Subverse by Mekuri

[raw]
made by Mekuri for LD35 (JAM)
### About the Game ###
In Subverse you pilot a submarine and your job is to collect green ore in the area, and unload them at your base.
But beware- Danger lurks! There's shapeshifting rocks, called StoneGuys around, that will try to stop you from gathering the ore.

Gameplay is described in detail in game under How to play.
Default controls are WASD based, but can be changed via the launcher on the non-web versions.

Best played in 16:9 resolutions.

### About the Jam ###
This was my 10th Ludum Dare, and my 8th submission in Unity. I was hoping to try out a new engine or framework for this Dare, but I couldn't really find the time to get into something new.
Instead I tried doing something underwater, as I haven't done much in that area, especially the controls part. I set out to write a controller for the submarine from scratch. I ended up with something that worked, and I'm happy with that, albeit, it could be improved upon.

### TL:DR ###
- Instructions In game.
- Default controls is WASD based
- Can change controls in non-web based versions through the launcher.
- It is indeed possible to beat the game, if you manage to collect all the ores within the time limit.

Thanks for playing my game. I look forward to playing yours!

Ratings

Coolness 52% 3
Overall(Jam) 2.96 801
Audio(Jam) 2.64 599
Fun(Jam) 2.73 849
Graphics(Jam) 3.27 569
Humor(Jam) 2.07 707
Innovation(Jam) 2.81 747
Mood(Jam) 3.38 325
Theme(Jam) 2.24 1071

Feedback

kariamoss
19. Apr 2016 · 01:22 UTC
The game is quite beautiful but the gameplay / sound are maybe a bit boring.
Good work however!
meganukebmp
19. Apr 2016 · 12:59 UTC
Nice graphics, but needs a tutorial.
bodsey
19. Apr 2016 · 19:10 UTC
Nice work with graphics and physics. But lack of fun.
maleero
19. Apr 2016 · 20:11 UTC
I have no idea what's I'm supposed to be doing... :(
Skruffye
19. Apr 2016 · 20:12 UTC
Cool game. Got a little bit boring, but the premise and the core gameplay were well realised.
Good job! :)
Tacohej
19. Apr 2016 · 20:20 UTC
The best thing about this entry is the overall feel and mood. The environment and underwater world is quite cool. Also I think that the controls are pretty decent, once you get them. I think that you can introduce mechanics much better than you do though. It would have been way better to learn the controls through some kind of tutorial. Lastly, congrats to finishing the game and making something good during the time limit.
Ironhead
19. Apr 2016 · 20:30 UTC
This is a fun game! The controls took me a minute to get used to but after that it was smooth sailing... or subbing... haha but anyways, well done with the graphics and physics. I love the look of the sub, I kept expecting to see John, Paul, George, and Ringo peeking out of the portholes ;)
Big Cow
19. Apr 2016 · 20:47 UTC
Nice little underwater world!
fprawn
19. Apr 2016 · 22:50 UTC
I liked the way the sub controlled, that was well done.
glitchu
20. Apr 2016 · 00:29 UTC
It gave a great sense of depth and I did feel a sense of isolation and immersion. Controls were pretty solid once you get used to it, but I felt the shape shifting rock people was thrown in last minute just to fit the theme. However it does a great job as a submarine simulator
arhpositive
20. Apr 2016 · 12:42 UTC
Nicely done. I played for 10 minutes and got a score of 12 for three round trips consisting of 2, 4 and 6 ores.

The shapeshifting guys are super creepy and you panic at the moment you get hit by a stone coming out of nowhere in your line of sight. Tension was high around the rocky areas and I liked that part of the gameplay.

I believe setting a fixed time frame is not necessary and 20 minutes is a long time for a level. It might be better to divide the game in a few levels and have the player progress by collecting a fixed number of ores.

Good entry! Keep up the good work. I especially loved the submarine, it was beautiful.
Xanjos
21. Apr 2016 · 00:59 UTC
Pretty interesting concept but the controls were really hard to get used to.
terop
23. Apr 2016 · 17:49 UTC
The game looked nice, but somehow it grabbed the mouse cursor and was difficult to exit :-)
James Coote
26. Apr 2016 · 17:55 UTC
Interesting interpretation of the theme. Was not expecting...rock throwing rocks :p I guess if you were to expand it, could have all sorts of surprise transformations, so you never know whether something new will turn out to be a surprise or just another piece of junk at the bottom of the sea.

Needs some sort of indication of health of the sub though. If not a health bar, then maybe some cracks appearing on the sub (or maybe there was a health bar but was cropped off the bottom by gameJolt webview frame in which I played, as some of the how to play text was).
mar3k
01. May 2016 · 11:46 UTC
Nice game
zaywolfe
02. May 2016 · 03:32 UTC
Like this game alot. Just wish I could escape from the stoneguys faster. Seems like once your in range your screwed.