What Lies Below by Roka Josh

made by Roka Josh for Ludum Dare 48 (JAM)

The Game

Landing on an alien planet in a submarine, it is your task to explore the deep ocean trenches, scanning ruins and artefacts to gain research points. These points can be used to upgrade your submarine at the base allowing you to utilise mining drills, torpedoes and more. With all the tools at your disposal, can you reach the bottom of the ocean and discovered the secrets of the planet?

An adventure game focussed on researching and upgrading your submarine. You start with only the scanner tool allowing you to scan artefacts and ruins in order to gain research points. Use these research points to upgrade your submarine with useful tech. To get to the deepest part of the ocean you will need all the tech to stand a chance!

Aim of the Game

Scan alien artefacts and ruins for research points.
Upgrade your submarine allowing you to go further afield.
Discover the secret at the bottom of the ocean.

How to play

General Controls: - 'WASD' to move the submarine. - 'Left Mouse Button' to use the currently selected tool. (Objects get highlighted when you can interact with them) - 'Scroll Wheel' to change between submarine tools. (You only start with the scanner) - 'E' to dock with the ship when nearby. (You get fully healed and charged when exiting the research screen) - 'Escape' button to pause and unpause.

General Information: - The camera zoom, water opacity and dynamic lighting settings can all be changed in the settings menu for maximum viewing pleasure. - To research new tech, dock with the ship, select any greyed out tech and click the 'unlock tech' button. - Certain paths are completely blocked by rocks and will need to be drilled through with the drill attachment. - Pressure is deadly and you cannot go below certain depths without appropriate hull upgrades. All 3 are needed to reach the endgame area.

Screenshots

Credit

RokaJosh: Programming & UI Art
Yarro: Art & Sound Design

Tools

Unity 2020.3.0f1
Visual Studio Code
Adobe Photoshop CC 2018
Adobe Audtion CC 2018
Aseprite
Ableton Live 11

Link	https://jagtek-games.itch.io/what-lies-below
Link	https://jagtek-games.itch.io/what-lies-below
Link	https://jagtek-games.itch.io/what-lies-below
Original URL	https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/48/what-lies-below

Ratings

Overall	194^th	4.019⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Fun	402^th	3.712⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Innovation	737^th	3.365⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Theme	236^th	4.135⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Graphics	311^th	4.212⭐	28🧑‍⚖️
Audio	196^th	3.98⭐	27🧑‍⚖️
Humor	745^th	2.889⭐	20🧑‍⚖️
Mood	141^th	4.2⭐	27🧑‍⚖️
Given		41🗳️	32🗨️

Feedback

ruddgasm

28. Apr 2021 · 06:03 UTC

Very cool how the music gets more ominous as you dive lower and I really liked that you showed visually how damaged the sub was. The lighting/shadow effect was really cool although in some instances it looked like it was just warping everything around it and it would have been nice if the rigid rocky walls would stay rigid. The mood of the game was spot on as I felt more and more uncomfortable as I went deeper so nice job on that.

🎤 Roka Josh

28. Apr 2021 · 21:56 UTC

@ruddgasm Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad the mood turned out so well.

Escortti

02. May 2021 · 15:26 UTC

This is a great game. The music really sells the underwater mood. Really liked the art on the ships and the artefacts. Liked the progression system too.

John llyod Apolo

05. May 2021 · 07:01 UTC

Art and music is really great on creating the atmosphere, I think it would be nice if the player has a list of what we need to find also the shadow is glitching when moving but this are just minor things.

Stepan Ilin

10. May 2021 · 21:51 UTC

Very nice visual and sound. But this game needs some final goal i think.
This game has a chance to become an interesting project with a plot

chimp

10. May 2021 · 23:21 UTC

Very atmospheric mood and the visuals are really nice. Definetely an simple exploration game which I don't really play a lot of. I managed to get all upgrades but was a little lost about finding alien technology. Eventually I found the end and completed the game. It could do with a bit more stuff to do; maybe some lore text, but overall I quite enjoyed the aesthetic of the game.

Well done :thumbsup:

Chartle

11. May 2021 · 01:27 UTC

Loved the mood, great nice art and audio! Seemed quite polished, even if the shadows were a bit rough. I also couldn't figure out how to use the drill, I tried clicking and a couple of keys I thought would make sense, but alas. I'd just chalk that one up to me :p

🎤 Roka Josh

11. May 2021 · 07:12 UTC

@chartle Thanks for playing our game and for the feedback, I apologize if it was not made explained properly but you are supposed to click the left mouse button when the drill head is equipped when the text prompt comes up over a rock.

doubleday

11. May 2021 · 10:59 UTC

Good concept, executed fairly well and produced a nice experience. As others have said the art does well in setting a moody atmosphere that fits the theme and setting well.

LeReveur

11. May 2021 · 19:12 UTC

Really good! This game desserves to be rated, don't forget to rate a little more games soon enough to be properly rated!
Arts are nice, sounds are just what needed for the mood, details and animations are very fine, if I would have to name a need, maybe the ability to move the boat in order to gain a little time returning to it, but this is just for say, the game is yet good as it is. Very well done!

arekb

12. May 2021 · 10:29 UTC

Pretty much every aspect of this game feels designed just right, which is impressive. The upgrade system makes you really want to keep upgrading, the sound design is spot on, and a lot of the visuals are very beautiful. I especially liked how the sky looked, and the shadow effect underwater. (I actually like how warped the shadow looks because that makes it feel more underwater-y). What I didn't like is how the flashlight looks when not deep underwater, it's slightly jarring with the dark halo around it. It's a very minor issue though since by the time you get the flashlight, you sped most of the time deeper underwater anyway. Overall, the experience of playing this game felt really immersive and fun. And I really loved that ending!! It was simple but kind of terrifying.

gamescodedogs

12. May 2021 · 22:39 UTC

I really loved the visuals, that’s an eye candy. I hope to see the continuation.

Essence

13. May 2021 · 00:10 UTC

Really love the mood here! My only art gripe would be to make the UI a bit more themed to the game to add even more to the mood but overall really fun!

soundgnome

13. May 2021 · 02:47 UTC

This is great! The upgrades are impactful and satisfying, and the sparse but deliberate soundtrack is really effective, reminds me of the original Metroid.

GregoryBlomquist

13. May 2021 · 04:07 UTC

Simple but effective art and the music is just the right amount of ominous. I love the tech tree and there is a real sense of progress as you unlock new abilities and dive down deeper. The ending is the perfect amount of creepy too! I really enjoyed this game!
Have you considered expanding it following LD?

Luke Mundy

15. May 2021 · 03:04 UTC

There was quite a lot of backtracking and moving around which got a little boring after a while but the sound and music was cool.

Not sure if this was a bug or I misunderstood something, but I could buy a lot more from the shop that I thought even with low RP

Brice Mahier

17. May 2021 · 12:37 UTC

Lost myself but loved the mood! Great work.

Brice Mahier

17. May 2021 · 12:37 UTC

Lost myself but loved the mood! Great work.

xatulu

17. May 2021 · 18:13 UTC

Upgrading feels smooth and enjoyable and the music really sells the atmosphere you are going for. On that merit alone, it already is a great entry.

On top of that, the lighting just is the icing on the cake!

shnigle shnagle

18. May 2021 · 17:49 UTC

Great graphics. it really got me into that exploration mood. maybe add more bullets to the gun thing but other than that abselutely fantastic game.