Whack-a-Rat by wildcard

[raw]
made by wildcard for LD 41 (COMPO)

Whack-a-Rat is a small (and I mean small!) game inspired by the old "game and watch" games. Basically it is a game and watch/resource management game (since you will have to preserve stamina while hitting rats).

You can use "a" and "d" to move around, "left shift" to hit rats and "s" can be used to chill in order to restore some stamina. Collect enough points and you win.

I would very much like to hear your opinions on my game, do not hold back! I would like to grow from the feedback you are willing to give me!

Ratings

Overall 591th 2.938⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Fun 440th 3.12⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 665th 2.5⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Theme 667th 2.58⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 569th 2.68⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Audio 306th 2.958⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Humor 229th 3.022⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Mood 382th 2.96⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Given 28🗳️ 25🗨️

Feedback

ildfuglen
23. Apr 2018 · 11:00 UTC
Fun game! I had to read the game instructions over again, but it wasn't that hard when I got the hang of it. Love the walk cycle of the player, and the animation is really goofy. Got difficult towards the end, but I managed to beat it!

Good job!
geeitsomelaldy
23. Apr 2018 · 11:02 UTC
I liked the Game-and-watch idea, brought back a lot of memories, but I'm not sure adding a resource to manage counts as much as a genre as it is just a single mechanic.
Keppu
23. Apr 2018 · 11:27 UTC
Skill based gameplay kept me engaged until the "fin" even thought the graphics are not that good. Mastering rat-whacking was surprisingly hooking. I would have preferred to have whack button on SPACE instead of SHIFT.

Ended up syncing my moves to generate delicious sounding music from those PC-Speaker sounds. Haha!
meskaline
23. Apr 2018 · 12:24 UTC
Fun game. :D
T8kk
25. Apr 2018 · 12:04 UTC
I definitely get the correct game and watch vibes you matched from this together with the movement, audio and visuals fitting. I'm not sure if I did something wrong or could I had not advance to the higher platforms on the level? Looked like a play area would have been fun to explore too hehe. Overall fresh idea and good execution wildcat!
saturn007
26. Apr 2018 · 00:42 UTC
Really great fun game! It was pretty hard for me. I liked the resource management of side of it.
JustinM
26. Apr 2018 · 21:42 UTC
Great entry :), I enjoyed hitting the rats and *attempting* to master the correct timing to chill instead of hitting the rats before they got too big. Neat game, I've not played something like this before
spthiel
27. Apr 2018 · 11:55 UTC
Great game. I somewhat dislike the controls (but that's probably just me ^^) and the sound get's somewhat annoying quite quick but other than that pretty nice concept
simonhutchinson
27. Apr 2018 · 14:06 UTC
Ha! I used to have a bunch of these Tiger Electronics games, so this is a total nostalgia trip for me. Very nice recreation (except with gore). Now I've got to go dig out my old Tom & Jerry Game.
🎤 wildcard
27. Apr 2018 · 14:11 UTC
Thank you for the feedback @spthiel ! It is not just you who find the controls dislikable :D I will attempt to create better merging sounds and controlls in the future!
🎤 wildcard
27. Apr 2018 · 14:24 UTC
I am glad to hear it @simonhutchinson, nostalgia and the wacky style from those games was something I really wanted to recreate.
LarrySeinfeld
28. Apr 2018 · 05:10 UTC
Fun game. You definitely got the idea across that you wanted with the old-school game-and-watch style and I like the mix with resource management. The sounds were on point too. I would have preferred to have the controls be a little different, maybe left and right arrow keys for moving back and forth and then something like shift for chill and space for hitting. Just a thought. Good work otherwise, though!
LMB
28. Apr 2018 · 22:48 UTC
First, I agree with @geeitsomelaldy, I wouldn't consider the game as mix of something with "resource management", as this is really just a simple mechanic. Now, the game itself isn't bad at all. It is simple, but was entertaining for some time (I managed to beat the game, it gets kinda hard near the end).

Interesting note: I never heard about "Game and Watch" before, I guess I never saw any of those here in Brazil. But we had similar things, which we called by names like "minigames". After a few seconds playing your game, I thought "hey, this is inspired by minigames!" So, look like you were successful creating the feel of those old portable games. Same look and feel and sound.
Lost Dutchman Software
28. Apr 2018 · 22:49 UTC
wow this feels exactly like an old game n watch or tiger electronic game. good work!
🎤 wildcard
29. Apr 2018 · 07:10 UTC
@LMB Thank you for playing! I agree that the theme is not really done justice here. I originally intended to make the game longer with more things to do but I overestimated my skills and had to reduce the scope when I realized the game would not be done in time with the original concept.

@Lost Dutchman Software Thank you!
nilstastic
29. Apr 2018 · 18:11 UTC
Nice little game! I had fun playing it, had to go back and read the instructions but then I managed quite well :)
I tink you got something going here, I have to think of my endurance at the same time that I wish to KILL all the rats. Good job!
joemid
01. May 2018 · 05:07 UTC
I miss Game/Watch. This captures the feeling of those and the Tiger games so well! Ha- This would be the way they'd sell resource management! Love the animations and sounds. Thanks for the game! Now just make a little system that will play this? ;)
Kwisarts
09. May 2018 · 22:55 UTC
Oh I gotta say I didn't expect the game and watch thing! Although, like it was stated, I don't think it counts as a game genre neither.

But really, I think the game and watch mechanic, although archaic, feels fresh to play with someetimes. It gave nice vibes and the game felt a bit funny because of it! I wish there was more to it though. As it is, it lacks a bit of content.
Meijerson
15. May 2018 · 01:11 UTC
Oh my goodness. This was fun! It was a very simple game but that added to the charm. I'm too young to remember playing Mr Game and Watch but this game made me feel nostalgic about the little video game things they used to put in McDonald's happy meals. That is a compliment -- I used to spend hours and hours playing those things. Nice sound effects!