LudumData

Rhythm Gunner by DDRKirby(ISQ)

[raw]
made by DDRKirby(ISQ) for LD32 (COMPO)
UPDATE! I've started work on the Post-Compo version. Changes so far:
- Added circles that pulse around your character to your current weapon's rhythm, so you can see the rhythm even while focusing on your character. This helps A LOT, so I would highly recommend playing the post-compo version instead of the regular one.

Rhythm Gunner is a unique take on the standard Super Crate Box genre:
Each weapon has a unique rhythm that you must tap to in order to shoot! Blast those enemies to the beat!

Features:
- Awesome chiptune music in the traditional DDRKirby(ISQ) style!
- Co-op mode!!!
- Different elements of the music are highlighted depending on your current weapon!
- 4 unique weapons, each with their own rhythms.
- Scaling difficulty as you reach higher and higher scores.
- Manual lag calibration!
- Bonus damage when you are perfectly on beat!

How high of a score can you get?

121 points Single Player mode: http://youtu.be/tE5tsMxDBqM
91 points Co-op mode: http://youtu.be/_61fPqB0XHU
Post-Compo Version http://ddrkirby.com/games/rhythm-gunner/rhythm-gunner.html
Web (Flash) http://ddrkirby.com/games/rhythm-gunner/compo-version/rhythm-gunner-compo.html
Soundtrack https://ddrkirbyisq.bandcamp.com/album/rhythm-gunner-original-soundtrack
Source https://bitbucket.org/DDRKirbyISQ/rhythm-gunner
Original URL https://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-32/?action=preview&uid=7285

Ratings

Coolness 55% 3
Overall 3.95 53
Audio 4.61 4
Fun 3.77 97
Graphics 3.37 367
Humor 3.03 391
Innovation 3.97 70
Mood 3.50 162
Theme 4.03 78

Feedback

Bemmu
20. Apr 2015 · 02:38 UTC
Very innovative combination of Mario Bros (the non-super variety) with a music game. Your tunes are just hauntingly beautiful at times. Here especially when you pick up the gun that shoots bouncy balls. I hope next time you do a time lapse, as I would be really curious to see how you go about composing these tracks.
pikmin4000
20. Apr 2015 · 04:36 UTC
It has a thick style that one can groove to!

I can't seem to get the look at the rhythm and enemies at the same time
pikmin4000
20. Apr 2015 · 04:38 UTC
good theme, audio, graphics, and humor(fish made me lol). the learning curve seems to be very steep though, one shot makes me die and its hard to fight back
mtanton
20. Apr 2015 · 04:47 UTC
Very fun! It was difficult keeping it with the rhythm. It would be cool to have a 'hard' mode where you don't get the meter on the side. Good job!
Jhandsy
20. Apr 2015 · 04:50 UTC
This is really nice! I thought it was a little hard, though! The different instruments having different rhythms is really cool.
Jordan
20. Apr 2015 · 04:51 UTC
Loved it. Music is great, art is nice, and the idea itself is unique.
Had a good time playing it.

Really cool that you've added a co op mode.
Lynx
20. Apr 2015 · 04:52 UTC
Very interesting concept, I like how the weapons are instrument based. Way too challenging for me.

Reminds my of Super Crate Box meets Crypt of the Necrodancer... and based on the fact I can't seem to play SCB by itself, it's no wonder I suck :P

But don't take that personally, I love this concept, and the rhythm genre as a whole. We need more of these out there! And as always, wonderful music
YarharALC
20. Apr 2015 · 05:02 UTC
Everything is great, except there is no punishment for not shooting your gun. I got a higher score running away from everything fire two shots max than trying to kill anything.
PachowStudios
20. Apr 2015 · 05:06 UTC
Excellent concept and amazing music!

It is extremely difficult though being that you die very easily. I feel like more health would greatly benefit this game.
rukai
20. Apr 2015 · 05:07 UTC
Great game, enjoyed playing round with it for a few minutes. HOwever it looks like it would be even better after investing time into it and developing some skill. (Time that I don't have :()

I think it would be helpful if the beat bar was part of the background because at the moment its hard to keep track of both.
torcado194
20. Apr 2015 · 05:22 UTC
very very good! pretty much super crate box meets necrodancer, as some comments have stated.
dvdfu
20. Apr 2015 · 05:32 UTC
My favorite so far! I love how the music changes, and each instrument refers to both rhythm and instrument. Good mix of Super Crate Box and Rhythm Heaven. Only complaint is I have no idea how much HP enemies have, which can be risky going into a fight
micahcowan
20. Apr 2015 · 06:04 UTC
As usual, you've made a fantastic game in 48 hours, complete with addictive music.

Took me a while to realize that there is zero incentive in actually _using_ the weapons on the badguys, except when it's necessary to clear some space or eliminate a threat - that the goal is actually to obtain these weapons. Which is cool, because it forces you to gain a familiarity with the different weapons so that you can easily switch gears to the different weapons based on which one you just picked up (there's little time for studying them, naturally).
Armanky
20. Apr 2015 · 06:05 UTC
I feel like this works better as a demonstration of the mechanic than as a game. The guns are a really cool idea and they're satisfying to use, but sometimes it's really hard to adjust to the new rhythm on the fly. Between platforming, avoiding enemies, AND keeping up with the rhythm, it becomes overwhelming pretty quickly.

I love this idea though! I'd love to see something like this expanded on.
Permamiss
20. Apr 2015 · 06:08 UTC
Well now, this one is pretty dang neat! I quite enjoyed this! Reminds me of Super Crate Box, but more difficult, and in my opinion, better! Hard to keep focus on dodging enemies and their attacks while trying to move, collect new weapons for points, and attack as well! Very nice! Hope this gets an extended version :D
Miltage
20. Apr 2015 · 06:14 UTC
An interesting concept and well executed. Really tricky to keep rhythm and avoid enemies. Great music!
SolomaZ
20. Apr 2015 · 06:15 UTC
Nails tough, but love the execution of the mechanic!
PixlWalkr
20. Apr 2015 · 07:33 UTC
Good game concept and pixel art, I like the weapons!
DragonXVI
20. Apr 2015 · 10:10 UTC
Call something "Rhythm Gunner" and I'm already all over that :p

Awesome idea, even if the game itself is very small. Love how the music changes and the beats change for each weapon. Would love to see this game expanded and turned into a full game. Excellent chiptunage too!
Xaychru
20. Apr 2015 · 10:16 UTC
Really cool concept, your music is awesome as always! I enjoyed learning how to use the different weapons correctly, and rhythm games are my favorites, so it kept me playing for quite a long time. ^^
aaronjbaptiste
20. Apr 2015 · 10:22 UTC
Amazing audio, loved the fresh take on a rhythm game. It's pretty hard with a 1 hit kill though. Great job
adamwoolridge
20. Apr 2015 · 11:24 UTC
Really really cool! Nice music!
rnlf
20. Apr 2015 · 12:10 UTC
As always really fantastic soundtrack. I played for more than half an hour now and didn't get past a score of 7 though. Maybe the input lag is too high on my virtual machine. Will try it on a real PC later.

Very cool idea!
PapyPilgrim
20. Apr 2015 · 13:03 UTC
Picking up the rythme of a weapon always takes me some time, so I ended up avoiding the pickups as it would almost certainly make me loose... Not sure that was the intended effect.
Tijn
20. Apr 2015 · 13:42 UTC
Awesome game! It's a bit like Super Crate Box meets Guitar Hero :)
Nomys_Tempar
20. Apr 2015 · 21:17 UTC
Awesome game ! Very difficult for me, but i enjoy it anyway. Looking forward for the soundtracks :)
Photon
20. Apr 2015 · 23:18 UTC
Oh my goodness yes. There is definitely a bit of a learning curve here but once you start to get a grasp on the different instruments and how they sync up with the music, it feels oh so good. I do feel like some of them could have synced up a bit better (more pronounced audio effects,) but whatever. Best score I have so far is 15.

Don't be scared by the initial difficulty people. Stick it out, because this is fantastic!
🎤 DDRKirby(ISQ)
20. Apr 2015 · 23:28 UTC
My own personal best score is 73 btw, haha. I have a video of myself getting 43 points; I'll try and see if I can get a higher score on video and link to it.
🎤 DDRKirby(ISQ)
20. Apr 2015 · 23:33 UTC
For those who are complaining that there is no incentive to shoot your weapon -- I guarantee you won't be able to achieve a high score if you just let enemies accumulate. ;)
ehtd
20. Apr 2015 · 23:45 UTC
Interesting, but for some reason I could never shot :(
Adding a way to test the lag calibration would be nice
jdselsor
21. Apr 2015 · 03:40 UTC
I like how it was a shooter with a rhythm game. The weapons are unconventional like the bass gun. I like the challenge of shooting with the rhythm.
Raiyumi
21. Apr 2015 · 03:41 UTC
I really like the idea! I love it!
Pixel Heart
21. Apr 2015 · 03:42 UTC
I'm a impressed! You had an amazing idea! A music - shooter game! The game looks also well polished, the music fits perfectly and the art style is pretty good; but most of all: it's FUN! Big win for you.
🎤 DDRKirby(ISQ)
21. Apr 2015 · 03:45 UTC
Thanks for all the feedback so far! I've just broken my record with a 121 point run. Things really get intense once you hit 100 points...

Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE5tsMxDBqM
noxuma
21. Apr 2015 · 03:51 UTC
This game is awesome. Insanely hard to do both move and shoot, I keep trying to hit on the bass with every weapon! Weapons are all really cool too. Wish you'd get some points for killing mobs too =)
dcolgan
21. Apr 2015 · 04:00 UTC
Amazing, and pretty difficult. Coordinating the rhythm of shooting with dodging ememies is tough!
Joris
21. Apr 2015 · 04:16 UTC
The music is amazing and the game works great. Very hard though.
gamedevBear
21. Apr 2015 · 04:39 UTC
I love the concept and the music. I frequently died when I tried to shoot a bullet at the last moment, but the music didn't match, so I had no way of defending myself.
ManicMiner
21. Apr 2015 · 13:07 UTC
Amazing music, and a cool game - but so, so hard - I think you basically have to be a musician to play this :)
Evergreen Games
21. Apr 2015 · 16:35 UTC
wow great entry! feels very polished. i love the music, just wish there was more than one song as it gets repetitive. the love the fish gun XD
dcRfj15
21. Apr 2015 · 20:33 UTC
I really like how each blaster changes the style and mood of the music. Also, the graphics are simple but really add to the mood of the game. I saw your personal best video, and the music generated when you are good at the game is really nice to listen to.

It is hard to get acquainted with each of the rhythms of the blasters though, it would be nice to see a sandbox mode if you expanded this game where users would be able to practice staying on beat with each of the blasters
luizgama
21. Apr 2015 · 21:18 UTC
I like the mechanic and the tunes. I'd like the rhythm to be somewhere else on the screen where you dont have to struggle so much to coordinate between looking at the screen and getting teh new rythm when you change weapons
ForeignGuyMike
21. Apr 2015 · 22:29 UTC
I love it. Damn you make some awesome music.
Yword
22. Apr 2015 · 06:20 UTC
The music and the implementation are very good! The game is quite hard yet very additive.
Arche-san
22. Apr 2015 · 15:10 UTC
Game mechanics are really fun and innovative. But it's really hard to remember to shoot in rythm. XD
Tipyx
22. Apr 2015 · 16:48 UTC
Super crate box VS Crypt of the Necrodancer. Excellent job :). But it's very very hard :).
Maybe make the rythm UI more visible (above the hero for example ?)
Great music and of course great work :)
lamogui
22. Apr 2015 · 17:00 UTC
Awesome music game like always! Good to see that lot of people included music in their gameplay in this ld.
🎤 DDRKirby(ISQ)
22. Apr 2015 · 18:51 UTC
Update! I've started work on the post-compo version.
In response to the feedback that it's hard to concentrate on the rhythm at the same time as the platforming, I've added beat circles that pulse around your character to make it obvious what the rhythm is. Let me know how this change works! (I'll make it look prettier later)
flyingbear
23. Apr 2015 · 01:22 UTC
This was such a creative concept! The tunes were excellent, and I especially loved how each weapon introduced a variation of the base song.
drschizzo
23. Apr 2015 · 08:57 UTC
original idea and nice realization!
ButtonMasherBros
23. Apr 2015 · 16:03 UTC
Pssst - We played your game on Ludum Dare to Believe! Check it out at - https://youtu.be/bmGF2UmUdLM
renatopp
23. Apr 2015 · 16:05 UTC
Man, this is hard as hell! I really wish that you had at least one more life. Great game, congratz.
GhostBomb
23. Apr 2015 · 16:43 UTC
Button masher bros brought me here but I don't really agree with them that this game is cheap. You can usually avoid getting trapped with planning. Having to keep in rhythm under this much stress is super challenging and rewarding. I would possibly like a larger playing field though. Kickass tunes!
Techblogogy
23. Apr 2015 · 16:52 UTC
Great game, I love seeing some of the rhythm gaming stuff!
ArcturusDeluxe
23. Apr 2015 · 17:11 UTC
Awesome! Probably the best game I've played so far. Love the concept. I find it maddeningly difficult, but its addictive. Brilliant music too!
Tiago Ling Alexandre
23. Apr 2015 · 17:14 UTC
Awesome idea, innovative and the music in the game is very cool! But it gets too difficult too quickly - maybe if the rhythm bar were closer to the player, i don't know. Overall really interesting game, congrats!
HeuGamer
23. Apr 2015 · 17:16 UTC
Was playing this without sound at first, then realized i needed it lol.
Bashabookoos
23. Apr 2015 · 18:28 UTC
Great music!
FrozenCow
23. Apr 2015 · 19:35 UTC
Another awesome game. Nice job! It's really hard, but also satisfying to get the rhythm right with everything that's going on. Quickly changing weapons all the time (which is the goal of the game) makes it impossible (for me) to do it right, so I just ignored the score and shot enemies for while.
Traumendes_Madchen
23. Apr 2015 · 19:57 UTC
Interesting idea, I like when games use sound as something more than just background music. Difficult but nice game!
Coban31
23. Apr 2015 · 22:13 UTC
It's too hard for me ><'
The music is great !
DiegoEscalante
24. Apr 2015 · 00:56 UTC
This is awesome! I can jam to this sound! I'm not very good at the game, its hard to get into the rhythm and platform around at the same time for me. But it was very fun. You might consider jamming the player's weapon a tiny bit for missing a beat, or put some other sort of penalty for missing a beat, since you could theoretically just spam key and still fire on the beats. However, that was a minor critique, this is awesome!
Zarkith
24. Apr 2015 · 08:41 UTC
Oh my goodness oh my damn it's a Super Crate Box rhythm game! :O

<3 <3 <3

Would be nice if the flying enemies' bullets didn't go through platforms. It's hard enough trying to dodge the spikeballs while also getting yourself in a good position to fire on the next beat.
ruerob
24. Apr 2015 · 08:42 UTC
Excellent awesome super mega entry! I love your tune, your graphics and your gameplay! I love everything about this game! Awesome work!
SteveSalmond
24. Apr 2015 · 09:55 UTC
What a sweet idea - that music is badass! I found the pickup sounds really messed with my weapon timing, but I guess that would just come down to practice. Awesome job :)
pi_pi3
24. Apr 2015 · 15:55 UTC
This game is awesome. It's innovative, fun to play, has good graphics, good audio, good mood. This game is everything a good LD game should be.
andrewkennedy
24. Apr 2015 · 21:04 UTC
I loved it! Really fun and the music, as always, was phenomenal. I found it a little tough, but maybe it's because I wanted to keep jumping with the rhythm haha.
hexdie
25. Apr 2015 · 03:45 UTC
I enjoyed this a lot! It's a rhythm-based Super Crate Box. It's an awesome concept and it's pretty well executed. I would say that if there was some visual cue for the rhythms you need to input on the main screen instead of off to the side, it would make this much better. Still, very nice work! Also, fantastic music!
🎤 DDRKirby(ISQ)
25. Apr 2015 · 07:18 UTC
@hexdie: I've added exactly that in the post-compo version :)
Dining Philosopher
25. Apr 2015 · 11:31 UTC
Awesome fusion! Very hard as well, I got to 21 points. The hitboxes seem a bit unforgiving sometimes, but perhaps that's just the frustration talking :-P As suggestions I'd say an asymmetrical level would be nice, and it would be nice if there was a bigger difference in how the weapons work.
MonoS
25. Apr 2015 · 18:17 UTC
Ok, the game is fun and innovative, but it use two things i'm not so good: platforming and rhythm, i don't have none of those.

Really good music, not so much for the graphics and i find the main idea very intriguing.

Love the Echo Ice :3
ChuiGum
26. Apr 2015 · 03:36 UTC
One of the best LD's I've played! Awesome MUSIC! Great innovation, it was challenging at times but I had a really great time. Super fun!
GhostBomb
26. Apr 2015 · 08:54 UTC
This is probably the game I've come back to the most.

Highscore of 44
Split82
27. Apr 2015 · 18:54 UTC
Amazing! Super crate box with music. Great job!
Robinerd
02. May 2015 · 16:04 UTC
Wow! I'm totally addicted. Although I often make music games for ludumdare, you beat my by far! (no pun intended). Well done!!
radmars
07. May 2015 · 02:24 UTC
This is so awesome, I love it. My only real complaint is the controls, ctrl is kind of annoying to press constantly. Would love to see this with controller support. Amazing work!
Red_Fan games
10. May 2015 · 01:01 UTC
So catchy, my foot was tapping to the beat of the weapon :)
matt beckett
10. May 2015 · 02:05 UTC
Love this. Great music!
Crowbeak
10. May 2015 · 02:27 UTC
At first I thought the tutorial was broken because it starts out having you perform the actions it tells you to take then suddenly switches to wall of text mode with a requirement that the player press space to advance the text. I discovered that space did something by accident and almost didn't rate the game.

As is, some of the weapons' rhythms are more difficult to manage, especially while platforming, and a practice mode that just allows people to shoot and move would be great.
NightShadow0
10. May 2015 · 19:51 UTC
I really, really like this in principle, but found it too hard to be enjoyable. One-hit kills from bullets that pass through walls when you're still learning the rhythm of a new weapon aren't very fun. Still one of my favorite entries, though!