Root Route!

Overall★★★★★★★★★★3.84
Fun★★★★★★★★★★3.63
Innovation★★★★★★★★★★4.18
Theme★★★★★★★★★★3.66
Graphics★★★★★★★★★★3.61
Audio★★★★★★★★★★3.39
Humor★★★★★★★★★★2.48
Mood★★★★★★★★★★3.53
Coolness★★★★★★★★★★100%
We chose to incorporate minimalism via our control scheme.. Its 1 button!

Press space to split your root. Try to collect all 3 nutrients while making your way down to the water table in 10 different levels!

Comments63

dagothig30 Apr 2013, 03:54
This is pretty solid in terms of visuals and theme and it's got a nice difficulty to it, but it does get tedious after some time. Also, it's great how gameplay and theme are integrated together
nimblegorilla30 Apr 2013, 03:54
I like the simplicity of the controls and it is an interesting mechanic I haven't seen before.
delfino
delfino30 Apr 2013, 03:54
Great game, well polished, neat mechanic. Good job all around!
BahamutZaero30 Apr 2013, 03:58
This could easily become a very addicting game.
epaik30 Apr 2013, 04:31
Love the mechanic and simplicity.

I feel like the game could be sped up though, I stopped playing after the 5th level because it felt too slow.
Griz
Griz30 Apr 2013, 04:31
A remarkable gamemeplay that is keeping the player addicted until the very last level. Hats off to you sir.
sP0CkEr230 Apr 2013, 04:33
ok this is one of the most interesting games i have played -- really unique controls and great use of theme -- great job
Deadlyapps
Deadlyapps30 Apr 2013, 04:34
Played this a little too long...
JonRB30 Apr 2013, 04:36
I love it! Really original idea (As far as I know, anyway). I found it pretty challenging. Instructions would have been nice, but apart from that a great entry.
bowlercaptain30 Apr 2013, 04:37
Great game. Fits the theme, has a unique concept. Could do with more vertical visual space. My solution to many of the puzzles was "go as far down as you can and then die so you can see the whole level and plan a route". It was nearly impossible to solve the puzzles reactionarily, especially with the lack of a visible large-scale grid.
CryoGenesis
CryoGenesis30 Apr 2013, 06:13
Very interesting mechanic!
ThreeUp30 Apr 2013, 06:16
The mechanic has a fundamental longevity and cleverness. I think this could have broad appeal as a fully featured game. I quite like the art as well. Plus you even have nice UI and sound. Props.
Bloated Hippo30 Apr 2013, 06:18
Pretty awesome, difficulty is just right although a little hard to see where the roots will go when you split them.
loxo30 Apr 2013, 06:20
I like the unique concept. It's fun to play and addictive. Only the music is a little bit repetitive.
MinionStudios
MinionStudios30 Apr 2013, 20:57
Love it! It's soooo hard tho - I can't figure out the angle while it's moving, but it is great.
Nanolotl
Nanolotl1 May 2013, 03:22
Really nice mechanic. The levels were well designed and quite challenging. The flower blooming at the end depending on how much energy you had was a nice touch.
Tater_hater1 May 2013, 03:23
I really liked this, its one of the most polished games I've played so far
Super Hamster
Super Hamster1 May 2013, 03:27
Interesting concept, as I have never seen anything like it. Maybe would be nice as an app? :D
argo151 May 2013, 04:57
This is so unique. Well done.
Tiago1 May 2013, 05:12
Solid game! really well done, I just loved the mechanics!
Crazi4561 May 2013, 05:35
Fits theme very well! Very amusing!
tankete
tankete1 May 2013, 05:35
I liked the simple mechanic, but struggled as early as level 2. Perhaps having a better idea what was coming down below would have helped. Also, the larger tile size made it hard to judge exactly when to split. It seemed like there was a perfect solution that I kept missing (as opposed to having a bit more slack). Nice overall!
cason
cason1 May 2013, 05:36
Very well done. Its actually fun! Great sound too, fits it perfectly.
smilingrob
smilingrob1 May 2013, 05:47
Cool game mechanics on yours. Felt like an old Nintendo game but with a fresh idea.
TehSkull
TehSkull1 May 2013, 05:52
For a game about growing, the lack of a potato is boring. Great game idea, though. I'd love to see a more fleshed out version of this.
Julian Ceipek1 May 2013, 06:12
This is easily the most addicting Ludum Dare entry I have seen so far. I was really impressed by your spin on the one-button mechanic that games like Canabalt use.
There are just a few polishing touches needed for this to be almost perfect:
1. The root growing graphics should be smoother and make the location of the root more obvious. While playing, the split point becomes ingrained in the player, but I had to look at the root out of the corner of my eye because the twisting was actually uncomfortable to watch. By the time I finished the game, it took me a few seconds before I stopped having the impression that the game player was rippling.
2. The cool-down time for splitting needs to be made more obvious, or removed. Every time I tapped the spacebar and nothing happened, I felt that the game had unpleasantly ripped control away from me.
3. The level layout needs to be apparent at the start. Angry Birds does this very well with a panning animation. I think that would work well here, too.
In all other respects, a truly phenomenal entry that could easily become a more fully-featured game.
stevejohnson
stevejohnson1 May 2013, 06:39
I seriously enjoyed myself. Well balanced, new, well executed.
Jorjon
Jorjon1 May 2013, 07:37
Simply amazing!
ilovepixel
ilovepixel1 May 2013, 08:01
I really liked this game. First time I see a game like this one. GREAT JOB!
Jellycakes1 May 2013, 08:12
Pretty decent, Kept me playing until the end. Catchy music too. Good job!
vladimirdlc
vladimirdlc1 May 2013, 15:40
I love how creative and relaxing this game is, the music is gives it a great mood.
pighead101 May 2013, 16:40
Neat game. Excellent graphics and gameplay, but it gets somewhat tedious after a while.
mrspeaker
mrspeaker1 May 2013, 16:48
Great idea, and nicely executed. I agree with Julien though, you should add a "pan down and up" before the level starts, because you kind of feel like the first pass at a level is just a right-off when you're running blind.
nintendoeats1 May 2013, 18:02
Really well put together. I ultimately couldn't get passed the last level, even though I understood theoretically how to do it. That is really my only complaint: I felt like even after I grasped what I needed to do doing it was hard past the point of being fun. Still, a well polished game and a great mechanic.
avidgamerNino
avidgamerNino1 May 2013, 20:55
You wacthed me play, That 1 second cool down for the vines get me, great Innovation and visuals and sounds were great
Xaychru04
Xaychru042 May 2013, 08:43
I really like the concept of this game, it's pretty original. The graphics are cool and the music is great, good job :)
EdoMiyamoto
EdoMiyamoto2 May 2013, 12:06
Very good, good level design and gameplay, never seen that before :)
NAMKCOR
NAMKCOR2 May 2013, 17:42
I like this, neat mechanic. Great job!
SmallDeadGuy2 May 2013, 17:46
Nice game, well polished. I don't see many jam games.
SmallDeadGuy2 May 2013, 18:39
Nice game, well polished. I don't see many jam games. Really cool mechanic but it was hard to estimate collisions around objects.
NicoSaraintaris
NicoSaraintaris2 May 2013, 22:51
Nice one-button mechanic. Great use of the theme. Solid entry. Congrats!
SonnyBone
SonnyBone2 May 2013, 23:50
Damn this game is rad! Great concept, great audio, nice visuals, and a reaaaaaalllly good use of the theme. There's an incentive to replay levels, too, which ends up giving your game some longevity. Great entry!
Typedeaf
Typedeaf3 May 2013, 08:52
Fun concept! I really like the pace of the game! Keep up the good work! =A

//Udrian
amodo3 May 2013, 08:54
Wonderful idea!
MaxguN
MaxguN3 May 2013, 08:59
Easy to get, yet challenging. I liked it :) Well done
Rafael Sales3 May 2013, 20:55
Cool game. Interesting game mechanic. Congratz!
bummzack
bummzack4 May 2013, 14:50
Very simple, yet totally awesome mechanic and gameplay. Well done!
Prelucid
Prelucid4 May 2013, 20:54
Amazing concept. Loved it, great work!
nicso
nicso7 May 2013, 18:43
a great concept, a little bit repetitive after a while but hey, well done!
ethankennerly
ethankennerly8 May 2013, 05:20
Anticipating where the root would grow interested me. The coins gave me a hint and the water budding a flower felt cheerful! If you have time to continue to develop this, I imagine you have considered other representations of blocks and pickups other than the gray blocks and the gold coins.
lotusgame13 May 2013, 07:48
Nice gameplay ! A very well polished game with cute graphics and several levels ! Bravo :)
EggDestroyer
EggDestroyer13 May 2013, 19:39
This is easily one of the most polished games I've seen so far in this LD. The blooming flower, the smooth camera movements, the energy gestion... The level of details is damn high, yet you succeded everywhere, as your game is gorgeous, moody, challenging and downright interesting.

Still, some points could be improved. I'll just quote Julian Ceipek who nailed it :
"1. The root growing graphics should be smoother and make the location of the root more obvious. While playing, the split point becomes ingrained in the player, but I had to look at the root out of the corner of my eye because the twisting was actually uncomfortable to watch. By the time I finished the game, it took me a few seconds before I stopped having the impression that the game player was rippling.
2. The cool-down time for splitting needs to be made more obvious, or removed. Every time I tapped the spacebar and nothing happened, I felt that the game had unpleasantly ripped control away from me.
3. The level layout needs to be apparent at the start. Angry Birds does this very well with a panning animation. I think that would work well here, too. "

Also, I still think the difficulty curve may be a bit high and more variety wouldn't hurt : maybe for a full released version I hope you WILL do someday !! :)
kill0u
kill0u13 May 2013, 23:02
Nice mood :)
Sylvain.p
Sylvain.p14 May 2013, 04:18
Great mechanic idea. good job,
JustinMullin14 May 2013, 21:12
Awesome art and animation. The sound and music is spot on, and the pan up to see the flower bloom totally sells the whole package. Love it!
Xanjos15 May 2013, 00:43
This game is very addictive. The graphics and audio was very good plus the gameplay mechanic was really interesting and the level design was excellent.
KevinLaity
KevinLaity15 May 2013, 01:42
Really unique mechanic, and nice relaxing music.
RealyUniqueName15 May 2013, 11:25
This game is so polished! Simple & addictive. Did you port it to mobiles yet? :)
ohsqueezy
ohsqueezy15 May 2013, 15:19
Great idea and design!! It's especially exciting when a few branches are growing successfully
goerp17 May 2013, 19:29
Thsi is some original gameplay! It is deceptively simple in its gameplay but has wquite some depth in gameplay. Strategy and planning in an easy package.

I saw thsi game in a video and reminded me of my game because it is about growing plants but I was pleasantly surprised with this game (this game plays very good I mean)

Great!
flap21 May 2013, 14:51
Apparently, it can't be played anymore...
Found a bug?
Tell us on Discord