SKYLINE EXCAVATOR by swordguy47

[raw]
made by swordguy47 for Ludum Dare 57 (JAM)

NOTE: Use the itch.io web embed link to play this game in browser. You can also just download the windows executable if needed.

cover.png

There's treasure here beneath the sand. TIME TO EXCAVATE.

Use platforms, springs, and boosters to propel yourself up as far as you can before falling down as far as possible.

The harder you fall, the deeper you will dig, unearthing valuable coins, emeralds, and diamonds.

Ratings

Overall 80th 4.096⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Fun 16th 4.346⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 163th 3.788⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Theme 52th 4.327⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 569th 3.385⭐ 28🧑‍⚖️
Humor 419th 2.841⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Mood 523th 3.44⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Given 21🗳️ 41🗨️

Feedback

pavlov36
08. Apr 2025 · 19:51 UTC
Nice to play) Like the second digging part!
Raynorr
08. Apr 2025 · 21:06 UTC
I didn't understand why I was going up in the air at first, but I was pleasantly surprised! Simple but effective, the menu animation when collecting loot is super cool!
buckmeister
08. Apr 2025 · 22:35 UTC
Really fun to play! Kudos!
Brain-dead Rabbit Games
08. Apr 2025 · 22:35 UTC
Love it, really interesting concept!
Patatje
08. Apr 2025 · 22:36 UTC
And here i was wondering what the game had to do with depths, i had a huge smile on my face when i realized the gameplay loop :) and then after a very good attempt, i was surprised for a 2nd time when my ball transformed into a drill!
super super fun concept. i love the little squash n stretch on the ball, and both the buildup and digging part feel satisfying in their own way. seriously well done!
KlinsmannHengles
08. Apr 2025 · 22:36 UTC
It's so fun! I love the concept of the game divided in two parts and the transition between these two phases is interesting. It's a good use of the theme. And the menu text with your points is also really cool.
Wolfier
08. Apr 2025 · 22:41 UTC
i feel like there should be a slight pause when you enter a new level so you can see what's happening. You did a good job with the score screen
🎤 swordguy47
08. Apr 2025 · 22:44 UTC
@patatje I was wondering if anyone was going to find out about the drill, haha! Tysm for the comment, I'm super stoked you enjoyed it :)
nojoule
08. Apr 2025 · 22:48 UTC
Player until i got to diamonds. It was lagging a bit (probably loading some resources) on the first landing, but then it went smooth. The glitches that threw me up 15 levels immediately was the most fun :laughing: (i assume it is a bug with changing jumps during level transition exploding the velocity).
MagnesiumNinja
08. Apr 2025 · 22:55 UTC
Great interpretation of the theme! I love the amount of game feel juice you've added, with the satisfying tally-up animation and the drill transformation once you've reached a certain height.
Certain screens felt a bit unfair since I was placed in a spot that had no platform underneath me and fell instantly, but it's cool that the game presents this as a completion rather than a failure.
fungus mundus
09. Apr 2025 · 00:13 UTC
Really cool gameplay loop, I especially liked the moments where you could build up a lot of speed to almost skip levels as you go up.
Pixelstain
09. Apr 2025 · 00:15 UTC
This was the most creative use of the theme that I've seen so far. Great game!
Pusheeneiro
09. Apr 2025 · 07:51 UTC
Great idea of mashups two other types of games
Jim jagers
09. Apr 2025 · 09:00 UTC
Super satisfying game
angry_fridge
10. Apr 2025 · 08:24 UTC
Wow, that game surprised me when the ball fell down and started digging, I just assumed it was bouncy ball on a platform, I thought that was really cool! One tiny bit is that I found the font on the digging summary modal a bit hard to read but other than that I really liked it! Well done!
isayneigh
10. Apr 2025 · 19:52 UTC
Really fits the theme, great job! I had to stop my self because i'm at work, but i could see myself playing this for a while just getting frustrated that i'm not good enough haha. While the SFX are atmospheric, I personally think some tunes would be nice. Still, a great game.
Ch48
10. Apr 2025 · 20:20 UTC
The digging section is insanely satisfying, great game!!
Monogatari
10. Apr 2025 · 20:30 UTC
The double gamedesign is so cool, the first part can be addictive and the second goes soooo fast. Misses a little music here, but the sfx are good and the graphics fits well. It's a nice game great job! =)
silkworm_sweatshop
10. Apr 2025 · 20:36 UTC
So juicy and satisfying! Failed my first run so early I was a bit confused, but once that drill came out on my next run I got a big smile on my face. Excellent!
LDJam user 321333
10. Apr 2025 · 23:42 UTC
Very fun play! I'm terrible at making arcade-type games like this, so I appreciate good ones all the more. My face totally lit up when I hit the double mechanic at the end of my first run. Only critique is that the best runs feel a bit arbitrary, like I'm suddenly shooting up twenty levels and feeling great, but I can't replicate it or do it from skill, so the joy of it wears off after a bit. Still, love that the levels change as you get higher. My last run I saw slanted platforms and one started moving after I landed on it, so I imagine without the level skip mechanic, and possibly with some hand crafted runs in addition to these more randomly generated levels, this game would be fun to try and master.
Jeffrey Hwang
16. Apr 2025 · 03:12 UTC
Loved the squishy ball! Great polish to the game :) Awesome job!
Borabee
16. Apr 2025 · 20:41 UTC
Fun gameplay and well done design, you did a good job with increasing difficulty and introducing new challenges the higher the player gets. The ball turning into a drill is also really cool! I managed to go up to 115957pts!

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Stending
24. Apr 2025 · 18:53 UTC
So fun and so polished! The feeling of the ball is super smooth, it felt really great to play!
Loved the take on the theme, it's super fun to reward the defeat, losing is anti-frustrating, first time I see this kind of mecanic!

Amazing entry, full 5 stars for me!! :heart: