LudumData

Oracle Pine by Swanijam

[raw]
made by Swanijam for Ludum Dare 45 (JAM)

Read carefully the signs on the Oracle Pine, and conduct a ritual older than the sun. Will this be your moment?

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oraclepinecandlestitle.png

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-----Controls------

R to Rotate Objects

E to Toggle their States

Right Click to zoom and focus

Left Click to pick things up and put them down

WASD to move

Conduct a powerful ceremony in the woods, divine the meaning of sigils and markings, place magical items around your altar, and beware the effects you have on the world.

Consider following us on twitter if you like our game! :D <3

@Inky https://twitter.com/starrySquids

@swanijam https://twitter.com/swanijam

Youtube https://swanijam.itch.io/oracle-pine
Youtube https://swanijam.itch.io/oracle-pine
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/45/redwood-oracle-1

Ratings

Overall 120th 3.975⭐ 62🧑‍⚖️
Fun 258th 3.65⭐ 62🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 116th 3.9⭐ 62🧑‍⚖️
Theme 413th 3.517⭐ 62🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 183th 4.139⭐ 63🧑‍⚖️
Audio 28th 4.18⭐ 63🧑‍⚖️
Humor 597th 2.627⭐ 57🧑‍⚖️
Mood 31th 4.258⭐ 62🧑‍⚖️
Given 55🗳️ 74🗨️

Feedback

MattWagar
08. Oct 2019 · 01:13 UTC
Absolutely amazing. Stunning. Without a doubt one of the best games I've played for this jam. The music, the mood, the story, the graphics: they were all on point!!
Nisovin
08. Oct 2019 · 04:02 UTC
Very cool. I was a bit confused at first, but figured out what I was meant to do.
Farlandwinter
08. Oct 2019 · 04:21 UTC
I love this game so much, it has very nice art and mood. But may be a little bit confusing at the beginning.And when I press space, the screen begins shaking. Is it on purpose?
BankSho
08. Oct 2019 · 04:21 UTC
This was a really good game. Probably one of the best I've played so far. I hope one day I can have your skills :) Thanks for sharing!
BrotherBondProduction
08. Oct 2019 · 04:23 UTC
Man this game gave me and my brother the creeps! The atmosphere was so well done starting with the low bit graphics and eerie guitar that detunes when you sacrifice the flowers. Great experience! Cheers!
SageWare
08. Oct 2019 · 06:07 UTC
The mysterious name alone made me want to play it. The game was such an experience. Very creepy atmosphere. The graphics and music work so well together, and the internal dialog made me feel connected to the world. I hope I beat it correctly because I wasn't really sure if I made a mistake in the puzzles. I got the same ending three times. One of my favorite games of the jam so far.
Bip
08. Oct 2019 · 06:56 UTC
AMAZING GAME! The atmosphere the sounds the mystery the story. EVERYTHING! Best game I've played in this jam so far.
radgegames
08. Oct 2019 · 07:08 UTC
Oh man this game is sweeeetttttt love it, great job even though I'm still not exactly sure what it has to do with the theme
smileyface
08. Oct 2019 · 11:59 UTC
So far this is the best game I've played in the jam
Bredera
08. Oct 2019 · 14:08 UTC
Amazing graphics and gameplay is fun! Great job!
Tommyflower
08. Oct 2019 · 14:11 UTC
Wow! The atmosphere is so norwegian woods. I loved the music and the colour scheme. It takes a while to understand and use all controls but it's a fascinating game. Will play it again. Good job!
pestodesign
08. Oct 2019 · 15:51 UTC
One of the best game in the jam! Short but feels polished, the graphics help the immersion. The guitar sound was almost like music but it annoyed me sometimes :D
Inky
08. Oct 2019 · 16:22 UTC
Wow, thanks everyone! This is my first LDJAM, @swanijam's second, and it's so cool to see people enjoying the game :smiley:

@sageware Thank you so much, your game rocks! You absolutely beat it right, because there's only one ending xD

@farlandwinter Haha, that's ~~absolutely not a debugging feature~~ supposed to happen, yup
Ventz
08. Oct 2019 · 17:30 UTC
Fantastic game! Very creative and felt polished throughout the whole thing :D
NATHAN WASH
08. Oct 2019 · 18:21 UTC
Wow this was outstanding. Felt very polished and the graphics are one-of-a-kind, I really dig 'em.
Was a little confused at first until I figured out that the Oracle Pine will show you when you get something correct.

Only bug I found was that when you're holding something, it collides with other stuff in the scene (namely the altar) which is kinda weird, but definitely not gamebreaking or anything.

I really liked needing to both rotate and change an object's state to complete the puzzles. I want more!
Daitse
08. Oct 2019 · 21:08 UTC
I enjoyed the game, especially the concept and the atmosphere. I understand an artistic choice was made for the graphics but I did not really enjoy them, I found it a bit uncomfortable ^^' Good game though ! Very mysterious !
daria-toni
08. Oct 2019 · 21:21 UTC
It took me a while to figure out how everything works here... But I didn't regret it! Stylistically, this is the best game yet. You bought me completely with all your witchy vibes and pixels and music.
Digital_Pie
08. Oct 2019 · 22:12 UTC
this is amazing, really intersting visual style that worked really well, it fealt very polish and was an exellent short experieince
morrilet
09. Oct 2019 · 03:15 UTC
This was really fantastic. I love that the hints get progressively more heavy-handed as the game progresses and the intensity picks up. I certainly found myself carried away by the moment and ignoring the tree towards the end. The ending came very suddenly, however. So suddenly that it could have been a crash, actually, but I got no log saying as such so I'll take it.

Either way, this was really well put together and the mood was absolutely perfect. Great work!
🎤 Swanijam
09. Oct 2019 · 03:23 UTC
@morrilet I'm so glad you liked it!! :D thank you. I can see why you'd think that was a crash - we needed the game to end and didn't have for a main menu to go back to.
Heartclaw
09. Oct 2019 · 05:06 UTC
I loved it. Got me unnerved at first (and throughout the entire experience), because I am very sensitive to spooky games and jumpscares etc. So I expected some of it here, but luckily, no accidents xD
The music just sets it off so well. And the audio twist on the first ritual gave me quite a start (when the off tune notes played). I wish the graphics were hd and not purposefully scaled down, but it didn't bother me anyway. Also, really nice camera zoom. Very smooth and silky. Good project and I wish to see more of your stuff :)
Keseril
09. Oct 2019 · 06:20 UTC
I'm in love with this game! I just feeling mood and atmosphere around this. Fantastic job!
givit-game-studios
09. Oct 2019 · 07:07 UTC
This is a weird game. But weird in a good way. I love the atmosphere of this game and the sound design is fantastic. The pixel I don't necessary like, you are using a shader right? Just tone it down a bit the atmosphere is already there with the music and gameplay. But well done, you must really take this further.
Furraran
09. Oct 2019 · 10:44 UTC
The game is just breathtaking. I like it entirely - from unusual graphics decisions to sounds engineering.
Sometimes it is hard to figure out what to do next, but it gets much easier when you remember, that there's mechanic of rotating objects. :D
The atmosphere completes the idea perfectly. 10/10, would certainly buy it on steam.
Jonathan Fischer
09. Oct 2019 · 16:35 UTC
I must say, this is one of my favorite games so far! The music was beautiful and fitting, and the use of pixilation gives it a wonderfully uneasy feel that ties everything together. The rituals took a moment to figure out, but I love it when a game makes you think. If I could offer any criticism, it would be that the ending should perhaps build more (sound getting louder or increasingly distressed visuals) before ending so abruptly. That said, I'm impressed and I would love to see more!
🎤 Swanijam
09. Oct 2019 · 16:42 UTC
@jonathan-fischer! Thank you!! i think you're definitely right about the ending. I'm happy with how it turned out though, given the ending came together in the last hour of the jam :sweat_smile:
Inky
09. Oct 2019 · 16:54 UTC
Thanks for the critique compliments :D @basically everyone

And @heartclaw I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I'm a horror fan super sensitive to jumpscares so it was nice to make a spooky creepy game without em x)
Jonathan Fischer
09. Oct 2019 · 17:06 UTC
@swanijam I know that last-hour-rush-to-finish all too well :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes: I'm really impressed with what you accomplished!
SethPaxton
09. Oct 2019 · 21:58 UTC
I really enjoyed this! I know others have said it, but the game "end" was a bit abrupt, I would have liked to revel in my character's choice a little longer. The graphics and mood were top-notch, great work!
Namedvice
10. Oct 2019 · 05:40 UTC
Interesting concept and good graphics!
cmcoto
10. Oct 2019 · 10:18 UTC
Wow! what an awesome game! It could have been based like from a movie!!! It actually felt that you are there doing that strange ritual! Awesome! Spooky! Loved the concept, the graphics, the music, everything!!!
cmcoto
10. Oct 2019 · 10:18 UTC
Wow! what an awesome game! It could have been based like from a movie!!! It actually felt that you are there doing that strange ritual! Awesome! Spooky! Loved the concept, the graphics, the music, everything!!!
cmcoto
10. Oct 2019 · 10:18 UTC
Wow! what an awesome game! It could have been based like from a movie!!! It actually felt that you are there doing that strange ritual! Awesome! Spooky! Loved the concept, the graphics, the music, everything!!!
NachtWitch
10. Oct 2019 · 12:21 UTC
Very cool game my man!
Roka Josh
10. Oct 2019 · 18:19 UTC
Very interesting game, with a beautiful art direction. I have to admit I was lost at first as the hitbox for the flowers seemed finicky and I initially missed the altar, however after that it was easy to follow. The music is good however I don't feel it fully fits in places especially as the character begins to question what they are doing. Overall a fantastic job, well done!
Matt Rix
11. Oct 2019 · 14:19 UTC
The gameplay was a bit finicky, and the dialogue was a weird mix of serious and silly, but man the visuals and the audio are SO GOOD.
selkkie
11. Oct 2019 · 19:57 UTC
This was amazing! I enjoyed it immensely. The puzzles were satisfying, the atmosphere was perfect, and a game about doing a ritual like this was a really clever idea that you executed flawlessly.

Fantastic work!

(Also, thank you for doing a MacOS build!)
Imphenzia
11. Oct 2019 · 22:33 UTC
This game brings my mind back to Myst back in the 90's. Interesting puzzles. The graphics, music, and very fitting mood. I struggle with motion sickness from some titles that glide too smooth so my play time got limited with that unfortunately preventing me from solving the puzzles, argh.
MrsTari
13. Oct 2019 · 20:30 UTC
WOW :heart_eyes: one of my favs so far :slight_smile: i keep it in my treasure :D
KaJoseh
14. Oct 2019 · 02:40 UTC
I like this game and him rewarding and beautiful atmosphere.

Could you give me a link where I can download the music?

I really love the music of this game!
mgoadric
17. Oct 2019 · 14:10 UTC
Wasn't able to get it to open on my MacBook Pro, running 10.14.5
Samdwester
20. Oct 2019 · 04:11 UTC
Loved it! Very polished and immersive
Bungalow
22. Oct 2019 · 06:25 UTC
Wow this game was incredible, I'm super impressed that this was made in only 72 hours. Amazing graphics, lighting and audio. Super atmospheric. Awesome job, ya'll!
Grahamax
28. Oct 2019 · 21:50 UTC
Genuine unease at every change in the environment thanks to the awesome sound design. I loved the graphics, and although the narrative was short, it was very immersive. Really impressive!