ground_0 by Jamison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vQYvIA6X7k
Overview
In "ground_0", the earth you stand on is your ammunition. Absorb dirt particles to power your weapon! If you’re not careful, you’ll run out of the ground beneath your feet and fall to your death. The corpses of enemies will leave behind extra dirt, which can be a curse–if you let it build up too high up, you’ll have less time to react to the flying enemies and their projectiles. But, usually you’ll be rationing your dirt and timing your shots to eliminate multiple enemies at a time. Just be careful where you reload–don’t make any holes!
Comment with your time and death count when you beat it!
Features
- 9 stages
- 3 enemy types
- Destructible terrain
- Easy to learn game play, but very unforgiving
- An original bumpin' soundtrack consisting of 2 songs (well, maybe just 1; the title screen song is just a rehash of the in-game song...)
- Time tracker and death tracker--improve your run!
Controls
- Left/Right Arrows: movement
- Z: Jump
- W works as well for you AZERTY folks
- X (hold): Absorb particles to charge weapon. Hold Down Arrow while doing so to absorb downwards.
- X (press): Fire weapon when fully charged
- Escape: Pause/Quit
Development
I scrapped an earlier concept, and had a false-start making this in Unity first, so I was a bit too late for Compo... but I did make all the music, sound (using SFXR), graphics, and code during the 72 window. Done solo, except my girlfriend who helped play test. (EDIT: I forgot to credit the font! https://www.dafont.com/04b-03.font)
Originally created using Game Maker Studio 1.4
Issues
Most graphics aren't pixel-perfect.
Updates
Version 1.0 (8/13 4:43 AM PDT, before submission deadline) * Fixed an issue where you could get stuck in the dirt * Added a death counter to the credits
See my itch.io for latest post-Jam versions with bug fixes, difficulty tweaks, etc.!
Ratings
| Overall | 11th | 4.336⭐ | 66🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 4th | 4.367⭐ | 66🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 36th | 4.063⭐ | 65🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 136th | 4.056⭐ | 65🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 196th | 4.078⭐ | 66🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 10th | 4.32⭐ | 66🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 46th | 4.098⭐ | 63🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 80🗳️ | 71🗨️ |
I love the pixel terrain, reminds me of things like the sand playground and old games like Scorched Earth. The difficulty ramp feels very natural and the music/screen shake all fits together in a very nice package. Well done!
Very efficient mechanic and lovely, crunchy dirt mechanic
@Araklaj Ah, good idea. Perhaps it should be a separate button? I didn't run into that issue because I typically hold X until fully charged, rather than feathering the key, but I'll think of ways to improve it!
Just a little detail I can't understand....why my bullet don't collide with enemy's bullet?
And what if make a explosion which can kill a lot of enemy when your bullet collide with enemy's bullet ?
That may encourages players to try something interesting!
Time Played: 26mins 25secs
Deaths: 116
Thats insane. Your game is the best.
@scott-purcival Wow, thanks for sticking it out! I’m flattered you found it fun enough to keep with it for so many deaths! Did you find it too hard in general or did it still feel fair? I’m a little worried that the last two levels are too challenging.
I like the simplistic pixel-art and I enjoyed the music.
Although I had some difficulties with the final wave, it was fun enough to play to keep me motivated and beat the game!
Easily one of the best game's I've played so far!
Stats:
27:42 minutes
149 deaths
Suggestion: I can't actually come up with anything that could be better for the game itself. My only wish would be able to have full screen.
Time: 41:49:84
Deaths: 203
I was determined.
Time: 12:00:48
Deaths: 48
If I were to develop this further, I think I'd try to balance that duality better. Perhaps there'd be certain enemies that drop a lot of dirt, or certain enemies that destroy a lot of dirt. But you're right, as of now those ideas (too much dirt vs too little dirt) kind of clash in the current build and the theme is a bit muddied.
Thanks for the feedback!
* @wxzuir Your bullets now destroy enemy bullets. No big explosions, though!
* @nick-shooter Your bullets now deflect off the boss when he's invincible. Thanks for the feedback!
The enemy variation was good and the telegraphing of patterns was well done. Really great, simple and effective design there too.
Audio is also all round great. Just everything is nice and tiny and great! GOOD WORK! :D
Awesome game rating 5 for everytrhing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good job overall :)
@raccoon-js I'm actually considering making a Pico-8 demake of the game, so it'd be even more Atari-esque :)
- Good execution of the tutorial.. :ok_hand:
- Pretty Addicting (rapid play-through cycle) :ok_hand:
- I could see this as a mobile game! :dizzy:
- (1-button)[portrait-mode]: Hold to Grab Dirt & Shoot, Tilt or drag-button to move left/right and tap to jump.