From the Shadows by MaybeLaterx
The lights go out, the humans have nothing but a few measly flashlights to keep the shadows at bay. Will the darkness closing in from the walls pick them off one by one, or will the humans survive long enough to outlast the shadows?
Play as either side in this asymmetrical turn-based strategy game!
INSTRUCTIONS (PLEASE READ)
AS SHADOWS:
Spawn shadow: Click next to walls to create a level 1 shadow.
Attack: Click on a level 1 shadow that was not place this turn, then click one space away to attack.
Level up: Double click on a level 1 shadow to level it up instantly, otherwise it might level up on the next turn.
AS HUMANS:
Click on the human you want to select.
Move: Click one space away, including diagonals.
Attack: Click two spaces away to shine a light up/down/left/right to destroy level 1 and level 2 shadows!
NOTES:
Level 1 shadows can attack humans. Level 1 shadows will only level up if they are in a corner!
Level 2 shadows can't move, but are still vulnerable.
Level 3 shadows can't move, and are invincible!
Humans have a maximum three charges of light. Standing by a power battery regenerates your charge.
Press F5 to select a different level layout.
Credits
CODE: MaybeLaterX
ART: Megalon
AUDIO: Maskedsound
-----UPDATE----- Version 1.2 available here, now with Human AI so you can play as the shadows! https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h4jqpjkmu2vuxhq/AADQx0Fa9gmQvryfjU79bhlua?dl=0
Ratings
| Overall | 167th | 3.75⭐ | 22🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 172th | 3.6⭐ | 22🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 39th | 4.053⭐ | 21🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 189th | 3.85⭐ | 22🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 228th | 4⭐ | 22🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 134th | 3.7⭐ | 22🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 118th | 3.85⭐ | 22🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 20🗳️ | 17🗨️ |
The main problem in solo mode is not seeing the shadow turn. My people just die seemingly at random even when I *clearly* had them far enough from any lvl. 1 shadows. My only option is to blame the program as it doesn't show me what happened.
The other problem is related to the first one. Your instructions say lvl. 1 shadows can attack one space away, yet in reality their range orthogonally is two. That threw me off initially before I checked the multiplayer mode. Of course if the shadow turn was shown I would have gotten it immediately.
The graphics are neat and the audio serviceable. I really like the simple, yet effective animation of the characters.
With visible shadow turns and a solo shadow mode this would be just great. Now it's merely ok, so not a bad effort.
-I have to agree with @huvaakoodia that it would be greatly helpful to have a visual representation of the shadow's turn in single-player mode. I too wasn't entirely sure how my people died sometimes.
-Perhaps include instructions within the game? A tutorial mode that shows visually how each movement option operates for both teams would help. It wasn't immediately clear to me that level 1 shadows can move one space THEN they kill anything one space away from them including diagonals.
-I did unfortunately encounter a bug twice. Not sure what it means because I don't use Game Maker, but here it is:
Unable to find any instance for object index '100293' name '<undefined>'
at gml_Object_oController_Step_0
Sorry that I can't remember the circumstances in which it occurred!
The graphics are great, especially the animations. The animation of a human being swallowed by the ground is cute, even if it's resulting in their untimely death. :p
The music is very catchy, and I'm impressed that there are multiple tracks for the title screen, the actual game and a little jingle when you lose (and I assume also when you win, but I didn't manage that haha).
Just a couple quality-of-life fixes are needed I think, so it's most of the way there!
I'm not really into turn based games but I gotta say I had a good time playing this one. I guess the game being well balanced and fluid helped on that!
The audio is really nice as it helps to set the mood and it doesn't distract the player!
Well done!
Great Job!