The Custodian of ZX-42 by Darkphnx

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqm5fMCtJ2I

You are the custodian of the ever-growing and hostile planet, ZX-42. Clean up the baddies, collect kindling, and return to your "safe-space" before it runs out!!

Note: The WebGL version works, but the Windows version runs better and actually has a main menu. The WebGL build wouldn't run, so the main menu was removed and text was placed over the start of the game scene.

Ratings

Overall 51th 4.071⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Fun 108th 3.81⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 99th 3.833⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Theme 729th 3.333⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 155th 4.167⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Audio 53th 4.024⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Humor 557th 2.658⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Mood 108th 3.833⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Given 16🗳️ 23🗨️

Feedback

chaitae
15. Aug 2018 · 13:41 UTC
This game was so well put together! The soundtrack, sfx sounds, art, and I really like the whole giant person world mechanic. Can't wait to see what else you guys throw out.
iBalls
15. Aug 2018 · 23:23 UTC
Best game I play so far Nice graphics and love the sounds. I reach level 7 I was wondering if the game has ending?
phearbot
16. Aug 2018 · 01:32 UTC
@chaitae, thanks for the feedback!

@iballs, currently the game is endless. The world keeps scaling and getting more blue (until actually around level 7 I believe at which point it stays the same blue). We had tossed around some ideas about having the poor custodian rescued at level 10, but it's not in the game.
mccarlp
16. Aug 2018 · 02:28 UTC
Slick presentation! I teach game design and I bookmarked this one to show my students. Really nicely done! A+!
PunisherXA
16. Aug 2018 · 02:29 UTC
It's a great game, i played it on Web so it gets really laggy to play correctly, it's a little bit weird how you complete a level, I got so confused I pressed everything and almost crashed the browser xD
I could see the mechanics, enjoy the music and some graphics. great work
phearbot
16. Aug 2018 · 02:36 UTC
@mccarlp, thanks for the kind words, I hope they enjoy it!

@punisherxa, thanks! The game is definitely pushing the limits of WebGL. I've been considering re-working some of it this weekend to optimize it for WebGL (If I do we'll leave the original WebGL submission up as well), but for now the executable is definitely the best experience.
LandoSystems
16. Aug 2018 · 02:39 UTC
Fun game! Really enjoyed the voxel style, and the lighting was great. Solid soundtrack and sound effects too. I made it to level 8 and died because I got greedy. Great work overall!
phearbot
16. Aug 2018 · 02:49 UTC
@landosystems, thanks for the feedback!
cbenoit
16. Aug 2018 · 02:51 UTC
Really liked the art style for this one, and the player nav across each side was a nice touch. I did find it a little odd that you can only heal with enough kindling, but you turn that in at the same spot as where you end the level. Meaning that by the time I did need healing, I had to scrounge up 8 or so pieces. Before then I just figured the growing end was just a signal that you beat the level, unless it was healing me 1/2 a heart or something each time and I didn't notice, heh. Also I wish I read the comments here earlier about if it was endless or not, I got to level 15 or so before I started wondering about it :P. Great job overall!
phearbot
16. Aug 2018 · 03:03 UTC
@cbenoit, I think level 15 is a record, including on the dev team! I definitely agree we need to rethink the healing/end zone a little bit. It was initially going to be a fire that you had to kindle, but we wanted the AoE zone to be very clear. The AoE you see now is what we got in place to show that, and the fire that would burn out (no longer healing) didn't quite make it in! Thanks for playing, and especially thanks for the feedback!
Echo Team
16. Aug 2018 · 03:05 UTC
Is it the baddies who run out of space?

Anyways, looks fantastic. Good music too. I like the cube and camera movement.
phearbot
16. Aug 2018 · 03:44 UTC
@echo-team, the "safe space" is the gold sphere that is slowly shrinking. :) Thanks for the feedback!
Echo Team
16. Aug 2018 · 03:48 UTC
@phearbot Ah I didn't realize it was shrinking! I only saw it growing.
NDHR Productions
16. Aug 2018 · 03:50 UTC
This was an AMAZING game. The art, music, sounds, movement, and goal were all absolutely amazing. The web one was a bit slow at the beginning of new rounds and at the startup but other than that everything was very smooth and I loved it!
phearbot
16. Aug 2018 · 03:52 UTC
@echo-team, totally. We should have an on-screen indicator to show you it is constantly shrinking, as well as a tutorial that tells you up front.
comenoha
16. Aug 2018 · 03:52 UTC
I love the gameplay and the graphics. The camera was very well done - that's what hooked me to the game right away. Really really great work here.
phearbot
16. Aug 2018 · 04:41 UTC
@comenoha, thanks for the feedback! I really enjoyed working on the camera and making it feel good!
zlou_kote
16. Aug 2018 · 09:44 UTC
Wow I really like this game, it has a good sound, effects, atmosphere and art. Good job)
danielpancake
16. Aug 2018 · 10:13 UTC
Awesome beautiful game! Reminds me Fez a little bit)
meatpudding
16. Aug 2018 · 10:33 UTC
Cool game. I think it would be good to be able to make your character turn in place as well.
CaptainChoones
16. Aug 2018 · 15:27 UTC
Feedback:

- Nice graphics
- Good idea
- Great concept
- Sound really good

I love the gameplay and good work. The concept is excellent.
blxckmass
17. Aug 2018 · 05:14 UTC
Amazing, favourite game of the jam so far, the mood, the soundtrack, the game feel, even the menu when I went to see the credits, incredible job, I'm definetely going to keep this game and play anytime I feel anxiety or I want to relax.
digital bacon
17. Aug 2018 · 13:02 UTC
Nicely done game. Interesting playing area layout, nice graphical style and sound that doesn't bash the eardrums. Great work!
FuriousWitch
21. Aug 2018 · 01:35 UTC
Nice game! I loved the cubic world thingie and I felt that everything fit together. Great work :)