Loopsky by Matootsy

[raw]
made by Matootsy for Ludum Dare 47 (JAM)

In this game, create lines with the mouse (or your finger on mobile) to make a path through the stars and put them on an infinite loop!

In each level you have one or many loops to use. Each loop has limited energy. You have all your time to draw the line because the energy go down only when you expand your line. The loops are only valid if you have enough energy to close it and if you catch at least one star in it. When you break the loop, the stars will stay at the last place they were.

The level is completed when all the stars are running on one loop.

I created all the code and art during the event, but I didn't have time to make new musics and sounds, so I used the Audio files I created in my oldest games.

Screenshot2.png

Ratings

Overall 632th 3.615⭐ 63🧑‍⚖️
Fun 807th 3.336⭐ 63🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 327th 3.762⭐ 63🧑‍⚖️
Theme 465th 3.91⭐ 63🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 953th 3.385⭐ 63🧑‍⚖️
Audio 613th 3.392⭐ 62🧑‍⚖️
Mood 707th 3.475⭐ 62🧑‍⚖️
Given 121🗳️ 175🗨️

Feedback

Robin Psaila
05. Oct 2020 · 22:42 UTC
Very mesmerizing! I really enjoyed the ambiance with all music, gameplay and art. I got really stuck on level 3 and 5 which made me learn a lot about the main mechanic. I realized that I was confronted to a challenge way bigger than I had anticipated.

The circle mechanic is pretty interesting to pick up too. I found it not easy to do what I wanted at first and then after some practice I felt a lot more confortable in the last levels! For some reason, I found it easier once I had the black holes. It gave me more hints as to how better use it.

I love the art. It looks handpainted which makes it very beautiful and authentic.
Valkija
06. Oct 2020 · 12:55 UTC
Nice relaxing game, if a little confusing at first! but the tutorials are good and very welcome.
tverdo
06. Oct 2020 · 12:57 UTC
Really like the look and presentation of the game. The puzzle mechanic is also cool, but it gets very challenging very fast in my opinion. Overall cool game. :)
Sondy
06. Oct 2020 · 13:00 UTC
Very interesting game with a thought provoking playback loop. The music was comforting and fit the overall mood of the game well, but I feel like it was a bit too loud at times. The introduction of the black holes made the game a lot tougher in the later levels. Well done!
Apfel
06. Oct 2020 · 13:10 UTC
Its a cool game with an amazing concept an music.
But what frustrated me were the auto-connections that lead the stars through the black holes and the hitbox of the blackholes were in my opinion a bit unfair.
Overall, with some polish, the game could be a great mobile game.
Croxel Studios
06. Oct 2020 · 13:11 UTC
Cool concept! I felt it quite challenging too, which I liked. It is nice that the levels can be completed in many different ways.
JoeShanahan
06. Oct 2020 · 16:15 UTC
Got to the end! I really love this mechanic, and I think I would've liked it even more if I'd played it on my phone, but I used a mouse and it still worked pretty well. I enjoyed the game a lot, but I also got frustrated with a few usability issues that (hopefully) would be quite easy to fix!

The first issue was that I didn't properly understand the mechanic on the second level. I felt like I needed to draw two loops, and I didn't understand that I could only have one at a time. The tutorial level explained I had to join them up with a loop, but I feel like I really needed another tutorial explaining about the one at a time thing. Once I *did* understand though, it was this light switch moment of "Ahhhh! This is really interesting!"

Other than that, I found it difficult to see the stars. I turned my brightness up as high as it would go but struggled to differentiate them from the background. And the black holes were even more difficult to see, basically impossible on some levels. I found myself just drawing right through the middle of them because I had no idea they were there.

I really like how you have a bit of tolerance in terms of putting the path through the star, but it'd be nice to get some kind of visual indication that the path is close enough. Perhaps if the art was modified slightly to make the stars stand out a bit more, then they could change once they're "captured" by the path, so you know your path is good.

Really unique idea, with a few changes to the UX this could make a fantastic mobile game.
etrealjunior
07. Oct 2020 · 10:10 UTC
I liked your game my congratulations, I also did one if you want to know, and give me your feedback I am very grateful, this is the link https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/47/resurrection
Nekuake
07. Oct 2020 · 15:06 UTC
It's refreshing to play mobile games in the Jam. Everything seems as though for PC's as it's nice to see something more "phoney". I love the concept and how you used the theme, and the music matches perfectly with the style, it's very relaxing. I really hope you continue working because this game has a lot of potential, seriously.
Tauheed Game Dev
08. Oct 2020 · 06:47 UTC
Nice game, Challenging but satisfying, A little more polish and you can release it on mobile.
madnesssguschenka
08. Oct 2020 · 18:24 UTC
Really good game. Relaxing atmosphere. I didn't get how to pass the level, but I think it needs a bit more time.
m.dam
08. Oct 2020 · 18:29 UTC
Feels like a finished game! It was a bit too difficult for a jam game but thats ok!
Theg
08. Oct 2020 · 18:34 UTC
Very neat puzzle game. Biggest complaint is visibility of the black holes but I enjoy the main mechanic here.
szabe
08. Oct 2020 · 18:36 UTC
Very original concept and unique take on the theme. Great work!
Celes
08. Oct 2020 · 18:41 UTC
I though it would be a simple game, but I guess it was actually a bit challenging, and it took a while for me to get the hang of the game. I kind of liked the challenge though because for me it's a little unusual to play a tracing game that isn't very easy. Even though you reused your own audios from your other games, I think the music was still fitting, and the game is kind of relaxing, despite the challenge :) I liked to watch the stars move around in a loop.
Good job :)
Lexyvil
08. Oct 2020 · 19:08 UTC
Very fun puzzle game! Somehow I found level 2 to be harder than the rest with the black holes.
Andreas Roschal
08. Oct 2020 · 21:13 UTC
That's quite an interesting concept of a puzzle game. I really enjoyed it!
LeReveur
08. Oct 2020 · 22:05 UTC
Cute, simple and neat puzzle! It was fun to play and even pretty challenging on some levels. Maybe make the holes and stars more visible compared to the background, sometimes it need to concentrate a little to see what is what. Goob job anyways!
Thorlegs
09. Oct 2020 · 13:22 UTC
Confusing at first, and quite challenging. I loved the mood.
maladakistellaa
11. Oct 2020 · 18:34 UTC
nice game it is a rely clever way of doing stuff with loops i like it the music is smoothing and it makes a realy relaxing game
kamennsq
11. Oct 2020 · 18:37 UTC
The idea is cool and its implementation as a game is brilliant. Not so easy to begin but fun to continue
AFlatThrasher
11. Oct 2020 · 18:45 UTC
Really loved the puzzles here. The ability to move stars added a lot to it. Was challenging at times, but never really frustrating. Great job!
Duke
12. Oct 2020 · 10:36 UTC
cool little puzzle game! The mechanics were pretty fresh and unused. In general the game was pretty easy but that's not really a bad thing. At leats that means, that I could beat it :) The art was adequate but it was really hard to make out the black holes (black blobs on a very dark background) but that's a minor issue. The controls were snappy and it worked great in browser. Loked the musical score and sound effects as well. Good addition! Also, good job and making a game with a small scope since you made this alone. It sill is very ambitious game play wise!

Good job!
etrealjunior
12. Oct 2020 · 11:25 UTC
I really liked your game mainly because you made it in the construct, which I also use to make my games, your idea of circulating and connecting the stars was well executed, your art ended up not showing your real talent, because I knew your games and I saw that he is very talented in that part, his revenge-of-dog game has a very strong story I loved him, I know the game is mobile style, but I recommend you activate the fullscreen button on the itch, and this has to do for everyone games that are there, so it gives the opportunity for those who play on the pc not to just see a piece of the screen, I will follow you on the itch, to see your future developments, congratulations again, a big hug.
Floata_1
12. Oct 2020 · 20:19 UTC
very nice, enjoyed the music .good overall entry
Somogy
13. Oct 2020 · 00:41 UTC
Really nice game. Thank you for your game
Lyrcaxis
13. Oct 2020 · 00:42 UTC
Cool little puzzle game!

Took some time to realize there's movement inside the loops, but it was pretty smooth afterwards.
SpawnCampGames
13. Oct 2020 · 16:04 UTC
Would make a great mobile hyper casual game.. Nice polish!
Egan Henderson
14. Oct 2020 · 04:21 UTC
Really cool little puzzle game! Very pleasing to play and quite relaxing. I love that it works on mobile and pc, could see this as a fully realized mobile game. Figuring out how to use loops to move stars took a bit but once I got it, it made complete sense and worked relatively intuitively.
Karolina Lewszyk
14. Oct 2020 · 07:32 UTC
Really enjoyed playing this game. Both the music and gameplay are very relaxing, and the puzzles are challenging. You nailed the theme :) Good job !
kutarta
14. Oct 2020 · 14:09 UTC
beautifull artwork and an amazing idea.
mahalis
14. Oct 2020 · 14:51 UTC
This is a clever mechanic and way trickier than it first appears. Really elegant puzzler. The music suits it well too. Nice work!
Vodzik
15. Oct 2020 · 19:51 UTC
Nice game with clever design.
I think that smoothing of loop line could improve graphics. I dont feel like sharp corners are fitting there.
Music and sound design of game is good, but sounds of buttons in main menu are not matching calm mood of game in my opinion.
I see that there is some feedback when player is making loop over star, which starts to spin but I think that it can additionally go brighter. At first I didn't see that rotation. Also subtle sound would be nice, when line goes over star.
Good job. I enjoyed it :)
Croped
16. Oct 2020 · 18:34 UTC
addictive game, nice content!
Bellivit
16. Oct 2020 · 21:11 UTC
Really liked this game! Not too easy (actually partly quite hard) and love that it works on mobile aswell, very fitting for this type of game. Good job!
Ale
17. Oct 2020 · 15:38 UTC
That was really polished, nice job! The music and sound effects were great. The graphics looked good, but they were difficult to see sometimes. The stars are small and hard to distinguish from the background, and the black holes are literally dark circles on a dark background lol.

but other than that, it was a really solid game. I played it on my iPhone all the way to the end and it worked really well. Some of the middle levels were difficult, but the later ones felt easier because you were given too many loops maybe. I could totally see this being a nice mobile game if you continue to work on it.
coderTrevor
17. Oct 2020 · 16:17 UTC
Very cool game! Super innovative; at least if there's another game like this I'm not aware of it. I was also confused like JoeShanahan on how to play the second level, and I really didn't understand what "break the loop" was supposed to mean. Eventually (after checking these comments) I realized you can use a loop to move stars closer to the final loop you will draw.

This is a really well-polished, and very cool game. I know you didn't make the sfx and music for this game, but they seemed to fit the mood perfectly. Good job!
TriceratopsJJJ
18. Oct 2020 · 18:18 UTC
The idea is very cool and the controls are easy! Music fits the mood of the game really well and the graphic is good too. At some point I had difficulties seeing the black hole, especially when the space behind it was also a bit darker. But definitely a great game :)
egawag
18. Oct 2020 · 23:10 UTC
I played on a computer, but what a great mobile game! So relaxing and a unique way of thinking about space and movement in a game. Easy to imagine more levels and obstacles. I hope you have the time and energy to keep working on it!
Satolas
19. Oct 2020 · 07:58 UTC
+1 for the tutorial at start !!!
+A LOT for the super chill cosmic mood :-)
Really awesome to be able to play on mobile ! I played on my Iphone and it was super relaxing :-)
Nice vibes, the sound is also pretty good.

Its sometimes hard to see the stars.

But I really like this idea of energy to make stars loop together, it's very poetic.
It would be awesome to be able to do Browser games for mobile with Unity as you did with Construct3.
On Unity the games doesn't load on mobile. Only if you build..

Really liked that game ! I wish we could have give the choice to play on mobile on ours as well.
ryzy27
19. Oct 2020 · 13:34 UTC
Cool game, good puzzles, nice atmosphere.

Took me a while to figure out some levels, great job on puzzle level design.

Cheers!
🎤 Matootsy
20. Oct 2020 · 15:16 UTC
Thank you a lot for the feedbacks!

I put an updated version on itch : https://matotitou.itch.io/loopsky2

@robin-psaila : It's interesting to see that for you the black holes make the level easier but for @sondy it make it more difficult... Then I must make lot of test to see the average and make the progression curve better.

@apfel : Now the hitbox of the black holes are less unfair, I hope. In any case, now the path is destroyed too, so you cannot guide the stars to the black holes anymore.

@joeshanahan @codertrevor : Thanks a lot! Now I put a tutorial in the level 2 to help to understand the breaking loop thing. And there's more feedbacks to understand it. And now the stars change when they are captured by the path. Hope it will be more easy to understand.

@theg @lereveur @duke @ale @triceratopsjjj @satolas : Yes, the stars and the blackholes were not very visible. I change some graphics, now I hope you can see them better.

@vodzik : Normally the loops are more smooth now, but there's still possibility to make square. I think this is usefull to make different puzzles possibilities. But I will try to find the good compromise. Otherwise I changed the buttons Sound. Hope it match better the ambience.

@nekuake @tauheed-game-dev @spawncampgames @egan-henderson @egawag : Thanks a lot for your encouragement. Since I finished some feedbacks polish I will work on some new features now.
LeReveur
20. Oct 2020 · 22:39 UTC
I tried the enhanced version, but I can't start, no level is highlighted, not even the first… (and music started only when I came on the option page, don't know if it's the intended behavior)
Snory
21. Oct 2020 · 03:22 UTC
I had not problem to start the updatet version as fellow @lereveur, justo say so.

The concept of the game is really cool. I was a bit jealous. :) Also the tutorial was done very well. I always have a problem with proper tutorial, but this was really helpful. :)
🎤 Matootsy
22. Oct 2020 · 14:14 UTC
@lereveur : Thanks to have tried it again. Weird that it doesn't work on your side. I don't have problems and snory didn't too. Perhaps it's because there's a bad mix between the saved parts in the 2 versions on specific browsers? I tried it on Mozilla and Chrome and it's working well on my side...
LeReveur
22. Oct 2020 · 19:52 UTC
I suspected this was because of the save on the previous version, yes. While I don't want to discard all cache and others stuff keeping data for some sites I use, I was not very enthousiast about the idea of clearing that all. But I finally found how to fix the issue, by erasing some data linked with "(alphanumerical_stuff).sss.hwcdn.net". And the fix is also OK for "the music not playing at start" issue. I guess this was another Great Dark Mystery of the Internet… :sweat_smile:
Trexxak
23. Oct 2020 · 02:51 UTC
I adore the vision you had for this game, and visually it indeed is beautiful, though the implementation of the mechanics feel a bit
too punishing maybe. I played both versions and agree strongly with the continued handholding for the level after the tutorial. Great change!
If the game would start a little easier maybe, I could totally see it selling a lot of copies on the smartphone market! Great job!
Eckkert
27. Oct 2020 · 04:39 UTC
This is quite a nice game. For one thing, it is one of the few Web-based Unity games that actually works. :) I enjoyed the puzzles as well.