The Dolphin of Sooth by elHombreBanana

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

HOW TO PLAY: - Arrow keys to move - Z to interact - X to run (only in Post JAM version)

The game might close itself at some point. It's normal behaviour, just reopen the game.

Every story has a starting line.

"Once upon a time", "In the beginning", "Long time ago"...

This story has no start.

It has nothing to begin with.

The story, like everyone of us, is just here, waiting for someone to follow the line.

dolphin2.gif

This is my submission to the Ludum Dare 45, first time doing a story-driven game. I hope you like it!

Ratings

Overall 16th 4.327⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Fun 255th 3.654⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 489th 3.26⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Theme 239th 3.759⭐ 29🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 125th 4.231⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Audio 18th 4.231⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Humor 78th 3.917⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Mood 32th 4.25⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Given 18🗳️ 26🗨️

Feedback

filipdufka
09. Oct 2019 · 07:24 UTC
Nice art, and music. But I couldn't find an item to erase. :(
🎤 elHombreBanana
09. Oct 2019 · 07:52 UTC
@filipdufka I'm glad you like it!

It may be a bit hard to find it, I just made internal testing with anyone but myself :( But the item is there! You just have to look closely, and the look closely again :eyes:

Anyway, thank you for playing!
Scott Steffes
09. Oct 2019 · 09:55 UTC
Cool little game! Creative idea, nice art, and interesting dialog! Would have been nice to have a run button.
Siarhei Pilat
09. Oct 2019 · 10:09 UTC
Love the art style... is it called something? To save me time, pretty please
Siarhei Pilat
09. Oct 2019 · 10:25 UTC
OMG this is just great, a wholesome experience that is scoped so well that there is literally no complaints. The ending touch is freaking awesome, loved it to bits! Cheers, it's simply amazing!
🎤 elHombreBanana
09. Oct 2019 · 11:04 UTC
@scott-steffes Thank you so much! I'm implementing the run button right now for a post jam update x3

@siarhei-pilat Wow, thank you! I'm so glad you liked it! I don't really know how this artstyle is called, maybe 2-bit art? I just got my references from Minit & Downwell, and tried to recreate their essence with the little time I had.
Hajden
09. Oct 2019 · 17:39 UTC
I hated the ghost dolphin thing and wanted to punch it in the face from the first sentence, you really made it obnoxious, good job!

I enjoyed the game, quite easy though but an interesting narrative and well written. Loved the music, especially the overworld theme. The graphics are really good too.
Gameplay wise i get there's not much you can do in a short time with just walking and interacting, still I didn't really enjoy much of the backtracking, especially the maze. That run button sure will come in handy :)

I asume the game closing is on purpose? As it really works well as a narrative device
🎤 elHombreBanana
09. Oct 2019 · 17:46 UTC
@hajden Thank you for your feedback! And I'm glad you hate the dolphin!

Effectively, the game closing is on purpose. And it's not the end of the game at first!
Feingehacktes
09. Oct 2019 · 17:51 UTC
we like the black and white style of your game. the dialoges are also very nice. good job :)
SometimesGhost
09. Oct 2019 · 17:52 UTC
One of my favorites of the jam so far! It builds mood really well. The dialogue is written well, the game is interesting to look at.
Hajden
09. Oct 2019 · 17:53 UTC
@elHombreBanana aye I got it, I really liked that as it was unexpected and clever (though I can see it getting a bit annoying if someone keeps loosing the fight)
Hare Software
09. Oct 2019 · 20:41 UTC
The music, graphics and presentation in general all fit perfectly together and create a polished and enjoyable experience. On top of that the theme is implented well too, great work!
🎤 elHombreBanana
09. Oct 2019 · 20:50 UTC
@feingehacktes @sometimesghost @hare-software thank you for trying it out and your opinion! <3

@hajden I understand the issue. I hope I made the boss fight easy enough to avoid that, as I'd rather keep the narrative impact of the game closing!
WilloXs
10. Oct 2019 · 13:03 UTC
Hadn't I read the comments I'd never known there was a bossfight! Great narrative choice but i think most players will miss it (if i didn't miss some hints for it myself).
Cool concept nice art, music and dialoge.

The thing about the backtracking being annoying i can agree. A run button or a gap in the maze after the first walktrough might be an easy solution^^
Oh and there are sometimes problems with the player being drawn on top of trees even tough they should be in front (which isn't a big deal).

In every other aspect a very top entry.
🎤 elHombreBanana
10. Oct 2019 · 14:18 UTC
@willoxs Thank you for your feedback, and I'm glad you liked it!

As for the run button and the depth issue with the trees, both are fixed in version 1.0.3 (the post jam version).

Making a gap in the maze is a pretty neat idea! I'll see if I can implement it and give it a bit of a reason to be in a future update, thanks!
step4
10. Oct 2019 · 17:58 UTC
Loved this game, I had the urge to play it through.
🎤 elHombreBanana
10. Oct 2019 · 18:35 UTC
@step4 I'm glad you liked it! <3
JoeShanahan
10. Oct 2019 · 19:15 UTC
Obviously bad guy: "Please help me destroy the world"
My dumb ass: "OKAY"

I really liked this game! There's so much world building you put together in such a small amount of time. Not only is the world that is there big, but there so much MORE world implied as well. The music was great, and the art was great too. And the ending was clever (although I would've missed it if it wasn't for the comments).

Agree on the too much backtracking, and agree on maybe adding shortcuts after the first time. I did even more backtracking because after getting the first two items I went back to the cave. But with that in mind, this is still one of my favourite games of the jam. Fantastic job!
Druvsaft
10. Oct 2019 · 19:16 UTC
Cool game, felt really complete for a jam game! As previously mentioned it was a bit tedious with the backtracking, but running would probably help (I played the Jam version). I was thinking that you could've used the eraser somehow? At least I didn't find anything to use it on, but I wanted to use if to remove rocks from the maze to create a shortcut :smile:

Music and art is great, really top work!
BrokenMirrorMedia
10. Oct 2019 · 19:25 UTC
Such a great little game, the art style is perfect. Not to beat a dead horse, but I do agree about a run button, or maybe just a faster speed in general, but overall it's really good!
t1a2z
10. Oct 2019 · 19:50 UTC
Beautyful little expierience! Awesome art, sound and story! Got a bit of MINIT vibe and it is actually awesome! Great job!
vcesauron
12. Oct 2019 · 18:16 UTC
This game is so good I want to cry... I swear it's not because my wife left me! Hahahah

Anyway, tight concept, very aligned with the theme. Neat art style, and the simplest mechanics with perfect execution. OST also very addicting. Thank you for this!
Artyom Volkov
13. Oct 2019 · 17:59 UTC
Beautiful art, great music and superb player character animations. Also, I love dialogues. Well done.
Taylor Reynolds
27. Oct 2019 · 21:10 UTC
omg such cute style and very complete for a jam! Great story, feels good to run around