LudumData

Swarm by stephenhaney

[raw]
made by stephenhaney for LD31 (COMPO)
Keep it all on one screen? It's gotta be retro. Swarm is somewhere between Pacman and Frogger. It's challenging, but I think you're up to the task. Grab those little juicy boxes and beat the swarm!

Note: this is a compo 48 hour solo game, please rate accordingly!

I created the "engine" from scratch using Canvas during the compo. That left less time for world building; the end game is a bit short once you get fast. My first time using canvas, I'm impressed by the performance!

I wrote the music in Logic using the built in virtual instruments, you can get an mp3 here if you like it:
http://www.thinkingswiftly.com/swarm/sound/song.mp3

Other tools I used:
Photoshop, Sublime text, gulp.

--- Controls: keyboard arrow keys. ---
Web http://www.thinkingswiftly.com/swarm/
Source https://github.com/StephenHaney/swarm
Original URL https://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-31/?action=preview&uid=39284

Ratings

Coolness 51% 3
Overall 3.26 485
Audio 3.73 72
Fun 3.42 265
Graphics 2.78 746
Innovation 2.97 670
Mood 3.41 184
Theme 3.61 542

Feedback

Snail_Man
08. Dec 2014 · 02:55 UTC
Really nice mood on this! The music really added a lot, and I liked the idea of 'memorizing guard patterns' a lot! Good work!
Insality
08. Dec 2014 · 02:57 UTC
nice music ;)
Explain the controls of the game in the descr.
CheeseyBob
08. Dec 2014 · 03:04 UTC
Fun and nicely polished. Could have done with being a bit longer, but otherwise very good!
zanenga
08. Dec 2014 · 04:01 UTC
Solid game. It was quick and fun. Love how you get smaller everytime you die, making it a little bit easier.
mtinkerhess
08. Dec 2014 · 04:36 UTC
Very smooth graphics. Nice music. I like how getting smaller when you get hit makes the game easier instead of harder.
Jhandsy
08. Dec 2014 · 04:59 UTC
Nice game man! I love how essentially built three difficulties into the game from the get go, then each time the pluses spawned it was like going to a new level. I only wish it has been longer!
Paperscraps
08. Dec 2014 · 05:02 UTC
Short and sweet. Nice core to the game.
vekjeft
08. Dec 2014 · 05:03 UTC
Liking this:)
Kitch
08. Dec 2014 · 05:03 UTC
Really liked that. Would like a lot more.. but you know.. 48 and all that. Thanks!
Soundtrack is kickass... btw.
🎤 stephenhaney
08. Dec 2014 · 05:09 UTC
Thanks for all the great feedback!

Those that liked the music, if you are interested in an mp3 you can grab it from the game's asset folders: http://www.thinkingswiftly.com/swarm/sound/song.mp3

Cheers! Going to return ratings to all comments that I can run on my Mac.
Interface
08. Dec 2014 · 05:21 UTC
Nice. The level layout looks vaguely familiar ;-) Good stuff, great mood with the music.
davidB
08. Dec 2014 · 14:47 UTC
I like the music. I've got the same start idea, but I stay more pacman like.
Gins
08. Dec 2014 · 22:32 UTC
Cool short game, I liked the idea of the hero getting smaller with each hit, so you'd have an easier time evading the more often you lose. That makes it an extra challenge to beat the game without getting hit :)

Sound effects really satisfying too!
kts_kettek
09. Dec 2014 · 04:17 UTC
Booo~ wish it was longer
SirRicecake
09. Dec 2014 · 05:11 UTC
I really love the sound when one reaches the white cube! Also nice idea that one is getting smaller and smaller, when hit.
barry.p.evans
09. Dec 2014 · 05:40 UTC
Very challenging! and a great game concept!
Drtizzle
09. Dec 2014 · 17:22 UTC
I really like the fact that you get smaller when you die, it makes the game easier, so it's somewhat a built in difficulty level.

Fluid movement and animations, very well done, especially for a Canvas game
jmborden
09. Dec 2014 · 19:57 UTC
Another fellow JS/Canvas coder. Nice game!
StackAttack
09. Dec 2014 · 21:25 UTC
Pretty fun, though not much depth - I do really like the built in difficulty curve that others have mentioned, smart idea
barryrowe
10. Dec 2014 · 01:52 UTC
Fun game, and good mechanics. The animations feel good (fades) and the faces are funny. I wish there were more puzzles and levels, but it's a fun game.
rottenmage
10. Dec 2014 · 17:29 UTC
Nice idea. It could do with more levels, as well as a gradual increase in number of enemies on the screen. Good effort!
jpmit
11. Dec 2014 · 12:47 UTC
Very well done.
yodamaster
13. Dec 2014 · 23:03 UTC
Fun to play. Challenging. Just too short, you gotta add more levels (of course on the same screen, haha)
TyrusPeace
27. Dec 2014 · 20:52 UTC
The music really helped the mood of this one! Clean graphics and fun gameplay! Simple, short, and very enjoyable.