LudumData

FIND - A - MOLE by Siridakis

[raw]
made by Siridakis for LD 42 (JAM)

mole_banner.gif

In this game you have to use your tools to dig and crash in a cave as you search for your pet mole who's gone loose

Try to find it while the ceiling slowly colapses, filing the ground with more and more obstacles. Try not to get hit!

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Movement

    • Arrow Keys

  • Hit

    • Z => Swing left
    • X => Swing right

  • Change Tools

    • A => Pickaxe
    • S => Shovel

Each tool can destroy a specific tipe of block

mole_start.gif

Disclaimer: I wasn't able to put any sound in time and ended up doing only 4 stages, with no score system whatsoever. I'll try to polish it and submit to the LOWREZJAM2018 on Itch.io (later this week), so if you like the game idea, be sure to check it out :)

Thank you for playing!

HTML5 (web) https://siridakis.itch.io/find-a-mole-42
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/42/find-a-mole

Ratings

Overall 962th 3.043⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Fun 962th 2.848⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 839th 2.935⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Theme 720th 3.348⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 619th 3.417⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Humor 560th 2.65⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Mood 996th 2.55⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Given 20🗳️ 22🗨️

Feedback

YamiOG
14. Aug 2018 · 15:58 UTC
I loved the graphics, but the gameplay got kinda stale.
VPhyre
14. Aug 2018 · 16:02 UTC
Very innovative mechanics, good game!
Pass Me The Controller
14. Aug 2018 · 16:05 UTC
The game fits the theme well and the graphics are lovely. The controls gave my fingers a real work out though, with me constantly switching between everything! Maybe the controls could be a bit more simplistic. But it's a good idea :)!
🎤 Siridakis
14. Aug 2018 · 16:19 UTC
Thank you all :)

@pass-me-the-controller A friend gave me the same feedback, but my idea was exactly that, to be tricky, diferent buttons for tools and for hitting each side, so you can gain time or lose depending if you get used to it or play it randomly

Maybe I could add an option for simpler controller (same button to switch between tools)
Dumivid
14. Aug 2018 · 16:41 UTC
The game seems fun, but holy moly, the control its very non intuitie, and this its the main concern about the game. In rest, good work.
Joloujed
14. Aug 2018 · 18:34 UTC
Nice Game, really cute pixel art, I was missing some sound, I dont know if it was my problem or if it doesnt have.
🎤 Siridakis
14. Aug 2018 · 18:45 UTC
@jojouled I wasn't able to put sound in time unfortunately :/
Thanks for playing
Purrfexionator
15. Aug 2018 · 02:45 UTC
Great job! The game was short and sweet! I had a lot of fun with it! I did kind of wish there was more than 4 levels though. (i think it was 4, counting may be off.) Well done, and I can't wait to see what you do in the future!
🎤 Siridakis
15. Aug 2018 · 02:49 UTC
@purrfexionator Thank you so much! I'm happy you liked it :)
I intended to make more stages, but didn't got the time (not even to put sound). I'll submit it to LOWREZJAM later this weeks after I do some tweeks (and add at least generic sfx). Not sure I'll have the time to make more stages but that's the goal!
Star Garden
15. Aug 2018 · 03:37 UTC
Very cute game! I like the art style and the simplicity of the gameplay. It is a bit of a finger twister, but it seems intended. Good work!
Teo Miklethun
15. Aug 2018 · 06:02 UTC
The art style is very nice, and the gameplay innovative, but it kinda feels too luck based to me. Still though, nice job!
🎤 Siridakis
15. Aug 2018 · 22:49 UTC
Thank you
@star-garden yes, the "finger twister" was indeed intended! Loved the way you called it, will use from now on :)
@teo-miklethun finding the mole is luck based, but I don't see it as a problem considering the size of the level. Despite that, I would love to implement the game to make it more "puzzly", but I'm having a hard time coming up with new ideas right now :/
Rayne
17. Aug 2018 · 07:24 UTC
Welp, I didn't find the mole, but at least I had fun!
🎤 Siridakis
17. Aug 2018 · 18:53 UTC
@rayne I'm glad you had fun :D
But what did you mean by "I didn't find the mole"? Was it you couldn't finish the game or couldn't get past level 1?
Rayne
17. Aug 2018 · 19:03 UTC
I didn't even know there was more than one level!
I just used the shovel everywhere and hit a few blocks with the pickaxe
🎤 Siridakis
17. Aug 2018 · 19:29 UTC
@rayne first stage you just use the pickaxe to destroy those blocks, you'll find the mole under one of them. Second stage on there are other kinds of blocks, some of them need the pickaxe and some the shovel :)
Luke Parker
17. Aug 2018 · 19:51 UTC
Pretty fun mechanics also liked the graphical style.
TheFunAttic
17. Aug 2018 · 20:03 UTC
Cute game, simple and intuitive mechanics that got a hold of me for a few levels :)

Maybe something should differenciate dirt and stone in their behavior ? Making them different mechanically would go along well with their graphical difference.
What's the mole's name ? :D
🎤 Siridakis
17. Aug 2018 · 20:20 UTC
Thank you guys :)
@thefunattic Interesting idea, but nothing crosses my mind right now. Oh, the mole's name is Seth :)
Galan
17. Aug 2018 · 20:36 UTC
Nice game. Controls were a bit complex at first, but once I got used to them, they weren't bad. They do resist muscle-memory a bit, though. Which can be good or bad depending on your goals.

I found that the game got easier as I got further in. It probably needs some new challenges as time goes on, but I know how jams are.

Overall, good work. I hope the LOWREZJAM version goes well!
Rayne
17. Aug 2018 · 20:54 UTC
@siridakis The "-1" when I destroyed the blocks made me think I was doing something wrong!
I'll try it again
🎤 Siridakis
17. Aug 2018 · 20:56 UTC
@galan Thank you
As someone here described, it is a finger twist! I was aiming for this exactly, but I get that some people disliked it still.
The LOWREZJAM version is live, in case you wanna give it a try: https://siridakis.itch.io/find-a-mole-lowrez
It has aditional elements half-way through (fake moles and bombs!)
🎤 Siridakis
17. Aug 2018 · 20:58 UTC
@rayne Oh, I get that it got a little confusing. It was supposed to show that the hit has effect, reducing the block "resistance" by 1 (initial blocks only have 1 resistance, but latter ones have up to 3).
ZuhairGhias
20. Aug 2018 · 12:51 UTC
Love the look and feel of this game. Sound would've made it a lot better though. I used a similar block falling mechanic for my game. Definitely an finger twisting experience.
Jonathan Lorenz
03. Sep 2018 · 14:01 UTC
This execution is good but I felt that the concept was lacking some mechanics. Will now try the lowrezjam edition of the game to see the improvements :) Good work!
Jupiter_Hadley
12. Sep 2018 · 12:14 UTC
Interesting game. I included it in my compilation video series of the Ludum Dare 42 compilation video series, if you’d like to take a look. :) https://youtu.be/VePoszPJyYA