BOND by ConflictiveLabs

[raw]
made by ConflictiveLabs for LD30 (JAM)
PLEASE READ!
The entry -as it was submitted- is the game with all the mechanics jammed into basically the same level repeated a couple of times. There's no level progression, just a demo of all the features the game has.

WHY? you ask. I'm afraid it's my fault (shadow). I was doing the level design and code and, while I had a couple of tutorial levels designed, I had to leave during the final ~5 hours of the Jam to take care of an unexpected emergency. I wasn't able to return in time to integrate the remaining art and levels that my friend (ilovepixel) was working on.

He -however- uploaded the latest repo version of the game (I'd say it was a good call) in my absence, which is what you see.

I wholeheartedly apologize. We'll upload a post-compo version with proper levels soon. I promise.

UPDATE: You can play the Post-jam version now! :)

Ratings

Coolness 71% 3
Overall(Jam) 3.24 374
Audio(Jam) 1.80 632
Fun(Jam) 3.15 312
Graphics(Jam) 4.02 144
Humor(Jam) 2.52 332
Innovation(Jam) 3.51 149
Mood(Jam) 3.14 352
Theme(Jam) 4.04 28

Feedback

ClownAround
26. Aug 2014 · 00:46 UTC
Very cool idea. The way you used the character switching mechanic was well done. And, I liked the art as well.
twintrite
26. Aug 2014 · 08:32 UTC
I'm not sure if I played it correctly...but the top girl always floated and I just had to get 1 key with each girl to finish the level. But I guess that wasn't intended that way?! But I truly liked it, the idea, the interpretation of the theme and the graphics. Well done :) Now I'll check out your post jam game. Maybe that shows the intention better.
twintrite
26. Aug 2014 · 08:38 UTC
Ok wow nice, now I get it and it's super fun. Brilliant work and thanks for finishing it up after the jam :D
Digiraze
26. Aug 2014 · 12:33 UTC
Love it!
frameland
26. Aug 2014 · 19:04 UTC
Best interpretation of the theme I have seen so far!
Also lovely graphics and smooth gameplay.

You should post that on monkey-x apps section, it's noteworthy :)
capsizedmoose
27. Aug 2014 · 01:35 UTC
NICE! i liked it a lot! :D
Crefossus
27. Aug 2014 · 22:03 UTC
Audio would have helped for sure, like sound fx when you collect a key or the box landing on the lower characters level.

The resolution is a bit too small for my screen (1680*1050). The arrow spinning above the head may be unnecessary. Could use a sky or background & parallax.

The gameplay has a lot of potential but as you said the jam version didn't quite deliver.
GraveyardPolice
28. Aug 2014 · 06:48 UTC
great Idea cute graphics. I'd like to see this developed more
Chikun Dev Team
28. Aug 2014 · 06:49 UTC
Great job! Perfect idea! - Flurkin
rustybroomhandle
28. Aug 2014 · 06:50 UTC
Lovely art style, and one of the better interpretations of split-screen two worlds I've seen. Nicely done :)
ATTA Games
28. Aug 2014 · 07:09 UTC
Great entry, really cool idea and use the theme. I spend lots of time playing in this game very addictive.
PixlWalkr
28. Aug 2014 · 07:29 UTC
nice game and cute graphics :)
MarekkPie
29. Aug 2014 · 00:06 UTC
Nice idea, and implementation. Unfortunate that things got in the way of finishing it off.
ninjascript
29. Aug 2014 · 05:08 UTC
Great idea, and adorable graphics!
esayitch
29. Aug 2014 · 05:11 UTC
Loved the concept here, very original and in perfect sync with the theme. Could have used a bit of sound, but otherwise the aesthetic is great and the gameplay as well.
mrjohnson22
29. Aug 2014 · 05:26 UTC
It's a shame you couldn't get the levels ready in time for the deadline, but releasing the post-compo version so soon was a GREAT idea, because this game rocks! It's a really unique & especially mind-bending concept that really makes you think twice about your actions. I hope you plan on making this game even bigger and better in the near future, because there is still so much room for more!
JNyknn
29. Aug 2014 · 05:34 UTC
Sweet graphics and wonderful idea. Great job!
Will Edwards
29. Aug 2014 · 06:06 UTC
+theme +graphics +potential

Real shame you couldn't finish more. Loved the style and feel. The crates and the way keys end up in the world below was a great idea; I've seen a lot of games in LD30 where things that die in one parallel level miraculously appear in the other, but this is the first time such a simple and effective dropping is used.

In the post-comp version, I couldn't get past the second level; no amount of jumping could reach the key, which was in the same place on both levels. And there were none of those crates to stand on or anything :(
🎤 ConflictiveLabs
29. Aug 2014 · 07:03 UTC
Will Edwards, thanks for your comments (and playing the game!) there's a walk-through video made by the artist (ilovepixel) where you can see the solution to the levels if you are stuck! Once you discover how the connect/unconnect mechanics work you'll definitely have no problem even with the hardest levels!
SteveSalmond
29. Aug 2014 · 10:28 UTC
Neat idea guys, hope you keep working on it.
Schrodinger Games
29. Aug 2014 · 10:48 UTC
What a nice and neat game. Love its cuteness! Congrats!
Stepwise
29. Aug 2014 · 10:49 UTC
Aw, too bad you couldn't finish! I just tried the jam version. Eager to try the post-jam version... there are some very cool mechanics in here. Here we go!
liquidminduk
29. Aug 2014 · 11:50 UTC
very strong platforming game! Nice cute atmosphere and the art style was very accessible!
Overall Audio is a must though!!!

Great work
Nuclear Napalm
29. Aug 2014 · 15:34 UTC
Wow! I love the "disconnected" mechanics! Nice twist on pretty generic gameplay. Good job!
klianc09
29. Aug 2014 · 17:52 UTC
Once you get the hang of it, it really becomes easy.

Lovely graphics, great controls, just really missing some music and sound effects.
ElectricSeagull
29. Aug 2014 · 18:03 UTC
That was great! What a cool idea and some imaginative puzzles. It looks lovely too.
egor-idiot
30. Aug 2014 · 09:06 UTC
Pretty idea and art.
TijmenTio
30. Aug 2014 · 12:54 UTC
This is really neat. It's such a shame you couldn't get the levels done in time. I tried both versions and it makes a HUUUUGE difference haha. The one without the new levels is so tedious to play I have no idea what to do. And the one WITH the good level design is really fun to play and keeps me wanting to explore more :) I also miss music a lot :( That's something that can really add a lot to these kind of little puzzle games.
Sunflower
31. Aug 2014 · 13:29 UTC
Very good entry (in improved version, that is), with some pretty great puzzles, but it desperately needs audio! >.<
With that changed, though, it would easily be one of my personal favourites; the rest is quite polished, and while levels difficulty varies, it's entertaining nonetheless. ^^"
Victory Garden
01. Sep 2014 · 02:09 UTC
No music, not even for post-compo ver.? Aww :< I like this idea, especially the choice to stay connected or not. It's pretty clever! Thank you for the game.
🎤 ConflictiveLabs
01. Sep 2014 · 02:33 UTC
@Victory Garden: We uploaded the post-jam version a few hours after the jam ended (once I was back home and able to finish the levels I was working on. I also added the intro screen and the levels ilovepixel made). We didn't really want to touch the post-jam version after that! (so it's more of a "what the game should have been" than anything). We will definitely add music, more levels, a better tutorial, and more! (in a future).
Thanks for playing!
mrexcessive
01. Sep 2014 · 14:21 UTC
Hi there. Interesting idea to have safety in one world convey it to both... most games like this have the opposite approach (extra dangers in both). Shame no sound. Good job!
Dohan
01. Sep 2014 · 18:26 UTC
After playing the jam version, I tried the post-compo one and the idea is very well executed. But I have to say I liked the hint box about setting hint boxes in the first version XD
jukimv1986
02. Sep 2014 · 02:39 UTC
Nice mechanics and cute graphics. Audio would be a next good addition. Good job!
renatopp
02. Sep 2014 · 12:48 UTC
It's not a innovative idea (except by the disconnection), most game in this LD made something similar. However, this game was the best execution of the idea so far. Too bad you guys couldn't finish it in time, but thanks for the post comp version. Great job.
Lokarunith
02. Sep 2014 · 20:18 UTC
Cute and really well executed platformer. Good job!
hbocao
03. Sep 2014 · 03:56 UTC
Nice gameplay and neat graphics! Very good entry! Well done!
TautNerve
03. Sep 2014 · 17:10 UTC
Great art style and cool concept. The post-compo version
really improves on the entry, good job! I had fun with the
main mechanic, this can lead to some tricky puzzles.
lkr
03. Sep 2014 · 22:47 UTC
Very fun concept! Love the visuals and platforming feel.

Playing the post-jam version was really great, and I'd love to see more done with the game :)
The disconnect mechanic and how it needed to be used to solve the levels felt very fresh, and really had me thinking a couple of times!
mcapraro
05. Sep 2014 · 05:40 UTC
i really really love how this works. some really nice surprises in there that had me trying it over again and again. great potential to really expand this game and idea into something really deep. congrats on a great LD entry!
Nick Weihs
06. Sep 2014 · 06:08 UTC
The idea had a lot of potential, but I'm only reviewing the actual jam submitted version. I liked the way the worlds were connected through dropping items from one side to the other and how the collision affected both characters. Sorry you didn't get to finish.
Wertle
06. Sep 2014 · 06:09 UTC
Sorry to hear that you weren't able to finish in time for the jam. Dem life emergencies! I could sort of see where you guys were going with it, though, and I think the idea has potential. The part with being able to disconnect each side seems like you could do some fun puzzles there that you don't see in other games where you have two connected characters like this. One minor note, consider adding a grace period to your jump by enabling jumping a few frames into the fall state so it makes it nicer to jump off a ledge and not just fall. I will try and check out the post jam version if I have time. Nice job!
sP0CkEr2
08. Sep 2014 · 04:41 UTC
Wow what a neat concept. High marks for innovation. nice game.
Moosefly
12. Sep 2014 · 22:08 UTC
The normal web link doesn't even seem to be working. This is the first time I rate something based on a post-compo/jam version of said game, but here goes.

I liked how you took a well explored mechanic of controlling two characters at the same time, and added the disconnect mechanic in addition of "combined collections" (meaning that if there was a collision in one of the worlds, both of the worlds acted like there was a collision there).

In the level towards the end with one central pylon for the red character I suicided two times in row after getting the keys by walking the red character off the pylon, which just goes to show how hard some of the mechanics were to grasp :P. Even though you had many hints on who I was controlling my mind just refused to believe that and did whatever it wanted.

Some music would have been cool.

Anssi@MooseflyGames
🎤 ConflictiveLabs
13. Sep 2014 · 01:24 UTC
@Moosefly: You are right! We will fix that ASAP! I"m sadly not the owner of the server where it was hosted but I'll let the dude know our link is down. Thanks for letting us know and thanks for playing the game!
Moosefly
13. Sep 2014 · 12:48 UTC
@ConflictiveLabs
Tried the original version and it was indeed pretty barebones compared to the post-jam version. The basic gameplay is still there, but obviously it doesn't get used to its full potential in that one map. I think I'll let you off this once and stand by my original scoring though ;).

And in my last message I obviously meant "combined collisions". My brain must've still been tired from your devious puzzles :P.

Anssi@MooseflyGames
🎤 ConflictiveLabs
15. Sep 2014 · 22:32 UTC
Thanks!
We are working on a future post-ludumdare release. We really loved how the game turned out :)