Square Quest by paulopn

[raw]
made by paulopn for LD26 (COMPO)
This is my first Ludum Dare entry: "Square Quest"

The basic idea of this game is to take the style of a Zelda-like game and strip it down to the bare minimum.

It was coded using libgdx.
Every block of the game is rendered separately,using an image as a map.The collision detection is also self-coded.

It's much heavier than it should be and it's also buggy, but nothing gamebreaking.

I took effort into making the game easy to play, but there's a tutorial screen, just in case.

I'm also taking part in the "One Game a Month" challenge, I'll probably expand this game later.
Controls:
Arrow keys to move, Z to shoot

I appreciate any feedback!


(a small update: I added credits to the title screen...I had that done yesterday, but I saved the image in the wrong place...Also, it apparently works on Linux, so it's marked as Win/Linux now)

I'll eventually make an updated version, but only after judging ends. This version is exactly what I made in 48 hours.

Known bugs:
There are about 2 coins that are impossible to collect

Ratings

Coolness 88% 2
Overall 3.59 184
Audio 3.56 108
Fun 3.59 124
Graphics 3.51 261
Humor 2.25 529
Innovation 2.76 836
Mood 3.07 420
Theme 3.90 224

Feedback

ANNECHALKE
29. Apr 2013 · 04:08 UTC
great job =)
HeyChinaski
29. Apr 2013 · 04:38 UTC
Nice work. Incredible how a few pixels can suggest a coastline, a forest or even a zombie! The forests were my favourite part, felt a bit like Monkey Island.
ecbambrick
29. Apr 2013 · 05:05 UTC
It's got a good feeling of exploration. Nice.
frr171
29. Apr 2013 · 05:13 UTC
This would awesome as an Android game (how fitting then that you used LibGDX). Cool music, and the aesthetics work really well - you should definitely expand this post-compo.
Magnus
29. Apr 2013 · 05:14 UTC
Surprisingly robust. I love how much depth the characters being two pixels tall added.
Christopher Schulte
29. Apr 2013 · 05:18 UTC
I really liked how all the in game objects and enemies felt so distinct while using very small sprites and a limited color palette. Well done.
🎤 paulopn
29. Apr 2013 · 05:19 UTC
frr171, that was exactly what I was planning when I decided to learn libgdx =D
Zillix
29. Apr 2013 · 06:15 UTC
awesome! the graphics really do a great job of minimally conveying scenery
CogentInvalid
29. Apr 2013 · 06:17 UTC
Great game, would love to see an expanded version. I wish you wouldn't get stuck on walls when moving diagonally, though.
gregdevice
29. Apr 2013 · 06:22 UTC
Excellent Job, loved all of it. What did you end up using for the music? Thanks!
🎤 paulopn
29. Apr 2013 · 06:29 UTC
I used abundant-music =D
Taro Omiya
29. Apr 2013 · 06:35 UTC
Slick, this definitely feels like a Zelda game. Well-done.
JaJ
29. Apr 2013 · 15:37 UTC
Great! I especially liked the music. The game itself played really well, but I couldn't see the bullets too well on the light pink sand. I think you could have added a lot of atmosphere to the game by choosing different colors.
jlm
29. Apr 2013 · 15:45 UTC
It was too easy to get stuck on terrain, but was fun overall.

The Windows jar works great on Linux btw.
vladimirdlc
29. Apr 2013 · 18:55 UTC
I had a great time playing this one, is curious how even people with different numerals should be able to play it.
CloudiestNights
30. Apr 2013 · 01:31 UTC
The graphics were quite imaginative for only being literally a pixel big. Fet like some places were inaccessible, but it was still enjoyable.
gmaker
03. May 2013 · 06:54 UTC
really fun! good job!!! i loved it )
netmute
03. May 2013 · 19:47 UTC
The screenshots look really nice. Unfortunately I can't play it because I'm on a Mac :(
Tyro
05. May 2013 · 05:51 UTC
Wow, this was really fun. A few things:

* There seemed to be two pieces of gold in the forest I couldn't collect, because they were behaving like solid objects.
* In the desert section, the player's projectiles were the same color as the sand and pretty much impossible to see after being fired.
* The music was a little loud at times.

Other than those minor issues, this was a really well done game. I liked the eight directional shooting and the soundtrack was amazing. I never encountered any glitches during gameplay, and I highly enjoying exploring the dungeons. Fantastic job!
lightnarcissus
07. May 2013 · 18:04 UTC
Some good music here and I like the exploration element you have integrated into the game! xD
MinionStudios
08. May 2013 · 14:46 UTC
Excellent game! Amazing that the game play and sction is so clear and simple!
3.14
08. May 2013 · 15:46 UTC
It lacks proper ending but otherwise it's a great game. It would change a lot it there was some storyline - if only it would be text messages popping out on some points.

I aimed to create something similar, though quickly settled for an even more simplified setting.
Dir3kt
09. May 2013 · 09:49 UTC
Liked it a lot, very good job! Please expand it for a #1GAM entry!!
geckojsc
10. May 2013 · 23:31 UTC
Very cool world to explore! I liked the variety of enemies and environments, the sound effects, and the amount of detail you were able to convey with such simple graphics!

Tyro pretty much mentioned the only criticisms I could think of. Good job!
MrBlade
11. May 2013 · 00:56 UTC
Make an in browser version.
Jeremias
11. May 2013 · 09:34 UTC
Funny little game. Here is my feedback:

- There are two yellow coins in the forest which I can't collect.
- The player should be able to press multiple moving keys. E.g. if I walk along a corridor from the left to the right and then see, that it will turn to the top, I often press the right and the up key so he automatically turns the direction then - but in your game, the character doesn't move anymore. It would be nice if you add this comfort feature in your post-compo.
- The dungeon with the entry point in the desert... if you want to leave the dungeon (holding the up key), you immediately enter it because you progress moving up after entering the overworld.
- Collecting coins is getting exhausting really fast, perhaps you should add a collecting radius of two squares in which my character automatically gets them?

The graphics fit very well, nice how you communicate the landscapes in such a simple, effective way.
Madball
11. May 2013 · 09:55 UTC
Great job! It was very interesting exploring the pixel world. Though sometimes I couldn`t collect coins, and one path that, I think, should be open, was closed. You need more playtesting if you want to take it further.
The downside is that the game requires me to be pixel-perfect. Catching coins and shooting enemies was tiring sometimes. Also, make enemies shoot diagonally, otherwise they are very ease to kill.
🎤 paulopn
13. May 2013 · 17:25 UTC
Thanks for all the awesome feedback! I'll look into everything that was said for the complete version! =D
GarethIW
15. May 2013 · 13:18 UTC
Really fun, loved the pixelly art. Collisions were a bit sticky at times.
Benjamin
17. May 2013 · 06:57 UTC
Complete game, you have a nice title screen, tutorial and an ending. I just regret the too simple monster IA, a better path finding would have make monsters more fearsome.