Protect The Light by Untitled Studios

made by Untitled Studios for Ludum Dare 50 (COMPO)

:warning: NOTE :warning:

This one doesn't really follow the theme ¯_(ツ)_/¯ It used to be about keeping a candle lit when it was inevitably going to burn out, but it didn't really... turn out that way.

Also, the game might be really quiet. There's sound and music, though- just might need to crank your volume.

:candle: PREMISE :candle:

You are the guardian of the last candle on earth. It is the only thing that can save us now. The gods' wrath continues, they do not want you to make it to safety. I believe in you.

:eye: HOW TO PLAY :eye:

PROTIP: YOU CAN SHOOT THROUGH THE CANDLE'S LIGHT TO BLESS YOUR ARROW AND DO x3 DAMAGE!

(There's an in-game tutorial, so no real need to read this) You must fight various monsters to keep the candle safe. If the candle is touched by a being of evil, it will be put out. Move using WASD or ARROW KEYS

Pick up and throw (LMB) the candle to keep it out of harm's way. Be careful, for the candle is heavy, and will restrict your movement.

Fend off monsters using your bow. (LMB)

Navigate by jumping with W or UP. Jump in midair to open your glider. If you glide while holding the candle, the flame will carry you upwards.

:camera: SCREENSHOTS :camera:

Link	https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t75C0XXRyqTeRNzVcFq9FvzShhWhYt4X/view?usp=sharing
GMS2	https://drive.google.com/file/d/199ef2GXgeKjlib6Gi22vO5igKPJ5GpEH/view?usp=sharing
Original URL	https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/50/protect-the-light

Ratings

Overall	85^th	3.885⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Fun	39^th	4.038⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Innovation	172^th	3.635⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Theme	603^th	2.417⭐	20🧑‍⚖️
Graphics	47^th	4.212⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Audio	113^th	3.692⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Mood	88^th	3.769⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Given		23🗳️	29🗨️

Feedback

Yamzho

04. Apr 2022 · 13:57 UTC

A lot of work for a compo game ! Very pleasant game ! Well done !

lokt02

04. Apr 2022 · 14:00 UTC

Cool idea, awesome implementation. I like graphics, animations and gameplay that make this game very fun.

Becher

04. Apr 2022 · 14:08 UTC

Realy cool :) fact that we go up in parachute when we carry the lamp is super interesting!

LDJam user 258516

04. Apr 2022 · 14:08 UTC

Did you do all these moves in two days? I work with game maker, and I don't see myself doing that, congratulations! And I believe that the game stayed within the theme, there comes a time when it becomes very difficult to keep the light!

Art music and effects fully functional and matching. Congratulations!

🎤 Untitled Studios

04. Apr 2022 · 14:12 UTC

@very-bad-bunny-studio took a lot of work haha, but yeah :>

Glad you think it fits the theme :))

ClaytonRumley

04. Apr 2022 · 16:07 UTC

Great game...I actually found it really challenging and gave up on the big eyeball boss. I would love to see this expanded to allow for other weapons, powerups, etc. The "lamp turns your parachute into a hot air balloon" concept is brilliant!

Jordan Pavlic

04. Apr 2022 · 23:54 UTC

The graphics and audio are great. It it feels really good to land a shot that passes through the candle and the camera shake was really cool. I would have to say it was way too hard for my taste though. I died a ton and almost gave up before I finished (I discovered that the enemies couldn't see me in some situations so that let beat it). Oh and the parachute that floats with the candle is really a thoughtful touch.

LanaLux

04. Apr 2022 · 23:59 UTC

Great game and really well executed tutorial, it was clear, easy to grasp and fun to learn the new mechanics. Nice polished game!

JCMonkey

05. Apr 2022 · 01:02 UTC

nice quick little game, and i love the fact that you can use the light to flame up your arrows. the dropping to shoot got annoying some times when the light got thrown, when you just wanted to place it down. but overall nice game.

Mascoll

05. Apr 2022 · 01:03 UTC

SUper nice graphics and good feel to the controls!

ollie_d

05. Apr 2022 · 19:08 UTC

That was genuinely really fun. I'm impressed with how much you were able to get done within the jam period. I do think you could've really easily stuck to the theme if the candle DID deplete and you had flaming arrows that could reignited it. That way you'd have to balance out shooting enemies and shooting your candle to keep it alive. But genuinely well done, my favorite game I've played so far from LD50.

marcmagus

06. Apr 2022 · 14:31 UTC

Thanks for bringing your game by my stream for feedback! If you’d like to revisit the play and commentary you can view the highlight at https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1447203076

I enjoyed the concept quite a bit. The controls (particularly click to aim, never my favorite) were a little fiddly at times, especially when trying to position the light and fight in the other direction at the same time. Which is also interesting challenge, but also sometimes frustrating "hard to get the game to do what I think I'm going to tell it to do".

My main suggestion for improvement would be better telegraphing of the "shoot through the light" power. Enemy health was also maybe a little high throughout, especially the boss.

Overall an enjoyable experience.

chusmimax

06. Apr 2022 · 18:41 UTC

Amazing game. It knows what it wants to be and every decision enhances the end result. Concise tutorial, ingame and cleverly display, no walls of text.

I could only find one thing that was making it a bit frustrating at times, and it's the fact that i couldn't not take the lamp if I got too close, too close and i picked it and doomed myself, too far and i was worthless.

Still, really impressive.

josep93

06. Apr 2022 · 19:59 UTC

Interesting idea. I like it!

Guillem Serra

09. Apr 2022 · 06:56 UTC

Very well done for two days! Loved how the game feel of the bow, how it strikes the enemies. The difficulty progression is excelent. I found the rock-picking in the tutorial a little confusing, and maybe picking the light could be a direct player mechanic, like with E button. Amazing job!

Aka Black Dog

10. Apr 2022 · 12:26 UTC

really cool game with great mechanics and implementation

digitaldude555

11. Apr 2022 · 13:22 UTC

Probably the most thorough tutorial of any game I rated so far, like the run animation and the sound of the bow, music is relaxing though gameplay isn't. It was a bit too hard for me. I couldn't finish it. Good job.

Confidant17

15. Apr 2022 · 16:23 UTC

controls are responsive, love the graphics, not quite with theme but then again you said it at the beggining, you did a very good job for being compo. gj overall. you should be proud

ColeSlaughter

17. Apr 2022 · 06:38 UTC

[Thanks for submitting your game to stream!](https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1457959497?t=01h14m09s)

This is such a strong entry, especially for compo. Very nicely polished mechanics and visuals, and felt very unique! Keep up the good work. :slight_smile: