Beat Jumper by fueelin

[raw]
made by fueelin for LD31 (COMPO)
UPDATE - 12/25:

I've added a post-compo version of the game that includes some bug fixes and enhancements, such as slowing the song/platforms down on easy mode.

The biggest change is an overhaul to the 'staying on the beat' system. You're now trying to keep the bar full, instead of empty. This makes it harder to lose immediately and does not allow you to make an impenetrable buffer of extra points, as you could before.

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SUMMARY:
Try to stay on the beat as platforms fly past you! Don't go off the screen (for there is only the screen)! Beat your high score!

Each platform represents a note/sound in the music. The corresponding note will sound as the platform hits the yellow line through the center of the screen.

Touching a platform as it crosses the center will increase your score and turn the platform green or yellow. If your timing is off, the platform will turn red and you will lose points.

If your score goes too far negative (as indicated by the bar in the top left), your game is over.

If you have trouble making it to the end, feel free to sit around in the 'game over' screen so you can hear the whole song :)

FEATURES:
-Fast-paced platforming gameplay, in-time with the music.
-Multiple difficulty levels (jump into the E/M/H blocks to set it).
-Automatically saved high scores so you can track your improvement.
-Tight controls.

CONTROLS:
A/D or Left/Right: Run
Space: Jump/Wall Jump
S or Down: Fast Fall (in air)
R: Restart

TIPS:
-Moving left is harder, as you're 'chasing' the platforms.
-If you get stuck in the drum parts (at the bottom), spamming wall jumps can save you.
-See tutorial screenshot on game page/in game directory.

I recorded a demo video of a complete playthrough on Hard, with a score of 270. If you want to get a quick idea of the game or check out some 'advanced techniques', take a look at the YouTube link above!

IF THE GAME CRASHES ON START:
Install the XNA 4.0 distributable (located in 'IFCRASH' folder in .rar)

Ratings

Coolness 77% 2
Overall 3.17 587
Audio 3.58 102
Fun 3.10 535
Graphics 2.17 1092
Innovation 3.53 283
Mood 2.67 777
Theme 2.73 1131

Feedback

Bogden
08. Dec 2014 · 10:22 UTC
Very interesting concept!
apiotrw
08. Dec 2014 · 10:39 UTC
Nice. Reminds me a lot of some very challenging Mario levels.
Louisload
08. Dec 2014 · 10:45 UTC
Cool concept! I felt like a small flee in a musical world
okkolobr
08. Dec 2014 · 11:12 UTC
Like the concept. REALLLY hard to master though
Aglavra
08. Dec 2014 · 11:21 UTC
The concept is interesting, but on my PC jumping is a bit unresponsive. Takes time to get used to it.
ranseur
08. Dec 2014 · 11:26 UTC
Will scavenge the source to learn how to do this!
🎤 fueelin
08. Dec 2014 · 11:55 UTC
ranseur - The game requires you have a matching MIDI and MP3 file to generate the level. The MIDI parsing (MidiReader.cs) is the most complex part, but it's not so bad using NAudio.

Theoretically it shouldn't be too hard to allow loading custom levels in a post-compo version. It might be annoying with the XNA Content Pipeline though.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about how something works in the code.
kalugny
08. Dec 2014 · 12:07 UTC
Liked it a lot!
🎤 fueelin
08. Dec 2014 · 12:34 UTC
I recorded a demo video of a decent, complete playthrough on Hard, with a score of 271. There's no sound - hopefully I'll have a demo with sound up tomorrow. If you want to check out some 'advanced techniques', take a look!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WDX-m428BM&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
🎤 fueelin
09. Dec 2014 · 08:27 UTC
I've uploaded a new demo to YouTube, this time with sound. Link is above.
lekochen
09. Dec 2014 · 09:21 UTC
Nice concept!
Geti
09. Dec 2014 · 09:37 UTC
YOU MADE IT TO THE END OF THE SONG

Tricky, a bit of spamming jump here and there, haha, but it works. Nicely done :)

Didn't fit the theme very well though imho
Tuism
09. Dec 2014 · 10:14 UTC
Admittedly I only watched the video because I'm on OS X right now, but damn I really like it :) I'm a sucker for rhythm games, am making my own one called Beat Attack, so this is special :)

Now, I feel like some things could make it more true to what it should be doing:

1. Make the player action mean something to the music - so the sample plays when the player lands on a colour? Or samples NOT playing when the player doesn't land on it? Right now it's just music playing, and doesn't feel right as a rhythm game... Right now you can take out the music and the game plays the same.

2. Or in reverse, make the music a cue that is a clue for what the player must do. Beat Trip does this very well :)
Kitch
10. Dec 2014 · 02:55 UTC
Really like it when audio is incorporated into gameplay... (Just wish the bass line on this one was a bit easier :) ) Tough, but really cool. Good Job. Thanks!
johnbrynte
10. Dec 2014 · 21:02 UTC
For me the music didn't seem to be in sync with the platform bars which was rather sad. I admire the idea and hope that it worked as it should for others. Good work!
BoxedMeatRevolution
15. Dec 2014 · 21:06 UTC
I wish there was a mac build! I watched the Youtube vid and it looks fun, but I cannot play using my mac :(
🎤 fueelin
25. Dec 2014 · 07:46 UTC
I've added a post-compo version of the game that includes some bug fixes and enhancements, such as slowing the song/platforms down on easy mode.

The biggest change is an overhaul to the 'staying on the beat' system. You're now trying to keep the bar full, instead of empty. This makes it harder to lose immediately and does not allow you to make an impenetrable buffer of extra points, as you could before.
01rafael
25. Dec 2014 · 11:36 UTC
Wow! So lovely graphics! Bit hard though, but so awesome!
phi
25. Dec 2014 · 11:37 UTC
Great idea, nicely implemented, awesome music, good difficulty progression. Graphics could be pimped up, but this is a great game. Thanks!
perfect victim
28. Dec 2014 · 13:05 UTC
interesting game, just a little to hard for my taste
SuperDisk
29. Dec 2014 · 04:28 UTC
I didn't know what was going on at first, but I understand now. Cool game! It would be cool if you could select your own .mid file to play on (kinda like that one game? beatrider or something)
DiegoHenriquez
29. Dec 2014 · 04:49 UTC
Really cool idea! Pretty entertaining too
maxmetallica
29. Dec 2014 · 20:44 UTC
nice work