EneRail by Ryabchik

[raw]
made by Ryabchik for Ludum Dare 53 (JAM)

The name combines "ener" from energy, and "rail cipher," emphasizing the game's central elements: energy management, rail-based structure, and deciphering a secret data. The energy ball DELIVERS a part of the data required to decrypt the message, but players must strategically manage their energy levels to avoid running out of power.

Authors: Michael Ryabtsev, Dmitriy Puzikov, Danila Shcherbina, Artyom Tritenko, Alexander Ryabtsev.!B946cQunsv8.jpgc4mjcTguxX0.jpg46sjNUikbRY.jpgQ_9BgjJxNLk.jpg

Ratings

Overall 302th 3.838⭐ 42🧑‍⚖️
Fun 248th 3.8⭐ 42🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 284th 3.713⭐ 42🧑‍⚖️
Theme 1094th 3.125⭐ 42🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 392th 3.988⭐ 42🧑‍⚖️
Audio 240th 3.8⭐ 42🧑‍⚖️
Humor 358th 3.474⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Mood 264th 3.9⭐ 42🧑‍⚖️
Given 44🗳️ 70🗨️

Feedback

Krzyhau
02. May 2023 · 09:54 UTC
Cute little puzzle game!

Aesthetics and art direction are quite decent and consistent. I like the audio where it's present, it's quite fitting, but some parts here and there are missing it completely (going through the notes or the main menu itself).

In terms of level design, I can definitely see the potential! I guess I'm not a big fan of how solving the puzzle goes down to just finding a path in a fairly static maze, but one thing that would definitely change is is the very last mechanics you've presented - switches, since they'd allow you to dynamically change the purpose of the otherwise static parts of the level, making the challenge twice as interesting, so it's a shame you haven't messed with this idea a little bit more. Apart from that, you've done a nice job showcasing all of these mechanics and teaching them to the player.

If you ever wish to build on this idea, you definitely have a strong foundation! Good job, y'all!

EDIT: Forgot to mention, it would be nice if you manage to make a Web build - it would encourage other people to play it, as it's just easier to launch it in a browser. Also rate other games, so other people can find you (mentioning this since it seems to be your first jam)
🎤 Ryabchik
02. May 2023 · 10:36 UTC
hello, thanks for your feedback! I would like to clarify, is it possible for us to upload the web version now to the game page without losing the opportunity to participate in the category jam?
Krzyhau
02. May 2023 · 11:14 UTC
@ryabchik According to rules, you're free to port your game after the time is over and add it to the game's page. So as long as you're not introducing any changes to the game itself and providing the original build as well, it should be fine!
🎤 Ryabchik
02. May 2023 · 14:47 UTC
By request, ported the game for the browser) Nothing has been changed or added from the build for Windows. So you can now play our game from the browser!
velvetlobster
02. May 2023 · 15:33 UTC
This feels like calculating tension and voltage of systems in high school after a certain level, I kinda like to get this feeling in a game, kinda work simulation.

One thing though is that in my screen the game uses a lot more space and I cannot see nothing more than the central area of the game.

I feel there is more cause they keep telling me of the readme file, but maybe it is out of bounds for me.

![Captura de Tela 2023-05-02 às 12.31.10.png](///raw/0e4/e/z/5aadb.png)
🎤 Ryabchik
02. May 2023 · 15:37 UTC
Hello! could you tell me what version of the build you are using and what screen format you have? We just checked it and such things shouldn't happen. If the problem is in the HTML version, then we can fix the permission to the necessary
mrs.wheelsx
02. May 2023 · 15:42 UTC
Thanks for the browser port :) Nice chill puzzle game. Liked the art and audio. Enjoyed playing to completion.
Split82
02. May 2023 · 16:02 UTC
Very nice entry. I'm not a big fan of trial and error, but somehow managed to finish this till the end :) Great job.
🎤 Ryabchik
02. May 2023 · 18:32 UTC
thanks for the good review, the game with the refrigerator was over and very satisfied)
nicole_a
02. May 2023 · 19:07 UTC
Good job!
Great that you've managed to create wuite a few levels, and some of them vere a real challenge!
Igor Minenko
02. May 2023 · 19:28 UTC
wow, cute game with nice graphics, looks like my puzzle game, but it is to some point delivery as well(sry wo likes this theme, but its so hard to create something really interesting), so we did it like the puzzle games, good job, guys!
SID37
02. May 2023 · 19:29 UTC
A very fun game! I found that if you move to the beat of the music, it turns into a rhythm game
Nathaniel Kaplan
02. May 2023 · 19:30 UTC
Pretty cool puzzle game! The graphics and music in particular are polished and really well done.
nandelind
02. May 2023 · 21:16 UTC
These puzzles were fun! I would enjoy a lot more levels. It stopped working after introducing color-change dots, so I don't know how much more there is. I like the music too.
Nikfus
02. May 2023 · 21:26 UTC
@nandelind
The level with the change of points is the last one. Unfortunately, we did not have time to do more (although there are ideas for new levels. Maybe someday we'll make more.)
milq
02. May 2023 · 23:35 UTC
A wonderful puzzle game! The truth is that I had a lot of fun, simple controls and very well designed levels with increasing difficulty and new mechanics. Perhaps there was less text to click on because I find it a bit frustrating in my opinion. Otherwise, great game!
Michael Harris
02. May 2023 · 23:45 UTC
Cute little puzzle game. Enjoyed the aesthetics and the music as well. Good job!
DenKa
02. May 2023 · 23:54 UTC
I really enjoyed the game's visuals - they were very pleasing to the eye. The music was also lively and added to the overall experience. It seems like a game with great potential that could be further developed. Overall, I had a great time playing it.
Paulsams
02. May 2023 · 23:57 UTC
Cool game. I really liked the atmosphere and a bit of absurdity in passing the levels: when I tried to pass thoughtfully, it didn't work, but only when I tried to pass stupidly - everything worked out at once, xDD). And the idea with the file is unusual, even if I don't really like such jokes.
Shess
03. May 2023 · 00:24 UTC
You know what, even if those quotes were fabricated by a soulless corporation with the sole purpose of giving out superficial motivation, I kinda like hearing that I'm an important member of the crew whose contributions are valued, so I'll let it pass :3
The music got kinda spooky around level 5 or so, but little did I know that the real horror would await me further into the game...

P.S. Вы котики, обнимать вас :3
theMule
03. May 2023 · 01:44 UTC
The graphics and design are concise and pleasant to follow, the sound is good and mechanics solid, it could use a reset button for when you know you messed up. Solid!
carkh
03. May 2023 · 06:22 UTC
Graphics are nice. Keyboard needs to have US layout. The puzzles have a tendency to devolve into a path searching algorithm, but hey good enough for a 3 days project !
WouterK12
03. May 2023 · 10:07 UTC
Interesting take on the theme. I partially decoded the message in the readme and saw your message :)
The game has a cool vibe to it. Well done! :D
aaronkaa
03. May 2023 · 14:29 UTC
This is the best game so far that I played with. It is easy to understand, has some challenge in it that makes a great flow.
Avi
04. May 2023 · 01:04 UTC
Fun puzzles! Love the digetic design of the game :D
SpaceyLake
04. May 2023 · 19:29 UTC
Fun and interesting game! Nice visuals and good music.
Tetrergeru
04. May 2023 · 21:14 UTC
Great game! Loved it :)
Jahwffrey
05. May 2023 · 16:53 UTC
Nice concept and very slick graphics, but unfortunately it felt like most of the time I lost a level was because I didn't know which teleporter led where and just had to lose a few times seeing where they all went before giving it an actual try. I really like the mechanics of +/- moves and switching colors though, made you really consider the right path before giving it go.
Untitled Studios
06. May 2023 · 17:30 UTC
Cool game! Love the aesthetic, sound design, and music. The mechanics for a great puzzle game are all here, though it feels like a few more levels to flesh out the mechanics would have served the game well.
thomaspixelart
06. May 2023 · 18:43 UTC
Really cool game, thanks for the inspirational words too haha

I'm a cool boy now
![image.png](///raw/1a9/95/z/5b7e8.png)
Aviv Levy
06. May 2023 · 18:46 UTC
Hi! Really cool game. Love the art, music and atmosphere. Love the combination of puzzles with the device, and decrypting the readme message. I wish there was an undo / restart button, unless there is and I missed it?
🎤 Ryabchik
06. May 2023 · 18:47 UTC
@thomaspixelart haha, encouraged as best they could)
🎤 Ryabchik
06. May 2023 · 18:49 UTC
@aviv-levy, we apologize, we did not have time to add it (probably forgot), although it would have been the very place there. But in principle, the puzzles are not very large, so I hope that the absence of a button did not cause big problems
Flaterectomy
06. May 2023 · 19:28 UTC
A simple but enjoyable puzzler due to the character you put into the writing. The puzzles themselves often were a little easier than I anticipated, avoiding the transports and just moving to the exit, which was cheeky. :laughing: But the real meat of the game is in the writing, and the messages along the way. Well done!

I noticed you had a quit game option at the end, but no replay option. I always advise making it as easy as possible for a player to play more of your game, so that's what I would suggest.

All in all a fun entry!
LDJam user 166918
07. May 2023 · 01:22 UTC
Pretty good puzzle game with an interesting idea. Funny notes, nice music. It was fun to solve it. In general, everything is cool.
Keep up the good work and don't stop there.

PS: This game really needs a restart button, it is very lacking.
Aivaxela
07. May 2023 · 07:16 UTC
awesome puzzle game! Loved the music too. to be completely honest, in several of the levels I was kinda just guessing which path to take until I got it right, especially with the teleporters since it wasn't clear of where they were going to take you, so if you took one that definitely made you lose the level, its kinda just trial and error. that's just some balance nitpicking though, that aside the game was awesome and felt very complete!
Rakowu
08. May 2023 · 18:52 UTC
Oh that is a dangerous addictive :D

I think it's a really cool theme and the way it's implemented. It's not boring and I'm still stuck on the white dots. Really fun and good concept. Also very creative with the theme. Super.
You deserve more votes.
shp
14. May 2023 · 14:19 UTC
I always appreciate when a puzzle games has good set dressing like this one does, the gameplay itself is quite nice too! well done!
LDJam user 242971
15. May 2023 · 01:00 UTC
I really enjoyed the puzzles. Cute ending that took me down am unexpected rabbit hole. Very creative. Nice work I had a lot of fun.
Tygrak
17. May 2023 · 20:53 UTC
Incredible! Very nicely polished, super enjoyable, could really see this getting expanded into a full game. One thing I couldn't stop myself from doing was moving the thingy in sync with the music -- maybe the potential full game could have rhythm elements? :D The music was incredible did I mention that? And the art style was really good too.