The Puddle by lonewookie

[raw]
made by lonewookie for LD29 (COMPO)
Controls: Arrow keys, and that's it.
Goal: Escape the puddle labyrinth.
Note: Nothing actually happens when you escape, just know that you have won the game. :)

A simple game, my first for Ludum Dare! You play as a young girl, playing in the puddles on a rainy day, when you discover something extraordinary!

Hint: Stand in the last puddle.

Because of working weekends, I had a limited amount of time to put this together, but it was well worth it. I surprised myself by how much I could create!

I used Phaser (phaser.io), Notepad++, Gimp, MSpaint, and Tiled to create this game. I hope you like it!

Ratings

Coolness 65% 3
Overall 2.88 850
Fun 2.47 1000
Graphics 2.92 712
Humor 2.41 579
Innovation 2.45 999
Mood 2.84 702
Theme 3.65 220

Feedback

OhFiddleDiddle
28. Apr 2014 · 17:51 UTC
Very cute little game, well done. :)
I did find a bug where I managed to get stuck in the third puddle at the start, and couldn't get out, but I was unable to replicate it.
Otherwise excellent game, well done. :)
TaleLore
28. Apr 2014 · 17:55 UTC
Good idea.
snooze82
28. Apr 2014 · 17:55 UTC
nice little game (i made mine also with phaser)
dusho
28. Apr 2014 · 17:57 UTC
interesting idea
sudden black screen after death scared me the most all the time, the collisions are maybe bit overreaching
Spit Tex
28. Apr 2014 · 18:06 UTC
Animations and art style is lovely. Gameplay is quiet fun, however the lack of audio was a bit disappointing. Overall a fun game though
Thomas Ingham
28. Apr 2014 · 18:16 UTC
I had a lot of trouble getting past even one of the fish swarm scenarios. Kudos on finishing!
igwb
28. Apr 2014 · 18:51 UTC
I like the idea a lot. That there are more than just the three keys you need makes gameplay interesting. Also the game is quite difficult because the fish kill you instantly, even if you touch their tail only briefly. The controls make this even more difficult. Don't get me wrong here, I like how you implemented the controls, they convincingly convei the feeling of swimming. I would have like to have less swimmy controls while you are not inside the puddle though. Also I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get out of the puddle after making it to the top, due to the fact that jumping out of the water is not possible...

The graphics are pleasent.

I think that you have created a good framework for this game, implemnting powerful, yet simple, components.
Perhaps a litte more finetuning on the difficulty and more graphical diversity in the blue-ish background and this game could be even better.
Perhaps even a second level?
Oh yes, and definitly some sound.

I like the game a lot, keep it up!
pancakecity
28. Apr 2014 · 20:16 UTC
The graphics remind me of Earthbound :) Nice idea!
🎤 lonewookie
28. Apr 2014 · 20:35 UTC
Thanks for the feedback everyone! I did plan to add sound and tweak the physics, but I ran out of time. Also, the 'getting stuck in a puddle' issue is one that I didn't quite have time to figure out.
Cambrian_Man
29. Apr 2014 · 02:41 UTC
Oddly frightening? I really like the concept.
scottyb
29. Apr 2014 · 02:44 UTC
i was surprised and delighted once i found my way past the first little area. don't want to spoil it, but p great.
Xeke_Death
29. Apr 2014 · 08:49 UTC
Short, but challenging... Good work...
Zeta
29. Apr 2014 · 12:15 UTC
The style is great and the gameplay enjoyable. The falling through the puddle was unexpected and nicely done
SFBTom
29. Apr 2014 · 12:19 UTC
Collisions are a but unforgiving but lovely to look at and a sweet concept!
Marcellus
29. Apr 2014 · 14:27 UTC
Nice first entry, damnit it is hard !
davidwparker
29. Apr 2014 · 15:41 UTC
Nice idea- I didn't do too well though! Add some audio, and maybe some items to help kill the fish or something and it's a great start.
lightsoda
29. Apr 2014 · 17:16 UTC
Although I read your comment about standing in the last puddle I didn't think it'd be the one I accidentally fell into. I tried hammering on the up key ;) I was in for a surprise though.

The swarm of fishes was quite challenging.
BoneDaddy
29. Apr 2014 · 17:36 UTC
very cool concept. Love the use of theme in this one. A valuable life lesson to be learned as well! Really makes ones remember their childhood imagination.

The game could really use some effects for when you die. It'd go a long way to making it feel better. Also I couldn't reach the fourth key and I am unsure if there's an end to this. It's pretty funny seeing the guy stuck in the top of the puddle!
BoneDaddy
29. Apr 2014 · 17:38 UTC
Also wanted to say that even though I usually HATE water levels, I didn't hate this one!
Artless
30. Apr 2014 · 02:59 UTC
I loved the interesting control scheme and like the way you designed the enemy to be simple and when compounded together they make a more complex challenge.

I couldn't figure out how to get the last key. The brilliant moment is falling into the last puddle. Could it be interesting to have it be tempting and intriguing to make splashing in the preliminary puddles fun and then shock the player for jumping in the last puddle.
Hob623
30. Apr 2014 · 19:54 UTC
I like the concept of it, but didn't really like how sometimes it was difficult to fit into narrower spaces. Also, I didn't really like the art style as much. Why is underwater purple and not dark blue like the puddles? Honestly when I looked at the preview images I thought that purple was the platform and blue was the water because the tealish color is more like water.
🎤 lonewookie
30. Apr 2014 · 22:00 UTC
I'm really bad with colors, haha. I'm actually color-blind and the purple looked like blue to me. :)
ethankennerly
02. May 2014 · 04:35 UTC
I felt surprised to fall through a puddle and explore the underworld. If you continue to develop this, those bats flying left and right near the beginning felt so fast and dense that I lost motivation to get past them.
end3r
18. May 2014 · 13:34 UTC
Cool idea, plays pretty well and looks complete.