Tower Lord: Sword Loop Saga by hexkritor

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

Controls

Move - WASD

Easy mode - Hold WASD

Skip cutscene - Esc

Team name: "Wonderwaffle"

Team line-up:

https://hexkritor.itch.io/ - Alexander, POGrammer, Team-leader, aka @Hexkritor

https://jarnerogd.itch.io/ - Yaroslav, GD, QA, manager - Thats me! @Jarnero

https://itch.io/profile/andreisanka - Andrei, Our best in the world sound-designer and composer

https://itch.io/profile/nevernox - Valentin, creator of original arts and adaptation of borrowed graphics.

He tested the last game build.

Our borrowed and adapted assets:

Rogue Fantasy Catacombs (author - Szadi art)

Monsters Creatures Fantasy (author - LuizMelo)

Wizard pack (author - LuizMelo)

2D Pixel Art Forest Tent Tileset (author - ThomasWasTaken)

Pixel Art Fire Effect - FX018 (author - nyknck)

About game:

The game was developed while participating in the Ludum Dare 47 gamejam from the "Indikator" Community of Authors. We are Russian indie-developers community.

cover.jpg

Main features:

• Unique turn-based combat system (i tried my best with the game balance)

• Attractive sound design

• Game plot with cutscene

• Boss fight at lvl 6

Hope you will enjoy it!

STORY:

Our hero - Dark Lord, he is going to Dark Tower of Great mage, because he wants his black and big…

“Sword of Absolute Power”!!!

idleexportludum3.gif

But then appears [REDACTED] and creates [DATA DELETED], that why our main hero Stuck in the Loop

attackexportludum.gif

That's all for description. Have a great Ludum, and…. yep, look at the picture below.

stop!.jpg

HOW TO START

Hit at Google disk link below => Download=> open Ludum_47.exe in the build folder

BONUS

Game Soundtrack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5EqzTpOrt8

Updates

V 1.1:

  • Added the level and enemy counters

Ratings

Overall 521th 3.689⭐ 39🧑‍⚖️
Fun 598th 3.514⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 1072th 3.069⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Theme 1105th 3.319⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Audio 80th 4.139⭐ 38🧑‍⚖️
Humor 227th 3.662⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Mood 245th 3.929⭐ 37🧑‍⚖️
Given 61🗳️ 17🗨️

Feedback

Gumemura
06. Oct 2020 · 02:28 UTC
i would give 10 to sound if i could. its so "out of the box" to merge a medieval game with a pop song! also, it would fit nicely with rasputin!
Diefleder
06. Oct 2020 · 03:38 UTC
Dude honestly, I'm trying to find something I don't like about this game.
Jarnero
06. Oct 2020 · 07:58 UTC
@gumemura Thank you so much, bro! We get Yakuza 0 songs as a reference. I think our sound-designer will proud of himself ^) Anyway, yep if there is some musical works that you really enjoy we will send here a link with youtube version. And yep, rasputin song is good as meme;3

Try one more time to reach lvl 6 - there will be a Boss!!! You should try to beat Lvl 6 - then you are really won this game.
Jarnero
06. Oct 2020 · 08:04 UTC
@diefleder So now i can check how you try it out on twitch.tv?:) That was me in the chat btw. If you really like it - i will be appreciate if you will share with your friends, Thank you so much, bro%)
CosmicPickle
07. Oct 2020 · 11:29 UTC
This is objectively a great game. The audio and graphics are lovely. It is very humorous. The theme is observed nicely. And it is unlike anything I have seen here. I just couldn't get the controls though, sometimes the guys would move when I press, other times - not so much. I felt like it might be some sort of a rythm game, but I have never played a rythm game before. But that is just me. That aside it was a solid game. Great job.
🎤 hexkritor
07. Oct 2020 · 14:08 UTC
@cosmicpickle Thanks for feedback! There is an easy mode for in-game controls: just HOLD the movement keys to move in the rhythm. And the game will be much easier to play.
ElPadlos
07. Oct 2020 · 14:29 UTC
Башня диско это что-то с чем-то ). Прям по струнам моей старперской души прошлись. Игра огонь! Успехов в джеме )
TheBugger
07. Oct 2020 · 14:41 UTC
Visuals look great. I had a lot of fun playing it
Yngvarr
07. Oct 2020 · 15:19 UTC
@hexkritor, I thought what you called an easy mode is considered cheating. XD

I just love the music in this game! And graphics-wise it looks satisfying and polished! Nice! :thumbsup:
Gonzalol
07. Oct 2020 · 15:20 UTC
Nice version of the Crypt of the Necrodancer. I love the art and the music.
🎤 hexkritor
07. Oct 2020 · 15:30 UTC
@elpadlos Спасибо за фидбек. И Вам успехов в джеме

@thebugger Thanks!

@yngvarr STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU CHEATER SCUM! Just kidding. Thanks for feedback

@gonzalol Thanks! We tried our best :)
Syafire
07. Oct 2020 · 19:22 UTC
I loved the concept of this game! The Animations and art are beautiful! The music was also very groovy. Maybe adding more abilities if you work on the game in the future! Also maybe more enemy variation as you work your way up to the boss. Nice work!
Wedmer
07. Oct 2020 · 19:35 UTC
I liked visuals and overall concept. Great game!
Artyom Volkov
07. Oct 2020 · 19:51 UTC
A funny funny rithm dungeon crawler with vibes of Crypt of necromancer. Nice work.
Jarnero
07. Oct 2020 · 22:34 UTC
@syafire we so proud that you tried it on stream. Your reactions was really amazing.

Thanks that help us all getting better!
And i think, that I know which one streamer can help us with rating on the next ludum. He-he.

About animations and art - we will rebuild it so from now we wont use any borrowed assets^)
Ands our artist said - "Pls say her that i will be proud of myself from today, XD"

Music was maided from scracth also as a main hero + animations. So we all maid this game with our Souls.

Ofc we will think about mobs variations and will add some abilities. Thanks again and really hope you will try it again when we will do Steam version.
Jarnero
07. Oct 2020 · 22:36 UTC
@wedmer What about music? Not your style? Anyway, thank you so much, bro!
Jarnero
07. Oct 2020 · 22:36 UTC
@tricky-fat-cat Honk-Honk. WTF?!
Wedmer
07. Oct 2020 · 23:29 UTC
@jarnero music is great)
Vollfeiw
08. Oct 2020 · 11:43 UTC
Nice crypt of the necrodancer genre game, maybe the time frame window where we can Input is too small, felt like I was never good tho, ended up clearing the game the easy way.

Anyway, got a bug, explained it on your blog post, i dunno if it was fix in 1.1 already tho.

Great game overall
Jarnero
08. Oct 2020 · 12:27 UTC
@vollfeiw Yep there was a music bug tho at last lvl with boss. You can just Hold WASD, and main character will go easyer. Anyway thanks for your feedback. We want to polish it after ludum. Do you think it has potencial?
Vollfeiw
08. Oct 2020 · 12:51 UTC
@jarnero Dungeon crawler rythm based having potentials ? Yeah, considering [Crypt of the Necrodancer](https://store.steampowered.com/app/247080/Crypt_of_the_NecroDancer/) sure it has potential, however, i'm pretty sure the rogue like community will not really see this as a fair move.

However, you already have almost all the ingredients to make such a good game, but I think you should get some extra idea to come up with something unique.
Jarnero
08. Oct 2020 · 13:15 UTC
@vollfeiw At the moment we thinking about some abilities, mobs variations and more rogue like direction in the future. What do you think? Is there something that you want inside game in the future?
Vollfeiw
08. Oct 2020 · 13:44 UTC
@jarnero So, everything i'll say from now will be entirely on a gamer perspective rather than dev.

First of all, you should keep the HP of the player at everylevel, or give them a fixed amount. I you really wanna give the rogue like feel, players have to feel rewarded for understanding IA and mechanics, right now, it's just about being able to survive the floor, rather than survive the game.

If i wanted something special about that kind of game, that would be RPG elements. I tend to be more attracted to games that give me progression through the run like [Magicite](https://store.steampowered.com/app/268750/Magicite/) does rather than entirely RNG progression like it the case in [The binding of Isaac](https://store.steampowered.com/app/113200/The_Binding_of_Isaac/)

So yeah, maybe some powerups / abilities you can perhaps increase through the run could be a great addition to the game.

Mobs variation, and even "Theme" mobs per level (let's say floor 1-3 is dungeon, 4-6 is forest, 7-9 is the magician hideout) could be really interesting. Rogue-likes game where you're stuck in the same environment through all game is kinda boring in my opinion.

You could think about an other way to interact with the music, i don't have any idea right now, but that could be interesting. Maybe some sort of "Casting spells" with a better outcome if you are in the rythm, maybe even some customise spell, who knows.

You could have some sort of rewards after each levels, wich, based on how great your rythm is, the better is the reward.

Treasure and secrets are really a good thing about rogue like. Treasure chest can give you some randomness, and secrets can give you some way to reward people that try to discover the game entirely.

You should also give the mobs the ability to "trap" the player, right now, it really feels like they're unaware of the environment. Coming with a great AI in 3 days is hard, but that's definitly something that will help the game entertain the player.

If it's gonna be a rogue like game, don't worry about increasing the difficulty, as long as it's still fair (don't make it unfair, don't fall to this trap). For example, most of the time right now, you can clear an entire room without being hit. That's not that easy, but the fact that enemies hits like babies, and you recover HP at every room, that make it really easy to just go berserk through all game, without being punished from taking risk.

With that said, I think there's enough idea here to start beginning with, good luck for your game ;)
Jojkeee
08. Oct 2020 · 15:37 UTC
Йоу, бро. Игра огонь! Поставил все 5/5. Но мне не особо такие игры заходят. Так и не понял управления. Вроде бы и передвигаюсь, но по таймингам я не понял когда.
Jarnero
08. Oct 2020 · 18:47 UTC
@jojkeee Попробуй передвигаться зажимая WASD. Игра не доделана, но мы думаем её допиливать. В любом случае - спасибо!
Fearawl
09. Oct 2020 · 14:20 UTC
Я победил! Финальная сборка выглядит намного лучше, играть одно удовольствие. Атмосфера, визуал и звук топ, как и раньше. Уникальный игровой опыт. По части геймплея чего-то всё ещё не хватает, какого-нибудь разнообразия. Но, опять же, это всё дополнительная разработка, в рамках джема всего хватает. Например, можно увеличить сложность игры и добавить в ритм-линию возможность исцелиться, если нажать дополнительную кнопку в нужный момент (например, во время хлопка). Уверен, что у вас получится годная игра, если решите допилить игру. Успехов!
marcmagus
09. Oct 2020 · 15:33 UTC
This big character with the heavy armor and the *huge* sword that can mow their way through enemies is a satisfying mood. I wish there'd been a bit more depth to the gameplay, but also I just wish you'd leaned even harder into the power fantasy that you're *way* more powerful than anything you encounter. Foes should fall in a single swing of your mighty sword, maybe even more than one in a single turn.
Jarnero
09. Oct 2020 · 17:56 UTC
@marcmagus We already heard We have already taken into work what you said. So thank for feedback. I will
seriously think about UX later.
Jarnero
09. Oct 2020 · 17:58 UTC
@fearawl Я очень рад, что тебе понравилось. Уже думаем о том, как улучшить игру. Спасибо тебе!
asfdfdfd
12. Oct 2020 · 19:39 UTC
Totally love your art direction! Want more visual and gameplay feedback on player actions. Good luck.
Jarnero
14. Oct 2020 · 01:25 UTC
@asfdfdfd Tnx,bro! We tryed our best. Next step is more biomes + new mobs. Also wants to think about more Slash mechanics and dont copy Necro dancer anymore. What do you think?
Dmitry Mozgin
19. Oct 2020 · 12:44 UTC
Поиграл в пост джемовскую версию. Игра стала значительно проработанее, чем в 48 часовой версии. Там по крайней мере нельзя умереть, а здесь можно. Понравились первые 2 уровня, что сразу игра не бросает в большие локации. В игре есть недочеты, но думаю вы о них сами знаете, например, что геймплей приедается и монстры сильно не отличаются. Но музыка, конечно, отличная, всё склеивает воедино. Когда повторно смотрел вступление игры, то оно уверенно задает такое же хорошое настроение, как и когда садился в первый раз играть. Это прям очень удачно. В предпоследних уровнях очень сильный гринд, но из-за музыки это получается очень залипательно, ты слушаешь и просто бегаешь всех лупишь, и как-то легко время проходит. У меня правда в конце игры баг появился, если это баг. В битве с боссом, я всех монстров убил (10-штук) и начал бить вплотную босса (играл в easy режиме), и в какой-то момент экран погас, показало, что мне нужно убить ещё 999 монстров и выкинуло на первый уровень. Кажется, босса я не убил, но что произошло не понял. В остальном, получилась очень приятная с крутой музыкой и визуалом игра!
Jarnero
21. Oct 2020 · 15:52 UTC
@dmitry-mozgin Привет! Спасибо тебе огромное. Мы действительно в дальнейшем думаем уходить от пошаговой боевки, т.к. она затянута. Также если ты вникал в ЛОР - у нас очень сильный герой и был такой фидбэк, что мол, хочется, чтобы враги отлетали пачками, но их было много.
Dmitry Mozgin
21. Oct 2020 · 16:25 UTC
@jarnero да, сильно в ЛОР не вникал, теперь стало понятно почему столько монстров надо переколошматить. Пошаговая боевка действительно не даёт ощущений, что герой расправляется налево и направо с монстрами. Вот если он был сразу слабым, убивал скелета с трёх ударов, потом прокачался и начал убивать с одного (или сразу несколько), то возможно это ощущалось как герой стал очень сильным. (Без необходимости отказываться от пошагового боя.) Но в рамках джема думаю на такое времени не хватит. В любом случае, удачи вам!
Coding4rtist
23. Oct 2020 · 10:21 UTC
Really cool game, enjoyed playing it! Art is nice and music is really amazing, I loved it!!! Is the character design ispired by mordekaiser from league of legends? Overall a great entry, good job!
Jarnero
23. Oct 2020 · 15:15 UTC
@coding4rtist Hi there, bro! Yep someone said that its looks like Mordekaiser, but its our version of Overlord![Когда-будет-Overlord-4.jpg](///raw/d84/92/z/3a63d.jpg)
Game one version. So we just keep concept about some dark lork who go to the Tower and try to do something in unexpected situation. Thank you so much. We tryed our best. Now want to finish it, get all feedback and try to go publish it on Steam. How do you think - is it good idea?
Coding4rtist
23. Oct 2020 · 19:30 UTC
@jarnero It is definitely a good idea. Being able to finish a game in such a short time is already a victory, I think turning the game into a finished commercial product (even if free to play) is the next step. I'm doing the same with my compo entry and I think it's worth it.
I'll try the final version for sure, can't wait to hear some more amazing soundtracks!