Zenmaku by Gregor

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

Zenmaku is a "Zen Bullet Hell" created for Ludum Dare 41 - "Combine 2 incompatible genres".

Dodge the bullets and collect the enemies.

Controller highly recommended, though keyboard is available.

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Ratings

Overall 256th 3.786⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Fun 454th 3.429⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 460th 3.5⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Theme 493th 3.714⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 147th 4.238⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Audio 204th 3.7⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Mood 57th 4.095⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Given 24🗳️ 21🗨️

Feedback

Kobrar
24. Apr 2018 · 00:19 UTC
I finished a level once, but then didn't know in the "level select" map. Overall, this game is absolutely beautiful and I love it. There is challenge, it is not overwhelming, and I think the theme has a lot of potential to explore. Wish you all the best, make more of those!
HKoisumi
24. Apr 2018 · 00:39 UTC
Freaking amazing! Excelent work, wanna check ours too??

https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/41/hype-time
mintarcade
24. Apr 2018 · 08:51 UTC
This is AMAZING! controller is a must, but once you collect first center "thing" it's so easy after that. One suggestion I'd make is to make bounce more physics based, rather that change direction and wait. If instead you use Rigidbody.AddExplosionForce from position of a bullet, and may be slow down time temporary, that will add more "visual feel" feedback. But this is just an idea. Great game.
Ratstail91
24. Apr 2018 · 08:58 UTC
This is a really mellow game, although I got stuck in a single spot and had to quit out. Still, I'd like to see this again with some progression signposting, and maybe a little direction.
tetra
24. Apr 2018 · 11:30 UTC
Well done guys, I love the mechanics and atmosphere. Bit tough on a keyboard but I managed it.
Jaychitects
24. Apr 2018 · 18:35 UTC
Very unique looking game, with a great atmosphere. Good job!
SHINBAXTER
24. Apr 2018 · 19:05 UTC
really nice atmosphere. its like ur going down into molecular level dna lol. i really like the opening, made me feel like a fly going "the liiiight!" lol. after that it was very clear & straight forward was to do tho i found it quite hard to navigate (maybe coz i'm using keys) but i think ur hit box shud be a bit smaller like in cave shmups, as i felt that sumtimes i shudda got thru then, BOUNCE! lol. great achievement in the time tho. congrats!

=)
roaderful
24. Apr 2018 · 19:05 UTC
A constant disruption of that "Zen" mood with a little bullet-hell like challenges.
Looks gorgeous, bravo!
SMILEY_4_
24. Apr 2018 · 19:14 UTC
Interesting game with great visuals and atmosphere.
David Boeger
25. Apr 2018 · 00:11 UTC
Hmm, I wanted to have the great experience that others are reporting, but this game was just flat out impossibly hard for me. I'm not sure why, as I'm generally a pretty competent gamer. I love the graphics, atmosphere, concept, all that. It's actually a really smart game. But I cannot collect the very first enemy. I tried hundreds of times. Just can't do it. Is it just me, or do you need to be pixel perfect to actually get to the enemy? Or maybe I am not pressing some button I should be pressing? I really have no idea, but I tried and tried and couldn't get a single enemy. And also, perhaps a bit more constructive criticism, the shield rings were really ambiguous and difficult to understand at first because they are placed so close to enemies. There should be a substantial gap between enemies and the rings to make it clear that you cannot pass the rings until you collect the enemies within. I kept going for enemies outside the rings, not realizing that the rings were knocking me back.
smallboss
25. Apr 2018 · 15:06 UTC
This is an amazing game. The way the character moves and feels and how the entire game flows is just too magical.
Tuomo
27. Apr 2018 · 15:57 UTC
This game has superbly constructed atmosphere, sounds, music and visuals work together in perfect manner. Gameplay is hard as would be expected from bullet hell game, but not (for me atleast) overly so. I played with controller. Beautiful entry, great job!
Tim Ruswick
28. Apr 2018 · 03:16 UTC
This was def zen. Loved it!!!
vilix64
28. Apr 2018 · 09:54 UTC
Beautiful atmosphere. 5/5 This game needs more ratings.
MagmaFortress
28. Apr 2018 · 09:57 UTC
Great atmosphere/vibe. I played with a keyboard and found myself wishing I was using an analogue stick instead. Seems I just couldn't get the right angle for some of them.
Jaime Paz Lopes
28. Apr 2018 · 13:18 UTC
it is a great game, but definitely not zen for me, at first it was actually really infuriating.
trivial171
28. Apr 2018 · 21:06 UTC
Zen and bullet hell may be the two most incompatible genres I've seen combined during this game jam, but this game makes them work together impressively well. The "collect the enemies" objective and the infinite retries are both very smart ways to design this particular combination. The game also has a great soundtrack.

Thank you for making this game!
Devastus
28. Apr 2018 · 22:04 UTC
Nice atmosphere, clean graphics and fitting audio. Played with a keyboard, probably better with an analog stick but thought it just fine, so no qualms about gameplay either. One thing would maybe be that the "area/shield" in which you are traversing could have more visible borders.

In any case, it is a job well done!
Merrow
29. Apr 2018 · 00:01 UTC
Brilliant and beautiful! I played it with keyboard, and it's quite challenging, but captivating nonetheless.
Ryan Bishop
29. Apr 2018 · 01:06 UTC
What a beautiful game! The art and sound work perfectly together, and the long pretty trail i accumulated by the end was very satisfying and mesmerizing to look at. It was easy to understand, pick up and play, and zone out to the colors. I was able to bounce myself out of the play area by getting hit into it, but i'm glad that i wasn't getting automatically pushed back in as that would have been pretty annoying, so good call on that (if it was intentional). The only problem i had was with the yellow enemies--they seemed like they were firing off their bullet pattens just a tad bit quick, and took me quite some time to get that last one i had left. I think you did a fantastic job with the theme. Great game!
legavroche
29. Apr 2018 · 01:26 UTC
Great work, loved the concept as it was very relaxing! The graphics and audio were excellent. Minor issue but the movement felt a bit tough as I would've liked the direction to orient with the player's rotation.