Cryptographer by Firebelley

[raw]
made by Firebelley for LD 42 (JAM)

Cryptographer's puzzle-platformer levels shrink as the player moves. Planning and precision are necessary to avoid blocking the path to level completion.

Check out my upcoming 2D dungeon crawler Tenacious at http://www.tenaciousgame.com

I stream development of Tenacious at http://twitch.tv/firebelley

Tenacious and Cryptographer were developed using the Godot engine

My personal best for the timed run is 1:53.01

Game font is BitPotion https://joebrogers.itch.io/bitpotion

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Ratings

Overall 95th 3.953⭐ 66🧑‍⚖️
Fun 52th 3.952⭐ 65🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 49th 4⭐ 66🧑‍⚖️
Theme 33th 4.328⭐ 66🧑‍⚖️
Audio 382th 3.272⭐ 59🧑‍⚖️
Given 48🗳️ 35🗨️

Feedback

Incin
13. Aug 2018 · 02:28 UTC
Running on Linux gives `Error: Could not load game path '.'` when trying to start it.
The_Icy_One
13. Aug 2018 · 02:42 UTC
Loved the way you handled the shrinking, it took me a while to figure out how it worked. My only complaint is that the controls feel a little loose, I think most noticeably when trying to jump precisely.
🎤 Firebelley
13. Aug 2018 · 02:42 UTC
@incin Ahh thanks, I mis-prepared the linux build (I have no way to test linux). The updated link should work now. Thanks for checking out the game!
Jasper Hansen
13. Aug 2018 · 02:51 UTC
You utilized this interesting concept really well when designing the levels. Graphics, game play, and entertainment value are all at a relative high in this game.
shinysteel
13. Aug 2018 · 02:54 UTC
Love it! This is a very unique approach to the theme, well done! Having the walls shrink in according to player movement is a very interesting game mechanic.
Incin
13. Aug 2018 · 02:57 UTC
Really fun game! Very good interpretation of the theme. Simple concept but executed well. Great job!
SeaFishelle
13. Aug 2018 · 03:05 UTC
Hey, a fellow Godoteur!

Ohhh my goodness. This is, dare I say, excellent. I think my favorite level (out of the 9 I played, sorry :x) is definitely level 5. Using the death-screaming walls as the only way to finish the level is straight-up brilliant game design. You get 5's across the board from me. Well done. Be proud of this.
dalbinblue
13. Aug 2018 · 03:58 UTC
I quite like what you've done here. I expected a lot of games to have a wall coming in to crush you aspect to them, but I was really happy that you made them part of the actual puzzle, by making the process controllable and predictable, as well as an integral part to solving puzzles. I was able to make it to level 9, but after 50 attempts I had to concede, I think I see the solution, but it feels like it's a matter of being incredibly precise on movement, and I couldn't find the exact movements to quite get into the little room housing the exit (I was squished enough times above or below). Is the margin of error that tight on that level?
Austino Bobino
13. Aug 2018 · 04:07 UTC
This is a great example of what good game design looks like, the concept itself ties into the theme perfectly and the level designs are brilliant. The puzzles are creative and make excellent use of the core game mechanics. Great work!
aaranos
13. Aug 2018 · 04:10 UTC
I finished with 48 fails. The game was very well made. I like the look of it and the difficulty is just high enough that it stays interesting but not so hard that you just move on.

Very clever use of the theme and with the game mechanics. 5/5 from me.
piece ofcheese
13. Aug 2018 · 04:12 UTC
Great game! There was one bug I found where it detects that you're "stuck" if you get caught under a bomb, but you can actually get out from under it and the stuck text remains. It was also a little hard to get the player into the 1-block gaps. Other than that though, really well executed game with a great concept.
🎤 Firebelley
13. Aug 2018 · 04:21 UTC
@dalbinblue Yes, there are a few levels that are by no means easy and do require precise movement. I have maybe hundreds of attempts throughout my playtesting and I still can't finish some of the levels without failing a few times. Thanks for playing!
mitsu.artemius
13. Aug 2018 · 07:28 UTC
The pixelart and mechanics are great
Memel06
13. Aug 2018 · 08:32 UTC
This is a pretty solid entry! The movement-shrink mechanic it's really clever and creates some "scarcity" emotions in players.
Graphics are aestethic and polished, and the level design is really nice.

Thanks for your work! Please, post a WebGL version if you can.
REBDC
13. Aug 2018 · 10:01 UTC
A pretty difficult but not hard and definitely not unfair platformer. The music and art are extremely well made. And the game is really fun to play. Great work.
🎤 Firebelley
13. Aug 2018 · 13:19 UTC
@memel06 Thank you so much! I developed the game with C# for Godot and I don't believe HTML5 export is supported yet for the C# language. I would definitely post a web version if I could!
snakemuho
13. Aug 2018 · 13:59 UTC
Very well made and original. I'm curious, you've opted out of graphics, are those sprites from some other game of yours? They look really nice.
🎤 Firebelley
13. Aug 2018 · 14:02 UTC
@snakemuho Thanks! Yes, the assets are from a game I am currently developing (http://tenaciousgame.com). Out of respect for the rules, I opted out of the graphics category because the graphical assets were made well before the jam.
Devio
13. Aug 2018 · 15:01 UTC
Had quite a bit of fun with this one, I found out eventually that the walls only move when you do. The music, while cool at first got a bit annoying and distracting. The graphics within themselves was interesting and a change to 3d or normal 2d. Well done!
G4MR
13. Aug 2018 · 16:12 UTC
Now this is what you call a game. I got stuck on level 8, but I'll come back to it. You should definitely come back to this and make it a full game. You killed this theme. (music got old after a while, thank you for adding the speaker box haha)
Jayjader
13. Aug 2018 · 20:15 UTC
Great game, loved the execution on this jam's theme. I think a bit less inertia for the sideways movement would have made the controls feel tighter. Also, level 9 seems to require "exploiting" the fact that a wall stops registering the player movement during its "retreat" - a.k.a. between being hit by a bomb & having finished applying the bomb's affect. If you're counting on the player to figure out this behavior themselves then it makes the level a *big* step up in difficulty from the previous ones.
CraneStyle
13. Aug 2018 · 20:17 UTC
Solid entery, i feel there may could be some better feedback in a few interactions but the core is good.

Sharing is caring. Apparently adding a link is bad form on my part. Sorry everyone this is a new experience to me.
watdowtal
13. Aug 2018 · 22:39 UTC
Nice work! I enjoyed getting stuck a lot :P.
svntax
14. Aug 2018 · 01:22 UTC
Really interesting mechanic with the walls! I liked having to stop and think before moving in some levels.
Lefinno
14. Aug 2018 · 05:36 UTC
A great challenging game.
Alien
14. Aug 2018 · 06:08 UTC
I don't know if its me but I can't get it running on Linux
Nam Nguyen
14. Aug 2018 · 06:11 UTC
Whow the mechanic of this game is so simple yet working so great. It makes you go slow in a platformer. There is a lot of puzzle element in the game as well and the the last to end level is just magnificent. I guess that tells how much I liked the game. Good job!!
beanslasher
14. Aug 2018 · 06:15 UTC
I watched a streamer play this, and then I needed to download it and beat it haha only 110 tries .lol
My Sweet Whomp
14. Aug 2018 · 07:28 UTC
Cool idea, some levels were quite hard :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:
Marshal
14. Aug 2018 · 13:34 UTC
Really good idea, nice work.
🎤 Firebelley
14. Aug 2018 · 13:39 UTC
@alien you might have to make it an executable file, sorry I don't have a Linux machine so it's tough for me to prepare the build correctly
Dizzy
14. Aug 2018 · 13:50 UTC
nice work! really loved
guilhermesouza
14. Aug 2018 · 13:52 UTC
I had a good time with your game!! Nice graphics and gameplay!!
Ectomic
14. Aug 2018 · 21:49 UTC
The level design fits really well the concept, it makes a really entertaining puzzle/platform game. Great job!
PenguinPotential
14. Aug 2018 · 22:09 UTC
Full points for originality! The sound effects pitch change is very welcomed, and the bombs add a unique twist to an already original concept. The graphics were pretty simple, but you realized this.
Roidz
15. Aug 2018 · 00:16 UTC
lovely game. loved it
Jeremy Ryan
15. Aug 2018 · 00:19 UTC
Awesome use of the theme! Main mechanic is brilliant, bombs add another level of strategy. Overall "feel" is really strong (wish you hadn't opted out of mood). Music works, but is pretty repetetive.
theslate
15. Aug 2018 · 00:23 UTC
Really awesome puzzle platformer mechanic.
uvwar
15. Aug 2018 · 00:33 UTC
Great game, I only had 75 failures!
Thomas Lessa
15. Aug 2018 · 03:00 UTC
Dark Souls 2d?
Haha Great game! Love the mechanic, pixel art and the challenge. The music is too repetitive but it's ok for a game jam. This took me some time, oh god I'm bad.

![dsdsdsfffffffff.png](///raw/df0/41/z/19a1b.png)
CosmicCrystalGames
15. Aug 2018 · 04:22 UTC
Great platformer controls and a superb use of the theme. Some expertly designed puzzle levels for sure though some jumps were super hardcore!
AwiX
15. Aug 2018 · 07:38 UTC
A good game idea, the music should be improved. The graphics are good.
Try our game too, maybe you'll like it)
Truc_e
15. Aug 2018 · 10:37 UTC
Wow, good everything, brilliant concept and well done. Could use adjustable jump based on how much you hold it down for tighter controls.
guladam
15. Aug 2018 · 10:39 UTC
Awesome interpretation of the idea! Smooth controls, nice graphics, not much to say about that one. Wonderful job! :-]
danielpancake
15. Aug 2018 · 10:56 UTC
This game is solid awesome) love platformer mechanic, it's cool. great work!
jtrink
15. Aug 2018 · 11:46 UTC
Some great game design here, the platforming feels great and the difficulty has been tuned just right. The ability to quickly reset really helped me get into the classic 'I have to give the level one more try' mindset.

Great level design as well. Could use a bit more polish though. I was a bit disappointed bombs wouldn't affect two walls at the same time (when falling into a corner between the two).
Ice Maker
15. Aug 2018 · 19:03 UTC
I love how strategic the gameplay is and the graphics are pretty good as well.
Bandygrass
16. Aug 2018 · 05:13 UTC
Using the closing walls as collision for wall-hopping; brilliant!! Such a clever use of the theme, cute visuals, fun twitch gameplay, really solid work! ^-^
Lumpy
17. Aug 2018 · 18:39 UTC
Simple and crisp gameplay, just the way I like it! Some fps issues made it so I couldn't make some jumps, but offstream it was fine. Thanks for a fun game!
🎤 Firebelley
17. Aug 2018 · 18:54 UTC
@lumpy Thank you so much again for playing my game and other's on stream! It really helps with visibility. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Daniel Olsson
17. Aug 2018 · 22:13 UTC
Engaging and fun game with perfect theme utilization, 188 tries to win. It didn't have the perfect sidescroller feel, and it had some bugs getting the "stuck" without getting stuck. Great game overall.
bitdecay
18. Aug 2018 · 20:21 UTC
I beat the game like 3 times, so that alone says something as to the idea you have here. It's an interesting way to associate a cost to movement in a platformer. There are some more interesting puzzles in there than I expected. I also really like the way you introduced the bombs -- kudos to good game design there.

The music is good, but it doesn't really feel to me like it belongs here. That's really only comment I have. Though I guess there is one thing: It would be nice if your 'timed' mode let the player finish even if they don't hit the 2 minute mark. I want to know how fast I am at the game even if I can't do it in two minutes.

A great entry, overall!
paulhocker
25. Aug 2018 · 02:01 UTC
great use of the theme - felt a good rush while playing it - thanks for making it
psychead
25. Aug 2018 · 19:07 UTC
Well crafted game. The platformer controls were a bit frustrating at times, paired with the tight movements (especially at the end of level 9), but it still was a very fun experience. Good job, very enjoyable entry!
DleanJeans
28. Aug 2018 · 03:49 UTC
I like the mechanics, didn't read the description so it takes me couples of level to work out how the walls move. At first I thought their movements were scripted or something :P
The combination of jumping physics and the arrangement of platforms (small one-block gaps and platform directly above platform) made it really frustrating though, for me it's Level 11.

Good job, anyway!

Edit: Next time, you may wanna upload on [itch.io](http://itch.io), it's easier to download games there.
ursagames
29. Aug 2018 · 13:05 UTC
Loved all of the mechanics at play in this game! Very challenging, but fun. Thanks for sharing the game with my stream awhile back! Here's a link to the vod: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/297569760?t=01h44m56s
🎤 Firebelley
29. Aug 2018 · 14:01 UTC
@ursagames Thank you so much for playing it on stream! I really appreciate it.