Last Call by Ludipe

[raw]
made by Ludipe for LD31 (JAM)
Last Call is a puzzle and exploration game where the player has to discover a distant star system, and learn the language that some different intelligent forms of life speak. At the beginning we planned to make a more musical game, but even if Last Call tended towards puzzle mechanics, the sound is still very important on the experience we tried to represent.

Create a message from the translation runes, and collate the replies of the aliens to understand the language, unveiling the story of a star system in danger. Good luck talking with the five races (each one with its own background and culture), fifteen different words, and the 125 possible combinations.


Take your time to experiment with the game mechanics (works better on chrome, if you are having issues with the embed version use the GameJolt link).

WASD – Move the spaceship
Mouse – Click on the runes to compound a message (one rune for each column).
E – Send message.

Ratings

Coolness 48% 1414
Overall(Jam) 3.47 285
Audio(Jam) 3.41 203
Fun(Jam) 2.97 562
Graphics(Jam) 3.59 352
Humor(Jam) 2.75 408
Innovation(Jam) 3.60 193
Mood(Jam) 3.43 234
Theme(Jam) 3.13 827

Feedback

Ozcr
09. Dec 2014 · 01:10 UTC
Really cool game!

Try mine, http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-31/?action=preview&uid=44154
allurious
09. Dec 2014 · 10:44 UTC
This is a really neat game with a surprising amount of content for a game made in 72 hours. I'm a total sucker for sci-fi related games and I really like the language/communication system, it's amazing what you guys did. One of my favourites so far for sure.
Hob623
09. Dec 2014 · 22:41 UTC
Really nice graphics and audio, solid mechanics, a well polished game!
Rodaja
09. Dec 2014 · 23:28 UTC
Me he tirado un buen rato jugando, y eso que estoy muriendo de sueño. Mañana le echaré otro rato a ver si lo consigo terminar.

El retrato del astronauta se sale de la estética del juego y no parece aportar demasiada información.

Tiene mucho contenido para el tiempo de desarrollo, y el sonido hace un gran trabajo ambientando y estableciendo el ritmo del juego.
GreyShock
10. Dec 2014 · 12:14 UTC
Really interesting concept! However, I felt lost all the time without any clue of what to do next so basically my experience was just about submitting messages randomly to all the planets.

With a little more feedback and hints this can be a great puzzle!

Keep up the good work!
local minimum
10. Dec 2014 · 14:54 UTC
Very nice game indeed. Played it for quite a while, didn't get to the end of translating everything but it was a really nice combo of space flight and communications. Mood just fantastic and in perfect tune with the sounds and music. Character animations were also very cute.

In the beginning it took me a while to realize what was buttons and that things actually happened when I clicked stuff. If there was a tint effect on hover or similar it would have helped a lot. For changing the aim when clicking planet, a clear visual feedback on that the aim was changing would have been nice too.

Equally it took me some tries to understand the language rune system. That I think could have been solved by a vertical etching running through each column and then bending to the position in the rune display relevant for that column.

I don't know if the coords meant anything. I took them as mostly atmospheric, and nice as such. So if they were important, maybe they need to clearer indication of their use.

I very much enjoyed the game, so I hope you take the comments the right way. I've been yearning for good explorative and non-fighting focused space games. Being an interplanitary messenger rather than just space mining astorids in EVE might be on the track of what I was truly longing for...
Jupiter_Hadley
11. Dec 2014 · 01:36 UTC
I didnt quite get how to play. I included it in part 40 of my IndiesVsPewdiepie compilation video series, if you would like to take a look :) http://youtu.be/dFVnkTjSN10
Jupiter_Hadley
11. Dec 2014 · 01:38 UTC
* I Included it in part 7 of my Ludum Dare 31 compilation video series, if you would like to check it out :) http://youtu.be/bpNoFf0QyBM
Sorry bout that! XD
Crocanti de Pollo
11. Dec 2014 · 10:32 UTC
That was really interesting. I'm surprised those nomads didn't kill me after so many unintended threats, no wonder they were harsh :P
Jupiter_Hadley
11. Dec 2014 · 21:18 UTC
I played it correctly :P I Included it in part 8 of my Ludum Dare 31 compilation video series, if you would like to check it out :) http://youtu.be/Z4bPWwSnLLA
Elendow
11. Dec 2014 · 22:36 UTC
Really cool game, and the dialogs are awesome, great job.
Xanjos
15. Dec 2014 · 01:27 UTC
Fun and interesting concept. I really like how there's so much to explore in something that only took approximately 72 hours to make.
AMS
16. Dec 2014 · 23:23 UTC
Awesome game! I really enjoyed the minimalistic and relaxed atmosphere, a truly enjoyable experience!
Simon
20. Dec 2014 · 12:50 UTC
This is absolutely great. I love that kind of games. Great mood and great story too :)