Bait and Switch: LD41 entry by gafblizzard

[raw]
made by gafblizzard for LD 41 (JAM)

Summary

This is a fishing + puzzle game created for the Ludum Dare 41 jam by Shadeybee and GAFBlizzard AKA AgentElrond.

Make sure all blue/red/yellow fish escape or are caught.

Then, catch the shiny fish with max size bait.

Instructions

  • WASD or arrow keys - Move (S / down to cast if line is out of water)

  • C - Cast or Recast (if you already have bait, you release it, which may be needed to solve puzzles)

  • R - Reset current level

  • M - Mute/unmute audio

  • B - Toggle editor

  • Y - Skip current level (at least try to beat it first!)

  • T - Toggle timer display for speedrunning

  • Q - Quit to main menu (press twice)

Mechanics

  • Each new cast uses up one bait fish.

  • Bigger fish eat any smaller fish of the same color.

  • Red fish eat blue fish.

  • Yellow fish eat red fish.

  • If you bump the wrong kind of fish or obstacle, your bait will escape.

  • The shiny fish only eats max size fish.

  • The shiny fish will not eat unless ALL other fish are gone.

  • If you run out of bait, you will have to retry the level.

Credits

If you enjoy the art, please check out more by the artist: http://shadeykris.tumblr.com/

It might have been cool if max size fish had different effects, like exploding to destroy obstacles, but we did not get there in time.

We sadly did not have time to make our own music and sound effects. Credits for things we did not make:

  • Royalty-free soundtrack used. Music: Slow Motion - Bensound.com
  • Ambient sound from royalty-free sonniss.com GDC audio bundle.
  • Brush used from https://www.kylebrush.com/
  • Font used from http://www.fontpalace.com/font-details/MoolBoran/

Licenses for base code and third-party code are included on the playable game webpages.

screenshot_1.png

Ratings

Overall 520th 3.5⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Fun 673th 3.227⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 860th 3.023⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Theme 870th 3.182⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 200th 4.114⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Humor 847th 2.444⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Mood 139th 3.886⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Given 22🗳️ 31🗨️

Feedback

el-pepi
23. Apr 2018 · 21:50 UTC
Cute graphics! I was a bit confused at the beginning but I got it. Just needs a few sound effects.
Cerdcee
25. Apr 2018 · 22:21 UTC
Nice game, loved the general atmosphere !
MaxKlimenok
29. Apr 2018 · 06:36 UTC
Nice sprites and animation, nice audio.

Was not able to catch the last shiny fish. Te bait gets of the hook on the contact with purple fish and game over... Do I do something wrong? How do I change bait type to a larger one?

Edit: Oh! I have got the point. Caught fish becomes a bait for the next one... so your bait is sort of a Russian nesting doll. For me it was not obvious from the description. Cool game design decision!
justinooncx
29. Apr 2018 · 08:36 UTC
Not a bad game at all! Dove in head first without reading the instructions for some reason, but even then, I managed to figure out the rules eventually. Gotta say, was surprised when the tiny orange fish ate my giant blue fish... Unfortunately, I couldn't QUITE wrap my head around the puzzle at level 10 onwards... Don't exactly know why. Also, fish sometimes get stuck on the seaweed (especially the yellow ones), which forces me to release them in order to continue. Still, it's very clever, plus the art style is GORGEOUS. Well done, overall!
🎤 gafblizzard
29. Apr 2018 · 16:43 UTC
@MaxKlimenok you need a fish of the largest possible size, and all other fish in the level must be gone first (escaped, caught, released, whatever). Thanks for playing!
MaxKlimenok
29. Apr 2018 · 17:01 UTC
@gafblizzard Finally I understood how to play your game. Updated previous comment and the score.
Ryan Koning
30. Apr 2018 · 06:00 UTC
Cute style and great atmosphere, nice work!
Jin9310
30. Apr 2018 · 06:18 UTC
Quite neat idea. I really like the art you have done here. Some polishing would be nice I guess as sometimes I got stuck and could not move further. Overall very nice entry :) Good job
Merrow
30. Apr 2018 · 06:29 UTC
Like the athmosphere and the setting. The game is not that challenging but chills and feels good. I could imagine a mobile version.
warzoku
30. Apr 2018 · 07:02 UTC
Art good. Probably you have a problem with player. Or I have. Because i cant see the bottom of play window.
![screen.PNG](///raw/dd3/61/z/147e8.png)
🎤 gafblizzard
30. Apr 2018 · 07:03 UTC
@warzoku if you are on a laptop screen that might be it. It needs 1024x768. Can you try the second link instead of the gamejolt link? It might show the whole game there.
matsoj15
30. Apr 2018 · 07:08 UTC
Nice combined puzzle and fishing. I had a lot of fun
warzoku
30. Apr 2018 · 07:23 UTC
@gafblizzard Website is temporary sleeping :)
Maybe you can use https://itch.io/
🎤 gafblizzard
30. Apr 2018 · 07:30 UTC
@warzoku I should learn how to use itch.io. Sorry about the sleeping thing, it happens 1 hour for free website hosting. :P
Saering
30. Apr 2018 · 07:43 UTC
I like the idea but it's hard to get how to play ; I was unable to catch the purple fish in the very first level!
Still great mood and graphic !
🎤 gafblizzard
30. Apr 2018 · 07:51 UTC
@Saering Sorry, I don't have instructions in the game. Check the description on the Ludum Dare page -- it shows you the Controls and Mechanics.

The key is that the purple fish only eats the biggest size fish, and only if all other fish are gone. :)
Beebo Studios
30. Apr 2018 · 13:29 UTC
Nice game! The art is really evocative and sets such a nice tranquil mood coupled with your choice of music. It's really relaxing.

The game works super well. My only gripe is that the bigger fish sometimes got stuck in the kelp. But since restarting is super easy and the music suppresses any rising anger, it's okay.

Good job on your game, have a fish <3 🐟
Paul Avallone
30. Apr 2018 · 16:55 UTC
It's a neat game, but the fish would get stuck on the seaweed a lot cause a restart of the level. I like all the different types of fish but I wish there description was in game because I got confused. I like the art a lot and the mood is really nice. Good job.
jk5000
30. Apr 2018 · 17:25 UTC
I love the idea, and both the music and graphics is good. For me there was too many game mechanics and they were in a way too complicated. But overall a very relaxed and friendly puzzle game. Well done.
MugenMagnus
01. May 2018 · 03:38 UTC
Great game, love the cute art style! The puzzle aspect was very clever too, especially towards the end. Got stumped by the last two levels. Well done!
Ryunos
09. May 2018 · 20:52 UTC
Nice game, the puzzle are very interesting. I have a scaling problem though, can't see the bottom of the game screen but that was not very harmful to my experience.
🎤 gafblizzard
10. May 2018 · 16:41 UTC
@Ryunos thanks! Yes, unfortunately some laptops may be too short to see, and we did not realize at the time that there are still desktop/laptop systems shorter than 768 pixels.