Within The Hour by ghost-in-the-toast

[raw]
made by ghost-in-the-toast for Ludum Dare 47 (JAM)

within2.png within1.png

WARNING Some of you might find Within The Hour offensive as it makes mention of touchy subjects, and uses some harsh language. If you have experienced trauma or loss in the past, this might not be your cup of tea.

CONTROLS

Arrow keys = Move

Space = OK/Look/Use

Esc = Back

You wake up in the middle of the night to find more than you bargin for. For some reason, time seems to be stuck between Midnight and 1 AM. You must discover why you're here, solve a puzzle or two and escape the house all Within The Hour!

Ratings

Given 9🗳️ 8🗨️

Feedback

victor_reiner
07. Oct 2020 · 07:22 UTC
I love these game boy color style games. The idea is good, and the graphics and sounds are very successful.

Great idea, great job!
shosanna
07. Oct 2020 · 07:42 UTC
OMG I LOVE th art syle! I am so sorry you don't have a mac or browser version :(
ElllaDee
07. Oct 2020 · 07:45 UTC
Yeah, agree with others, cool art and sound. Great job!
etrealjunior
07. Oct 2020 · 07:47 UTC
I liked your game my congratulations, I also did one if you want to know, and give me your feedback I am very grateful, this is the link https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/47/resurrection
Virtual Turtle Studio
07. Oct 2020 · 07:59 UTC
Interesting concept! I managed to solve the puzzle, but I was a little confused on which date I had to use as there were multiple, so I just guessed the last digit ^^ It's interesting how the rooms change after some time, and how everything resets. But it would be more interesting if everything changed every time you woke up again. Anyway, good job on this game!
Gonzalol
07. Oct 2020 · 08:42 UTC
I like the concept art, specially how smooth the dialogues pop up. The story is really sad.
VPhyre
07. Oct 2020 · 17:43 UTC
Wow what an interesting game! I really liked the mechanics, and the whole context behind it. Your game somewhat resembles mine haha. Good job and congratulations!
Weirdybeardyman
08. Oct 2020 · 20:54 UTC
I love the aesthetic and the gameplay was nice and nostalgic and pretty disconcerting. You created a good mood and there felt like a deep story behind it. Some ambient music would be great, despite that I loved it.
Arad HamidSamiee
09. Oct 2020 · 09:32 UTC
I'm in love with your game, good color palette and sprites, creepy and ominous atmosphere, good that the code is random, an acutal lore, polished, bravo :clap:
Toccio94
11. Oct 2020 · 17:41 UTC
It was very intriguing! I was immersed and the atmosphere was good (I'm not sure if a background music would have improved it tho).

I liked a lot the blue color u used (less the green to be honest), as for the rounded font. The way you displayed the text was also juicy!

It's a very "disturbing" experience, I liked a lot the change on the rooms, and I realized that it wasn't just a puzzle but it was telling me a story.
I'm not sure tho if it is about the guy being in a coma and therefore unplugging you die (it mentions a car crash at some point, there is also the drip and other details). Anyway it added depth to the game and make me a lot more involved in it, I played it again to see if there were more clues about it =)
It may also refer to him not feeling enough for his father or else and wanting to turn all off. Or maybe both together ahah

I don't know if it was intended or not, but how you end the game, with the unplug sequence, was what made me think "maybe the game had a deeper meaning" and think about the other details, when before the end I was not paying too much attention to it. What I'm saying is that the final part helped me getting interested.

I liked how smooth and fast you move, it improves the pacing to be honest, that is already good per se, since you have small room and it is all always changing (but never too much all together), adding one at a time things that get you into it.

The only "flaw" is maybe the code thing that was out of context (it made it less likely, so less immersion) and also the date code was a guess that could lead to a lot of attempts (but at least can be bruteforced), Having also a feedback if the code was wrong or you are just resetting it could help (if you press the button it just start again).

Also, sometimes the text, especially the upper case one, goes out of the box towards the right so I couldn't read all.

It's small but polished and it has depth and details, great work!

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