I really enjoyed doing this one, even if I got lost completely on the first day, wandering between ideas. Finally, a friend of mine pointed out a detail which unlocked everything.
I didn't have time to add sounds, so I highly suggest to play an ambient music of yours. I personally recommend the Myst Exile soundtrack.
Thank you Benjamin.
[About the enhanced version]
I fixed many little problems in this version and added an item which was planned to be released in the first version : the dig-cannon. Use this item to dig the walls :) This item is hidden... somewhere.
I also rewrote some parts for better ambient.
Also added some places to discover ingame (using the cannon).
Yes sorry for the poor camera system : I hate it too. I had to do this choice because of my render technique : the game world is a 400x100 single bitmap. This bitmap is then scaled 4x (using a scaling algorithm like SuperSAI in emulators), which I implemented in a simple but dirty way...
Like others mentioned, the camera was probably the only issue. Aside from that, I really enjoyed this. I honestly didn't expect it to be the way it was. =P
@Septi > the world was generated at first, but with the idea of a more story based game came the necessity for a carefully crafted level design. So I finally imported a bitmap map which I created with Photoshop...
Excellent, excellent work! followed you on the blog, and i must say im not dissapointed after a litle play. Dont feel bad if i ever try to recreate this render style (*whistles*)
Stunning visuals. Gameplay is pretty good. I like the randomly generated world. Character design is nice. I liked the story too. All around a good job.
Nice concept and beautiful graphics, but I just couldn't get along with the platforming - kept missing jumps without the jetpack when it looked like they were possible, and the jetpack itself failed to fire sometimes. Hope you do a version with sound, I'm sure it'll add a ton :)
Stellar, if totally depressing game. If you can find a solution for the jumpy camera, the platforming would benefit from it. Maybe just make sure leaps can be started and completed on one screen? Awesome awesome awesome anyway.
Oh, and just one more thing. Like a lot of other people, not much of a fan of the camera. Maybe if you had more time you could think of a solution to the scrolling problem?
This is a work of art. I didn't mind the flick-screen scrolling, except for the player and sometimes particle effects lagging the cut by a frame. And movement was a bit slow, but it contributed to the dreamlike effect. The aesthetic is the obvious highlight but I think the interpretation of the theme is the cleverest element. Absolutely top notch!
This is undoubtedly the best LD entry I've played so far. Congratulations on an absolutely stunning game! I can't wait to see what more you do to it post-compo!
very impressive and well made, art and story really stand out. I really miss some fitting audio though, a smooth soundtrack that was switched with the worlds would really help the mood.
It blows my mind how there are some people in this competition that can create something in 48 hours with this level of polish in both the graphics and game play. Even without audio this is great!
Graphics are incredibly wonderful. Every tiny detail adds a richness that seems impossible in a 48-hour game. Really good going, it almost makes up for lack of music.
I didn't try your enhanced version, but the pre-jetpack platforming was abysmal. Also, scene transitions seemed wrong (leading to disorientation), it probably should scroll or something.
Your game is wonderful. Might I interest you in some music for it? I also love the EXILE soundtrack, but maybe something more electronic and bit-crushed would fit the aesthetic? I have a track that plays with the same notion of duality you're working so well in Appy...I'd love to do a new mix, alternating 'light/dark world' loops to match your gameplay, and stripped down enough to make room for sound effects - which I'd love to give you, too! May I send you a PM on here, if you're interested and that's possible?
The graphics are great! However I was slightly annoyed by the engine; the jumps felt a bit too quick and the walls were a bit arbitrarily defined, which combined with the jumps and the jumpy scrolling made reaching some platforms a bit flimsy. Also even though it's a grand achievement to get any story at all to an LD game, I felt that the story was rather cliché and expectable, thus making it less dramatic and interesting. The twist at the end is a nice touch but hardly anything new. Overall I'd say that the graphical style is the strongest point of the game. This is not to say that the overall game isn't good, of course; I'm sure even the number of ratings this has tells enough.
Awesome job. Amazing style as everyone has said. The abrupt camera took me out of the moment sometimes though... and the whole thing was a little slow in Firefox, especially during the Appy transitions. Fantastic overall! (Definitely reminds me of the game Eversion - have you played it?)
Really really great artwork! I love the atmosphere, esp. the dark side. The only annoying thing is the camera as you said already. And music/sound would've topped it off. Rock solid entry!
Apart from the jumping (a bit awkward) and of course the "scrolling", it's wonderful. Well done. Love the gfx, transition effects, dialogues :) and the weather effect of the dark world. And the end.
This game is six kinds of awesome. Pretty but deceptively simple at first, the game took me by surprise by transforming to a such a compelling experience. Sounds would be a good addition, of course, but it's extraordinary how well the world sucks one in even without them.
M
matthias_zarzecki15 May 2011, 20:42
Well, this is beautiful.
But what is "appy"? Is it the main character? Is it his way of saying "happy"? Is ot short for "apply"? Or does the game show up way more at the top of the website if it begins with an A? I guess we'll never know the true meaning of this mystery...
I think what sells it though is the movement of the character. I have no idea wheter this was made on purpose or is just a generous side-effect, but it seems as though the character moves within the pixels of the grid-world, he doens't just slide along the scenery. Subtle, but very important.
Now that the praise is out of the way, time for some contructive criticism :-) :
- The level-screen-jump-thingie is disorientating the first time, but works otherwise. Especially at the end, when it conveys a sense of motion.
- The "old man" is tricky. It is after all the main cliché given with the theme itsself, but he is placed at the best point possible, so it doesn't appear immediatly as a ripoff or an uninspired design-choice, but more of a hommage.
- The level-design is a lot of trial'n'error. As in, you have to die before you figure out the basic rules of the world.
- At first the theme seems completely ignored. It becomes apparent at 3/4 of the game, but doesn't seem tacked on or forced into a character, but rather woven into the game-structure ittself, out of which it evolves.
- The fall at the end and the jetpack don't mix well. It would be a poor design-choice to take the jetpack away from the player, risking the flow of the player. Does the player use the jetpack however, it somehow destroys the scene. noooooooooo WHEE! nooooooooooo
- I have the feeling that once enemies start blowing up scenery it might be possible to get stuck in a dead end. Or there are too few of them to have any impact.
- This is strong Stuff. Drugs, death, lovely blobs that turn into suicide-bombery, creepy ... things, I used to get nightmares from things like these.
Also, I'm not sure if any sounds would have made it better (blowing of the wind? A subtler, slower, benny-hill-esque fun-romp? nah...). It sits at the same point silhouettes and books (and other stuff) are, where the player substitutes the empty space with whatever is perfect in the players mind. Matching that is impossible, and given the timespan of the contest adding sounds would run the risk of destryong more of the gameworld than improving it.
Or you ran out of time and couldn't be arsed. I guess we'll never know... :-)
M
matthias_zarzecki15 May 2011, 20:58
Also: pressing space to sontinue the chat-windows was kinda unnecessary... "any key" would not only have sufficed, but streamlined the controls more.
This has some of the best graphics I've ever seen in an LD. Nicely done! I am going to look at the source to see how you did this with good performance. Could have been improved with smoother scrolling though. It's possible to get stuck permanently because of the explosions when in withdrawal, for example at the bottom of that deep pit towards the middle of the level. Otherwise, was a pretty easy but enjoyable game. There are some jumps that are barely makeable, but that lead to dead ends, and probably some opportunities for using explosions to get to new spots, too. Would have been nice if those had some kind of rewards. :)
Weird. Pretty cool, but hard to really follow along with what is going on. Kind of as if the game itself doesn't actually care if it makes sense or not, just... adding some twists here and there, and an analogy layer in the end. Makes it genuine, I guess. True surrealism. A bit like some of my games, although seemingly with a design plan somewhere inside it all. I like the tree gfx most. Jumping/flying around wasn't always smooth and comfortable, but ok.
Well now I rather enjoyed that! Weird plot, funky graphics, jet packs, bones and gore, terrain destruction... sorry I didn't get to give you a rating, but CONGRATS!
FINALLY AFTER LIKE A MILLION TRIES i found the alternate ending ^^
D
ding061030 Mar 2013, 08:57
I'm a 16-year-old boy from Chinese.Coinsidently,i met a deepnight's game called "memonto",and i'm deeply attacted. I love the flash games you've made.Come on,yeah?:) 感谢遇到你们，还有这些游戏！
Comments93
I cried. You pulled off the end of this so well...
Also, good story :)
Therefore, no scrolling permitted :(
Awesome game
I'd love to see a video explaining your rendering style. Or something. Maybe it's in your blog. I'll go read that right away, but WOW. I loved this.
It had FEELING. And man, it's so gorgeous.
I LOVE IT!
Dont feel bad if i ever try to recreate this render style (*whistles*)
I may post another message to talk about techniques on this engine.
About me, sorry, I don't have a blog (yet!)... ^^
Would love it if you wrote more about your technique!
Excellent!
But later I was just blown away, by everything ( although I really wanted to hear something too).
Very awesome. Good job
Also... it seems like you crammed the perception/reality theme into this one. ^^
Excellent artwork.
Robot is sad and alone.
Excellent ending.
you're a pixel rock star.
perhaps...- " Nice view, isn't it ? " :P
I was telling myself that deepnight couldn't have made an enhanced version without having added... a "special trick" signed deepnight. ;)
This is undoubtedly the best LD entry I've played so far. Congratulations on an absolutely stunning game! I can't wait to see what more you do to it post-compo!
What happened with sounds and music?
Really really great work!! everyone should be appy after playing it.
The story was magnificent in its almost mute presentation.
Oh yeah - "Me like bloobies". New internet même? :P
I love the graphics and how original it is.
I didn't try your enhanced version, but the pre-jetpack platforming was abysmal. Also, scene transitions seemed wrong (leading to disorientation), it probably should scroll or something.
Good interpretation of theme!
btw, your previous entry - Time Pygmy is awesome too.
keep up the great work!
The only annoying thing is the camera as you said already. And music/sound would've topped it off.
Rock solid entry!
*spoiler*
.
.
.
What were those zombie suicide bomber things?
it all seems very well thought out and very clevery thematic
But what is "appy"? Is it the main character? Is it his way of saying "happy"? Is ot short for "apply"? Or does the game show up way more at the top of the website if it begins with an A? I guess we'll never know the true meaning of this mystery...
I think what sells it though is the movement of the character. I have no idea wheter this was made on purpose or is just a generous side-effect, but it seems as though the character moves within the pixels of the grid-world, he doens't just slide along the scenery. Subtle, but very important.
Now that the praise is out of the way, time for some contructive criticism :-) :
- The level-screen-jump-thingie is disorientating the first time, but works otherwise. Especially at the end, when it conveys a sense of motion.
- The "old man" is tricky. It is after all the main cliché given with the theme itsself, but he is placed at the best point possible, so it doesn't appear immediatly as a ripoff or an uninspired design-choice, but more of a hommage.
- The level-design is a lot of trial'n'error. As in, you have to die before you figure out the basic rules of the world.
- At first the theme seems completely ignored. It becomes apparent at 3/4 of the game, but doesn't seem tacked on or forced into a character, but rather woven into the game-structure ittself, out of which it evolves.
- The fall at the end and the jetpack don't mix well. It would be a poor design-choice to take the jetpack away from the player, risking the flow of the player. Does the player use the jetpack however, it somehow destroys the scene. noooooooooo WHEE! nooooooooooo
- I have the feeling that once enemies start blowing up scenery it might be possible to get stuck in a dead end. Or there are too few of them to have any impact.
- This is strong Stuff. Drugs, death, lovely blobs that turn into suicide-bombery, creepy ... things, I used to get nightmares from things like these.
Also, I'm not sure if any sounds would have made it better (blowing of the wind? A subtler, slower, benny-hill-esque fun-romp? nah...). It sits at the same point silhouettes and books (and other stuff) are, where the player substitutes the empty space with whatever is perfect in the players mind. Matching that is impossible, and given the timespan of the contest adding sounds would run the risk of destryong more of the gameworld than improving it.
Or you ran out of time and couldn't be arsed. I guess we'll never know... :-)
Easy to get stuck/confused due to destructible world.
I like the graphic style, very neat. The game itself however is a rather off-the-mill platformer game.
I love the flash games you've made.Come on,yeah?:)
感谢遇到你们，还有这些游戏！