Descend by Placeholders

[raw]
made by Placeholders for Ludum Dare 57 (COMPO)

Web Version is up on Itch (link below!)

Descend to the mystery of depths, can you reach bottom? a short atmospheric ​game gif.gif

Audio from Soundsnap and edited by me

Ratings

Overall 94th 3.643⭐ 124🧑‍⚖️
Fun 172th 3.201⭐ 124🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 141th 3.366⭐ 125🧑‍⚖️
Theme 92th 3.795⭐ 124🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 69th 3.931⭐ 125🧑‍⚖️
Audio 10th 4.103⭐ 119🧑‍⚖️
Mood 23th 4.143⭐ 124🧑‍⚖️
Given 51🗳️ 66🗨️

Feedback

Tero Pulkkinen
07. Apr 2025 · 01:32 UTC
the embedding didn't work, stuck on the unity logo, but the web link worked ok. I managed to walk through few rooms, but that's it. Dropped few levels down etc.
Aleksey Salion
07. Apr 2025 · 05:18 UTC
The sound effects and music are amazing—I love them!
av_shustov
07. Apr 2025 · 06:03 UTC
I liked the simple graphics, it looks cool.
Scrawach
07. Apr 2025 · 07:42 UTC
Oh, I love minimalism! And here it's very stylish and atmospheric. There are surprisingly many levels. The boss scared me a bit, I'm already starting to prepare for dodging by rolling :D
LightningST
07. Apr 2025 · 08:03 UTC
You should look into shepard tones! Very cool ambiance!
Flying Butter Studio
07. Apr 2025 · 09:03 UTC
A super interesting game with a neat atmosphere! It has that little something intriguing that made me finish it with pleasure. Special mention for the audio which is perfect! Very good work!
sqqqwer
07. Apr 2025 · 09:58 UTC
Awesome atmosphere and sound design. Very satisfying!
BadPinkChicken
07. Apr 2025 · 10:26 UTC
Wow, nice experience! It would be fun to have an input to shoot the ball. Overall I love the vibe, great job!
MSD
07. Apr 2025 · 11:22 UTC
5/5 so cool
nyxkn
07. Apr 2025 · 12:19 UTC
Oh my god what a good game!! The art and presentation is amazing! Really cool graphics and animations, and an excellent mood. I was hooked. Definitely could have played way longer. Very nice use of music. Way impressive for compo, well done.
OnnGD
07. Apr 2025 · 12:59 UTC
I have mixed feelings about the game, but they are all positive. I didn't understand whether I liked the game or really liked it. What I understood for sure is that it wasn't enough for me. Cool
maxkaemmerer
07. Apr 2025 · 13:13 UTC
This was dope. Love the visuals and audio. Would love to see a larger version of this.
ImmortalFox
07. Apr 2025 · 14:06 UTC
Audio is pretty interesting. I was thinking those white balls are actually stars which we see from the Earth sometimes flying in the sky. Great journey!
Frib
07. Apr 2025 · 14:54 UTC
I'm not quite sure what I just played through, but it sure looked and sounded great :D
reecemungus
07. Apr 2025 · 15:09 UTC
This game has a really interesting vibe, I had a great time exploring each level and seeing how each one differs. It was quite fun to figure out the little puzzles and I really enjoyed my playthrough. Great work!
JCMonkey
07. Apr 2025 · 16:26 UTC
i can see this being turned into some kind of meditation game one could play before bed to calm the nerves. or just to calm nerves in general. pushing stuff off a cliff is always fun! :D
Sayeg
07. Apr 2025 · 16:28 UTC
Oh my what an absolutely WONDOROUS game. Enjoyed delving into the depth of the tower and the minimalist writing. It's like my mother always said: it's the journey! Not the destination (which was beautiful (and a bit scary))
ShadyShade
07. Apr 2025 · 18:34 UTC
The graphics and music are so awesome!
They are perfectly conveys the atmosphere of going deeper.
Gargantuan Janitor
07. Apr 2025 · 22:31 UTC
Interesting. I love the audio, the pitch shifting tone as you go down is a great addition.
Visually very pretty, would love to see more of this
LDJam user 352490
07. Apr 2025 · 23:15 UTC
Hey, this was a pretty incredible experience. I love how the pitch starts to shift a half step each floor, then two half steps, then three, until the very last drop with the minor sixth. And the mix uses such a wide range of pitches, that there's always something new to hear every floor. I also really dig the 1-bit vector art.

Interesting to note that every play-through is a little bit different, since the floors are randomized.
Haokai XU 1999
07. Apr 2025 · 23:49 UTC
Remarkable! I really enjoy the atmosphere you created!
LDJam user 396269
08. Apr 2025 · 00:13 UTC
amazing atmosphere!
rack47
08. Apr 2025 · 03:16 UTC
The way the pitch changes between floors is great. I really like the unique graphics and overall mood.
Rinevard
08. Apr 2025 · 04:11 UTC
I love the atmosphere, fantastic.
maneesh
08. Apr 2025 · 06:06 UTC
Love the Art Style and Minimalist vibe to the game
LDJam user 0
08. Apr 2025 · 06:07 UTC
I looooooooooooooove the atmosphere. Graphics are so great.
DzejPi
08. Apr 2025 · 06:24 UTC
Wonderfully trippy, I actually enjoyed this a lot and I would say this is one of my favorite entries so far! I love experimental games like this. Awesome sounds, atmosphere, and graphics work amazingly well together despite being this simple. Well done, absolutely loved this!
Dywanix
08. Apr 2025 · 09:32 UTC
Really cool and unsuall concept!
WhaleJam
08. Apr 2025 · 10:00 UTC
Short and sweet, you really nailed the atmosphere, the mood was first curious and questioning, then spooky and interesting the further down you go. I really liked the end too, very funky. The pitch change between floors adds a lot to make things more spooky. It was nice in this context that it was short, but I would totally play more of this, with more mysteries to uncover! Nice job ^^
Keith Wang
08. Apr 2025 · 11:52 UTC
Absolutely love how the scene is squirming smoothly. Great audio and atmosphere.
Mikan
08. Apr 2025 · 13:34 UTC
I really like the concept and art.
izzqz
08. Apr 2025 · 13:55 UTC
I like monochrome style implementation. Pleasant! 5 stars
xWilQ
08. Apr 2025 · 15:07 UTC
It's the small details and polish that make the game feel really complete. Fantastic work on creating such an immersive atmosphere!
SmelJey
08. Apr 2025 · 15:37 UTC
Wow, this was a unique experience! I surely was not expecting to find a game like this :)

It looks mysterious and beautiful!
LDJam user 336851
08. Apr 2025 · 17:38 UTC
Wow! This game has incredible mood and ambience! I really liked the sound queue which plays when you progress to the next floor.
pigeon_dp
08. Apr 2025 · 18:52 UTC
Nice and simple game. The mood was surely there :)
thisyc
08. Apr 2025 · 19:43 UTC
ooh nice atmosphere, and I dig the minimalist approach. I honestly don't know what I can suggest to make it better, you nailed what you wanted to deliver perfectly. Well done!![Screenshot 2025-04-08 154200.png](///raw/14b/36/z/6b82e.png)
protzz
08. Apr 2025 · 19:53 UTC
I LOVE THE ATMOSPHERE!!!
randomhuman
08. Apr 2025 · 20:48 UTC
Very atmospheric and I love the minimalist art, and chasing the little guys around.
Akinat0
09. Apr 2025 · 00:12 UTC
I didn't get the place, but it's lovely. Good job!
ln404
09. Apr 2025 · 01:10 UTC
Wow! It was something! Thank you!
LanaLux
09. Apr 2025 · 03:04 UTC
that was really nice. great entry.
Leophyte
09. Apr 2025 · 07:32 UTC
Aw cute, the sound design might be my favorite part
chiyeon
09. Apr 2025 · 09:27 UTC
Really cool stuff, overall a well imagined and developed product. Really appreciated not just the atmosphere but the overall look/style/experience of everything. Impressive especially given the time!
dnp
09. Apr 2025 · 09:49 UTC
Very imaginative. I like the vibes. No challenge, no puzzle, just chill. It's nice to play these kinds of games now and then.
EZduzzit
09. Apr 2025 · 16:59 UTC
Everything about this game just feels good, I definitely found myself wanting to keep playing! love the visuals, love the sounds, love the music and love the game! :)
byebye
09. Apr 2025 · 17:03 UTC
Art, music and gameplay bring you into a special meditative state, great game!
Providence
09. Apr 2025 · 17:10 UTC
Surreal experience. Looking forward to seeing more!
chuckeles
09. Apr 2025 · 17:32 UTC
Super nice cozy game, great atmosphere! There you go, I made your day. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
Deruitda
09. Apr 2025 · 17:40 UTC
Incredibly atmospheric, just feels and looks so good to play. Really great work
HabitosNoturnos
09. Apr 2025 · 17:42 UTC
I really enjoy your game! It's very cozy and the sounds are very chilling.
I can see the genesis noir inspiration bro! Congratulations!
Apophatique
09. Apr 2025 · 20:56 UTC
5/5. Everything is coherent and serves a brilliant artistic direction.
LDJam user 259103
09. Apr 2025 · 21:06 UTC
Interesting experience! I like that it only does what it needs to; it doesn't drag it out. The minimalist visual style is great, and the music adds to the tranquil atmosphere.

The few problems I had were more implementation-based, and are perfectly acceptable for a jam game:
- I didn't realize NPCs could have multiple dialogue lines at first, as the only way I could tell to advance text was walking away then moving close to them again, which is very unintuitive. I'd recommend some kind of proper dialogue box, maybe.
- It felt weird how many objects did not have collision.
- The pushable balls felt a bit off to me, and the fact that they can be seen through the level after being knocked off is a little visually confusing.
- The ending screen did not fill my display vertically on my 16:10 laptop.
Monogatari
10. Apr 2025 · 01:16 UTC
Thanks a lot for this unique experience ! Aesthetics and music are incredible, also the little puzzles and story telling were really pleasant ! Good Job :)
osh.studio
10. Apr 2025 · 04:14 UTC
Lovely atmosphere man, would love to get some tips from you for how you acheived your audio - keep it up :)
xpoho
10. Apr 2025 · 11:51 UTC
![изображение_2025-04-10_185050806.png](///raw/d14/a3/z/6be09.png)

It was deep.


Nice work with all those geometrical forms. It is cool how you created from them such a game! Well done!
Alvaron
10. Apr 2025 · 17:08 UTC
Great atmosphere. Loved the minimalist graphics. Enjoyed playing :)
gamurmakesgems
11. Apr 2025 · 01:00 UTC
Nice graphics, plays well, the music going lower per level is a nice addition and the mood feels right.
mr_mesmer
11. Apr 2025 · 14:54 UTC
Deep, not all understand. I don't understand, but rate high.
ugly_robot
11. Apr 2025 · 16:40 UTC
Loved it! What an enchanting experience - well done!
Mcgiants
12. Apr 2025 · 02:12 UTC
Eventually figured out that walking past someone multiple times meant more words. Still, it helps the game does not depend on reading, just exploring. What a cool effect on the tower and ending.
Thanks for sharing!
Euler Moises
13. Apr 2025 · 22:22 UTC
Very interesting! It was fun to solve the little puzzles. I thought the ending was beautiful!

Congratulations
Borabee
14. Apr 2025 · 01:28 UTC
What a... curious experience.

You nailed the atmosphere with the glowing graphics and the sound design, sometimes unsettling, sometimes so ethereal.
Karamelika22
19. Apr 2025 · 15:12 UTC
Interesting and beautiful interpretation of the theme, I like this style (minimalism). Atmospheric, I really enjoyed playing. I wanted to look at each room and liked the glowing balls that looked like falling stars (beautiful) Good job)
fabonacci
20. Apr 2025 · 14:39 UTC
it is pretty, i liked the experience. Nice entry
Zelberor
20. Apr 2025 · 15:07 UTC
Very atmospheric experience. I really like audio as it gets deeper the deeper you go.
LDJam user 371030
20. Apr 2025 · 15:45 UTC
Definitely a *different* game. The 1-bit color scheme is cute and it's a distinct are style you got here - simple but effective. : ) I enjoyed the vibe. However, it seems I was unclear what to do at level -15 with the big balsy guy.
Kawair
20. Apr 2025 · 15:52 UTC
I really like the atmosphere of the game, especially the tune changes of background music which catch the theme"depths"
Tygrak
20. Apr 2025 · 15:54 UTC
That was a super nice time! Lovely artstyle, I love the walking simulator-y gameplay. And I really really liked the trippy audio, great job :)!
Ammonit
20. Apr 2025 · 18:35 UTC
WOW! I have no idea what just happened, but I’m absolutely thrilled))))) Didn’t understand a thing, but it’s super interesting and looks and sounds AMAZING!!! Gonna give it another go))))
She Wrote
20. Apr 2025 · 19:56 UTC
The atmosphere and graphics are wonderful, especially for a compo game. I love the scenery as well, so creative. Great work!
MoD_Wiz
20. Apr 2025 · 21:34 UTC
Love the music and the atmosphere, very experimental experience.

1-bit abstract and geometric style is very well done!
egawag
21. Apr 2025 · 04:44 UTC
Really liked the vibes. Especially the audio transitions between each level.
johnnysix
21. Apr 2025 · 10:42 UTC
Nice - really loved the small story elements in each level, makes the player curious to continue to see more. My favourite was probably the tower of dog creatures :smile:
LLlarsO
22. Apr 2025 · 10:37 UTC
As a lot of people mentioned, the mood is absolutely good in this game.
The atmosphere is top notch.

Some more gameplay variety would have been nice.

I like the visual style of the game. The worm at the end was cool. And I especially adore the "ball falling from the tower effect". It looks really cool, when you kick it down from different places. :)
Supersayafynn
24. Apr 2025 · 08:59 UTC
Really mysterious vibe and atmosphere. I could have played this for a lot longer
designernap
24. Apr 2025 · 12:52 UTC
Gaaaah you know what? I very rarely give 5 stars accross the board, but this really won me over. Just a wonderful little experience with some great storytelling, exudes a ton of charm and just wow... really great. Just what I needed today too. Thank you
![Screenshot 2025-04-24 135215.png](///raw/7fa/z/6c6f8.png)
Jim jagers
24. Apr 2025 · 12:56 UTC
The vibes are immaculate
Static_Leap_Studios
24. Apr 2025 · 14:33 UTC
Cool idea with the music adapting to the level! I think it could be worth developing more with trickier puzzles using these mechanics