Lost in the Woods by ratboy2713

[raw]
made by ratboy2713 for LD22 (COMPO)
*NOTE* I quickly added a web link. All it is is the normal game with an applet wrapper. There are options to quit the game which will not do anything in the applet version.

*NOTE2* I have added what would have been the instructions screen to the pictures for the entry. Hopefully that can help people figure out what is going on.

You are lost in the woods. You aren't sure how you got here or where anyone else is, but you have to find your way home soon.

Sort of in the vain of old point and click adventures, but without the clicking (doesn't use the mouse). Find, combine, and use items to solve simple puzzles.

I don't think it was explained very well (meant to put in a tutorial) but you enter areas by walking off the screen or by pressing the key at an entrance (path leading up or a door). The key is also used to pickup/use items, but only if the item can be used. I didn't make things obvious because it is supposed to be a puzzle, but I feel I may have made what to do/how to do it a little too obscure.

The idea behind this is that the player is completely alone. No enemies, no allies, no one except the player and the environment.

I was more than half way through making the game when I realized I have no way to recovering if I die. I was unable to come up with a system that didn't completely re-define my action system. Sorry, but if you die you have to start all over, but if you know what you are doing it only takes a couple minutes.

Ratings

Coolness 100% 1
Overall 2.45 460
Audio 2.51 250
Community 3.27 86
Fun 2.27 388
Graphics 2.05 547
Humor 2.34 193
Innovation 2.00 506
Mood 2.33 335
Theme 2.66 341

Feedback

pireninjacolass
20. Dec 2011 路 15:32 UTC
I got stuck so couldn't do much.
馃帳 ratboy2713
20. Dec 2011 路 19:24 UTC
Got stuck didn't know what to do, or got stuck horrible game breaking bug?
demonpants
21. Dec 2011 路 04:38 UTC
Well, I got a few screens in but wasn't sure how to get past the pit. I got a flashlight and crate of apples. Having a restart is really really important for a game like this when you get suddenly killed by random stuff. And, no offense, but the game is UGLY. Why is it blurred some of the way and pixel-y other parts? Can't make up its mind.
馃帳 ratboy2713
21. Dec 2011 路 15:12 UTC
I made the backgrounds blurry so that the items in the foreground stood out more so hopefully it clued in to what was interactive. It really is I'm not a good enough artist to get that point across without an ugly gimmick. The crate is part of the "go upstairs and sleep" puzzle, if that helps.
Cell
23. Dec 2011 路 19:11 UTC
Cool, but feels a bit buggy.
summaky
25. Dec 2011 路 15:38 UTC
First time it would show the first screen but didn't do anything. Then I got killed by a tree without warning. The third time I got stuck at the same tree once I dodged it and lost interest in the game. I like the idea and the music, but it is too buggy for me.
angrygeometry
29. Dec 2011 路 04:14 UTC
been trying to get this to work but every time i try it just either shows a blank applet or crashes. this is probably on my end (read: definitely) so i'll try get this working some other time.
SonnyBone
04. Jan 2012 路 12:10 UTC
OH LAWD THAT TREE! Thanks for pointing out all the games in your latest blog post. Your game has a very unique feel, and I dig that items have different popups based on the order that you find them!
馃帳 ratboy2713
04. Jan 2012 路 17:06 UTC
@SonnyBone: Yeah, the tree really sets the theme for the rest of the game. Thanks for playing!
ericdpitts
04. Jan 2012 路 18:13 UTC
A pretty enjoyable entry! I wish it were longer. Loved the music!
Furyhunter
07. Jan 2012 路 20:15 UTC
The only thing I didn't really like was all the "surprise instant death" moments. They were frustrating, since you had to restart the game from the beginning every time you tripped one.
Milo
08. Jan 2012 路 00:26 UTC
The game looks quite nice, but I found it very frustrating to have to start from the beginning each time, although I did eventually complete it. I also felt that my actions didn't really have an effect on my success - the obstacles couldn't be avoided since they didn't look like obstacles.
Veralos
08. Jan 2012 路 01:49 UTC
That tree is a jerk!

Nice game. Restarting over isn't a major problem since it's so short, though there should've been an option to restart rather than quit. The puzzles were kind of tricky, but not too bad. I also liked the music. My only complaint is the graphics - Having some parts blurry and some not doesn't look very good.

I found the kitten!
Raptor85
08. Jan 2012 路 03:36 UTC
buggy and hard to tell what to do (took me a while to figure out to press the action button while in front of the roads), but overall ok.
defiantburrito
08. Jan 2012 路 08:23 UTC
I actually quite liked this!

I like the low-key guitar music.

Art was not great, but not terrible for 2 days.

The puzzles were not really designed that well, it seemed a bit arbitrary. In a good point-and-click game, you have to use reason and common sense to figure out what to do. This is like, "Oh there's dynamite in the car. And tree sap next to it. I guess that did something." The random deaths were random. But it was still fun enough.

Good job!
Kelly Thomas
08. Jan 2012 路 08:29 UTC
lotsa death in this one.

Its a good game system but a bit of foreshadowing the danger might help
Dan C
08. Jan 2012 路 14:24 UTC
Getting killed by ridiculous stuff and having to start from the beginning is annoying.
Cleggy
09. Jan 2012 路 14:34 UTC
A good classic adventure game. I liked the Zork reference and unexpected "methods" of failure.
whilefun
09. Jan 2012 路 14:46 UTC
cool entry! I couldn't figure out how to not die with dynamite though. Some more hints or warnings about traps and things that kill me would be nice.
whilefun
09. Jan 2012 路 14:49 UTC
also, awesome community content! :)
馃帳 ratboy2713
09. Jan 2012 路 16:19 UTC
Wow, go away for a few days and a bunch or you guys come in. Thank you so much.

My biggest regret with this game is that I didn't think to add a save feature until it was too late to implement one. Thank you for all your feedback.
nuria
09. Jan 2012 路 21:34 UTC
Buggish. I would get constant blank screens and the music keeps on playing after closing the tab where the game was running.