The Language of Dreams by Joel Davis

[raw]
made by Joel Davis for Ludum Dare 48 (JAM)

Learn the language of dreams. Didn't manage to finish but you can explore and talk to people and learn a few words in the language of dreams.

Screen Shot 2021-04-26 at 6.14.17 PM.png Chat with an interesting case of characters.

Here's a video playthrough (spoilers!) that spells out the plot and explains some of the things I didn't manage to have time to finish. Also has a little overview of the codebase if you're curious about that. https://youtu.be/aS6O3YtvQ7M

Screen Shot 2021-04-26 at 6.14.31 PM.png Explore the world and learn the language of dreams.

Screen Shot 2021-04-26 at 6.14.07 PM.png

Screen Shot 2021-04-26 at 6.15.00 PM.png Go deeper and deeper into your dreams to solve the mystery (well, if the game was finished you could).

Screen Shot 2021-04-26 at 6.15.32 PM.png But don't go too deep into your dreams or you might lose your hold on reality.

Press [W] to open the wordlist and [TAB] to open the map.

Ratings

Overall 1224th 3.341⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Fun 1357th 3.045⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 179th 3.957⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Theme 761th 3.761⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 1078th 3.543⭐ 25🧑‍⚖️
Humor 636th 3.026⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Mood 655th 3.682⭐ 24🧑‍⚖️
Given 15🗳️ 25🗨️

Feedback

LDJam user 238552
27. Apr 2021 · 05:49 UTC
I like the idea of your game but couldn't quite figure it out. Went to sleep and talked to people awake and asleep but didn't learn any words. I think I got stuck in the room to the left, but that could have been user error. Fun graphic style.
kel
27. Apr 2021 · 13:20 UTC
your art style is very unique and I am a fan. I also loved the scrolling cryptic text scattered in the conversation rather than just blank spaces. Sometimes I had trouble getting through doors.
MachWerx
27. Apr 2021 · 16:49 UTC
Fantastic concept! I managed to get a few words and even made it to dream level -1. I got lost pretty easily, but it was still fun navigating around the different levels and trying to find new things to inspect. It would be nice to have some highlighting around the objects that you could either inspect or triggered sleep/wake. Also, did you mean to leave in the debug pixel position information in the upper left? Feels like the dream level information could go there instead.
hkay
27. Apr 2021 · 21:40 UTC
Great concept! I dig the hand drawn style and I think it would look great in a post ld version if you polished it up a little!
Junamai
27. Apr 2021 · 21:49 UTC
I really love the idea you had for the game! was a bit oconfused sometimes that there were no doors drawn at places where i could go through and doors drawn at places i couldnt go though xD
Really enjoyed the wavy effect in the thrird dream and the goofy walking animation c:
simex
28. Apr 2021 · 02:32 UTC
DUUUUDE, this needs to be a finished game, ever since I completed heavens vault I've been itching to play another game like it. ifaik you allowed by the rules to patch the debug-text bug. Even if the game was a bit confusing to start with I think this was a really cool idea, can't wait to see what you will make in the future. good job my man!
DancesWE
28. Apr 2021 · 06:54 UTC
Love the artwork and vibe of the game. High concept man!
FreddyTurbina
28. Apr 2021 · 18:26 UTC
that was brilliant!! The art is awesome and support the dream theme perfectly. the only drawback is the HUD, but That's it.
mdotedot
28. Apr 2021 · 18:27 UTC
Nice perspective. That would allow for good direction. I like the handdrawn look. Good graphics. There were some debug-coordinates showing. nice work.
Alina Baybulatova
28. Apr 2021 · 18:28 UTC
Interesting idea! I really have fun to play this game! Cool atmosphere! Thank you) And so adorable graphic and character) Great job!
Elektroney
28. Apr 2021 · 18:30 UTC
I really liked the art style also really cool idea not like the thousand of deep sea and mine shaft games. Good Job!
Threeli
28. Apr 2021 · 18:54 UTC
As others have said knowing where doors are is a little hit or miss, but it feels like you've made something genuinely engaging and interesting here. As @simex says I can't wait to see what you can do with this or other projects! Brilliant atmosphere.

(Edit: I forgot to mention discovering a language is a really fun mechanic)
Aune
28. Apr 2021 · 21:06 UTC
Hi, that's a great idea even if it is not finished. I really appreciate the explanatory video which gives the twist I would have missed. Sleep / reality image effect are really well found.
Random-storykeeper
09. May 2021 · 23:33 UTC
I also had trouble with going through certain passageways, but I found the lines going through them helped me to move along, and it was extremely helpful having the ability to zoom out to look at the entire map. It took me a while to realize that certain objects could be inspected - I spent most of the time talking to people and it didn't seem as intuitive to me that objects had to be inspected to learn the language. Nonetheless, I appreciate the presentation of the game - the stylized colour schemes and the sketch-like drawing style give this minimal sort of limbo feeling. I love the way the text is basically just fancier letters that get scrambled around until their true meaning is revealed. Seeing the word list fill up is quite satisfying.

I found that sometimes, the texts would overlap each other, and that made things confusing to read. But you incorporate the real-life pictures of the pen and paper with the art style very well. It would be wonderful to play a completed version of it someday.
Kram
18. May 2021 · 06:41 UTC
Like the "Inception" of learning words.