RASHLANDER by ryguydavis
RASHLANDER is an arcade game about navigating an asteroid belt with limited fuel and the constant tug of gravity. Find the warp point in each level while collecting extra fuel by landing at fuel stations. With permadeath testing your skills, can you make it to the end of all 5 areas?
Know before you play:
- Controls are Arrow Keys or WASD.
- Land on your feet, not your nose.
- Refuel at "F" towers.
- This is a hard game. It is meant to be difficult.
*Play: * http://www.adventurelamp.com/shared/LD/rashlander01/index.html
*Twitter: * https://twitter.com/ryguygames
Thoughts: This weekend I aimed to combine elements from classic games like Asteroids and Lunar Lander as well as more moderns games like Super Mario Galaxy. I also wanted the game to feel juicier and more stylized than the classics without veering out of the ultra minimal shapes of classic arcade. Working at a 320x240 resolution helped reign my options in. I am interested in continuing work on this and thinking about how I can get more interaction out of the simple mechanics currently in place (ala Downwell). A side note--the game might be super hard? I didn't have any time to get feedback from others and decided to go the permadeath route so we'll just see how that goes. I had a ton of fun making this and hope you enjoy playing.
4/30 Update: Super outrageous difficulty confirmed. If you can beat the LD version you are on another level. I have been hard at work with a post compo version that includes more tutorial elements, lowered difficulty, upgrade system, random generation work (far fewer unfair deaths), lives, and a much more fleshed out game lore. Get in touch if you are interested in providing feedback on the latest build, I am always looking for testers.
5/4 Update: Just for fun, I want to see how many people can get to the end. * Anyone who can upload a screenshot of the credits page gets a Steam key to my game, Adventure Lamp. *
Source: http://www.adventurelamp.com/shared/LD/rashlander01/rashlandersource.capx
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/38/rashlander |
Ratings
| Overall | 62th | 3.918⭐ | 87🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 67th | 3.788⭐ | 87🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 318th | 3.024⭐ | 84🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 438th | 2.833⭐ | 86🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 57th | 4.167⭐ | 86🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 223th | 3.076⭐ | 81🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 106th | 3.62⭐ | 81🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 16🗳️ | 24🗨️ |
As you said, the game is ridiculously hard (I can't get past the third level), but it is also quite addictive. I might try again later to see if I can do better.
Good job on this one !
@jebouin Thanks for the great write-up. I agree, I think learning to move is the strongest part of the game, which is why I didn't add too many bells and whistles. The post compo work has been pretty specifically focused on avoiding that "crash 10 times before feeling any reward" thing that happens before you're used to it. I'm glad you feel like coming back after being punished so much by my silly game.
@jupiter-hadley Thanks again Jupiter! Your videos are a highlight of LD.
Honestly, I love everything about this other than the name. RASHlander!?
Still, best LD38 game I've played so far!
The only complaint I have is purely personal: When playing this game I tended to try getting to the goal as fast as possible, semi-recklessly (trick landings and whatnot) which ended up in frequent deaths (that's not a problem!). After losing in the second level however I was disappointed to see that I got bumped back to the first level, which means playing this game requires a bit of patience and finesse, which doesn't work for all players. Despite that it was fun nonetheless!
Excellent work, loved the updated visuals in a retro style and addition of gravity to the classic lander mechanics.
Fun, and as advertised incredibly hard. What are all the strange clinky things floating around? Just decoration? I was hoping they might refuel me but seems not. Great game, love the polish.
It was only a bit frustrating that you have to start at the first area after you died.
What is more important, link to the source doesn't work for me and gives 404, could you please reupload it as its abscence violates the rules?
Good entry
@martenscedric Landing on obstacles is one of my favorite parts!
@redpanda Agreed. Hard is one thing, but unfair is a different story. The current version is much more generous.
@spaceman I know, that explosion sound :( I'm working on it.
@secret-tunnel Yes, RASHlander :) I am open to anyone else telling me the name is no good, but overall I think it's better to get a visceral reaction than none at all.
@adrisj7 I know. It's fun to be reckless, but it's not currently rewarded. Maybe the goal should have some sort of timing bonus so that you can legitimately speed your way through. Thanks for that feedback, it was really great.
@automatonvx Yes, the clinky bits are just to enhance the shadow effect in this version. In the post competition version they play a role with certain upgrades. I think you were right on with your hope that they would restore fuel.
I like the graphics, the shadows, the explosion effects, and how the asteroids look different in each level.
Sometimes it is hard to see what is the front of the Rashlander.
Really well done! :D
Effing great job!
But it is too hard to start from 1st level when you crashed on 2nd =)
:point_up:That's me banging my head on keyboard after dying for 20th time. Hardest game of this LD so far. Unforgiving gameplay and no saving, it doesn't get more retro than this. But i'm gonna finish it no matter what:rage:
Anyway it was fun and i loved the effects
I'd love it if it was possible to repeat a level after dieing instead of starting again from the beginning though. This game is great, it's the most fun I've had so far good job.
Oh yeah and sometimes when landing on the fuel pad a particle can get stuck between you and stop you from getting fuel.
EDIT: I forgot to mention how much I enjoyed the rocket particles. Watching them hit asteroids was exhilarating.
@bwalter I was going for something visceral, but it might have been a rash decision.
@hdteav Unfortunately and fortunately retro is pretty synonymous with stupid hard. I'm working on better mechanisms to make it seem worth it. Thanks for playing :)
@adamalexander It's amazing how setting a limit like fuel makes simple tasks suddenly more engaging. Thanks for noticing and playing!
@dracominer I wondered how to signal gravity better, too. It's a tough nut to crack.
@samlo Yeah! The explosion is two circles, both grow at more or less the same speed, but the second circle cuts into the first one. Took my 5 minutes, ironically.
@dragon-coder This made my day, thanks.
@morrilet I love the little plink sounds and the rocket particles, too! Spent more time on that than was probably necessary, haha. Thanks so much!
@nbilyk Haha I said it was hard..? Let's just call it a roguelike.
Hope you will have a try at my game too! It lacks some polish, but for my first game jam I think it came out pretty well; the link is https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/38/invasion
**EDIT:** **I'm currently trying to beat RASHLANDER without refueling**. Here is my first attempt - do note the awesome strat test at AREA 3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R3TIdmfqf8
At this rate I'll both get the Steam key and prove that this is possible before the end of the day.
**UPDATE:** Things are going pretty smoothly; I took a break and headed back amidst the asteroids. Here's how that went:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ca55w_ne4
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**UPDATE THE SECOND:** After just 36 attempts, **I beat the game in 3:40 with only a single refuel.** You are welcome to try better!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3clFRB8ZRY
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Unless someone can improve, I think that marks the end of my journey with this game. It sure was a blast!
World generation doesn't seem to account for the fact that you'll have to maneuver around planet(s) to get to the station. At times, simply trying to apply enough force to launch you toward the station (or simply away from a planet) will make you get grabbed by another planet's gravity faster than you can react.
The game end up being more luck than skill based, since having a good world gen. helps way more than any skill...
Still, you were able to make me keep playing for quite a while, getting as far as area 5... So, yeah... I quite liked it! :sweat_smile:
The light effects and the death animation are really cool!
EDIT: Forgot to add a picture of my failure... just because XD
A great game, but yeah pretty unforgiving. Area 4 was the furthest I could get.
I do like that saving fuel in early good performance is important, but perhaps some kind of refuelling mechanic (powerups, time bonus etc) so that it doesn't just feel like a lost cause if you have low fuel by area 2.
Seriously, in my top 5 LD games so far, great work
controls works basically as expected.
gameplay is hard but very smooth
great entry!
Well, actually, upon my first contact with game, I was convinced that the ship was too unmanageable and astounded by the fact that you only get one tank of fuel for the whole game (this is a side-effect of me actually not reading the description before playing; I discovered that you can refuel by accident in the 6th/7th try). But after many (many, many) failed attemps, my love for the simple yet challenging controls grew steady and now every element of the game feels just in the right place.
Needless to say, the graphics and sfxs were amazing as well, I especially like how you combined old school 8-bit pixelart with modern image effect techniques and shaders, it looks amazing!
I don't know what else I can say, for me this is a 5☆ entry no doubt. Awesome job, be proud of your little game!
Oh, yeah, right, I get way too excited when I finally beat the last level, so I take a shot with my phone's camera instead of a screenshot, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHybPJT-QAg
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The more I play, the more I appreciate all the visual and mechanics-related details. Fantastic compo entry!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE-Jd01zDgs
But yes, learning how to play is half the fun ;)
Very well done - didn't notice any bugs, game is unforgiving to the point I feel it's unfair, though I **know** every crash is my fault.
Exceptional graphics, very nice shaders you got there, and very good feel overall, including the fitting sounds. Feels very professional - surprisingly polished for compo restraints, might I add.
Although I still feel that while hinting at dynamic gameplay doesn't sit well here, I believe that with much practice it could be dynamic indeed, it's just me who tries to beat the level going grandpa speed.
One of the better entries this LD. Great job!
Love: the shaders, the difficulty, the level palette changes (very nostalgic somehow), the mechanics. I also love the shadows and the floating debris, those are shocking flourishes for a compo entry.
Uncertain: I'm on the fence about the gravitation. The game might be difficult enough without the subtle gravitation removing some of the players' control. That said, it does feel cool
Wishes: I wish that the spawn points had a guaranteed distance from obstacles. Sometimes I have spawned within pixels of an obstacle and was essentially instagibbed. I also wish there was music, to which you say "LOL @mwcz do you even compo?" and then I slink away.
I will definitely be coming back to this one periodically to try to beat it.
(btw, on the game's page, the <title> is "New project")
If you didn't restart at Area 1 after each death and there weren't any unfair levels (that you apparently know of already), then this difficulty level would be acceptable. But restarting every time from 0 is not hard, that's frustrating.
That's pretty sad, because the game itself is super slick. Reminds me of a modernized Crazy Gravity, with actual gravity.
Super sexy shader and particles. But after making it to level 3 twice and then having to restart from zero... trying one more time would mean I have to buy a new laptop because I'd unavoidably thrash this one.
This game would be my favorite so far, if it wasn't for the frustrating restarting...
Please rate my game here to get 20 pleeeeaaaase.
https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/38/monster-island
Graphics are minimal but very consistent and likewise with the audio.
The particle effects and tiny collision objects are a really nice detail that add a sense of polish to an otherwise rather simple game.
Personally I do feel the learning curve is a bit too steep, especially given that you must touch down on the landing pad to win (as opposed to reaching a target area), but then again some people like that.
All in all, I think it stands as-is very nicely while still leaving room for further mechanics down the road.
Though the permanent death is really frustrating.
Want a checkpoint...
P.S. RATE MORE GAMES! some people are really struggling to get enough votes
The only frustrating thing is that sometimes, when ou change level, you appear close to a "planet" and get instantly crushed.
Now give me the steam key ! :grin:
