LudumData

Darkest Forest: The Legendary Tree Hunt by agrdev

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

Deep into the Darkest Forest a legendary Tree awaits you

darkest-forest-7.gif

What is this game?

A "psychological" survival exploration of the Darkest Forest where many brave adventurers lost while searching for the Legendary Pine Tree. Will you find the Legendary Pine Tree and come back home alive and sane?

How to play

Explore the Darkest Forest for the Legendary Pine Tree, but try not to go completely insane.

You panic level increases the deeper you go into the forest and at some point you can get a Panic Attack resulting in either unbelievable Overcoming granting you a powerful ability for a short period of time, or nasty Quirk which is going to be permanently upon you activating some terrible effects from time to time.

When close to a Panic Attack, relax at a good old campfire built by your own hands. Fortunately, there is no shortage in wood around here...

Screenshots

Screenshot 2021-04-30 at 02.21.44.png Screenshot 2021-04-30 at 02.25.11.png Screenshot 2021-04-30 at 02.22.09.png

Controls

Keyboard

  • WASD / Arrow keys - Movement
  • Space - Axe
  • F - Start / stop chilling at bonfire

Gamepad

  • Left stick / D-pad - Movement
  • Cross / A - Axe
  • Square / X - Start / stop chilling at bonfire

Caveats

  • Game has no sound yet
  • Planned multiplayer is not implemented yet

Tools used

  • Unity
  • JetBrains Rider
  • Blender
  • Miro
  • Notion

Credits

  • Kenney game assets pack
  • Polygon Adventure Pack
Link https://agrdev.itch.io/darkest-forest
Link https://agrdev.itch.io/darkest-forest
Link https://agrdev.itch.io/darkest-forest
Link https://github.com/kirillmikhel/ludum-dare-48
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/48/darkest-forest-the-legendary-tree-hunt

Ratings

Overall 929th 3.5⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Fun 1361th 3.042⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 986th 3.146⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Theme 773th 3.75⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 803th 3.771⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Humor 963th 2.6⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Mood 538th 3.771⭐ 26🧑‍⚖️
Given 29🗳️ 23🗨️

Feedback

timewarp
27. Apr 2021 · 18:54 UTC
It was fun to play and I found the legendary tree :) Forest looks nice, it's pleasant to explore despite the idea of darkness coming.

![untitled.png](///raw/e4c/a3/z/415f5.png)
nyanpierre
28. Apr 2021 · 21:43 UTC
I think music would have added a lot to the chill side of the game
Michbet
28. Apr 2021 · 21:46 UTC
I like the lighting, it makes the overall mood as you get deeper into the woods very spooky! Nice work on this game and I'm curious to see how multiplayer will work!
gamesplusjames
28. Apr 2021 · 21:48 UTC
This was fun and I really loved the artstyle! :)
mosaic
28. Apr 2021 · 21:51 UTC
I like the premise of the game. I just feel like there is not enough of an incentive to cut down trees. They stand in the way, so I found myself strolling around looking for a spot where I could fit through them (which I could not), occasionally picking up wood for a fire. Music and sounds would have added a lot to the mood.
Overall a fairly polished game for a game jam and a nice experience.
Baconinvader
28. Apr 2021 · 21:53 UTC
Really great mood in this game! I think it's short length and simple mechanics help with that. Nice use of lighting too. Would have been nice to know I couldn't use campfires while I was carrying the tree though lol. Nice job!
izara
28. Apr 2021 · 21:54 UTC
it's a really good game but i've played in html and i had no sound :)
Duck Reaction
28. Apr 2021 · 21:56 UTC
A cute short game! I played and I didn't notice first but my progression in the game was really smooth: I knew my goal and where I should go, there are the necessary feedback to finish the game. The core loop is quite repetitive, maybe you can add some element in your design to create surprise and encourage players to adapt their strategy. But I spend 5 good minutes, thanks for that :smile:
UkuleleFury
28. Apr 2021 · 21:58 UTC
Very nice! I like all the models. And the animations. And the effects. It feels a little slow, but good simple gameplay all-around!

...I did definitely immediately start out by just walking straight down for a bit before realizing I wouldn't find anyway, but, meh, user error...
Hestrateja
28. Apr 2021 · 21:59 UTC
I encountered 2 softlocks in this game in 4 or so runs, the first softlock is getting to the limit of the map that, for some reason makes me unable to move, the second softlock is to get to the legendary tree and being unable to cross a narrow path where I came from because of the inability to chop while carrying the tree. This game would've had a much stronger creepiness if it had some sound effects, such a shame.

Anyways, for the rest, great map and visual effects!
LRVStudios
28. Apr 2021 · 22:35 UTC
Really cool and fun game! It took me a while to know where to go, but then i noticed the light change...really cool.

Kinda feel 'empty' with no soundtrack at all - Maybe it would get really nice if there is a ambient sound or a back soundtrack.

When i press 'esc', hoping to see a "pause" or "menu", the game quits. It would be nice having a pause menu in the future. But that is all about the "athmosphere" of the game, wich it is pretty cool already, by the way.

Now, about a thing or two that i have noticed about how things are working - when i pick the legendary tree, i could not be able to cut trees or light a bonfire, and again i felt lost into the woods haha.

It would be nice to be able to do that when i have the tree. Other thing that might help others players is put a "angle control" of the camera - somtimes i could not see the bonfire or passages between trees.

quick note: it might hurt a little to have that big tree on his back...ouch! haha

with 'all' this been said, i liked it very, very much this game. It is really fun, the mechanics are simple but catchy, and kinda relaxing. Congrats and my best regards!
pabulum
29. Apr 2021 · 19:54 UTC
Nice atmosphere and ambient effects like the tree sway. I got stuck after i got the tree and couldnt get back the way I came but that did defintely add to the panic mechanic. ha. The mist effect was awesome btw, really moody when combined with the lighting. Good job!
DevNoob
05. May 2021 · 08:26 UTC
Haha ok first of all, I'm really dumb. I thought I had to chop down trees and hope to find the special tree this way. By the time I found out how it would actually work, I was on the other side of the tree. Not on the side of the house. So when I found the tree, I would have to walk the wrong way back XD. I really liked the graphics of the game, very well done. Maybe it lacked a bit of excitement, but it didn't take any fun away. Really good submissioN!
Treeboater
05. May 2021 · 09:32 UTC
Nice job with the models and animations! Would love to play it again with audio
PxlDev
05. May 2021 · 09:37 UTC
This looks really good!
🎤 agrdev
05. May 2021 · 23:11 UTC
@treeboater I might be working on an audio update actually :smirk:
JUSTCAMH
06. May 2021 · 13:59 UTC
Hey matey, I played your game on stream! I really enjoyed it, you can see my feedback on the twitch vod:

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1012941526
🎤 agrdev
06. May 2021 · 19:02 UTC
@justcamh Thanks for the high quality feedback, good points!
timeloopedpowergamer
07. May 2021 · 01:21 UTC
Really good visual style. The first forest-based implementation I've seen of this theme. Was able to complete the game and enjoyed doing so.
kirb
07. May 2021 · 02:32 UTC
great job ya'll! i found there wasn't quite enough content in there for my preferences but i could see this being a really fun game if you continued on. art, controls, and mood are very good!
Flying Dog Fish
08. May 2021 · 10:21 UTC
Cool game. I love how the atmosphere changes from sunny to creepy as you progress toward the legendary tree.
Edur
08. May 2021 · 10:41 UTC
Fun little game. I liked the graphics and the mood. I think some music would add more atmosphere. Game was little too easy.
DzejPi
12. May 2021 · 16:09 UTC
Very cool entry - the art style was simple, but coherent and everything fit together really well. I loved the game getting darker when I was getting closer to the goal, it let me know that I am progressing correctly. AND enhanced the atmosphere.
The atmosphere and experience could be enhanced by some simple creepy music, but it’s understandable that it does not have it with such limited amount of time. But the atmosphere was great even without it. I was still waiting for something to jump at me. I didn’t encounter any soft lock or any issues. :)
gramozilho
18. May 2021 · 16:36 UTC
Great atmosphere and without sound! Not being able to chop trees after picking up the legendary tree got me panicking since I was very close to the fear limit xD