LudumData

Gem Heart by Hopeen

[raw]
made by Hopeen for LD 44 (JAM)

Gem Heart

A game made for Ludum Dare 44 - "Your life is currency"

This is a platformer somewhat inspired by Shovel Knight and Downwell.

You are a small jelly blob trying to reach the exit door of every level. In your way are different kinds of obstacles and enemies trying to ruin your day.

This is my 2nd ever Ludum Dare game and my first ever platformer so I apologize for all the bugs and jankyness of the game. I ran into a lot of issues while making it. I still hope that you can get some joy out of it!

Credits: * Made using Unity 2019.1 * Font is Munro by tenbytwenty * Sound effects made in Bfxr​w

Feel free to leave any kind of feedback I appreciate every critique you can offer!

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P.S. As for the bugs, unsure when, if ever I'm going to fix them. It would require me to redo the whole project as it's just a total mess. It is a project that I might expand on later if I get to it. As this was more of a proof of concept and a learning experience than a true competitor in the jam.

HTML5 (web) https://lame-een.itch.io/gem-heart
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/44/gem-heart

Ratings

Given 21🗳️ 10🗨️

Feedback

JofersGames
30. Apr 2019 · 15:10 UTC
The art reminds me of mech chip :)
Nikos
30. Apr 2019 · 15:17 UTC
Nice game! Yes, there are a few bugs, but I like the interpritation of the theme and the graphics. Also, how is the game inspired by shovel knight?
jutjuan
30. Apr 2019 · 15:19 UTC
The graphics are relly good and the few sound effects are nice too, also I really liked the tutorial level. Although don´t know if I didn´t fully undertand the coin system since I didn´t manage to buy any upgrade :/
Youpeoples
30. Apr 2019 · 15:21 UTC
Can only one of the orbs at the start be busted at any one time? I couldn't get them to break pressing E or F. Least, not the one I wanted to. I'd spam it on the far right one only for the far left one to break. Player is alive after zero hearts are left.Sometimes my jumps wouldn't register when I pressed the button.
DrumGadget_433
30. Apr 2019 · 15:22 UTC
Hey, congrats on your 2nd LD! I just completed my first Ludum Dare, and it feels good to finish! You should be proud, you've got a lot of interesting ideas here.

First of all, I definitely see the Downwell inspiration in your art style and color palette! I think my favorite sprite and mechanic is the coin/heart tokens in the orbs. There is a pretty large risk/reward system that is created as a result of that, and I think that's fantastic. This is definitely a concept that I think could be fully fleshed out if you were to continue with development. One thing I think you could improve upon: Some parts of the level design made navigation difficult. There were a few spots with moving obstacles (namely in lvl 2) that left few opportunities for the player to advance without losing a life. Make sure to leave clear openings for your player to sneak through, in other words, reward them for good timing!

Overall, nice take on the theme. I enjoyed playing!
GabrielNied
30. Apr 2019 · 15:23 UTC
Nice art work, and fit well the theme, good job!
shadow30
30. Apr 2019 · 15:26 UTC
Nice platformer, I think it would be great if you reset to a near platform if you fall on spikes where you can't reach a save spot anymore.
🎤 Hopeen
30. Apr 2019 · 15:27 UTC
@Nikos The Shovel Knight inspiration was the breaking of the orbs similar to the checkpoints in shovel knight.
🎤 Hopeen
30. Apr 2019 · 15:30 UTC
@youpeoples You should be able to break all of the orbs at any given time. I had a glitch where sometimes after restarting the level the orbs reset back although they shouldn't have.
As for the jumping I had some issues when resizing the game, the hitboxes wouldn't align properly and if you stood on the edge of a block you wouldn't jump.
🎤 Hopeen
30. Apr 2019 · 15:32 UTC
@drumgadget-433 Yea I'm the most disappointed with the level design, sadly didn't have too many different platformer mechanics that I could use for interesting levels and didn't have enough time to improve on the levels. Noted though, I hope I'll be able to transform the idea into a full game one day.
🎤 Hopeen
30. Apr 2019 · 15:35 UTC
@shadow30 I was considering a mechanic like that but in the end I didn't have enough time to implement it. The jump you get after being hit was the poor man's solution to that.
Youpeoples
30. Apr 2019 · 17:10 UTC
Aha! that explains the jumping issue. Solid jam attempt no less. Keep making games :)
FlashViper
02. May 2019 · 23:49 UTC
Nice game! I liked the map, and the shovel knight-esque risk versus reward system. One thing I would point out if you were to release this commercially: the reason this system works so well in Shovel Knight is because the developers don't give you extra help for destroying a checkpoint. They give you extra gold, and nothing else. They reward the best players with more of a challenge. This doesn't work very well in your game, where the skill requirement added from destroying your lives is overridden by the additional help gained from the shop.
🎤 Hopeen
03. May 2019 · 18:58 UTC
@flashviper That's true. It definitely needs a lot more balancing in that regard and a separate way of gaining money. Will keep in mind though, thanks for the advice!
sylvie
04. May 2019 · 00:53 UTC
Nice game. I liked the style and I liked being able climb walls with the wall jump.
kaeveris
04. May 2019 · 05:13 UTC
Cool game. I like the idea of having to choose life or money. Great artstyle!
miltonsilva
04. May 2019 · 09:38 UTC
This graphic style pleases me a lot I liked the proposal of the game congratulations.
Patcot
04. May 2019 · 12:28 UTC
I don't get the orb breaking part, and some of the level design is wonky and the purpose of some sections seems unclear, but I dig the art style and it's pretty entertaining so good job :)
Xeke-Death
05. May 2019 · 13:39 UTC
Some bastard level design in there. Evil. I like it.

10 points for the top hat. Must have in every run, or you don't actually win.

Graphics are cool, very simple yet the colours really help with telling what will kill me and what wont.

I like the speed that you move. Helpful in getting through the level, yet adding challenge when trying to land on a platform.

Obvious bugs with death and replaying that you know about.
HP/Currency orbs animation needs to start a little sooner, and not reset when they break and I let go of F.