SideLands by MoltenMustafa

[raw]
made by MoltenMustafa for LD31 (COMPO)
SPECIAL REQUEST: If any IOS/Linux users can test this game out in Wine and see if it works, please let me know in the comments what OS you're using so I could update my link descriptions. Thank you!

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This game is weird. Basically, you're a creature that lives on a planet where gravity runs from east to west, and you want to escape it for some reason. I know that wasn't the most professional of explanations but hey, it fits the weirdness of this game.

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Controls are meant to be learnt, but just in case you don't feel like experimenting too much:

Holding DOWN the arrow keys, makes you jump farther when you release the arrow keys. Your color determines your jump length.

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Be sure to check out the top of the window, there's some valuable display options that are toggled with the function keys. Give them a shot if you don't find the defaults to your liking. You can also manually resize the window if you wish.

Thanks for checking this out! I had a lot of fun doing this, I hope it shows through in the game.

Ratings

Coolness 39% 1742
Overall 3.76 97
Audio 3.26 231
Fun 3.72 95
Graphics 3.96 104
Humor 2.86 320
Innovation 3.60 240
Mood 3.30 250
Theme 3.60 557

Feedback

merrak
08. Dec 2014 路 05:17 UTC
I tried to run it on Wine in Ubuntu 13.04, and it fails to load ("Cabinet is not valid.")

Extracting file failed. It is most likely caused by low memory (low disk space for swapping file) or corrupted Cabinet file.

I have 12GB of memory installed on this machine, so hopefully it's not that ;)
joppiesaus
08. Dec 2014 路 09:26 UTC
Excellent game. Very innovative. I love the graphics! They're awesome!
You did a pretty good job on the theme too. Because you jump from windows to others, yet they're all in one screen.
You can try it multiple times, because there are multiple ways, which is a good thing.
I think it's fun because the controls are different, they're a little confusing at the begginning but once you get used to it they're really well choosen.
I would like to have it a little longer, and some harder parts, but hey, it's Ludum Dare!
馃帳 MoltenMustafa
08. Dec 2014 路 17:35 UTC
Thanks for testing it merrak, I'm sorry it doesn't work. Unfortunately there's not much I can do in that regard as I don't have a machine that runs Ubuntu and Game Maker: Studio doesn't have an export to it (Yet). Thanks again.

I appreciate the input Joppiesaus, I'm relieved to kow that you enjoyed the controls as those were my main worry. I definitely want to attempt to make a larger game out of this control mechanic someday.
Gemberkoekje
08. Dec 2014 路 18:45 UTC
I really like this game. The graphics are good, and while the game could do with a bit of a tutorial, or at least a bit further explanation, I found it quite fun to roam around with this weird... octopus dude? i think?

Very cool, keep it up! :)
davesoft
08. Dec 2014 路 19:28 UTC
Black screen on windows 8. Title bar has the instructions in and they work, just nothing on the screen :/
kiiro94
08. Dec 2014 路 19:30 UTC
Very nice controls, I love the level design based on bouncing :D
ranseur
08. Dec 2014 路 19:31 UTC
Veery cool game!
qristofer
08. Dec 2014 路 19:39 UTC
This amazed me. The overall best game I played so far. An excellent take on the theme, beautiful graphics, just the right challenge and a rewarding ending. Masterpiece!
馃帳 MoltenMustafa
08. Dec 2014 路 19:44 UTC
Dave, that's really weird. Did you see the title pop up at all? Or was it just a black screen from the beginning?
rogberth
08. Dec 2014 路 20:29 UTC
Ok, this game was fun to play, I loved the mechanics, I loved the graphics yet sadly zooming out made it look worse but it was still good.

The game is actually easy except for the 1st teleport room, although I still enjoyed.
drludos
08. Dec 2014 路 20:52 UTC
The game keeps crashing at startup for me (I'm on Win XP, using an old Asus EEE Pc netbook, so no real graphics cards)
Kevin_twenty7
08. Dec 2014 路 20:53 UTC
This is a good game, I really like the wall jumping parts!
馃帳 MoltenMustafa
08. Dec 2014 路 21:10 UTC
drludos, the game uses pixel shaders, so that's probably why it won't run on your PC. I'm sorry :(
christopf
09. Dec 2014 路 14:04 UTC
Wow, this was the most suprising and enjoyable game so far. I like the take on the theme, the graphics, the mechanic, your humor. Well done and looking forward for more of you.
VDZ
10. Dec 2014 路 08:53 UTC
Though it seems wildly innovative at first, digging a bit beyond the surface reveals that the innovation mainly consists of gimmicks that actually detract from the experience.

We'll start with a positive point: having movement consist entirely of jumps is indeed innovative and it gives a nice twist to what would otherwise be an unremarkable platformer.

However, having gravity run sideways adds nothing to the gameplay. You could just rotate your screen and have exactly the same game except without the 'sideways' gimmick. The 'zooming out' gimmick likewise adds nothing of note (beyond making your game fit the theme), and in fact detracts from the experience as things would look a lot nicer and clearer if it were visible from up close.

And that's a shame, because the graphics are very nice. Though the gameplay wasn't very interesting, it was still interesting to go through the game to see what the levels look like.

The game is far too easy for its short length. With how easily you can get past what little dangers there are, you'll beat the game in significantly less time than it takes me to type up this feedback.

The sound was a tad repetitive and annoying, but it was okay enough to not detract much from the experience. Functionally it was fine.
grid96
12. Dec 2014 路 00:57 UTC
Awesome idea with crazy colors.
lase
12. Dec 2014 路 00:58 UTC
This game is pretty awesome. I somehow skipped 2 areas, but I had fun playing. If you were to expand on it, I might make the side-to-side movement more refined than jumping, so you could set up your jumps for carefully & then have more complex levels. It sort of plays itself once you decide which direction to jump. Either way, I thought it was great. Awesome job!
Downtown
12. Dec 2014 路 02:24 UTC
very memorable entry, the jumping mechanic felt great, sounds were appropriate, I just enjoyed jumping about.
Shackhal
12. Dec 2014 路 22:11 UTC
Simple gameplay for an awesome game. Also, lovely graphics.
I would like to have more rooms to play.

Overall, I love it :D
elvaq
16. Dec 2014 路 07:46 UTC
Wow, man! Really great stuff, I am impressed by your creativity. The concept seemed a little thin at first but you really did a great job putting a game together. The graphics and sound work really well and the gameplay is super fun while it lasts. I think if you add one or two things you could really develop this further.
colludium
20. Dec 2014 路 00:57 UTC
That was very well put together - great job! I loved the graphics and game play - perfect!
jojocanard
25. Dec 2014 路 12:09 UTC
Nice graphics and great controls. I particularly like how the jump "feels" thanks to the sounds and graphics.