KERNEL by CatOnMars

[raw]
made by CatOnMars for LD28 (COMPO)
You only get one brain, but you have two hands.
This game intends to train your coordination between your right and left side of brain.
Can you beat it? Take this challenge!

*Note: many bugs still exists, but it is beatable. I'll fix them in post-compo version.

Ratings

Coolness 77% 2
Overall 3.76 67
Audio 3.41 103
Fun 3.52 114
Graphics 3.54 217
Humor 2.04 587
Innovation 3.83 49
Mood 3.39 146
Theme 2.48 716

Feedback

Reevezy
16. Dec 2013 · 08:07 UTC
Awesome!
Crusable
16. Dec 2013 · 08:14 UTC
I really like this one. I liked the parts when you had to shift the guys but the controls were the same. Really challenges you hand eye coordination.
chardish
16. Dec 2013 · 08:38 UTC
Very fun! I just wish there were a bit less drag on the controls. The game requires a lot of precision movements and it's weird when you think you've stopped moving but you're actually slowly continuing to move.
mortl8324
16. Dec 2013 · 09:06 UTC
Awesome stuff. Difficult! It took me a bit to realise I had to control two things since I could get past "KERNEL" just using WSAD.
caranha
16. Dec 2013 · 09:43 UTC
Can we get a download link too? Unity downloads work on linux, but not the Web plugin :-(

I'll be back later, thanks!
Vanish
16. Dec 2013 · 14:00 UTC
I really enjoyed. Good graphics, good music, innovative and clever mechanics.
chicknstu
16. Dec 2013 · 15:07 UTC
Looks beautiful, and an awesome idea... but wow, it's difficult!

My right and left brain don't like eachother I think! :)
🎤 CatOnMars
16. Dec 2013 · 15:09 UTC
@caranha : I uploaded the Linux builds , but I don't have an environment to test it. Hope it will work, thank you : )
SilentBunny
16. Dec 2013 · 15:41 UTC
mind melding
mactinite
16. Dec 2013 · 21:36 UTC
I enjoyed this. However I think the round guy should carry less velocity after you let up the keys as very early on you need to make more precise movements. But otherwise neat concept.
Blooperly
17. Dec 2013 · 06:20 UTC
Great game! Love the mechanics!
JaymeeMak
17. Dec 2013 · 06:23 UTC
I had to give up because it was too difficult for me but really neat idea and excellent execution. I loved the implementation of the title, the music fit nicely and it had a nice level of polish up to where I played.

ALL THE BLOOM.
KWL_TW
17. Dec 2013 · 07:32 UTC
Awesome idea and so challenging!
Faust
17. Dec 2013 · 09:21 UTC
Nice mechanics, good work.
postmodestie
17. Dec 2013 · 12:58 UTC
Very nice! Innovation beyond R-Type! ;)
EasonPai
17. Dec 2013 · 13:21 UTC
Viewtiful and Playful!
spx
17. Dec 2013 · 23:40 UTC
Awesome visuals and some interesting concepts but those hitboxes are unforgiving.
ThatGuy
17. Dec 2013 · 23:54 UTC
Great gameplay mechanics and execution. This game had some brutal sections, good job!
SaintHeiser
18. Dec 2013 · 02:28 UTC
Not bad! Title well presented. Gameplay as original but hard to play. Controls are very smooth.
MatrixBai
18. Dec 2013 · 07:16 UTC
Like the graphic style. Difficult!
Dyn
19. Dec 2013 · 11:13 UTC
Awesome and hard. Very good job
fullmontis
19. Dec 2013 · 11:15 UTC
Great game, and amazing music and aesthetics! My only complaint is that controls are a little slippery, and it makes doing some puzzles really frustrating.
caranha
19. Dec 2013 · 14:47 UTC
Thanks for the Linux Binary!

Whoa, this was a really unique game, I super liked it! The challenges with the dual controllers were really fun, and I felt that the map for the LD version was just right sized.

One suggestion that I would make was to add some sound effect feedback, that would make the game a bit more fun to handle.

Cheers, and thanks for the game!
veiadoida
19. Dec 2013 · 16:18 UTC
someone tried this game with 2 players? i think it'll be really fun!
i really enjoyed this. it's pretty difficult to play alone (that's the point, i know), but i think 2 players will nailed it. very nice idea and great concept. well done!
Diptoman
19. Dec 2013 · 17:36 UTC
This is awesome stuff! Brilliant idea, visually stunning, and really challenging.
Venks
20. Dec 2013 · 06:58 UTC
I have to say I really liked this one. I enjoy a good challenge from my games.
van noctar
20. Dec 2013 · 11:33 UTC
Very good job! This game is funny and the gameplay is rich!
joserodolfofreitas
20. Dec 2013 · 11:41 UTC
The concept is neat and the level design was consistent, but IMHO the controls need to be a little bit more precise.
StMatn
20. Dec 2013 · 11:47 UTC
Great game!
I have some small things to point out:
The end room could be a little bit more epic; something like the room on your primary screenshot ("KERNEL" written with lasers).
After finishing the game bugged out a bit and placed the characters outside of the level, but thats nothing for a downvote, since it happened after finishing a perfectly stable game!
The colored walls at the end were a bit iritating... Especially the red ones looked like "don't touch me, or you are dead!". A more consistent style in wall coloring would be nice. Either completely white or completely colored, since both look great, but you know, the break in it may be a bit iritating to players ;)
Last thing is the controlls. I have a bit of practice in jetpack-like controlls ;) but they do not work perfectly with gameplay, which requires priceise movements. To be honest, after the secont checkpoint I wished so hard to have a button to make the disk make a full stop and not leave the laser, while I was trying to maneuver the other character ;)

Don't make too much out of my critics, because players always complain and devs always try to break it ;)

Besides that points, the graphics look really great! The game is really fun, because its sometimes a little tricky, but checkpoints are placed in a way, that prevent frustration and turn it into challenge! Great!
I really had fun playing the game!

Keep on the nice work!
Kohijin
20. Dec 2013 · 12:01 UTC
Nicely done, but very hard due to the floaty controls and the unforgiving collision detection. Loved the clever introduction.
Masadow
20. Dec 2013 · 14:26 UTC
Wow, really impressive game. At the beginning, I was thinking it was an Ok game. Then when I realize that I could move this little circle to make my way, I was really amazed, great job !
mize_VS_mildmojo
20. Dec 2013 · 16:48 UTC
I agree with @veiadoida, this game would lend itself to asymmetric coop multiplayer. Using two hands is tricky! It took me a while to figure out that the arrows controlled the round thing and that the red letters were lasers. Because the player respawned to the gold checkpoint so quickly, it kind of looked like a ghost was shooting me when I hit the lasers. Those hazards could use a little visual flicker.

I did want more precise controls. For the tricky bits like moving the player and the circle together to get through a bunch of laser walls, I just pushed them against the top of the screen as the camera panned so they'd stay together. Seemed impossible otherwise.

Nice job on the soundtrack. The music loop seemed short, but it fit the mood.

The level design was solid, too. I liked the way you provided a sort of practice zone for the final race through the diagonal sections. I cheated through that, though; the game glitched my two characters together in the same hallway, so I could drive them through one tunnel together to the end. =)

At the end, it would be cool if the player could restart the game by driving over to a glowing replay spot or something, rather than automatically resetting on a timer. Player agency is fun!

The main character reminds me of the whales from Bubble Bobble.

-mildmojo
Sebastian
29. Dec 2013 · 07:55 UTC
Cool mechanic, and rather well implemented I thought. I would have preferred tighter controls, but that's your call ;)
GFM
29. Dec 2013 · 12:13 UTC
Amazing take on the theme!

At first, I thought the shift ability would make the game too easy... but you used really well! :)
havana24
29. Dec 2013 · 13:05 UTC
Cool mechanincs, I loved the way you created the level design. It's fun and not easy!
anvoz
01. Jan 2014 · 16:35 UTC
Really cool game. Nice graphics.

I took me a while to figure how to pass the screen after the KERNEL one because I don't know I could use the arrow keys to control the gear. I can pass the KERNEL screen without using the gear.
patrickgh3
03. Jan 2014 · 04:14 UTC
Love the dreamy graphics and atmosphere. Gameplay was solid too. I think there could have been some more interesting puzzles, but other than that I love the level design.