Beneath the City by deepnight

[raw]
made by deepnight for LD29 (COMPO)
Your sister, Lice, is held inside the Hammer Watch prisons. You must sneak inside and find her.

Beneath the City is a turn based stealth game where each move counts. My initial goal was to create a stealth roguelike using a 3D isometric view (see early screenshots). I finally switched to back to top-down view because of the timing and the controls (3D iso is no good with keyboard controls). Beneath the city lacks proper ending, and different enemies, but all the basics are here.

Ratings

Coolness 35% 1798
Overall 4.20 16
Audio 3.66 96
Fun 3.84 62
Graphics 4.62 5
Humor 2.72 376
Innovation 3.69 163
Mood 4.14 26
Theme 3.33 497

Feedback

CaptainKraft
28. Apr 2014 · 02:14 UTC
The link gives me a page not found error.
Indie Squid
28. Apr 2014 · 02:53 UTC
Amazing puzzle/stealth game. Great concept, amazing graphings and really snappy controls.
andrewkennedy
28. Apr 2014 · 03:14 UTC
Nice work as always! Cool mechanic and nice graphics.
FuzzyWuzzie
28. Apr 2014 · 03:24 UTC
Damnit, man! You knocked it out of the park again! I always love your games, and this one is no exception!
skymarionsky
28. Apr 2014 · 05:36 UTC
great graphics and fun puzzle. nice work!!
cinnamonmelonpig
28. Apr 2014 · 09:05 UTC
Really interesting mechanics and stunning visuals, Its amazing how much content you got in just two days
nxT
28. Apr 2014 · 09:09 UTC
Mechanically interesting, and the graphics are impressive.
fserb
28. Apr 2014 · 10:37 UTC
Good job! :)
NateGallardo
28. Apr 2014 · 12:04 UTC
This is brilliant. Great music, atmosphere is really strong. Mechanics are excellent. Really love all the little touches like switching sides when in cover, indicating where guards are heading etc.
Split82
28. Apr 2014 · 12:12 UTC
Awesome graphics as always. Brilliant job.
Ithildin
28. Apr 2014 · 13:34 UTC
Really cool mechanic, and as expected, visuals and audio are awesome too.

Wonderful job!
feiss
28. Apr 2014 · 14:36 UTC
I love it! the best I've played so far.
pinkmonkeyhead
28. Apr 2014 · 14:57 UTC
Really nice graphics and music and the mechanics are interesting and innovative., but I rage quitted in the cells floor.
Pietro Ferrantelli
28. Apr 2014 · 15:40 UTC
Incroyable, comme toujours. J'adore l'aspect infiltration et réflexion de ton jeu et l'effet que tu mets sur les pixels de tes jeux. Tu es l'une des personnes qui m'a motivé à me lancer dans les Ludum Dare et je t'en remercie beaucoup ! (I'm french too :D)
Pierrec
28. Apr 2014 · 15:45 UTC
I like how it can be played in real time if we're bold (I'm not). Great entry, very polished as usual
awanegenebayo
28. Apr 2014 · 16:02 UTC
Wow, as always.
Oddly Shaped Pixels
28. Apr 2014 · 16:41 UTC
Impressive, as always :)
NightShadow0
28. Apr 2014 · 16:43 UTC
This is awesome, nice work!
Serk
28. Apr 2014 · 18:28 UTC
Amazing work!
fullmontis
28. Apr 2014 · 19:32 UTC
Interesting combination of stealth and puzzle game! I quite enjoyed it.
Xaychru04
28. Apr 2014 · 19:38 UTC
Wow, awesome game! The art is beautiful as usual! The gameplay is interesting, I like the objects that add so much to the game! And it stays really clear, it's easy to predict the movement of the enemies and why they see you.
The last level was quite challenging, but I finished it just using the bell, and I didn't expect this ending at all. ^^
anbreizh
28. Apr 2014 · 19:58 UTC
Very nice game, graphics are very good. Too bad there is no ending
dector
28. Apr 2014 · 20:04 UTC
Awesome. As always :)
ninjabit
28. Apr 2014 · 20:09 UTC
Great job!
kbm
28. Apr 2014 · 20:19 UTC
Wow, I can't believe you did this in 48 hours. Amazing job, great looking game, I loved it! 5/5
schnüt
28. Apr 2014 · 20:46 UTC
This is definitly of the gems around here. Great game. :-)
VQZX
28. Apr 2014 · 21:04 UTC
Very clear and intuitive stealth mechanics
PriorBlue
28. Apr 2014 · 21:29 UTC
Wow, this game is through and through finished. Pixel art is top, animations are great and the sound/atmosphere is very deep. 5/5 Stars from me. :D
GFM
28. Apr 2014 · 21:52 UTC
I feel divided by this game... I really like this game. But, it's so good overall that I missed even more the lack of a proper ending.
I understand, though, that 48h is few time... and if you have to recode stuff, you're probably in for trouble. XD

Controls are great. Graphics and the music are superb... but I missed the sfx. Gameplay was... amazing. I really dig the hiding mechanic, especially 'cause I tried to use as few items as possible.

So, congrats for the entry. Great, as usual. :)
StrykerKKD
28. Apr 2014 · 22:08 UTC
I think it's even better with this kind of ending. :D
The game is simply amazing.
Gamepopper
28. Apr 2014 · 23:26 UTC
Really fun stealth game, very clever.
Mago
28. Apr 2014 · 23:34 UTC
Great work as always. You, sir, are amazing!
KunoNoOni
28. Apr 2014 · 23:38 UTC
Stunning visuals. Deep gameplay. Simply amazing.
Zathalos
29. Apr 2014 · 00:20 UTC
Great graphics. Simple controls and mechanic but it's fun nonetheless. The inclusion of a story is always nice to see in a Ludum Dare. Awesome job.
Almost
29. Apr 2014 · 00:38 UTC
I'm not sure that I understand all of the mechanics. Sometimes I can be right next to them and they won't notice, or ahead in a straight line and I'm too far away. Another time a guy saw me from something like a 4 or 5 tile diagonal.
zatyka
29. Apr 2014 · 02:03 UTC
Well done. Very interested gameplay, and stellar graphics.
hbocao
29. Apr 2014 · 02:12 UTC
Amazing entry. Holy crap, how can you guys achieve so much in 48 hours? The art is incredible.
lekochen
29. Apr 2014 · 02:30 UTC
Brilliant as always!
mactinite
29. Apr 2014 · 02:41 UTC
Wow, a stealth roguelike. The stealth in this is executed so well. I never would have thought of a stealth game like a puzzle game. This is definitely in my top games this year for Ludum Dare. Bookmarking it for later so I can continue to play.
SaintHeiser
29. Apr 2014 · 04:34 UTC
Very good entry as usual =)
Mechanics is clear and interesting.
One thing I noticed that "Bell" actually useles and dangerous ability. So I can beat the game only with water arrow.
pereubu
29. Apr 2014 · 05:45 UTC
smooth
Skywilly
29. Apr 2014 · 06:27 UTC
It's Thief on 2D, really smart & beautiful. So amazing o_o
adamwoolridge
29. Apr 2014 · 09:22 UTC
Nifty!
BuKaneerz
29. Apr 2014 · 09:44 UTC
As always, you did a really great work !
There is nothing to say, your game is fantastic (:
MerlijnVH
29. Apr 2014 · 10:20 UTC
Stellar gameplay, and it looks great too.
01101101
29. Apr 2014 · 10:56 UTC
Absolutely beautiful, too bad the story was cut short by the lack of time... Gameplay works pretty well and is fairly intuitive, great job on this!
Tipyx
29. Apr 2014 · 11:26 UTC
*o* ! I need a DLC for a really end ! :p
crocantidepollo
29. Apr 2014 · 12:17 UTC
This is just amazing
hexagore
29. Apr 2014 · 12:42 UTC
Gorgeous!
DragonXVI
29. Apr 2014 · 15:12 UTC
Gorgeous little demake, seriously needs to be turned into a full-on adventure. Excellent implementation of stealth mechanics with Rogue-like movement. Bravo!
renegadeninjanl
29. Apr 2014 · 15:38 UTC
The game is very good. I love the graphics and the game mechanics. Good work.
Yword
29. Apr 2014 · 15:40 UTC
Impressive! Amazing graphics and atmosphere, the game flow and level design are very good.
local minimum
29. Apr 2014 · 15:42 UTC
Really nice little game with many well-worked detail. Impressive for a compo to say the least.

Got stuck some levels down, but the first 2-3 were really nicely balanced in their difficulty.

Don't have so much to comment on, maybe giving the back-pack options some further love as they don't have the same standard as the rest of the game.
Jared Sartin
29. Apr 2014 · 17:04 UTC
AWESOME! Will have to spend a bit more time in it :D
Thorig
29. Apr 2014 · 17:23 UTC
This game is one of the best I played.
rnlf
29. Apr 2014 · 17:28 UTC
Wow, best game so far. I usually don't like stealth games, but this one really captivated me. The last "real" level was quite hard for me, but I kept trying.

You could really turn this into something. The beginning of the story is very promising. To bad 48h is so little time, the ending is really poor :-p

Only thing I'd change: allow to hold the space bar to skip multiple turns.

Also, I never needed the Dash and Bell abilities, but this might change with even more complex levels.

Really good work!

Really nice entry!
ilovepixel
29. Apr 2014 · 17:31 UTC
SO BEAUTIFUL! really, I never stop to be amazed by your games and the polish of all them
BoTreats
29. Apr 2014 · 18:39 UTC
Really nice game. Unique, fun, and memorable. Came here through rockpapershotgun, and glad I did!
BoneDaddy
29. Apr 2014 · 18:51 UTC
Very well put together game, extremely nice graphics and audio. Great job on the jam!
someone
29. Apr 2014 · 19:06 UTC
Great graphics as always. Nice mechanics. I never used the bell or the speed boost though.
Shame the story ends so abruptly.
kmakai
29. Apr 2014 · 19:22 UTC
Wow, this doesn't even seem like a jam game, you must have worked without sleeping! Also, hooray for Haxe!
grayhaze
29. Apr 2014 · 20:34 UTC
Amazing. I wish I could produce something this polished in such a short space of time. Well done!
ninjacharlie
29. Apr 2014 · 21:09 UTC
This is a really great stealth game. Nice job :)
Vandash
29. Apr 2014 · 21:50 UTC
Super atmosphere, great work!
Roman Kornev
29. Apr 2014 · 22:07 UTC
Awesome game! Great job!
conormn
30. Apr 2014 · 00:31 UTC
Very interesting mechanics. Really great job!
Sestren
30. Apr 2014 · 01:54 UTC
Great implementation of a 2D-styled Thief mechanic. A lot of fun to play through.
sP0CkEr2
30. Apr 2014 · 04:11 UTC
quite a nice game here. it has been added to my favorites so I can play it to completion. great job.
Suese
30. Apr 2014 · 04:19 UTC
Not your strongest entry but it's still pretty good.
MokuJin
30. Apr 2014 · 07:15 UTC
Good job man ! 48 hours to do a game which requires at least the same amount of time to finish it ! And Go paris !
Ludipe
30. Apr 2014 · 07:58 UTC
Original, beautiful and set in the famous and loved world of thief. Awesome Entry.
Celt
30. Apr 2014 · 08:16 UTC
Dude, this is my favourit so far. Awesome job on...everything?!?
Simon
30. Apr 2014 · 08:38 UTC
It reminds of a mechanic introduced in the best LD keynote ever by ChevyRay: http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-23-keynote/
Valandre
30. Apr 2014 · 10:05 UTC
Great sens of game design again. Well play! ;-)
cageinabird
30. Apr 2014 · 11:10 UTC
I found it quite tough - once spotted you nearly always got caught - but the design and artistic quality shines through.
Maschinen-Mensch
30. Apr 2014 · 11:34 UTC
Very nice game. I really like the tight design, visuals are top notch (the crouching pose behind obstacles is a really nice detail). Been playing this now probably the longest from all entries so far.
kikito
30. Apr 2014 · 14:29 UTC
Wow, very impressive game, I enjoyed it a lot, congratulations.
Kwrky
30. Apr 2014 · 14:53 UTC
I literally don't know how you do this every year ... Great game, really smooth movement and transitions. It doesn't have the jerkiness tile based games usually do. Sounds would have been nice but I am not gonna be greedy.
Venturelli
30. Apr 2014 · 17:03 UTC
Amazing, great job as usual!
Elforama
30. Apr 2014 · 20:01 UTC
I really liked this, awesome job!
aaronjbaptiste
30. Apr 2014 · 22:13 UTC
Excellent as always from you sir!
vilya
30. Apr 2014 · 23:55 UTC
It's a very well made game & turn-based stealth puzzles make for a really interesting mechanic. Great stuff!
rvmook
01. May 2014 · 02:31 UTC
Beautiful game as usaul. Lovely puzzles would be cool to have different kind of enemies
treeman
01. May 2014 · 08:01 UTC
Wonderful.
SteveSalmond
01. May 2014 · 10:44 UTC
So impressed!
anissen
01. May 2014 · 21:04 UTC
Really nice game - great graphics and atmosphere. It is very polished and impressive for 48 hours. The Thief-mechanic works well but it gets devilish hard on the lower levels.
flavio
01. May 2014 · 21:41 UTC
Amazing work ! A perfectly polished game ! Too bad the story finish like this ;)
f7f5
01. May 2014 · 22:33 UTC
Awesome! Great graphics and gameplay. The ending was just fine :)
allinlabs
02. May 2014 · 19:03 UTC
Excellent, as always. Very impressive when I see what I can do in the same amount of time.
Kiyaku
02. May 2014 · 23:17 UTC
I love the Thief style of it, stealth is always fun :D
commanderstitch
03. May 2014 · 00:19 UTC
very cool game. the look is pure delight. <3 sneaking game. works for ppl that like puzzles like this. gj!
ArcturusDeluxe
03. May 2014 · 01:09 UTC
The graphics in this are amazing. Combining stealth with turn-based gameplay was a good call. Very sharp gameplay. Just a slick presentation all round really.
Penguincat
03. May 2014 · 02:50 UTC
The stealth mechanics were really fun, I'd love to see this expanded into a longer game (with a more involved story, too! it got off to a nice start here)
GeorgeBroussard
03. May 2014 · 10:21 UTC
/applause as usual. Very nice work.
xdegtyarev
03. May 2014 · 13:02 UTC
Great game! Nice mechanics, really enjoyed sneaking past the guards. One of the best games in the compo!
GiveMeAllYourCats
03. May 2014 · 14:20 UTC
Very impressive, love the mood of the game and graphics!
DDRKirby(ISQ)
04. May 2014 · 00:19 UTC
Great graphics, as always :) Shame you didn't get a chance to put in some SFX. The 3D isometric idea looks...intense. xD I think this was fine.
Managore
04. May 2014 · 01:18 UTC
Wow, absolutely beautiful!!
spotco
04. May 2014 · 01:31 UTC
Loved it! I always wanted to make a 2d-stealth game like this, loved the mechanics (and I think this basic turn-based setup could totally expanded into a full game).

Great art and gameplay (though I would have liked to do a metal gear solid-style sneak behind and kill). Hope you work on it some more!
Sébastien Bernery
04. May 2014 · 09:18 UTC
This game is amazing !
Lyje
04. May 2014 · 10:19 UTC
Amazing graphics and fog of war. Would love to see a fully fledged version of this! Stealth mechanics actually do work!
Lacaranian
04. May 2014 · 16:47 UTC
Cool! Was sometimes laughable for some locations to be imperceptible to guards, yet they were. Good difficulty ramp.
matthias_zarzecki
04. May 2014 · 17:48 UTC
Lovely stealth-game!
Rick Hoppmann
04. May 2014 · 22:46 UTC
Awesome graphics and audio, but I don't really like to play stealth games where you can't attack enemies.
darke_shard
06. May 2014 · 10:01 UTC
A turn-based puzzle/stealth game with some DNA of the original Thief? This is by far one of the most unique games I've seen for LD29!

I love how your stealth mechanics work, and the whole idea of twisting it into a turn-based puzzle system is truly inspired. Will this be ported into a full game? Please say yes.
mechabit
06. May 2014 · 12:40 UTC
Brillant game
Ryan up in here
06. May 2014 · 17:14 UTC
This is crazy. I would like to play it on a Gameboy.
recursor
06. May 2014 · 18:02 UTC
This is a quality piece of work as usual.
mustaine
07. May 2014 · 03:13 UTC
Wow. Amazing work. Didn't even realize it was turn based until it told me so. That's was a nice surprise.
ethankennerly
07. May 2014 · 04:01 UTC
The pristine pixel lights enchanted me! If you continue to develop this, when I got to the second level and was detected by guards twice at the same place and was not sure how to avoid this a third time around, I felt discouraged.
Zerkruemler
07. May 2014 · 08:56 UTC
Very good implementation. Quite polished. I like the good tutorial. And the increasing difficulty level. Vell done!
zkenshin
07. May 2014 · 12:50 UTC
Really enjoyable. Well done. :)
InvisibleWonder
07. May 2014 · 14:52 UTC
I love how your guy will move to the stealthiest edge of the tile on his own. Nice touch!

I wish the bell dropped an alert marker 10 paces in my facing direction.
epiplon
08. May 2014 · 03:08 UTC
Incredible entry, I see the beautiful work you've put in this.
Teesquared
11. May 2014 · 03:03 UTC
Great visuals, game play, music, ... everything. Good job!
loxo
11. May 2014 · 10:27 UTC
Amazing graphics, amazing game play. Only some sound effects are missing, I think.
flannelvindicate
12. May 2014 · 16:08 UTC
Hey! You have been featured in today's episode of Ludum Dare to Believe! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrGIZzJZ1DQ
gre
12. May 2014 · 16:12 UTC
Original turn-based game mecanism. Great graphics as always. Nice mood. Congrats.
jsmars
13. May 2014 · 19:50 UTC
Really pretty graphics and nice with the turn based gameplay :)
joe40001
14. May 2014 · 03:51 UTC
Neat game, the ending was a bit of a let down... but 48h is a very short time and what you got done was very impressive.
Adrian
14. May 2014 · 07:19 UTC
An awesome game, as usual. Well done!
IL_yoshioka
14. May 2014 · 10:28 UTC
Very impressing game!
nicotr014
15. May 2014 · 05:56 UTC
Really nice job..... good to see flash is still being used
Franklins Ghost
18. May 2014 · 06:06 UTC
Beautiful game that's really innovative in design and a pleasure to play. Easily one of my favourites so far.
mcapraro
18. May 2014 · 22:30 UTC
wow! i loved the game mechanic here, really neat idea. i had never played a turn based quite like this. well done!
namuol
19. May 2014 · 08:35 UTC
A very solid stealth-em-up puzzler!

The game definitely needs more puzzles that explore the mechanics, but you've built a great foundation in 48 hours, and slapped on a -really- nice coat of paint, to boot. Great work, as usual. :)