Echo Dive by Ricesteam
Note: I can't get the embedded version working, but please play it on itch.io:
https://ricesteam.itch.io/ludumdare-57
Deep dive into the abyss in your tiny submarine, using your sonar to detect objects. Collect money and buy upgrades. The idea worked better in my head...lol.
Save the President. Save the world.
Controls:
- WASD/ARROW to move
- SPACE to use sonar for echo pinging
- Left/Right mouse click to shoot
HUD is unfinished but
- RED: Health.
- YELLOW: Psyche. Constant drain but can be refilled by collecting coins.
- WHITE: Noise from the motor.
- TEAL: Sonar cooldown.
- GREEN: Torpedo cooldown.
There is an ending: reach 30,000 depth. I was aiming for 50,000 but I don't have enough content for it to be fun.
Opting out of Art and Music. I'm a solo-dev using premade assets and some generative stuff. However I did do the submarine by drawing on top of a fish and added a rectangle for the cap. I hope to work with an artist next time.
Hints
- Look for 50% healing in the shop. It's cheap and a life saver. (When you buy it, seems like nothing happens, but don't worry, you'll get your healing once the game un-pauses)
- The Merman increases Tariffs each time you hit him.
- Max HP, Speed, and Damage are the better upgrades. (I don't have enough content for different playstyles in this iteration)
Asset Credits:
Please feel free to reach out to me if you require credit. Thank you!
Screenshots:
| Playable | https://ricesteam.itch.io/ludumdare-57 |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/57/echo-dive |
Ratings
| Overall | 351th | 3.66⭐ | 55🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 338th | 3.509⭐ | 55🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 517th | 3.118⭐ | 53🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 100th | 4.221⭐ | 54🧑⚖️ |
| Humor | 303th | 3.152⭐ | 48🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 179th | 3.981⭐ | 55🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 56🗳️ | 80🗨️ |
Edit: Looks like I still have some time to figure out the embedded stuff.
Edit: the merman raising the prices as I hit him is amazing haha
Thanks for the game.
One other thing as well: the game seems to only work when I go on itch.io and it doesn't seem to work in the embedding on the page, it just shows this and pressing buttons does nothing, just flagging this if you want to take a look
The octapusses balance between vision and enemy speed is also really nice.
Its a shame there isn't a little more variation to the game because it is genuinely fun to play. Well done!
One thing I think could've done better is the core gameplay loop. It doesn't feel like upgrades matter much, and this is because core gameplay loop doesn't bring much challenge and at the same time the challenge doesn't increase. What I would've changed here is the control of the submarine: maybe it's more inert, or is not directly controlled by WASD or there are more enemies and obstacles the player must evade.
I feel I am really in the depths.
One thing which frustrated me a little bit where the octopusses. I did not know how to deal with them, since they hit me before I could react. Using the sonar also did not seem to help much, since they move around quite a bit. :/
That aside, I really like the game! Well done :D
It worked better in head. I think this type of enemy would work better in a bigger play area. It was supposed to enhance the sonar gameplay.
Thanks again!
The theme is well executed.
Well done too giving that claustrophobic feeling increasing with depth, and still keeping some humor around ^^ It has some clever mechanics (but didnt understood psyche well I guess) , I'll try later to beat it totally this time. I didn't use so much the sonar once a little deep btw, maybe that could have helped.
Just an idea, I felt like their was a background and a "dusty" layer in front of it, maybe adding some paralax to the dusts can give some impression of speed while scrolling down ?
Good job !