Echo Escape by Shlolo

[raw]
made by Shlolo for Ludum Dare 59 (JAM)

Find your way out of a pitch-dark dungeon. You can only navigate by echolocation. By careful not to make too much noise though, or it will find you...

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Objective

Find all keys spread across the maze-like dungeon and unlock the final gate that leads to the exit.

Screenshots

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Tools used

  • Game engine: Godot 4.6.2
  • Audio: LF Studio & Audacity
  • Textures/Sprites: Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator

External Assets

I did use several 3rd party assets for this project, mainly the 3D model of the creature and some of the textures used in the environment, which is why I opted out the the Graphics category for this entry.

I did also use some audio assets, mainly for the footsteps, but I felt it would still be fair to participate in the Audio category, since I created around 80% of the SFX myself and spent a large portion of this jam on the sound design of my game.

Playable Build

Unfortunately I can only provide a Windows executable for my game this time around. I realized too late that the web export has some major issues, that I couldn't fix in time for submission.

Developer Retrospective

This time around I wanted to explore a game genre that I haven't done before: Horror. With that came a lot of focus on the atmosphere of the game. I especially spent a lot of time on the audio-side of this project and I must say that I am very satisfied with what I managed to put together. I did kind of mis-manage my time a bit though on top of the already big scope for a jam game, so I didn't get a lot of sleep the past 3 days and as per usual it was a crazy sprint to the finish line to get everything done before the submission deadline. 😮‍💨😅

Ratings

Given 0🗳️ 0🗨️

Feedback

disperse
Apr 21st · 03:51 UTC
Wow! Really scary, the thumping of the monster chasing behind me definitely got my heart rate up. I didn't get much further than past the first door. My sense of direction is pretty bad to begin with and the monster didn't seem to let up. I'm going to let more skilled players beat this one I think. Great job!
Jag
Apr 21st · 06:38 UTC
This is really amazing that you made this all by yourself! We had a similar idea at first to do something exactly like this, but we felt it would have been too much for in just 3 days, so major props to you for achieving this. I think it's executed brilliantly. The SFX and VFX are just perfect, incredibly polished. I actually felt scared when the monster showed up. I felt he chases you a bit too hard, and similar to the person above, I could get very far. I think the monsters sight and hearings needs a nerf. Really hope to get to the end sometime!
Animaster
Apr 21st · 14:05 UTC
Great game! I really loved the visuals, especially the echolocation shader - it looks super atmospheric. It would be nice to have some additional activities on the map besides finding keys, and maybe a few more ways to escape the monster, but for a jam this is already a solid little project. Excellent work!
Itero Proto
Apr 21st · 14:07 UTC
It's a pity that there is no web version of this game. I'm afraid to download other files)
OnlinE_Play
Apr 21st · 14:10 UTC
I thought it will be only a maze and got jumpscared haha. Anyway audiovisuals are crazy good tbh
Vadoha5
Apr 21st · 14:14 UTC
Great addictive game
martinfernandezGD
Apr 21st · 14:20 UTC
The echolocation effect is very well done. The environment becomes quite eerie when you know there's something else besides you.
Julester
Apr 21st · 14:21 UTC
Very good and well put together game. the art style and the colored keys all fit very well together.I love that the keys respond to your pings. The enemy scared the shit out of me. Great work!
GreatPasta
Apr 21st · 15:19 UTC
It's a good game. The idea is simple, but it works. The monster surprised me with its appearance.
steinhks
Apr 21st · 16:07 UTC
Great sound design
and the echolocation visual effect is beautifully done
Kevin Meissner
Apr 21st · 17:14 UTC
Great job, good game :-)
Citlaet
Apr 21st · 17:20 UTC
Well done!
Stormdrill
Apr 21st · 17:31 UTC
It was really fun and creepy to run around—running away from the monster was genuinely scary! Though, I found the kill animation pretty funny.
Vilumpulump
Apr 21st · 18:43 UTC
Nice visuals and a lot of potential for a horror roguelike like this. Keep it up!
CrimsonTrouper
Apr 22nd · 02:55 UTC
never. NEVER trust games that look too computery to be horror... I thought this will be just a maze haha 😅
Hi Im Greg
Apr 23rd · 12:11 UTC
Really well put together, very simple but incredibly effective design throughout for all the visuals.

In general I enjoyed the game, but the second time I died to the monster, I gave up. Maybe if it wasn't so aggressive the first time you see it and ramps up over time?

The only major thing missing was some music or additional ambience, I think there is a lot you could have done there, but it's all polish. Baseline is amazing, really cool idea, very well executed. Great work.
Max Corke
Apr 23rd · 18:40 UTC
Gonna be honest, I didn't get far. The anxiety of being chased by the monster in the pitch black was too much for me haha. Really cool concept though, I took the time to spam the space bar and take in the effects before it spawned. I wasn't entirely sure sometimes if I was losing the monster, and felt I couldn't use the echo location in case it would find me faster. But also I couldn't see, so I was often just crouched in dark rooms too nervous to make a move.

Describing it to my friend, it was like running from the Owlks in outerwilds lol. You did a good job with the atmosphere there. Nice work!
VenomousMouse
Apr 23rd · 19:50 UTC
I`m not very fond of being chased. But the game is good. Nice mechanics and overall mood.
JerryWest
Apr 24th · 08:34 UTC
The first horror game that was too terrifying to continue playing! Haha!
I've played this type of game twice before. It has a good mechanism and provides a strong sense of immersion. However, it feels too difficult. Making sounds will lead to being chased, not making sounds will prevent you from finding the way, and for a long time, it seems that the monster won't leave on its own.
The game is excellent. Good Job!
Alex de la Cour
May 03rd · 14:41 UTC
Great entry! Genuinely just noped and let the monster kill me the first time I saw it. Really amazing atmosphere, this game was super tense and unsettling, I had a tough time playing it (in a good way). Good job!