Sorcerer's Steps by lambbones

[raw]
made by lambbones for Ludum Dare 55 (COMPO)

Controls: - WASD to move - Mouse to look​ - Left Click to shoot​ - Right Click, hold and release to summon a platform​ - Esc to release mouse - Shift-Esc to exit​

Reach the portal by placing platforms before getting pushed off by enemies! Shoot enemies to destroy them. Tip: You can gain elevation by placing a platform mid-jump.

There are 5 levels total. I recommend playing to the later levels, the game gets a bit more challenging later if it seems easy early on. Comment your best time!

Ratings

Overall 311th 2.9⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Fun 281th 2.929⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 295th 2.833⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Theme 271th 3.095⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 311th 2.667⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Audio 243th 2.7⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Humor 219th 2.6⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Mood 292th 2.762⭐ 23🧑‍⚖️
Given 13🗳️ 15🗨️

Feedback

LDJam user 388431
15. Apr 2024 · 03:35 UTC
The core gameplay is really awesome! The platforming felt really tight and conceptually it's really unique for the theme. Sometimes the enemies could be hard to detect since you're mostly always looking down, but overall this was a fun time!
LightningST
15. Apr 2024 · 04:10 UTC
Being able to summon platforms directly below made it feel a little too easy, but the movement felt pretty good. I definitely would've preferred a bit larger FOV so I can see more of whats going on.
LDJam user 372150
15. Apr 2024 · 04:14 UTC
This was pretty fun to play! Though, the lack of textures and lighting made depth perception made it a little difficult. I also realized that the colliders for the platforms appear immediately so they are invisible. I thought the physics felt a little weird because of it. But fighting off the pestering crows was pretty fun!
Inidal Dev
15. Apr 2024 · 04:16 UTC
I think your core gameplay loop is really good. It seems like you could also do more with the verticality in your levels since the platforms seem to be determined by the players vertical position, so maybe you could create platforms and levels tailored to that feature as well, it would be cool to see what the game might look like with an expanded arsenal of spells too.
LDJam user 236545
15. Apr 2024 · 04:29 UTC
Hah I love the pixely hands, it reminds me of early FPS games. I also agree that it's a bit easy being able to just summon a platform below me.
LDJam user 385671
15. Apr 2024 · 04:48 UTC
Overall good submission. The gameplay was easy to understand but could use some more variety.

(Art style for the hands was neat!)
ROBOWARRIOR1982
15. Apr 2024 · 08:12 UTC
Very good game, it's difficult to see where is the platform will be invocate and I hate this bird ! The idea is very innovative and in the theme, and the graphics is fine.
lectvs
15. Apr 2024 · 23:28 UTC
Really cool, love the acapella sound effects and first person hands. Overall was really fun though the sensitivity was a bit high for my preference. Great job! :smile:
LDJam user 352490
16. Apr 2024 · 02:08 UTC
Nice submission, the sigh whenever you fall off is priceless. I forgot at first that you could shoot, so I had a bit of trouble getting across while being knocked around by a dozen ravens at once :)
Langotriel
26. Apr 2024 · 14:27 UTC
Love the look of the first person pixel hands. It takes me back to a simpler time when games... had pixelated hands...

Anyway, sweet submission! Fun sounds! :D
jk5000
28. Apr 2024 · 17:23 UTC
I am really bad at this game, and I was never near getting through the first level. But the idea is fun, and I liked the visuals and voice acting. Well done.
pkenney
01. May 2024 · 21:35 UTC
DAMNYOU BATS!!!

Fun sounds, and hand-art. Definitely did NOT find the game too easy, but maybe I was playing too timidly. The bats were a little difficult to spatially locate at times, but the fact that they had a really clear sound effect was really really helpful.

I was not able to complete the game, I played a while but eventually just lost heart. Those darn bats got me good.
josang1567
02. May 2024 · 08:31 UTC
Good game, but it would help if the mouse disappeared while playing. It would improve aiming, as in my experience, the camera couldn't keep up with the mouse movement.
LDJam user 122325
02. May 2024 · 09:04 UTC
3 runs, 3:16 as my best time ^^

I like how I immediately react to the incoming threat once their sound begins, though in the last level the birds sometime pushed me before I even heard something
Fortunately your projectiles fly far enough that you can snipe them shortly after you notice them, if your aim is good enough

One trouble I have is seeing how far away the pillars will actually appear in the world ^^' But I'm also bad at it in the real world ^^
And placing a pillar underneath you so you don't fall to your death is a good feeling :D
Though in a speedrun type game probably not always the best move to make, as the climb back up takes a while ^^'

While it's true that the instantaneous appearance of the pillar's collider allows placement below your feet while in the air much easier, in my last run I have also wondered: What would a speedrun in its current version look like?

Sure, the bats/birds may push you off your pillar, but a great player could surely use them to get even more of a forward boost, all while making perfect pillar placements just at the right time and height!

All in all one of my favourites in this event! :)
Klemen
02. May 2024 · 09:44 UTC
I loved the gameplay it was a bit buggy but still amazing, keep it up, good job!
LittleGamer
02. May 2024 · 09:49 UTC
Glad I pushed through until the blue level, it was nice. A bit hard to grasp the feel of the controls at first but I liked it a lot.
I'm fond of the hands made with a photo and homemade voice clips. It's the kind of atmosphere I like to see in this jam.
milq
03. May 2024 · 11:07 UTC
This game's graphics strongly remind me of 'Rise of the Triad'! The pixelated hands look very similar. Creating an FPS game in less than 48 hours by oneself is no easy feat! My suggestion is to make the first level a bit less challenging to allow players to get accustomed to the mechanics. Apart from this minor detail, my sincerest congratulations on an excellent first participation in Ludum Dare! Great game!