It's Just a Phase! by terryg | LudumData

It's Just a Phase! by terryg

made by terryg for LD35 (JAM)

Droplet has been kidnapped! Help him phase between solid, liquid, and gas to bring him home.

Here's a walk through: https://youtu.be/hlFhrhMGIrc

FIXED VERSION: Fixed some play-ability issues with getting stuck. Improved crystal speeds, added some arrows to show player where to go.
http://droplet.daretogame.net/

The main link is still the original.

Game play hints:
Movement: w to jump, A and D to move left and right.

1. When droplet gets near red crystals, he gets warm and turns to his gas phase. He can float up and move around.
2. When droplet gets near blue crystals, he gets cold and turns to his solid form. He can slide and break through walls.
3. If he gets too warm or too cold, he is in danger. A flashing indicator near the thermometer will let you know this. Cool him off or heat him up.
4. Droplet will slowly go back to room temperature on his own.
5. He can only go through small openings (like grates) in gas or liquid phase.

This hardcore platformer was forged from the sweat of 14 talented people many of whom never worked together. They just showed up, a team started to be formed and then even more showed up. This is what I love about Ludum Dare!

All art, music, animation, and cutesy you-just-died-again mood created within period of the Ludum Dare contest.

Special thanks to Tinkermill for hosting us so we could all come together and be creative and have a great time.

Web	http://origdroplet.daretogame.net/
youtube walk through	https://youtu.be/hlFhrhMGIrc
Post LD35 entry	http://droplet.daretogame.net/
Source	https://github.com/Frobitz66/ludumdare35
Original URL	https://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-35/?action=preview&uid=50816

Ratings

Coolness	78%	2
Overall(Jam)	3.42	364

Audio(Jam)	3.31	313
Fun(Jam)	3.43	272
Graphics(Jam)	2.81	842
Humor(Jam)	2.84	339
Innovation(Jam)	3.83	85
Mood(Jam)	3.13	519
Theme(Jam)	4.05	73

Feedback

18. Apr 2016 · 15:31 UTC

Cool concept, maybe the shapeshifting could be faster.

18. Apr 2016 · 19:44 UTC

Thanks, Peter. Yes. Kind of a zen experience. Come back later since we are going to keep updating until the deadline.

18. Apr 2016 · 23:15 UTC

Very cool ! It was a bit hard to escape in ice cube form, also a bit slippy in the 2nd stage, but the scenario and gameplay is very cool

19. Apr 2016 · 05:41 UTC

Thanks for the feedback Edo. The final version we submitted fixes some of these problems, plus provides you a "Restart Level" button in case Droplet gets stuck.

20. Apr 2016 · 00:40 UTC

Well execute. =]

21. Apr 2016 · 00:56 UTC

Thanks, Roland

21. Apr 2016 · 03:20 UTC

Bonus points for bringing the real-life science aspect into the game. I did get stuck a few times in the tubes and had to restart the level. I LOVE the whimsical character and cleverness with the story.

A-Flat Miner Studios

21. Apr 2016 · 03:42 UTC

Neat idea, totally cool. Got stuck on a grate eventually, but had fun figuring out the puzzles up until then.

22. Apr 2016 · 00:57 UTC

Great concept, and a fairly unique take on the theme from what I've seen so far. I got stuck at the spot where you open up the first shortcut in level two. I was stuck in a pipe corner and couldn't move.

22. Apr 2016 · 01:37 UTC

I really like this idea, it's one of the more creative ones for me. I kept getting stuck though. But that didn't really stop me from wanting to play it and enjoying it.

22. Apr 2016 · 02:07 UTC

Nice entry! :-)

22. Apr 2016 · 02:13 UTC

Thanks everyone. Yeah, getting stuck seems to be the big thing. We introduced the level reset late on Monday before the deadline. I want to post an update to fix the stuck problem. I think it may be caused by sharp edges on colliders. Maybe smooth them out.

WeaverDeveloper

22. Apr 2016 · 02:59 UTC

Interesting idea basing transformation on temperature. Could be a bit easier to read and faster though!

23. Apr 2016 · 05:14 UTC

I never had a chance to play the game all the way through. I knew each level was beatable, but it is official now. The game is beatable. Maybe I should do a youtube video showing a play through of the game.

23. Apr 2016 · 07:58 UTC

I really like this concept for a Puzzler/ Platformer. As other have stated, the shifting feels a little slow when you're only near one crystal.
The colliders were a bit buggy. I got stuck in a corner once or twice, but overall a decent entry. Great Job.

23. Apr 2016 · 08:11 UTC

The idea and gameplay is really great. The level design is a bit confussing, but stil okay. Well done.

23. Apr 2016 · 14:23 UTC

I love what your team did here! It has an intriguing concept and absolutely amazing soundtrack! Good work!

24. Apr 2016 · 06:46 UTC

Thanks, JC.

24. Apr 2016 · 21:19 UTC

Its really a fun game concept wise.

24. Apr 2016 · 21:20 UTC

I think the phase changing could be faster and some collisions were glytchy, but a nice game none the less.

25. Apr 2016 · 00:38 UTC

Cool concept, wished the changing was a little quicker. Fun game, nicely done.

25. Apr 2016 · 03:34 UTC

interesting game, the A and D controls seemed a bit too fast, i was always overshooting piped, and got stuck on pipe edges.

25. Apr 2016 · 05:11 UTC

Thanks for the input jcmonkey. I'd like to smooth out the pipe edges. Seems to be a huge cause of stuckedness. Maybe I could provide an options screen for how fast the player moves. And to Rantt, there are definately some of the earlier crystals that are too slow. Need to speed them up. Later in the game (lava level and the end of the jungle) that this smooths out. In the lava level for instance you find yourself with the ambient temp hot, so you are mostly in the steam phase, and then you are trying to find blue crystals to cool you down.

27. Apr 2016 · 18:09 UTC

I love the idea! I like how droplet can do different things based on his current state. I'd like an audible warning when your temperature was getting too extreme. I also found myself getting caught on corners a few times. Great job!

28. Apr 2016 · 21:53 UTC

Really lovely game. You did a decent amount of level design for the challenge! i liked the music too. Obviously some thought went into how to set the mood with the music and I thought it worked well. Great idea for the shapeshifting theme as well. Nicely done -RS

28. Apr 2016 · 23:16 UTC

really refreshing game :) the character should appear in front of the crystal to see the transformation, but its good

29. Apr 2016 · 01:52 UTC

I think this game is epic !!!!!! :D

29. Apr 2016 · 02:19 UTC

Wow, definitely the biggest team I've ever seen in an LD before! I found it a little frustrating that the movement of the character was so fast but the temperature change was so slow. I wanted to keep zipping around the level but felt inconvenienced by having to stand around waiting for my state to change.

29. Apr 2016 · 03:55 UTC

I think this is a unique puzzle platformer. Story is a bit thrown together but it gives some direction to it all.

29. Apr 2016 · 10:37 UTC

Thanks, Scott, BigCow and RE (and apparently me, or one of my kids for the last comment). The corners need to be smoothed out that's for sure. I'd also like to do a youtube walk through especially for the lava level.

29. Apr 2016 · 11:00 UTC

thanks, Graebor and Aaranos. It was definately a challenge to manage. It was nice having an artist in Europe since the art could be made over the U.S. night.

02. May 2016 · 02:03 UTC

Wow, super cool innovative game!!!!! Excellent work!!

02. May 2016 · 04:12 UTC

Thanks, Fin.

02. May 2016 · 18:37 UTC

fun theme and great execution, good job!

03. May 2016 · 14:01 UTC

An educational game, great work! Opettavainen peli, Hyvä hyvä, loistavaa työtä!!! =)

04. May 2016 · 10:28 UTC

Great game! Awesome music, the controls work, just one thing, I got stuck on one corner and couldn't go farther.
You can see my experience over here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qghFHbf88KI

04. May 2016 · 15:29 UTC

Amazing game. Impressive how much you got done in such a short space of time! Really loved the idea, and the music was lovely. Really fun game, has loads of potential. I think switching between states could be a bit faster when really close to the crystals. Great Job

05. May 2016 · 01:01 UTC

Wow Molpe. Thanks for the best feedback ever. I LOVED your video.

Yes, Yeti. I am going to fix that too and post a PostLudum dare link. Thank you for both your feedbacks.

05. May 2016 · 05:04 UTC

OK EVERYONE. I have made some play ability fixes. The web link points to that. The original is still available. Thank you for your input. Enjoy!

05. May 2016 · 05:29 UTC

Just re-read the rules below. The web link is the original and the Post LD35 entry is below that.

08. May 2016 · 18:08 UTC

Nice concept and mechanics, the shape shifting is a bit slow though. Great level design!

09. May 2016 · 21:35 UTC

Great idea and great use of the shapeshift theme. The music was nice and chirpy, and went well with the game.

10. May 2016 · 03:31 UTC

Thanks, Reiv. Thanks, edge.

And thank you everyone for the great comments!

03. Jun 2016 · 15:48 UTC

Finally finished the game, the playthrough is right here x)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ5H6Ger2Uw