LudumData

Life Cycle by zubspace

[raw]
made by zubspace for LD 44 (COMPO)

About

Life Cycle is a complex 2D platformer made in Unity for the LD44 Compo. As you wander the woods something unexpected happens... Enjoy the adventure and have fun!

Beware: This one is difficult! But, if you're stuck, think first...

life-cycle-screenshots.gif

This is my first Ludum Dare entry! I'm a c# programmer and use Unity in my spare time. My focus lies on the programming side.

I hope you like the game!

Instructions

Use A/D or Arrow Keys to move left and right. Use Space to jump. Q (WebGL) or ESC (Standalone) aborts a level.

Used Tools

  • Unity 2018.3.13f1 and Visual Studio 2019
  • Medibang Paint Pro and Paint.NET for (programmer) art
  • SFXR, Audacity and a bit of Bosca Ceoil for sound effects. Not enough time for music..

If you want to know more about this project, here is a Post Mortem which also includes a timelapse. There is also a (hopefully) funny Comic Strip related to the game.

Changes

2 tiny after-submission-hour UI Fixes:

1) WebGL UI Fix: The Escape Key leaves Fullscreen Mode in a browser. Therefore added a button in the level selection screen to return to the start screen.

2) WebGL UI Fix: The Escape Key leaves Fullscreen Mode in a browser. Therefore listening to Q instead while playing and added an Info to the level selection screen.

Source Code https://github.com/ZuBsPaCe/ludum-dare-44
HTML5 (web) https://www.zubspace.com/games/life-cycle
Windows https://www.zubspace.com/user/games/life-cycle/life-cycle-ld44.zip
Linux https://www.zubspace.com/user/games/life-cycle/life-cycle-ld44-linux.zip
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/44/life-cycle

Ratings

Given 65🗳️ 60🗨️

Feedback

Vinay Rao
29. Apr 2019 · 06:22 UTC
I played one much like it in LD43 wherein you'd use your character bodies as footholds to progress. Though I think I enjoyed this one more. The saw blade obstacles, buttons, and conveyor belts add some spice to the formula. The currency twist in this one for unlocking levels is a good take on the theme, and adds something to the replay value of the game. The level design here is really solid.

Could do with a level reset button to cut losses and start over when playing a stage. I managed to leave enough bodies in one stage to make it difficult to clear on the first attempt, which snowballed against me.

Solid game, well done!
Caspercaper17
29. Apr 2019 · 07:47 UTC
The cube is like usain bolt. It makes it kinda hard to control. The font also didnt really fit the game. Furtherwise you did an amazing job. Some simple pixel art wouldve spiced up the game a lot, but hey, not everybody is an artist.
PurpledArtFrog
29. Apr 2019 · 07:49 UTC
Something couldn't get to any platforms - am I missing something?
b3agz
29. Apr 2019 · 07:52 UTC
The premise of the game is good, I think the controls could use a bit of tweaking but overall I enjoyed it.
Memel06
29. Apr 2019 · 08:51 UTC
It surely need some polishing and some graphics addition, but in overall is a fun game.

Maybe the cube is too fast and writings are not style-fitting, but the core gameplay is rock solid and I had fun (and that is the most important thing)

Nice entry
stevenjmiller
29. Apr 2019 · 09:28 UTC
Good game, the last few levels were quite difficult. As for feedback, I think it would be nice to be able to press up or space to jump rather than just space. Additionally, I feel like there should be a reset button so that you don't have to quit a level and reenter it to reset the death counter, especially in later levels where corpses can clutter up the bounce pads.
🎤 zubspace
29. Apr 2019 · 09:32 UTC
Thank you all for the precious feedback!

By the way. If you're stuck and can't progress, you can always hit **Q** on the HTML5 Build and **ESC** on the Windows/Linux to return to the level selection. Then you can restart the level.
volatile-dove
29. Apr 2019 · 10:14 UTC
The controls are fast and satisfying, which makes it quite fun. The theme is well used. Good job!
Sodaro
29. Apr 2019 · 10:24 UTC
I like the feel of the controls, but if it was possible to not go full speed that would be neat! I reached act 2 but the conveyor + sawblade gap was a bit too precise for me :sweat_smile: Anyways, good job on your entry!
DaniDev
29. Apr 2019 · 11:56 UTC
* Controls are clean! Feels good to play, and with a bit of tweaking you could probably make it even better!
* As someone else mentioned, the graphics could do with some more work
* Overall I had a lot of fun, good job!
grllle
29. Apr 2019 · 11:58 UTC
What a nice spin on the meat boy mechanic. And really nice level design. There seems to be lot to discover, i will definitely check this out again later.
EvoGenGames
29. Apr 2019 · 12:21 UTC
This is a very nice first entry!
You should be really proud of this.

I loved that you put some story in this platformer :-)
LyghtningWither
29. Apr 2019 · 13:16 UTC
I got an ERR_CONNECTION_CLOSED when trying to open the links.
DrRozza
29. Apr 2019 · 15:58 UTC
It's pretty fun! I like the use of the theme. One thing about the spikes; sometimes I'm dying from colliding with them when I'm absolutely sure I didn't hit them. Level designs are great though.
Niteb
29. Apr 2019 · 16:02 UTC
Solid controls and the grave is an interesting system!
TasakaSama
29. Apr 2019 · 16:03 UTC
the movements are way too complex and too fast but it works, nice game
Von Vista
29. Apr 2019 · 17:38 UTC
Needs some polishing and controls need a full work around. But graphics is surely high in quality with this one, also had fun while playing. Congrats!!!
Skalex
29. Apr 2019 · 19:46 UTC
Cube is quite fast but you get used to it over time. Really fun and its really good how much content you made. However, graphics...
vanLeiden
29. Apr 2019 · 20:11 UTC
Pretty cute, reminds me of Super Meat Boy.
Retronator
29. Apr 2019 · 20:25 UTC
A fine game, would consider the introductions of mechanics a bit more to the player as the first level with the bouncy platforms were a bit hard to understand. I simply guessed I needed to jump from the top due to experience, so always consider introducing a mechanic easily and try to show the player where the goal is to not make them confused, otherwise nice job making so many levels!
SilvervaleGames
29. Apr 2019 · 21:01 UTC
There's actually quite a bit of game here, which is great for a jam game. One thing that I kept experiencing is some bounding box issues with the spikes. Like I would come back and my body would be impaled in the middle of a bouncy pad instead of spikes.
gwinnell
29. Apr 2019 · 21:11 UTC
Player control feels very slippery, and sometimes the level/camera design is unfair in that you can't see ahead, where you might die. Luckily, the core mechanic brings it back and helps negate that through the reducing of hazards. Nice amount of levels, though would have liked to see more visuals/graphics. :thumbsup: My only other feedback is that the act/chapter titles stay on screen for a disproportionately long time! :sweat_smile:
GreenBoxGames
29. Apr 2019 · 23:33 UTC
This is a pretty solid game, I enjoyed it for the first while but soon found it to be a bit repetitive. Maybe some more visual variety would have helped? The mechanic of using your dead body as platforms was really fun to play around with. Overall I enjoyed this game, keep up the good work!
kuro
30. Apr 2019 · 08:33 UTC
A nice platformer, had a bit of fun with it. As someone else said, the character is a bit hard to control with his speed, also, I think I know what you might be going for, but acceleration/deceleration doesn't work very well in any platformer. Overall, good job!
Gao Ming
30. Apr 2019 · 10:35 UTC
Simple and cool games！Good job！
Cubicode
30. Apr 2019 · 14:16 UTC
I like the game, even if it is indeed quite hard.

Especially the idea of your dead corpses staying in the scene to be used is funny.
sillyman987
30. Apr 2019 · 15:45 UTC
Like it!
kyavi
01. May 2019 · 22:48 UTC
some games have particularly special/memorable moments. the first time i threw myself into a pit of spikes and then saw my corpse the second time around was one of those great "oooooh!" experiences :)
🎤 zubspace
02. May 2019 · 20:22 UTC
Thank you so much for sharing your opinions! This is my first Ludum Dare and I already learned so many things, which I can hopefully improve upon next time.

Because you fine people deserve it, here is a [Post Mortem](https://www.zubspace.com/blog/ludum-dare-44), with lots of insights into Life Cycle and Unity and how it came to be, including a timelapse.

And I made this comic for you, called **Reusable Cubes**:
![zubspace_reusable_cubes_comic.png](///raw/037/22/z/2464c.png)
Simon Rahnasto
02. May 2019 · 22:35 UTC
Impressive entry for being your first time! Good use of the theme, it's pretty funny to just keep sacrificing your character. I also really like the intro that you built into the first level. For a compo game the art is also really good, very coherent and nice.

Great job!
Attala
04. May 2019 · 21:17 UTC
You really nailed the graphics I think. Considering this is nearly as simplistic as can be :) Nice mechanics. Well done.
Pierre CILLUFFO
05. May 2019 · 19:37 UTC
Good ideas overall but a lack of finish in the visual and audio.