TetraTopple by Criobite

[raw]
made by Criobite for Ludum Dare 49 (JAM)

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Build your tetromino tower as tall as you can without toppling it over!

Programming, design, music & SFX by Criobite.


This was my first attempt at making a proper physics-based 2D game! I've experimented a long time ago with similar concepts, but it was fun to finally make something real. Since this is an HTML5 game written in TypeScript, I ended up trying 3 different physics engines...

  1. Matter.js — Easy implementation, but inaccurate/glitchy behavior (not the desired kind of "unstable"). Maybe I was doing something wrong, but blocks were tumbling VERY strangely, and the pile would often "explode" when bumped into.

  2. p2.js — Relatively simple implementation, but boxes never stop moving when stacked. Constantly sliding out from underneath each other, making it impossible to build towers.

  3. Planck.js (winner) — TypeScript rewrite of Box2D, very solid. Sparse documentation, but sufficient.

Definitely learned a lot with this jam, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of it!


screenshot-c.png

Ratings

Overall 185th 3.976⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Fun 201th 3.929⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 924th 3.143⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Theme 102th 4.286⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 756th 3.595⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Audio 29th 4.3⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Mood 177th 4⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Given 24🗳️ 11🗨️

Feedback

recursor
05. Oct 2021 · 17:52 UTC
This reminds me of Tricky Towers except much more chill, which I like. The low-stress(no time limits) and relaxing puzzle aspect is great. Also the fact that it uses tetris-shaped pieces adds to the ease with which you can just immediately understand what is going on and start playing. This is a great implementation of a physics-based, block stacking mechanic. Well done!
Shea Kelly
06. Oct 2021 · 20:18 UTC
very fun and addicting game. nice music as well.
Cookie_CHR
06. Oct 2021 · 20:18 UTC
Good and relaxing game. Well done!
aapr
06. Oct 2021 · 20:24 UTC
Love the music, really sets the mood, simple gameplay, endless stacking no time limits, quite relaxing.
Alan123
06. Oct 2021 · 20:25 UTC
Nice and simple. Music works really well. I think it would have benefited from a more obvious aim than just "be tall" perhaps? Something like packing blocks wide, or using fewest blocks to reach a height?
Yotamco
06. Oct 2021 · 20:28 UTC
The physics in the game are amazing, you actually have to think where to put each piece in order to keep the balance. The music is super relaxing and inviting to keep playing. I like that it's a different type of game than the typical rush; you can actually take it easy and enjoy. I also think that the fact that after you reach a certain height it kind of saves is an amazing touch, making the game not too frustrating that it's not fun to play anymore. I loved it! So far, I've made it to 100.
zeta0134
06. Oct 2021 · 20:31 UTC
Normally "physics-based tetrominos" describes a trollish, wacky and impossible game, but this succeeds in being playable, chill, and quite *zen* in its presentation. I got all the way up to 30 with a bit of patience, and wanted to keep going. Nicely done!
Mukhavertolet
06. Oct 2021 · 20:32 UTC
This is really good! Everything is on point! Very chill and relaxing game, great job!
Zachery Delafosse
06. Oct 2021 · 20:39 UTC
I enjoyed it! Physics-tetris came up in our game ideas too, but we ended up going with something else. This works! So good job!
Weekend Warrior
06. Oct 2021 · 20:55 UTC
A very enjoyable and relaxing experience! Loved the ability to throw away unwanted bricks.

However later in the game it became a bit frustrating to throw away ten bricks to get the one you need. Maybe if the purpose is relaxed building the player could freely choose what kind of brick he/she wants to take?
GreenXenith
06. Oct 2021 · 20:55 UTC
Got my tower to 100; Very addicting and satisfying. The sound and art style mesh well. The periodic cementing was also very handy, though I almost wish there was a hard mode without it :)
Also, maybe a toggle for click-to-confirm? I found myself accidentally skipping blocks I wanted, a 2-click option would have helped.
cromo
06. Oct 2021 · 21:22 UTC
This was pleasant and relaxing. The sound was good, the physics never felt unfair, and the checkpoints for solidifying the base tower was a good touch. I kinda wish I could move up and down within the current segment in case I can't see a good place to set the current block, and it could be a lot of fun to zoom out and see what you've managed to build!

Do you compose music on the side? I'd like to listen to what you can write when you have more time!

(And hi from another TypeScript coder!)
Brusi
07. Oct 2021 · 18:56 UTC
Simple game but very fun and with a great feel - the clean art style, music and sound really contribute.

There is basically one best strategy - just put one piece above the other, so no too great depth here; but still, when you make a wrong move and everything just topples is very satisfying and not frustrating, and when the tower "freezes" after a certain height, it just feels great.

Nice and relaxing game, good job!
Quite Good
08. Oct 2021 · 04:41 UTC
I was playing this with my friend, and telling him "oh you can exploit the game this way and that way" but then read the description and understood what this game is about. With a lot of fast paced high score-based games in every game jam, it is really refreshing to see a chill zen game like this.

And in that respect I feel like you accomplished everything you set out to do. Love the music, the colors and game design choices that just make for a relaxing experience. Building the blocks up and watching them fall down without any consequences feels very meditative. Could definitely see myself coming back to play this just to chill and zone out. Thank you for making this :)
autumnalHeart
10. Oct 2021 · 00:25 UTC
This game is great! The chill music and simple graphics contrast well with how chaotic the game gets. The mechanics also are both difficult (can't rotate, stacking) and not tedious (becomes still after certain height so not to lose all progress, somewhat forgiving physics).
Joshua Stone
12. Oct 2021 · 21:49 UTC
@recursor @shea-kelly @cookie-chr @aapr @yotamco @zeta0134 @mukhavertolet @zachery-delafosse @brusi @quite-good @autumnalheart
Thanks for the feedback! I'm happy you enjoyed the experience—I was aiming to make something relaxing yet somewhat challenging, so I'm glad that worked out.

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@alan123
Thank you! If I end up taking the game farther, I'd like to explore other goals or game modes to spice things up.

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@weekend-warrior
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! I definitely agree that's a bit frustrating sometimes. Choosing blocks could be a decent solution if I end up spliting the game into game modes/difficulties.

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@greenxenith
Nice—thank you! The hard-mode idea sounds fun. I've also accidentally deleted blocks, so I'll probably test some methods of avoiding that.

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@cromo
Hi! Glad you liked the game. I definitely like the idea of looking around and seeing more of the tower. Also, yeah I produce music from time to time! Most of my publicly released work have been game soundtracks, which I've recently put on Spotify, iTunes, etc. (under the same name, "Criobite"). Got another collection of tracks, "Game Jams, Vol. 2", coming out next week! I also intend to release some non-soundtrack stuff before long. :smiley:
ValiantSugar
18. Oct 2021 · 11:37 UTC
It's an interesting concept of tetris. Very original in my opinion. Cool, keep up the good work!
Joshua Stone
22. Oct 2021 · 12:41 UTC
@valiantsugar Thank you! Glad you liked it.