Village By The Lake by KJScott

[raw]
made by KJScott for LD29 (JAM)
What lies behind the forced smiles, beneath the surface of this quaint Eastern European village?

Controls:

WASD - Move
Enter - pick up / drop items
Find and deliver items to the people who need them! Now with added realism: there is nothing you can do to win.

Graphics, "music" and sound by @tccoxon. Code by @NerdOfGamers.

Ratings

Coolness 92% 2
Overall(Jam) 3.31 310
Audio(Jam) 2.84 467
Fun(Jam) 2.55 583
Graphics(Jam) 3.46 345
Humor(Jam) 2.50 393
Innovation(Jam) 3.29 250
Mood(Jam) 3.63 132
Theme(Jam) 3.89 45

Feedback

Shivur
28. Apr 2014 · 06:42 UTC
I like the idea with the reflections.
gikdew
28. Apr 2014 · 06:43 UTC
Pixel graphics are awesome, nice entry.
Custard Games
28. Apr 2014 · 07:04 UTC
The music was great. A slightly anti climactic ending though.
qntnm
28. Apr 2014 · 07:15 UTC
Damn, that was deep. I enjoyed exploring and reading the upside-down signs and seeing what gruesome things items turned into. Very nice!
finefin
28. Apr 2014 · 08:12 UTC
well done. makes me think of Potemkin ;)
mtrc
28. Apr 2014 · 10:42 UTC
Great idea! The graphics and details were really lovely, there's so much stuff to look at and peek at.
zaratustra
28. Apr 2014 · 10:47 UTC
After a couple of items it seems I couldn't give the items to people anymore, just drop it in front of them. Otherwise, great idea.
caranha
28. Apr 2014 · 15:52 UTC
That was a very cool idea. The game was responsible and without bugs. I loved looking at all the little details that you put in both mirrored worlds.

It would be very nice if the people reacted in some way when you gave them items, as it is, it felt a bit pointless.
🎤 KJScott
28. Apr 2014 · 21:52 UTC
The other developer and I were talking about a lack of closure towards the end of the game and the interaction but we had a limited amount of time to work on the game, for 15 hours work we're happy with how it turned out.
otato
28. Apr 2014 · 22:44 UTC
Nice job. Best way to describe the game would probably be a little unsettling. I really liked the little details in the lake world.
Tomski
28. Apr 2014 · 22:45 UTC
Loving the idea
Zednaut
28. Apr 2014 · 22:55 UTC
I never would have expected such an emotional game in Ludum Dare! I'm so impressed that in so little time you managed to create a very creepy and disillusioned atmosphere. The ending, as you said, offered little closure, but I like to think it almost keeps you guessing on what happened to the troubled village after the white flash. Great game!
elefantopia
28. Apr 2014 · 23:15 UTC
I love these games, my bias.
Cake&Code
29. Apr 2014 · 09:12 UTC
Neat game! I liked the details that went into each world, and the graphics were really well done. I sort of wish the mirrored world had more purpose other than to be a reflection. (I only played partway, so I apologize if this is different much later on.) I also wish giving everyone what they requested had more of an impact.
wilpel1234
29. Apr 2014 · 19:11 UTC
i realy like the reflaction thing.
Ludipe
29. Apr 2014 · 19:12 UTC
I liked the concept and the graphics, sadly the gameplay it's way too simple.
Thorig
29. Apr 2014 · 19:13 UTC
Weird little game, but fun to see something different with the reflections of the water. That was nice.
Aske
29. Apr 2014 · 21:16 UTC
It really makes you think. I like it :)
Troy
03. May 2014 · 09:12 UTC
A unique take on the theme. I like it. The gameplay could use a bit more variety however.
xgeovanni
03. May 2014 · 09:27 UTC
Well it would have been much nicer if the whole thing wen't somewhere, but you've probably thought that yourself.
zorfmorf
03. May 2014 · 09:30 UTC
The only thing I don't really like is that you named the evil/death part russia (at least that's written on the sign). This is way to loaded and I would usually refrain from bringing real world politics into games.
PaperBlurt
03. May 2014 · 09:39 UTC
Very innovative!
One of the best ways to use the theme yet!
01101101
03. May 2014 · 09:40 UTC
The reflection idea is cool, and the graphics and music work pretty well with it. The game is a bit short. The message though, I'm not too sure...
reheated
03. May 2014 · 09:41 UTC
Great art, really creepy. Is this a comment on Crimea? What's the deal with that face in the background?
Fox_in_sox
03. May 2014 · 11:49 UTC
The idea is very interesting, but I am not really sure about the narration. It could use a little introduction and an ending.
GamerTaters
03. May 2014 · 11:51 UTC
Really liked the reflection effect. Quite the contrast between both worlds. Interesting idea.
BlazingFanfish
04. May 2014 · 15:15 UTC
The End!? That was fast! I was expecting more :) Nice concept for the theme.
Catmoo
05. May 2014 · 17:27 UTC
Was a nice game to play, what would have been awesome is if there were things you needed beneath the lake so you had to switch to your reflection :)
BadgerPriest
06. May 2014 · 07:15 UTC
Wonderful atmosphere, but the ending is a little anticlimactic, as people have commented.
Christina Antoinette Neofotistou
06. May 2014 · 21:58 UTC
The reflection mechanic is very innovative! Very interesting!