AquariumHunter by Jcourt

[raw]
made by Jcourt for Ludum Dare 56 (JAM)

You're a little crustacean in a fish tank. Eat the other (tiny) creatures so you don't starve.

Instructions:

-Click to move towards the mouse.

-Don't move for a few seconds to let your boost build up. You can use this to quickly catch prey that can outrun you.

-Don't starve.

The fish you eat reproduce every now and then. When they do, the child's stats are random, centered on their parent's stats. That means that, as you survive longer and longer, you'll tend to eat the slower, worse adapted prey, and the better adapted ones will tend to survive longer to make more children. Over time, this may get to the point that all surviving prey have adapted to become too hard for the player to catch.

That may not actually happen if the enemies reproduce too fast, so fast that nothing the player does can meaningfully affect their population, or too slow, so that the player eats every enemy so fast that they can never adapt, and the game has to backfill with basic starting fish from the hole at the top. Or maybe there's another issue I haven't considered.

This is really more of a little experiment or toy than a proper game, because I've been pretty busy, but hopefully it's at least a little amusing to mess around with?

Ratings

Overall 661th 3.432⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Fun 370th 3.591⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 359th 3.524⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Theme 185th 4.119⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 862th 3.023⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Humor 525th 3.079⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Mood 423th 3.65⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Given 24🗳️ 26🗨️

Feedback

NightmaresDev
07. Oct 2024 · 15:44 UTC
I very much love this! This is getting pretty close to a strategic stealth game actually. While you don't move they fish do not notice you and then you jump right at them and devour them. :3

Pros:
- Simple Controls
- Good Gameplay loop
- Select your own color (love it)

Cons:
- Very forgiving Survival
- LD version not working (Go to Itch link to play)
Arla
22. Oct 2024 · 08:44 UTC
I had fun with it. The colour picker is a nice touch. All of the sprite work was understandable.

Chasing the fish/other crays was entertaining for a while. Having fish with stats/some amount of breeding is impressive for this short time.

Leaving the top of the tank open for me to escape was appreciated.

The overall gameplay worked well and I had fun with it.
Carraka
22. Oct 2024 · 15:08 UTC
Super interesting idea with the breeding! I do wish there were some way to use a default slow movement without having to use boost. I think my experience was mostly floating at the bottom of the tank wondering why there were no fish nearby, then using my boost to go look for them, scaring them off, and wondering why there were no fish nearby. Maybe I just lacked patience?
aligator
22. Oct 2024 · 16:37 UTC
Well done! Its a nice easy game to play when bored :-) Reminds me a bit of the first Spore level^^
NBumgardner
23. Oct 2024 · 03:36 UTC
I escaped the fish tank! Does that count as winning?

Next time adding a timer counting up or score as you eat could be a way to gamify without too much work for the minimum product. SFX for lunging and something quiet for swimming could be good too. Or if fish don't hear me, maybe its a stealth game of maneuvering around fish to a blind spot.

The bouncy music is fun and cheerful, the gameplay that goes with it is relaxing, and the graphics are similar enough in style to be immersive, great job!
Snorps
23. Oct 2024 · 11:25 UTC
Managed to ping myself onto the top of the tank and shimmy over the edge and leap into the void 10/10
GameDevTraum
24. Oct 2024 · 02:49 UTC
nice relaxing ambience, if I could suggest something, maybe set up a way to slowly move the creature without wasting the boost, maybe do a normal move with left click and apply boost with right click, just to have more control on the movement.
Good job with your game!
TheLastSlowpoke
24. Oct 2024 · 06:10 UTC
This is a very interesting concept! I am pretty sure I experienced the evolution of fishes (there was an influx of blue ones that were very perceptive and fast). But it soon stopped matter, because my crayfish was equipped with exploitive brain powers and realized that the edges of the aquarium make some fishes escape in the wrong way, and the floor is an edge where additionally a lot of fishes would pile up for a nap. I love how the game looks and feels, great job!
Vodzik
24. Oct 2024 · 16:32 UTC
They are evolving!
I tryed to eat all of them, but I figured out it is probably impoddible right?
New one are dropped through the hole
tetrapteryx
24. Oct 2024 · 17:21 UTC
More games should include a color picker. Of course I stupidly chose a color that blended into the background the first time around :sweat_smile:

I really like how the boost meter encourages stealth. Having to be patient and strategic about stalking my prey made for an interesting challenge. The evolution mechanic is a cool way to add a bit more long term strategy, too.
Hawkin
24. Oct 2024 · 18:56 UTC
When I was in school years ago, there was a popular Flash game called Fishy. You started as a small fish, eating fisher smaller than you and growing until you were the largest fish. I loved that game. One of the satisfying things was when you grew the largest, and just immediately ate everything you touched. It was satisfying, but it was also a very quick ending.

I love how you've extended this idea with evolution. Using generational evolution to increase the challenge is brilliant.

Here are some ideas you might consider:
* It wasn't clear if the character got any stronger by consuming other creatures (like, more stamina). That would be another dimension to experiment with.
* What if the other fish could also eat me (taking an idea from another favorite: Spore)
voodinator
25. Oct 2024 · 12:05 UTC
This a nice an relaxing game with a fun concept. I really like that you are not simply an aggressive predator swiming around, hunting and eating everything in a few seconds but rather have to play it more stealthy. So, after i realized that the aggressive approach isn't optimal, i instantly switched my color to green and kept sitting in the algae. Waiting for my unaware prey. Waiting for the right moment. TO ATTACK! From that moment on, my stomach was always well filled, and I lived a long and fulfilling life until the end of my days.

You did a really good job. Graphics are nice as well. And the fish movement patterns feel also quite polished
Sasa_2010
25. Oct 2024 · 14:17 UTC
Wow! The game is so wonderful! I can play this 10 hours straihgt! Keep making games!