Sable Untangle by ixchow

[raw]
made by ixchow for Ludum Dare 49 (COMPO)

Unstable? How about un(tangling) S~~t~~ables? This is "Sable Untangle", a hex-grid-based puzzle game where you try to get the sables to the exit. You'll have to move rocks to redirect them and drag them backwards by their tails to stop them from [play]fighting.

sable-untangle.gif

How to play:

  • Click on rocks or sables' tails to select an action.
  • (Click on rocks repeatedly to change movement direction.)
  • Click "Step" (or press space) to move time forward once actions are selected.
  • Click "Undo" (or press z) to undo
  • Click "Reset" (or press x) to reset current level
  • When you finish a level you can click "Level +" in the upper right to progress.
  • You can cheat by manipulating the URL (...I think how should be reasonably obvious)

Notes:

Pure Javascript + 2D canvas (no frameworks, no libraries, no OpenGL). Did use some boilerplate from my earlier LD games (see links in README.md). No sound or music on this one.

I originally made this a real-time game (with pretty good looking animations!), but it was a bit awkward to actually play this way (those sables are slippery!) so I made it step-based. A lesson in perhaps biting off a little bit much for how much time I wanted to spend. I originally wanted to be done on Saturday, ended up taking a bunch of Sunday and working up to the deadline -- as you can see by the not-quite-finished cover and ending screens and the lack of more advanced puzzle levels.

Speaking of puzzles, if you think up some good puzzles, it's pretty easy to edit them into the LEVELS array in game.js -- they are just text! If you come up with good ones, feel free to comment with them below or send them to me via contact info on tchow.com.

Ratings

Overall 241th 3.526⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Fun 267th 3.395⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 108th 3.816⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Theme 549th 2⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 225th 3.579⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Humor 261th 2.737⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Mood 434th 2.711⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Given 20🗳️ 14🗨️

Feedback

DevParty
03. Oct 2021 · 23:53 UTC
Awesome game! I really like the puzzle design, they leave me stumped for a bit, and then when it the answer is so satisfying! PLEASE make a full release of this, I would totaly buy this!
SlimmerBurger
03. Oct 2021 · 23:55 UTC
The gameplay is really unique and makes for some cool puzzles, I'd love to play something like this on my phone
Jellybean
03. Oct 2021 · 23:57 UTC
Those guys do not get along! I thought the way you taught the player about pulling on tails was really cool
Chris Dirkis
04. Oct 2021 · 10:09 UTC
Really nice examples of teaching in these puzzles, I agree. Definitely want more content, but what's there is clever and looks neat.
IndigoWolf
05. Oct 2021 · 15:28 UTC
Could definitely be fleshed out into a mobile game, very interesting concept. Great way of teaching players too.
LaurenceOgden
07. Oct 2021 · 00:48 UTC
Great original puzzle game, required creative thinking, good job.

My suggestion would be to make the whole grabbing thing a little bit clearer on screen, as in make it clear why nothing is moving. I didn't understand the mechanics of level 6 - not clear what happened those two rodents faced off, so solved it by trial and error. Might be more satisfying if you gave a little text explainer if you're introducing a new mechanic like that.

Nice graphics/sprites too
cogcomp
07. Oct 2021 · 20:40 UTC
Great puzzle game. Well done!
lesinvisible
08. Oct 2021 · 12:54 UTC
This extremely cute little puzzle, looks very unique, I personally just astonished regarding the fact that it's all done with hexes.
nekowei
09. Oct 2021 · 03:56 UTC
good puzzle design!

it's funny to see two sable come together:)

this game deserve a fine polish I guess
Feesh
09. Oct 2021 · 03:58 UTC
Really nice job! Really interesting idea which I thought was executed pretty well! Some mechanics could use a bit of a suggestion or tutorial but once everything was learned this was great!
Denatus
10. Oct 2021 · 19:10 UTC
Nice tutorial levels. It's a bit unclear how the player moves when it hits an obstacle in an open space.
PBG
13. Oct 2021 · 12:54 UTC
Tough one! but this was fun! i like all the ways you can interact with the creatures. The tutorial levels also did a really nice job of teaching the mechanics. It's a pretty novel puzzle game, so I don't know how you might streamline the controls, but I did find them a little clunky. This would make a great touchscreen game, and i bet it runs on mobile. Nice job with the raw js!
mborecki
13. Oct 2021 · 14:25 UTC
Took me a minute to long to figure out how move a bolder.

Nice game.
Jimbly
14. Oct 2021 · 14:42 UTC
Fun game! I made it through all of the levels and wish there were a few more!
crefossus
21. Oct 2021 · 09:06 UTC
I love artwork and the sables :D I gave a bunch of feedback and you can watch me play/rate in a vod here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1182731242