Below the Tide by Dustyroom
A game-experience about an explorer vessel in a bottomless ocean. The purpose is to go down as far as you can.
Objectives:
- Any action takes energy.
- Land on the platforms to charge up.
- Avoid running out off the charge.
Controls (Thrusting):
Arrow Keys
Pro tip: Combine keys for acceleration
https://youtu.be/I5-K_o1N6Is
| itch.io links | https://dustyroom.itch.io/below-the-tide |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/48/below-the-tide |
Ratings
| Overall | 929th | 3.5⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Fun | 1564th | 2.857⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Innovation | 988th | 3.143⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Theme | 481th | 3.952⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Graphics | 94th | 4.476⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Audio | 203th | 3.976⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Humor | 1411th | 1.806⭐ | 20🧑⚖️ |
| Mood | 282th | 4.024⭐ | 23🧑⚖️ |
| Given | 25🗳️ | 0🗨️ |
I love the relaxing ambiance and sound design!
Good job !
I love the palette and the way the "echo effect" gradually lights up things in the distance. The audio is great as well, both the music and the sound effects.
I was struggling a bit with the controls at first (I only tried using WASD, and the particle effects don't fire for those, so it's slightly confusing that the controls are sort of inverted. It was better after I read the description and started using the arrows as well.
I couldn't find a way to look around, not sure if that was intentional or not. Like, I really wanted to see down if I was going the right way or not.
In any case a really beautiful and moody game! Good job! :)

I needed a minute to get a grasp on the controls, initally felt backwards but one I understood it was related to the propulsion I was able to play it better.
I would recommend giving the option of changing the controls, or perspective, since feels inverted.
Still awesome entry!
Some remarks:
1. Sometimes "Dive again" button freezes the game. Expectation "Dive again" button restarts the game.
2. It is hard to determine where vessel is. Expectation: shadows help to determine position of vessel.
3. Sometimes obstacles appear between camera and vessel so vessel is hidden. Expectation: obstacles between camera and vessel are transparent/semitransparent.
Hope this remarks will be helpful.
Good entry!