The Path for Evolution by DavidErosa

[raw]
made by DavidErosa for LD24 (COMPO)
Wow, just in time!

I'm a bit disappointed, though, with this one. I made the classical error: Too ambitious for my experience and time. I didn't have time to add proper sfx or music. Also the game lacks a bit of polish. More about this tomorrow with the Post Mortem.

The game: As I have no knowledge about DNA, biology and so, I decided that given that Evolution took so long to be a Ludum Dare theme... what if Evolution itself fights against the previous LD themes? It has been in the final round 7 times and 9 voted, that's 9 levels!

Every mini-level is inspired by one past LD theme, as can be seen on the top-left corner of the screen. Plus a last level surprise not inspired in any past them, but with which Evolution has got to fight til the last blood drop :)

HOW TO PLAY:
You have to collect a letter from the word EVOLUTION in each level. When the letter is picked up, a door opens to the next level. The first level can be tricky, but just think about finding the first letter. By the way, the game gets a little better after the first mini-level :)

Controls: Sometimes cursors, sometimes mouse, sometimes both of them:)

Hope you enjoy it!

UPDATE: Ok, looks like the first level is not so obvious so, as I want you pals to play the game, here's the trick: Place objects clicking around and hit the "Boom" button. Check the screenshot!

UPDATE 2: Crap, it seems like there was some z-fighting issue with the "Next" button after winning the first scene! On my Intel card the button was shown in front of the dark plane, but on nvidia, it was rendered behind... Please check it again!

Ratings

Coolness 54% 3
Overall 2.93 399
Audio 1.96 506
Fun 2.46 528
Graphics 2.62 475
Humor 2.83 155
Innovation 2.85 372
Mood 2.62 384
Theme 2.69 452

Feedback

rynti
27. Aug 2012 路 03:57 UTC
Awesome! Even though I noticed my friend who also tried to play it wasn't able to figure a solution for the first level (Didn't know what to do), I got it and I loved it! :) Really nice, especially the sudden change to 3D. However, wasn't able to defeat all 1000 Kittens^^
Materie
27. Aug 2012 路 04:03 UTC
Can't really rate the game when I cannot figure out the solution to the first level. Make an E, okay. Make an E in a frictionless environment? How is this even remotely possible? Pix or it didn't happen. :P
robcozzens
27. Aug 2012 路 05:22 UTC
I think you're going to have to say what you think qualifies as forming an 'E'.
馃帳 DavidErosa
27. Aug 2012 路 13:13 UTC
@ranti: Thanks! Yeah, the last game is a little too much... Anyway that's the final one and nothing fancier happens after it :)

@Materie, @robcozzens: I've added a tip (aka the solution) at the entry description and a screenshot. Hope you find it useful!
VoEC
28. Aug 2012 路 12:23 UTC
Even with the tips and the screenshot I still can't manage to finish the first level. Do the lines have to stand still to count as an E? Either way I don't think know how to do it, even if I place the TNT in the same spots as in the picture.
Zanzlanz
28. Aug 2012 路 12:46 UTC
Same here.
camdensegal
28. Aug 2012 路 13:26 UTC
I managed to complete the first level but I cant figure out how to get past the "Every Evolution has a beginning" screen
Oreganik
28. Aug 2012 路 23:55 UTC
Tough little game! It's amazing how hard it is to get all those different types of gameplay in, isn't it? =) Good show!
Maxium
31. Aug 2012 路 04:38 UTC
Chrome has issues with the https link, try changing it to http.
kratorspore
01. Sep 2012 路 00:07 UTC
The first level of this game is just too obtuse for me. I get Im trying to make an 'e' but the mechanics are a bit too unstructured.
chardish
01. Sep 2012 路 00:21 UTC
I ... couldn't beat the first level. Which is a shame, cause I really want to see where you were going with this.
Wampus
01. Sep 2012 路 00:33 UTC
I know the author says he feels like its unfinished but given the time limit it seems like a lot was achieved. I have to rate this highly.
SaintHeiser
01. Sep 2012 路 03:10 UTC
Can't beat first level. It's ultimately hard or I can't understand something...
goffmog
01. Sep 2012 路 11:13 UTC
Ouch that last level is tough :) I found the first level difficult to work out but got there by trial and error, the tower level also stumped me, I jept looking for extra keyboard controls before I realised clicking on stuff also did something. Find it really bizarre that you couldn't get my game when it's so much simpler than yours ;) But good job!
pighead10
02. Sep 2012 路 12:13 UTC
Not rating yet because I can't complete the first level. Please explain! I have made an E but nothing seems to be happening.
pighead10
03. Sep 2012 路 12:09 UTC
Completed it (minus all 1000 kittens!). Very nice game!
bvanschooten
03. Sep 2012 路 22:41 UTC
The first level contains a tough but unintentional puzzle, but I finally completed it!

The segments are supposed to stop in the middle of the screen to form the "E". However, if you fail to complete the level the first time you press the boom button, the segments will no longer stop and the first level becomes uncompleteable.

If you fail the move the segments towards the middle the first time round, reload the page before trying again.
harusame
05. Sep 2012 路 18:16 UTC
Excellent entry ! Many different gameplay, good job !
Cake&Code
05. Sep 2012 路 18:28 UTC
Great entry, took me a bit to figure out the first level but once I got over that hump it was all pretty straightforward!

Found a bug in the 3D world where if you scale the side of the mountains towards the door and don't go around the easy shallower entrance the door won't open and you can't exit the level.

The Rapunzel level was hilarious as was the 1,000 kittens. I want to find out if getting through all of them entails a reward... but I need to find the time to do it xD
pjchardt
12. Sep 2012 路 03:11 UTC
Great use of the theme!
echa
12. Sep 2012 路 11:25 UTC
Can't beat 1000 kittens ^_^ too many
hamster_mk_4
16. Sep 2012 路 08:44 UTC
There is a point where the frustration of multiple failed attempts overrides my curiosity to see comes next. This game reached that point fairly quickly.