Witch Upon A Star by WhaleJam

[raw]
made by WhaleJam for Ludum Dare 51 (JAM)

Wish.gif After eating a mysterious mushroom apprentice witch Stella turns into a ghost. Now she has to figure out how to return back to normal. But it seems that her time is very limited - if she does not return to her body in time she will stay part of the ghost realm forever.

Every 10 seconds a star will disappear from the sky, and once they are all gone...

witch1.png witch2.png

Changelog: Reuploaded to fix a sprite on the main menu

Ratings

Overall 737th 3.362⭐ 31🧑‍⚖️
Fun 1069th 2.776⭐ 31🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 987th 2.845⭐ 31🧑‍⚖️
Theme 1174th 2.554⭐ 30🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 45th 4.517⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Humor 428th 3.115⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Mood 47th 4.276⭐ 31🧑‍⚖️
Given 24🗳️ 35🗨️

Feedback

Kostas Nik
04. Oct 2022 · 20:13 UTC
I really liked the artstyle and the storytelling, there isn't really a 10sec theme but overall a great try. You should definitely add some screenshots to the game page!!
LDJam user 261037
05. Oct 2022 · 14:53 UTC
@kostas-nik While it is not referenced in game (that I found), according to the description, a star disappears every 10 seconds and if they all disappear, Stella will be stuck a ghost forever, so there technically is a 10 second theme even if it is not emphasized.
WeeFairyFabi
05. Oct 2022 · 16:59 UTC
@kostas-nik Thank you for the feedback! :) I added the screenshots and the info on our interpretation of the brief since it really is not very noticeable at all haha.
Jekyllina
05. Oct 2022 · 17:34 UTC
i really love the graphic style of the game! I returned back to my body ;) i don't understand how to see how much stars are left, but the idea is really good and the atmosphere is good
lavendaggers
05. Oct 2022 · 17:47 UTC
I love the art style! The main character is adorable
Aristurtle
05. Oct 2022 · 17:49 UTC
The visual/artistic style was done really well. The music enveloped the atmosphere nicely, helping to make it seem ethereal. Controlling the game was intuitive enough, with the only thing I wished for was to be able to rotate the camera? Though I'm sure non-rotation was intentional(?). There was just a couple of sections, like the area across from the second bridge, and the bridge going south from it, I wanted to rotate the camera some to give the view some more room.

I see you mentioned in the comments above about the stars being the play on the 10 second theme. The dialog in game does hint that the stars are being removed, and I don't think it's necessary that the game blatantly just say "every 10 seconds". However, even after talking to all NPCs and wondering around for a little, I was still able to finish with what seemed plenty of stars remaining. So while the danger of losing all stars over time is there, in the end it didn't feel like I was in any rush for it.

Solid entry over all, really enjoyed the atmosphere of it.
MrPerry
05. Oct 2022 · 17:50 UTC
Played it twice. I had hoped to find more characters to talk to on the second run but I had a good time regardless. Great job!
LabToast
05. Oct 2022 · 19:23 UTC
Great experience! I really love the art direction, reminded me of Paper Mario titles in the way everything was flat and flipped around.

The environment is gorgeous, and the level is well-designed: That sudden death was early enough that I didn't feel cheated or frustrated at falling off the map, and was just careful later. Good stuff!
WeeFairyFabi
05. Oct 2022 · 20:14 UTC
@jekyllina Thank you for playing and I am glad you returned to your body hehe :) The stars definitely are hard to see, wish we had made them a bit more noticeable but I am glad you still enjoyed the vibes
WeeFairyFabi
05. Oct 2022 · 20:15 UTC
@lavendaggers Thank youuuuu!!
WeeFairyFabi
05. Oct 2022 · 20:22 UTC
@aristurtle Thank you for playing! Yes the fixed camera was intentional as the assets are majority 2d sprites in a 3d space (that is currently my design vibe haha) so they are placed to fit one camera perspective and players might not be able to see certain things at all if they are at the wrong angle. :)
Hope this is not too rambly of an answer and thank you very much for your feedback!
WeeFairyFabi
05. Oct 2022 · 20:26 UTC
@labtoast Thank youu! Paper mario and manga has definitely been an inspiration for my more recent games so I am glad it translates hehe :) Glad you had a good experience
LDJam user 261037
05. Oct 2022 · 21:04 UTC
This was a good game. Music was really well done and while the backgrounds could have been better completed, what was there was beautifully done, especially for such a short work period. The art and music set a nice mystic mood and I like that your implementation of ten seconds did not make me feel as rushed as other some other games in this jam. Good job :)
ShauKaula
05. Oct 2022 · 22:32 UTC
The art and the music are amazing! I'm sure it will be a good game if you work on it, by setting a longer story and level. The only thing I can reproach is that we can't turn the camera, there were some path that I couldn't see where I was going. And in my opinion, you are in the theme, don't worry. To conclude, this game is incredible, I really hope a longer version in the future! Good job!
JB Rock
05. Oct 2022 · 22:40 UTC
This a very pretty game. Atmospheric with the character design and music. An eerie and surreal world. Gave some Paper Mario vibes with the 2d art assets a 3d world. Nice job!
fabula_rasa
05. Oct 2022 · 22:46 UTC
Very nice aesthetics. I really adore the papercraft world you created! The music complimented the art well, and together they add up to a very nice and consistent mood! Superb job on this.

The gameplay itself was a bit lacking. The world is 'on rails', so you can't really go anywhere but where you're supposed to. As a result, you can't get lost and run out of time - there is no tension that is supposed to be there, as you are after all in grave danger of staying a ghost forever. Maybe a different premise would suit the created world better. Or make a more complicated and convoluted world for the premise we have :)
Paulsams
06. Oct 2022 · 00:17 UTC
Not bad game, but the story is very corny. And just very much lacked directing. And especially the use of the "illusion of choice" with the roads was not clear.
T1mon
06. Oct 2022 · 05:15 UTC
The game is really cute, it looks amazing. I like the visual style and the decision to use 2d sprites in 3d world.
BUT PLEASE, remove rating in theme, fun, and humor! I definitely don't want to rate this game low. But I should, because of these categories, but I don't want to, but I should:((( Guys, please, this game is not about this!
Anyway, this is a good job:)
Faust_Mi
06. Oct 2022 · 20:25 UTC
Visual, art, sound, environment is very beautiful! Thank you for the amazing gaming experience and awesome vibes!
PeachTreeOath
06. Oct 2022 · 22:15 UTC
The decision to use a close and locked camera angle was pretty interesting. It made me think about what it offered for this type of storytelling.

The first thing is that the character/avatar is really up front and center, almost the size of a visual novel art. This put you in the character's shoes more, not to mention showing off the art which of course was excellent.

It also affected some of the path choices and feelings when you took them. The lower path on the far forward/left area I remember feeling claustrophobic because I was walking into the camera. Because of that, I thought this would be the correct path and you as a designer purposely wanted to make it uncomfortable to travel on. ...the path ended up throwing me onto a normal path anyways haha, but I still thought that was an interesting consequence to the mechanic.

So in the end, this game came off to me like a 3D VN of sorts, especially since the paths were almost literal branching paths. I think you are on the right track to something pretty interesting if you continuing honing it.

Possibly the most aesthetic game I've played so far but that goes without saying :)
Heine Hohenhart
06. Oct 2022 · 22:20 UTC
As many others have said, wow, the graphics are very nice! It's quite short and you don't really feel the need to go fast to find the mushroom, but it was still a pleasant experience with a good atmosphere!
Saltysa
07. Oct 2022 · 08:17 UTC
The graphics are really nice, and I really liked the design of the witch. I loved how you work around the 3D with 2D sprites, and it's making me want to try something like that for the next jam.

I wish there would be a bit more music, and I would have loved more interactions or stories in the game.
The ambiance was also nice, and the atmosphere somewhat reminded me of the Stranger at night in OuterWilds.
RIBOUT Horace
07. Oct 2022 · 10:05 UTC
A really cool atmosphere and many little detail on the visual who sell it hard ! A little disapointed that the gameplay fell "short" with not so many people to talk to, and some island too empty ; but it's just a game jam game, it's normal to not have that much content.

But the detail like the waterfall fx or the way the character rotate when going different direction is just very sweet !
Oakhardt
07. Oct 2022 · 17:23 UTC
I loved the visuals and the atmosphere. I like those billboarded sprites in a 3D environment. Especially if they look like they do here. The gameplay fell a little short like other mentioned already. The music and characters were sweet.
Haotian Chen
07. Oct 2022 · 17:42 UTC
your art style is awesome! I love it soooo much! it reminds me some Square Enix game and Voice of Cards. but I have to say the gameplay is too simple, talking with the ghosts are fun but without any combat or puzzle it's just a walking simulator (with really good art) and the timer seems useless (I really like the idea using stars as timer though). still i kinda understand that such wonderful art like this must take times and three days might not be enough.
Aldruin
08. Oct 2022 · 10:44 UTC
"And this is why, kids, you don't eat random mushrooms."

The art is great. The game is really cute.
PostFrog
10. Oct 2022 · 23:40 UTC
The artstyle and overall aesthetic is adorable. Wish there was more to interact with though! I feel like the game ended before it even started. Movement could be a *little* faster in my opinion, and after talking with characters there's a bug where the 'F' prompt still appears despite the fact it won't do anything until I go away and back again.
Overall cute stuff!
Yword
18. Oct 2022 · 14:09 UTC
Wow, I just finished it! Great narrative and interesting dialogs, attractive graphics and art style, and amazing stage too. I think it has great potential if adding more gameplay mechanics. Keep up the great work!
NoSLoofah
19. Oct 2022 · 03:03 UTC
Love the art, and your way to use camera is impressive