Abyss - A Journey Deeper by Dimi_Tree
A Journey Deeper
Explore the story driven game Abyss - A Journey Deeper.
Where you slip into the role of a 13 year old boy and go through his memories and inner thoughts.
WASD to move.
| Link | https://github.com/Foonghi/ludumdare48-underdoge |
| Link | https://r0bsta.itch.io/abyss |
| Original URL | https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/48/abyss-a-journey-deeper |
Ratings
| Given | 12🗳️ | 3🗨️ |
I think I got some Ideas of how different parts are connected but I am not really sure.
## Feedback on the different Levels:
### Level 1
My favourite level Gameplay wise.
The frogfish is a good guide on where to go and you can calmly explore around you. The turning speed is way to low. If you make an error in navigation or explore it can be really annoying to get back on the path. I also would recommend at least hints on how to move (always expect the dumbest people) and maybe implement a way to move with your mouse.
### Level 2
I am not sure if its intended for the player to do the level 2 times and I am not sure if I played it in the right way (Hiding behind the girl so the messages hit her instead of you... which then kill her) ^^' I like the slowdown when you die! Took me 2/3 tries to get how to play the level but then it was easy ^^
### Level 3
Hiding behind the fire truck gets pretty easy after 1/2 tries. I am not sure what the message should be (same as with Level 2). Is it exploring ones "Abyss" and reliving the Past? But why am I a black entity then? And am I the brother of the little girl at the start? Or is it something else? If the text following you should be something like social pressure I think that maybe it should have been small sentences intended to "hurt" the player and not a random message.
### Level 4 & 5
I don't really have much to say about those two levels. The same applies for level 4 as for level 3. For level 5 I am not sure who the women should represent. Is it the girl that grew up? Is it the stepmom that now owns a lot of money since her husband crashed?
### Level 6
I like how you explore the last memories of your child(?) as this fish swimming through darkness and how you are greeted by something more beautiful and probably stronger then you at the end. It just throws a lot more questions on who I really am and what this story is trying to represent xD ^^'
## Conclusion
I like how you go through these levels and how the movement and tasks differ from level to level. I still think the story you want to show is not clear enough. I am not sure who I am in the end. Am I the man from the Menu Screen going through his memories, or am I someone completely else?
Generally still a good first game and I hope you could take something away from my little comment ^^
## Bugs:
- Move sound plays multiple times when pressing two directions at once (Never mind, seemed to be my Browser)
### Level1
- When u fly into the roof you can't get away from it anymore (you're stuck on the x axis since you can't turn)
- When you already entered the door before it opens you have to swim a big circle to get back to it (Just check if he is in the door or not)
Ps: In the future, give a possibility to skip the credits or speed them up. Especially if you miss click in the Main Menu and want to get back to play the game.
I had to look deep into myself to decide if there is sound in this game or I'm just imagining to hear faint whispers of it. Then I turned the system volume all the way up, and the sound was real. I learned to trust my instincts.
You should also add description of the game and thumbnail etc.
The game was ok, didn't know what was happening at first but then realized the story unfolding.
It was clear that you wanted to give an emotional experience, but the unclarity of the controls, gameplay and story events hindered the impact. Good job on finishing your first LD game though! :grin:
Lots of breadth in the game! Impressive amounts of stuff for a first LD, I'd just suggest spending some more upfront time in the future on making sure the basic interaction (movement) works well and the feedback keeps the player in the loop (I took X action, I know it was good/bad, I know what changed about the world/my character). Good stuff though!
I do appreciate projects like this one that try to tell and explore the inner thoughts and memories/traumas and I do admire you for attempting to do so during a game jam. This particular game just didn't really work for me unfortunately. Still, congratulations on your LD48 entry!