LudumData

Snake in a Cave by Andrew Hoyer

[raw]
made by Andrew Hoyer for Ludum Dare 48 (JAM)

Please enjoy this simple entry, a "Snake" game with a small difference. In each level, collect apples for points if you can, then drop through the floor to the next level. Navigate all seven levels to complete the game. As an extra challenge, see if you can collect every apple along the way!

snake-in-a-cave.png

I use these game jams as an opportunity to get my family involved in game development. In this case, my son and I worked together on some of the logic and gameplay. Also, he recorded the background audio using his new electric guitar.

Move with the arrow keys, and start the game using the space bar.

To see more from me, follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewhoyer

Link https://andrewhoyer.itch.io/snake-in-a-cave
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/48/snake-in-a-cave

Ratings

Overall 929th 3.5⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Fun 900th 3.359⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 1206th 3⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Theme 1049th 3.547⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Audio 408th 3.719⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Mood 1126th 3.333⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Given 29🗳️ 42🗨️

Feedback

Lakea
26. Apr 2021 · 07:04 UTC
A wonderful entry, could easierly play this for a while.
BhanosTheGameDev
26. Apr 2021 · 07:06 UTC
Great, nice spin on snake, graphics are pleasant, the snakes end feals glitchy, but that's it.
Genpaku
26. Apr 2021 · 07:17 UTC
Love the background music. Game over all is better than typical snake game.
GameDev and Architecture
26. Apr 2021 · 14:17 UTC
Cool little game !
it's simple but it's fun to play.
I especially loved the music !
🎤 Andrew Hoyer
26. Apr 2021 · 19:00 UTC
@bhanosthegamedev Thank you for noting the tail. I had the tile for it but ran out of time last night. I took some time at lunch today to update it so the tail is shown properly instead of an awkward square end.
Pennycook
26. Apr 2021 · 22:32 UTC
Great job! The difficulty ramps up nicely, which I've previously found to be tricky to get right with such little time. Making the apples optional is definitely a big part of that, and it's a brilliant idea -- I've made a note of it for next time. :smile:
Sasashasa
27. Apr 2021 · 13:45 UTC
An improved version of one of the most popular games. Unfortunately, the game quickly got bored.
JoskerDu
27. Apr 2021 · 13:55 UTC
Love it. Great twist on a classic. The pixel art is adorable.
nephronhunter
27. Apr 2021 · 14:00 UTC
Great design and look.
Cambryx
27. Apr 2021 · 15:38 UTC
Very fun (and kind of addicting) game! On me it had a strong "come on, one more try!" effect :)

I like how you took a classic game and modified it slightly to create a very different experience with almost the same mechanics.

The graphics are very simple, but fit the game well.

Overall a great game!

PS: Tell your son the background music is amazing :)
paulhocker
28. Apr 2021 · 02:57 UTC
really nice take on the classic snake game. it would have been great to have the animation be a bit smoother. but overall a really nice game. thanks for making it.
deadmanjw
28. Apr 2021 · 20:00 UTC
Really good take on a snake game and who doesnt love a snake game. Really well implemented with some good music.
🎤 Andrew Hoyer
28. Apr 2021 · 22:07 UTC
@paulhocker The secret to the less-than-ideal animation is that instead of drawing the snake freeform, it is drawn as a tilemap of its own. That means the animation happens a tile at a time. I was already learning a number of things with tiles and layers with this engine, plus trying to teach my kids some coding, etc, so I had to keep a few things simpler in order to launch. Thanks for playing and rating!
paulhocker
29. Apr 2021 · 00:50 UTC
@andrew-hoyer gotcha -- it was still very effective -- great job
aboogoost
29. Apr 2021 · 01:52 UTC
Good job! I ran into a little bug where I would die when doing two quick turns in a row.
It was fun to play and the mechanic of not being able to walk onto a tile twice was interesting.
🎤 Andrew Hoyer
29. Apr 2021 · 02:18 UTC
@aboogoost Thanks for the feedback. You're right about the quick actions. I thought about implementing some kind of queue which would hold up to two key presses and use them at the next available move times, both preventing unrealistic crashes, and allowing some clever play by playing a couple of moves ahead for tight turns. If only there was one more day...
Hoeleboele
29. Apr 2021 · 07:34 UTC
Fun spin on snake. First time i thought i could get bigger by eating the apples. Lucky me I did eat all the apples so i gues i got alot of points. Missing the wasd for movement that was a bit sad.
yellowsalamander
29. Apr 2021 · 07:39 UTC
Fun little game! Never thought of snake in a level system before! The only problem I had with the game is that in my first playthrough, when I entered a new level, I had too little time for a reaction, and just smashed into the wall. When I memorized where I had to go the game became a lot more fun!
🎤 Andrew Hoyer
29. Apr 2021 · 14:26 UTC
@hoeleboele Your suggestion for WASD controls as well makes total sense -- I appreciate that feedback.

@yellowsalamander I knew this would be a problem, so I tried to keep the holes away from objects and walls, but inevitably they need to be somewhat close, and a little memorization is needed to do well. Thanks for playing!
Atom
30. Apr 2021 · 09:59 UTC
Nice entry and a good take on the Snake game! I wish there was a little more audio than just the guitar loop tho.
Good job!
Fearawl
30. Apr 2021 · 12:15 UTC
Interesting graphics and music! But the gameplay is too simple.
JudgeClark
30. Apr 2021 · 12:28 UTC
Good revision Andrew, I would have defiantly played longer if it saved your progress.
Great to get your lad involved too :)
🎤 Andrew Hoyer
30. Apr 2021 · 17:01 UTC
@atom You're right - a couple of extra sound effect (eating an apple, falling through the hold) would add a lot to the game.

@fearawl & @judgeclark - Thanks for playing. I started out with grand ideas of making 100 levels, but there just wasn't time for that. So there's only 7 levels, with simple gameplay. I will consider expanding on this idea and making a more advanced version later.
wdebowicz
01. May 2021 · 15:26 UTC
I really like the music you created! The change on the classical snake, where tail is infinite added a nice puzzle element to the game, that now is not forgiving mistakes. In the same time you need to think fast. Maybe adding like a 3 second pause before each level so player can plan a route could be an improvement. Good game!
CORRUPTOR2037
02. May 2021 · 15:30 UTC
Interesting aproach on endless snake, game becomes more tactical
Movement a little clumsy
nsadie
13. May 2021 · 06:25 UTC
A nice twist on snake, and there is a nice ramp up in difficulty! I would have appreciated a slight pause before a new level starts to be able to plan a little better!
nsadie
13. May 2021 · 06:27 UTC
How old is your son?

I want to make our boys (4.5 and 7) part of a jam in the future as well! As they are quite young, I was thinking of either trying to get them to draw me monsters that I can animate or do all the sounds!
eldogg
14. May 2021 · 20:25 UTC
Very neat game and cool background track! Felt like a lonely snake munching through a cave in the old the west.
🎤 Andrew Hoyer
18. May 2021 · 15:07 UTC
@nsadie Thanks for the feedback. A slight pause could work, or perhaps just slightly better level design to ensure enough space. My son is 11. The key is to first get them interested in games, then show them how you're making games, perhaps get some feedback. Let them be testers. One of my kids still asks to play this game after school sometimes. Then later find the skills they have to expand your team.

@eldogg Thanks for still being around for ratings this late in the game!