Orb Fetch: GOLD by the31

made by the31 for LD31 (COMPO)

This is your chance to explore the caves, grab the orbs, and get out! They're in demand, so hurry up and get to the last reserve of these power-holding orbs!

*** I highly suggest maximizing the window! ***

--- How to play ---

Controls:
Right/Left: Rotate the ship
Spacebar: Use the Normal Propulsion Device
Backspace: Return to last checkpoint
1/2/3/4: Access help sheets

Instructions are in game, just press the number keys to access them.

--- Technical info ---

I didn't have time to learn OpenAL for sound, but there's no sound in space anyway, right?

The game should be cross-platform, but I don't have machines to test it on. It needs Mono, but the native libraries should be included!

.NET/Mono (Windows, Unknown)	http://galacticgaming.net/zc/LD31_OrbFetchGOLD_the31.zip
Source (GitHub)	https://github.com/31/LD31
Original URL	https://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-31/?action=preview&uid=1712

Ratings

Coolness	61%	3
Overall	3.22	529

Fun	3.39	283
Graphics	2.89	676
Humor	2.38	634
Innovation	3.35	392
Mood	3.00	472
Theme	3.06	1039

Feedback

Norgg

08. Dec 2014 · 10:32 UTC

Whee, got to the end. Pretty hard to get over the instinct to treat it like a normal thruster, and oh man that level where you're surrounded by spikey things is harsh. Fun and interesting mechanic though.

Is the link to the theme that it's all sort of one screen that you're just going through layers of through the distorty bits?

🎤 the31

08. Dec 2014 · 14:32 UTC

Congrats! Thanks for playing. Yeah, the theme connection is that the player's coordinates never leave the rectangle that is the screen--the distorting warp things just move you into a different map.

davesoft

08. Dec 2014 · 19:40 UTC

Wow, well done! Physics platforming with a strange movement restriction, love it.

rabbit

08. Dec 2014 · 22:27 UTC

Really really hard to control.

No sound.

Hammers

08. Dec 2014 · 22:41 UTC

I do love the idea of the control scheme, but it's properly hard to get used to it. Could maybe have done with some easier training levels to practice with and help guide you with how to use the mechanics?

I did enjoy it though :) Really nice for a comp game. And I really liked the art style.

Quikding

08. Dec 2014 · 22:47 UTC

I'm at the "end" of the first level, at the bottom, at the healing area, and I can't go any further left. Seems like I'm totally stuck?

hoyt hoy

08. Dec 2014 · 23:05 UTC

sad to have no sound, the game seems to need a song.
but interesting, difficult and audacious gameplay.

🎤 the31

08. Dec 2014 · 23:11 UTC

Sometimes you've got to move backwards to get the velocity you need. One of the help pages is meant to help with that, although I can't blame anyone for not understanding.

I should have put in easier levels, for sure. It's hard to explain the mechanics right, especially when rocket mechanics are so intuitive and visually similar. Would have been nice to make sure that everyone could see the warp effect even without a full understanding of the mechanics.

Gaspard_

08. Dec 2014 · 23:36 UTC

Finished it, missed one orb, but no idea where...
Nice mechanic and a better representation of the theme than many games I've played so far!

cxsquared

09. Dec 2014 · 01:18 UTC

The controls were really fun once I got use to them. This was a nice game. Well done.

LegacyCrono

10. Dec 2014 · 03:05 UTC

Wow, the propulsion mechanic is pretty clever! Didn't thought it was too difficult to understand it, but I can see why people might have problems with it. I got all orbs, can I use my newfound wealth to fund the development of a full version of this concept? :P
Too bad it didn't had some audio to go along with it. Still, I loved it! Well done :D

Tater_hater

10. Dec 2014 · 07:25 UTC

Really well done!

PlasterPhantom

10. Dec 2014 · 09:02 UTC

Really interesting game, I like how it's not the default rocket mechanics, but that you actually need a wall to move. Graphics could of course be better, but they do their job (: Nicely done!

LostTrainDude

10. Dec 2014 · 09:42 UTC

I find the controls interesting (even if a little difficult maybe), it's a nice twist on the usual physics driven games.

Sometimes I have a hard time when I have to climb a wall to jump over while I'm too close to it, but the overall experience is pretty rewarding once you get the drift :D

ratking

10. Dec 2014 · 21:17 UTC

A truly great entry. It's really sad you couldn't add sound and music, as it would have made the already good experience more awesome.
After a short phase of familiarization I really liked the controls. I don't think I would have tried it, but it really works well! My only gripe is the low contrast between background and player - but that should be an easy fix. :-)

danidre14

11. Dec 2014 · 18:31 UTC

Interesting! :O Love the feel of this game!

ynots

12. Dec 2014 · 19:49 UTC

hard to control first...but got it anyway..
nice game..

Kuality Games

12. Dec 2014 · 19:52 UTC

very interesting game, really fun to play! Hard though but very rewarding.

Empyrealhell

14. Dec 2014 · 21:51 UTC

This was more fun than I was expecting. It suffers from a lack of good initial training segments. The first obstacle, getting over that wall, requires more mastery of this bizarre propulsion system than should be required right away. A bit more time to ease into the system would make those first few levels a lot less frustrating. Once you get the hang of it though, it's pretty fun.

OttersDen

17. Dec 2014 · 06:13 UTC

That was a super neat twist on the ol' thruster-momentum game genre (is that an actual genre anyway?). Very unique. Well done!

Diet Chugg

18. Dec 2014 · 04:11 UTC

I got all the Orbs!!! Well done game. It's frustrating but fun at the same time.

voxel

23. Dec 2014 · 21:31 UTC

Excellent, original, groundbreaking, breathtaking. That is a list of words.

Some of them apply to this fine game.

Gentle pacing, plentiful checkpoints help to overcome the frustration lesser pilots will no doubt experience. I'd prefer just a single health point to encourage not just bumping into spikes willy-nilly.

Also: you can do some fun things if you never let go of the rotate button.

Sterling effort, top marks.