Shape Shift by paradxil

[raw]
made by paradxil for LD35 (COMPO)
UPDATE: After receiving multiple complaints about the menu I have uploaded an updated version of the game to itch.io that allows you to select levels using the mouse. You can find the link below.

--- About The Game ---

I programmed this game in python using pygame. You control a shape which you shape shift to match it with shape templates that enter the screen. You then move your shape with the mouse over a the correct shape template to complete a match. Survive for as long as you can to unlock new levels.


--- Menu Screen ---

Use W/S Keys to select a level from the list on the left.
If the text is grey that means the level is currently locked and you have to unlock it by achieving a high enough score on a previous level. The requirements to unlock a level are listed after the level name.

Each level in the level list has a number next to it. This number is the score for that level. The score is equal to the number of seconds you survived in the game.

If you find the game too easy use A/D to change the difficulty. Each difficulty has unique scores for the levels.


--- How To Play ---

Controls: Mouse, Mouse Wheel, WASD/Arrows, and QE keys

Mouse: Move your shape over other shapes to complete a match.
Mouse Wheel: Scroll to change your shape between a triangle, square, and pentagon.
AD: Change the color of your shape.
WS: Change the size of your shape.
QE: Rotate your shape.

Certain levels only require you to control certain properties of your shape. When the level starts it will highlight the controls you need to use. Use these controls to change your shape to match the template shapes (outlined shapes) that enter the screen. Then move them on top of the template shape to complete a match.

*You lose when you let shapes fall off the screen.*

For example, if a green hexagon outline enters, then you would have to use AD keys to change the color of your shape to green. Then you would use the mouse wheel to change your shape to a hexagon and finally move your mouse to make your shape hover over the green hexagon.

You can unlock new levels by achieving a high enough score on the previous level.


--- How to Run ---

Run the ShapeShift.exe found in the download. I compiled it for windows only. However, you can still run it from source if you have python 2.7 and pygame installed on your machine.


--- Other Notes ---

One:
If you dare look at the source code you should be warned that this is some of the ugliest code I ever written. I was cramped for time this weekend and programmed it all in one main.py file. There are no comments.

Two:
The music is pretty bad. You can mute it using the M key if you so desire. Parts of it are ok but I simply did not have enough time to make beautiful music. I decided to include it as a category to be judged but almost did not.

Three:
Let me know if you think the levels are too hard or too easy etc. I had a hard time getting the difficulty correct. Some of the later levels are really hard even for me.

Ratings

Coolness 61% 3
Overall 3.26 428
Audio 3.43 150
Fun 3.55 186
Graphics 3.23 380
Innovation 3.06 495
Theme 3.45 411

Feedback

murraya2
18. Apr 2016 · 05:10 UTC
Incredibly inaccessible. There may be an okay game here, but I really can't reach it through the menus. When I finally got to the game it was okay, but it didn't last long and was very hard to control.
jcmonkey
18. Apr 2016 · 05:21 UTC
Nice music, the game was pretty fun, though i was only able to see squares, i tried all the difficulties, but only squares.
Katamori
18. Apr 2016 · 05:26 UTC
Thanks for reviewing my game - now it's my turn.

At first I couldn't understand, how it works, but when I catched it, the game became amazing. I especially love the way I automatically clear out shapes when I'm even only a bit close.

5 for Fun.
Mieeh
18. Apr 2016 · 18:33 UTC
Very confusing menu and little took me some time go get going but it was a fun little game when i finally understood it-somewhat. As a pygame user myself, i really enjoyed the visual effects(the explosions) xD
pixzleone
18. Apr 2016 · 21:02 UTC
Difficult, but cool and pretty. Good job!
matiasbontempo
19. Apr 2016 · 00:44 UTC
Nice game. It is a hard game and I had to replay it some times to understand how to play it. Menu is not that clear.
🎤 paradxil
19. Apr 2016 · 01:52 UTC
Thank you guys for all your input.. I'll definitely try to make the menu clearer in the future. I did not realize it was a problem but that's probably because I'm the one who made it.
Cosmologicon
19. Apr 2016 · 03:54 UTC
Maybe I'm weird but I didn't have any trouble figuring out the menu. I think it's a great idea for a game, but ideally it would have a well-balanced progression of difficulty that ramps up steadily over time, rather than having the player select it. You're right that this is a hard thing to do well, though. I found Sizes, even on easy, to be just beyond my ability. I got in the 50s a few times but never quite finished it.

I like the chill mood - not sure why you didn't want to be rated on mood but I would have given it 4 or 5 stars. The explosions are a nice touch.
bvisness
19. Apr 2016 · 04:52 UTC
Nice game. The hitboxes are just about right - you don't have to be exactly on the shape to dispatch it. Tracking one or two shifts at a time was fun, but above that got a bit hard. Though this does seem like the kind of game that you get better at with practice.
ranmaru90
19. Apr 2016 · 04:59 UTC
The user-unfriendly menu aside, this is quite the game! Love it.
JJJANEE
20. Apr 2016 · 03:17 UTC
I absolutely loved this game! I would totally get it if it was a mobile game lol. The graphics looked simple but I absolutely loved it; it just looks really elegant and smooth and the 'fireworks' were really neat. The music was nice and fits the game really well. The control was so smooth! I really enjoyed playing it and I had a lot of fun! The concept fits with the theme really well too! It was so creative. It's just perfect :) Awesome job!!
Just one tiny thing... It was really hard... I have a terribly long reaction time so this game was really challenging for me. Nevertheless I really enjoyed it! The fact that I still had fun although I was losing so much further proves that it was a great game. ;)
igrir
20. Apr 2016 · 03:35 UTC
It's fun and challenging. I don't know about you, but I really like the music though! It somehow reminded me a nice old school feeling.
Asturk
25. Apr 2016 · 11:17 UTC
Very nice game, and the music was very good. It took me time to get used to the game commands, but it was a good game, though!
martymon
25. Apr 2016 · 12:32 UTC
pretty good. Very accessible. I had fun.
Freank
26. Apr 2016 · 17:12 UTC
Hi, nice game ! We're realizing a video with several games of the Ludum Dare #35.
Can you add your game on indiexpo.net ? (it's free)
So we can include also your game in the video ;)
p.s. write #LDJAM in the game's description
Aaranos
29. Apr 2016 · 03:49 UTC
Simple but it is fun. I didn't think the music was bad and actually thought it added to it.
drentsoft
03. May 2016 · 15:49 UTC
Nice game, controls smoothly.