Atoms - an arcade game by lilkrit

made by lilkrit for LD 40 (COMPO)

Play Atoms and deliver good (you know they are good because they are green) atoms to the platform because... reasons? Avoid the evil atoms (they are red, that says all) because you will acquire a lose.

Game is available in two versions. Downloadable for windows, 119MB and browser version at 167MB.

Since no one will read tutorial, here's the description: Move around with WSAD. Warning, you control the atom by using momentum, so be careful while turning. Gather the green atoms by rolling towards them. Drop them with F button. You must drop enough of them on the green platform to finish the level. However if things get nasty, you can drop a single green atom anywhere. Oops, did I forget to mention? Every carried atom makes you go slower!

You can control the camera with mouse and mousewheel. You can zoom in all the way until it becomes an FPS game - it was supposed to be a cheat but I'm feeling generous.

HTML5 (web)	https://lilkrit.itch.io/atoms-web-ld40
Windows	https://lilkrit.itch.io/atoms
Original URL	https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/40/atoms-an-arcade-game

Ratings

Overall	648^th	2.574⭐	29🧑‍⚖️
Fun	657^th	2.278⭐	29🧑‍⚖️
Innovation	601^th	2.481⭐	29🧑‍⚖️
Theme	489^th	3.056⭐	29🧑‍⚖️
Graphics	553^th	2.685⭐	29🧑‍⚖️
Humor	535^th	1.826⭐	25🧑‍⚖️
Mood	607^th	2.212⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Given		43🗳️	23🗨️

Feedback

Adrien Dittrick

04. Dec 2017 · 13:47 UTC

I have acquired a lose, maybe next time X)

terryg

12. Dec 2017 · 04:20 UTC

Nice graphics. Took me a while to figure out that you have to use the red balls momentum against them and it helps if the camera is looking down. Nice entry. Here's a live stream: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/208824772?t=00h31m54s

jk5000

23. Dec 2017 · 11:41 UTC

The idea for the game is simple and fun, and the graphics is really good. For me the enemies was too difficult to avoid and this made me die super fast. I would also have liked some music in the game, or at least some sound effects. But overall a fine LD game.

You have by the way forgotten to make a link to the windows version of the game.

fusionnist

23. Dec 2017 · 15:44 UTC

I keep acquiring losses :/
Your game looks nice, but the camera is quite clunky, and the gameplay is somewhat puzzling and doesn't vary that much - and quite hard too. Still solid, but not that polished or theme-oriented.

kernel-panic

23. Dec 2017 · 16:15 UTC

I don't know why this game is 167MB. 167MB in a browser doesn't tend too work well. Chrome doesn't seem to allow that much, but Firefox does. The browser version's mouse support is a bit off too. You also missed out the Windows version. These issues might be reducing your number of ratings.

Overall, I liked the game's graphics, but I feel that the gameplay is too simple. I also think it would have been better if the atoms only reduced your manoeuvrability, rather than your top speed, because as soon as you have more than one atom, you have no ability to avoid the red atoms. I think there could have been a lot more potential for using the environment to your advantage, such as trapping atoms behind walls or ricocheting for manoeuvrability, but sadly the level construction largely limited this approach. Good work though.

atmospherium

23. Dec 2017 · 16:41 UTC

I lost quite a few times, but could never quite beat the first level. I like the concept, but had some difficulty with the controls (a laptop trackpad isn't ideal for camera controls, but that's not your fault). The mechanic of dropping your electrons to speed up was nice, but I wish they stayed where you dropped them instead of just disappearing. I found myself dropping one or two off at a time to keep up speed, but the red orbs would swarm like crazy by the time I tried for a final trip. I enjoyed the feeling of running for my life, but I would inevitably get hit a few too many times. I had a good amount of fun playing, but I think with just a couple minor tweaks to the speed of gameplay this could be much more fun.

atmospherium

23. Dec 2017 · 16:41 UTC

🎤 lilkrit

23. Dec 2017 · 17:49 UTC

Hello - I don't know if it's better to respond to the comments here or in the description?
About the Windows version - it was always there, but because of my mistake it was just called "Source". I apologize for that. Now there are two links to essentially the same website with both source and windows version.

Dropped electrons should stay on the ground - that's the whole point, carrying a lot should be a punishment and dropping them should have some price to it:P I wanted to achieve the feeling of "risk vs reward".

I think the game is related to the theme. The more you carry, the harder the game is.

I have no idea why the game doesn't work for you in Chrome - I've been testing it on Chrome myself and it works since day one.

And it IS possible to run away from the red atoms even with full weight. I don't know if I should spoil the trick before the voting ends though? ;)

MrPhil

23. Dec 2017 · 18:59 UTC

I found it really hard to play, the camera was really erratic and enter sometimes changed the screen mode instead of go back to the menu. I like the "gravity" mechanic. I think a fixed camera would help a lot.

Satyre

23. Dec 2017 · 20:26 UTC

Very difficult in the beginning, but after another try I understood what to do. The red balls were very fast and I lost very often xD. I like the art style. The gameplay could be polished a bit more in future updates, also adding some nice music and sound to get the atmosphere of the game. The theme was used very well :) Keep up your work!

zeu31

24. Dec 2017 · 11:10 UTC

I like the idea. The game have some interesting game mechanics. A little more variety would be good.

Franklins Ghost

25. Dec 2017 · 12:59 UTC

Took me a few goes to figure out how to use the movement of the red balls to get around but once I realised what I was meant to do, it proved an interesting task to achieve. Liked the graphics thought the atoms had an effective design.

multiplexor

27. Dec 2017 · 23:41 UTC

Nice concept, the controls are quite complicated though and sometimes it feels counterintuitive what you have to do.

The art of the platforms look great, it's a pity that there is no music, that would have added to the experience :)

Keep up the hard work! :D

ambi

28. Dec 2017 · 09:20 UTC

It's kind of frustrating and not easy to get into. The game starts way too hard right at the gate. There are no audio effects to signify any gameplay elements. The game download is HUGE. I can see how with more work this could be a fun game. The player just needs to be tought how the game works with a lot easier beginning levels.