unusual game. I kept thinking about 'unplug the iron,' but could never figure out how to do so. Perhaps that will be in the next version of the game. I also couldn't figure out the difference between 'Skip' and 'X', but in time, most of the popups disappeared.
Life should never be like this, but we have technologyâor, rather, the misuse of technologyâto thank for this. A sign of the timesâa rather bleak message this game conveys. All too realistic in that sense!
A bleak tale, but beautiful at the same time. The mood and feel of this game are impressive. I love the sound and graphics. The game mechanics are also well designed. It took me three tries to winâchallenging, but not too difficult. I had fun playing. A solid entry.
I'd like to play this game but sadly I get this error:
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Uh oh!
If you're seeing this error, it means I can't find your index.html file.
This usually means you created your .zip file by zipping the entire folder, and index.html is somewhere like MyGame/index.html. If you recreate your .zip with index.html file in the root, this error should go away.
See the embedding guide for more details. ludumdare.com/resources/guides/embedding/ 404 Not Found
________________________________________________________
Maybe you could submit this for Extra?
Sometimes I get two towers in a row and it seems impossible to get over themâthough it could be just lack of skill on my part. Still, it would be good to allow double-jumps, or similar. I like the background in this game, simple but pleasing to the eye. The piano music is oddly relaxing, and also seems to fit the game well. There is potential in this game.
Well-designed, though the waves are too overwhelming. I like the raw graphics and the sound effectsâthey fit together well. I enjoy games with simple controls and well-defined tasks, and this certainly fits the bill. Just wish it was a bit easier!
This game has excellent graphics and sound. The artwork has a lot of character. I got through some of the puzzles by learning the alien lingo, but eventually got stumped. That is more a statement about me than the gameâdeciphering alien languages is not my strong suit. Still, I made some progress and it was a good mental exercise. Without a doubt, you nailed the theme. Overall, a solid entry that shows quite a bit of imagination.
You certainly nailed Mood. Graphics and sound are also top-notch, or close to it. The stun weapon is useful but we need something much more powerful. As it stands, the difficulty level is too high. A plasma rifle is in order. Even so, there is a lot of imagination in this gameâtruly a frightening experience. Well done.
The scenes in this game are very beautiful. The sound effects are very good as well. You certainly have an eye for color and composition. It took me some time to figure out how to use the golem. I made some progress, but the puzzles became too difficult too soonâat least, for someone like me. I must confess, I'm not very good at puzzle games. But judging from the looks, this game is in a class of its own.
I get a **404 Not Found** error.
I would love to see an English version of this game. As it stands, I couldn't figure out the controls. Still, the graphics and overall feel of the game are top-notch.