TerraForma by recursor

[raw]
made by recursor for LD25 (COMPO)
Note: I just put up a post-compo Linux version. I have not tested it so please let me know if it does not work.

This is a "destroy the planets" puzzle game where you use terraforming technology of your civilization to destroy the worlds which have inferior lifeforms on them. The fun is trying to do it in as few moves as possible.

Controls:
Mouse: to select a block of land
Left button: Terraform land down
: Orbit Land mass
MouseWheel: Zoom in/out

Eliminate all land blocks by turning them all into Deep Lava and watching them fall off the plane.

Notes:
1) There are a few rules when terra-forming that you must abide by and for the most part when you try to do something wrong, the game will tell you.
2) Some land types affect others when they are terraformed. Discovering these interaction rules is part of the game and can lead to a lower move score.
3) There is a restart button. If you are stuck, don't be afraid to use it
4) There are several boards, I have only played the first 3 so the others are as of yet untested...

Block Types in order from highest to lowest:

City <- Cannot destroy these directly. They must be surrounded by lava.
Forest
Grass
Dirt
Water <- water and lava interact with each other
Rock
Lava
Deep Lava <- get all blocks to become this to advance to next level

**Post-compo version has online scoring and orbit control is now done by holding the left mouse button.

Ratings

Coolness 81% 2
Overall 3.50 115
Audio 3.20 121
Fun 2.93 316
Graphics 3.36 212
Humor 2.00 545
Innovation 3.98 28
Mood 2.97 260
Theme 3.12 412

Feedback

Graf_Grun
17. Dec 2012 路 06:38 UTC
Is Level Four broken? http://puu.sh/1BSvW

Otherwise, I liked the concept and the implementation of it. Perhaps, though, a bit more consistency in you art style...
You have:
-jumping pixels
-an image (the background)
-spherical treetops
-blocky cities and tiles
I would have been fine with just blocks, I might have looked a bit more cohesive too.

But very nice...
matthias_zarzecki
17. Dec 2012 路 10:49 UTC
Lovely idea for a puzzler! The blocky aesthetic is great, and the game feels quite polished. Nice work!

Remember to upload the source-files so it can actually compete :)
馃帳 recursor
17. Dec 2012 路 16:35 UTC
@Matthias Thanks for catching that. I had put the link for the source in when i submitted but somehow the http:// portion got cut off so the link never showed up. That has now been corrected.
bentog
17. Dec 2012 路 16:50 UTC
Very creative and original.
Geoege
17. Dec 2012 路 19:25 UTC
Pretty nice game. Concept is cool and i really loved your square based graphic concept.
馃帳 recursor
17. Dec 2012 路 19:40 UTC
@Graf_Grun: Thanks for the critique, and as for level 4, yes it was broken but no longer. I just fixed a typo bug in the code so now it can be beaten. Literally changed a '+' to a '-' which is ok according to: https://twitter.com/ludumdare/statuses/148673391648456704
Edocentrique
18. Dec 2012 路 00:35 UTC
Nice cities (oh yeah, and gameplay too !)
crashbanito
18. Dec 2012 路 01:43 UTC
The premise takes a bit to get used to, but once you get get the hang of things the game can be quite enjoyable.
EatenAlive3
18. Dec 2012 路 02:33 UTC
Nice! I like the idea of terraforming planets to their destruction. :D
jsmars
18. Dec 2012 路 14:44 UTC
Really nice work! Fun puzzle mechanic and well polished overall, really fun when games like this have online highscores too.
Winterblood
18. Dec 2012 路 22:11 UTC
Nice concept, well executed. Could do with a few more rules of interaction, as after the first couple of levels the same tactics work for everything, which becomes dull. I'd like to see this developed further!
haxpor
19. Dec 2012 路 04:29 UTC
That's wow execution! Completed first level and I know what to be done.
Nice mechanics to destroy particular in couple of ways. Who love puzzle game with good graphics, this is it. Good job!
monomanio
19. Dec 2012 路 12:50 UTC
Hah, "Destroying planets makes you feel all warm inside".. Very creative :)
chrismwaite
19. Dec 2012 路 13:09 UTC
Really like this one. Its very satisfying clicking the blocks and destroying each landmass. As a bonus, I think your game does a good job of explaining concepts and its possible to figure everything out. Definitely keep working on this one :)
SiENcE
19. Dec 2012 路 13:57 UTC
Unique concept and nicely done! The lerning curve could be a bit more challenging.
DustyStylus
19. Dec 2012 路 14:01 UTC
I agree with Winterblood about having a few more rules for interaction. Very nice look to the game.
DragonKN
19. Dec 2012 路 15:28 UTC
nice work dude
Dark Acre Jack
20. Dec 2012 路 00:07 UTC
Best out of the 80 I've played so far, if only for potential. Trying to see how the more complex puzzles would be done is a joy. This is really something special, hope you work on it more.
Fonserbc
24. Dec 2012 路 15:06 UTC
Really nice!
SimianLogic
24. Dec 2012 路 18:13 UTC
I like the concept, but it seems too simple (get everything down to concrete and then make lava). I would like to see some more interactions (and destruction) between tiles--like water flooding or lava flowing.
lotusgame
24. Dec 2012 路 18:17 UTC
Very original ! The first puzzle game i see in this Ludum Dare. With the theme it wasn't easy to make such a game. Congrats :)
commanderstitch
24. Dec 2012 路 18:33 UTC
Nice puzzle game. Not much on the theme. Interesting dynamics. i think i only lost on one puzzle as i didn't do the very end lava blocks write. good job
Royal Jellyfish
25. Dec 2012 路 01:57 UTC
Nice graphics, original gameplay! If there are many different interactions of terrain, it's definately hard to find :P