Banished

by kharza
Overall★★★★★★★★★★3.50
Fun★★★★★★★★★★3.00
Innovation★★★★★★★★★★2.73
Theme★★★★★★★★★★2.77
Graphics★★★★★★★★★★3.79
Audio★★★★★★★★★★2.97
Humor★★★★★★★★★★1.76
Mood★★★★★★★★★★3.88
Coolness★★★★★★★★★★62%
Use Escape or Back on 360 controller to pull up a pause menu for options.

This is a little adventure game of sorts, quite short, similar to my other entries. I fixed some stuff in the libraries I was using so I put them together with the game and source.

Hope you like it!

BTW for those of you on winxp or with only directx 9, here's a reach version that should work. I have no way to test it though:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/59900676/ReachVersion.zip

And if that doesn't work, here's a run through on the tube


Comments26

NostraDamon
NostraDamon17 Dec 2012, 08:41
That was a nice experience, but I saw no difference between the two teleporters at the end. I was expecting 2 different endings?
Edocentrique
Edocentrique17 Dec 2012, 17:20
what a world full of mysteries
Kharzaauthor17 Dec 2012, 18:34
I struggled with what to do about the ending for awhile, but by then I was dead tired. It is always a good idea if doing something story related to write it first thing while you are still somewhat able to think.

I did write most everything first thing, but had plans for a few more levels (including some beyond the gates), so I had to somehow fix it. I sat drooling stupidly at the screen for a bit then decided "I'll add some goats!" :)
Zanzlanz
Zanzlanz17 Dec 2012, 22:55
Wow this is a great game! I really loved how you put the sky and landscape in it too; it's something I always LOVE games to have, but never see. The lighting was great, and the story was powerful. Very good job :)
Mava17 Dec 2012, 22:59
Nice graphics and very moody too
aeveis
aeveis17 Dec 2012, 23:07
Very nice, though the narrative felt like it was telling me directly rather than how someone might think if they remembered something (sort of like, oh I remember: <give specific details about the character's past>) which brought me out of the experience a bit. I like the choice at the end though, the text popping up makes you think about your choice a bit more.
tompudding
tompudding17 Dec 2012, 23:13
This was very impressive for 2 days! The lighting and shading looked great, and the journals were evocative.
nathanj439
nathanj43917 Dec 2012, 23:25
Great job on the mood and story. It really drew me in.
Kharzaauthor18 Dec 2012, 01:22
Wow you make me feel great, thanks for the lovely comments. Aeveis, that is very helpful. I love writing and used to be good at it, but I need a lot more practice.
zenmumbler
zenmumbler18 Dec 2012, 21:40
Can't play High-profile XNA games, only have DX9..
Kharzaauthor18 Dec 2012, 22:58
Uh oh I forgot about that. I will try to build it in Reach mode and post it soon. Have to shrink some textures and stuff.
Kharzaauthor18 Dec 2012, 23:22
Posted a link above to a reach version, let me know if it works. I don't have a machine to test it on.
Rex Peppers
Rex Peppers19 Dec 2012, 16:00
Can't play windows games... enjoyed the timelapse.. any chance you could upload a recording of you playing the game?
Kharzaauthor19 Dec 2012, 21:02
Sure! I'll do that for my postmortem.
pighead1019 Dec 2012, 22:49
Great atmosphere, especially with the music. Gameplay was solid. I took the blue pill!
Alex Rose
Alex Rose20 Dec 2012, 01:50
I couldn't complete it :P .

I really enjoyed what I saw though. The graphical style reminded me of the old Viridian and Crimson rooms.

Nice physics, really nice graphics. The font could've been better though. All in all, a great entry.
Kharzaauthor20 Dec 2012, 06:17
There's an elevator in the corner of the 2 story office type room. I think a bunch of people miss it. It plays a sound when it kicks in but if you have sound off I guess it is easy to miss.
Eniko21 Dec 2012, 06:11
Really liked the story and mood, and like last time the graphical style. ;) Kind of sad that the story ends so soon and there isn't a little epilogue or something based on the choice you make.

Was really thrilled to see someone add an inverted mouse option but unfortunately it didn't seem to do anything. :(
Kharzaauthor21 Dec 2012, 14:55
Oops, I think I only tested it for gamepad! Thanks! I'll fix that in my lib
BrothersT
BrothersT21 Dec 2012, 22:29
Pretty good. Lift wasn't very obvious to me. Apart from that, well laid out.
ratking
ratking22 Dec 2012, 00:08
Very nice entry, even though I didn't quite understand why there was fighting at all. Wouldn't be needed at all. ;)
Cake&Code29 Dec 2012, 07:58
The tone throughout the game is very well done! It feels melancholic and familiar, though distinctly alien and a bit hostile.

The unfolding narrative is good, if a bit blunt, and though getting the staff doesn't make me powerful I think it isn't supposed to. The character has fallen from power and a simple staff isn't going to restore them. Very well done there.

The ending reminded me a lot of Half-Life. The choice is made, but the consequences are not fully clear.

I hope to see a sequel and/or expanded game :3
zenmumbler
zenmumbler29 Dec 2012, 22:13
Played with the Reach profile and it works fine, thanks!

Nice tone and weird colourful but almost 4-bit color style. It creates an odd atmosphere of an alien world. I like how the various things I encounter are clearly explained even if that means I very quickly regain my memory in this world. That's fine for such a short game.
cardboard6 Jan 2013, 20:20
That was really cool! I really like the shading and level layout. Having to kill the goats didn't really make much sense to me though.
Cryovat
Cryovat7 Jan 2013, 23:30
The elevator took me some time to figure out, but apart from that, it was a wonderful experience. Really enjoyed the narrative.

I liked the melancholic atmosphere and the sense of mystery. I agree with the remarks about the narrative being unsubtle, and the combat scene felt like it didn't belong, but apart from that, excellent work! Had to play it twice for both endings. :)
Kharzaauthor8 Jan 2013, 02:24
Thanks for the good marks! I'm quite pleased. And the goats were a last minute thing. I knew I didn't have time to do 2 proper ending areas, so I decided on a whim to add some goats, and then left the ending "open"

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