Riftward by Flightless

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

Riftward

Using the arrow keys, complete sequences to perform summons. Catch Vortexes with Vortex Catchers to gain mana quickly. Do not catch them with your head.

Move: A/D

Vortex Catcher: →↑←

Levitation Field: ↓↓↑↓

No you cannot jump :smile:

Objective

Reach the top

2024-04-14 165521.png

Ratings

Overall 299th 2.947⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Fun 262th 3.026⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 110th 3.605⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Theme 260th 3.184⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 328th 2.526⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Audio 202th 3⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Humor 278th 2.111⭐ 20🧑‍⚖️
Mood 219th 3.158⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Given 15🗳️ 14🗨️

Feedback

LDJam user 298496
15. Apr 2024 · 13:40 UTC
You've got a really interesting idea here, took me a while to work out the mechanics but once I got there it was really good. I'd love to see more abilities with more combos.

Great work!
ChuChuGeralt
29. Apr 2024 · 20:17 UTC
I gotta be honest. At first I thought I would have to find something nice to find about your game to write about (Cause the picture of your game was not the most inviting I saw before I clicked on your game!)

But the idea of the game and the simple yet challenging mechanics were really good.
I had a pretty good time playing your game. Kinda reminds me of the old "Icy Tower" Game, but with a whole different mechanic to reach the top.

So yeah, really enjoyed your game. Kudos!

![Ridtward.PNG](///raw/a15/01/z/64e24.png)
Theyflower
29. Apr 2024 · 20:17 UTC
It's a little frustrating having the basket appear under you because sometimes it will bump your head up into the flames. The camera being too slow to follow when falling also means it becomes way too easy to fall really far. I often would enter the first four parts of the levitation combo and then press the last part after it's already "charged" but it would frequently expire.
TomKnocker44
29. Apr 2024 · 20:28 UTC
I found the controls a bit frustrating at first and a jump would've been nice. I think it's an interesting idea though, and is a good take on the theme!
silkworm_sweatshop
30. Apr 2024 · 19:41 UTC
More fun than I first expected! It's a bit janky here and there (sometimes I can walk over the catcher, sometimes not). Chaining together fields is pretty satisfying when you get it right. Getting hit sending you all the way to the start is a bit harsh, maybe just some knockback would do.
Jajo
30. Apr 2024 · 20:34 UTC
taking away jumping from the player is actually such a great way to force us to think creatively, nice job
PerfectSquare
01. May 2024 · 00:02 UTC
Really innovative idea! I love the lack of jump and the "levitation field" instead..it was a lot of fun to figure out how to use levitation effectively.
jelch
01. May 2024 · 02:46 UTC
I little difficult but cool idea!
OadT
02. May 2024 · 18:54 UTC
Cute little entry. Level wise I have to say it got a bit too long because after a while it basically becomes summon a levitation field very often in a row and nothing will be there in between. And also I think needing mana to summon a vortex catcher leads a bit too often to frustrating breaks. But I liked that the catcher have a physical simulation and can become an obstacle!
LDJam user 385017
02. May 2024 · 19:21 UTC
I loved the idea of this game! Cool mechanics and graphics. Good job!
Charl V
02. May 2024 · 19:51 UTC
Fun game, very creative! Thanks for making.
benskca
02. May 2024 · 20:00 UTC
Fun entry! Doing the sequences for the spells was a cool mechanic, if you want to expand this post-jam I think it could get really interesting with more spells and time sensitive places you have to use them in.
Lize V
02. May 2024 · 20:07 UTC
Nice game, really got caught up in it. Audio really adds to the mood.
Impalpable
02. May 2024 · 20:17 UTC
Hello, super cute game, I enjoyed the feel of leviation and the way it was set up with sequences. I think more sequences and power ups if you develop the game would be great!
bbaf
02. May 2024 · 21:39 UTC
Quite interesting mechanic and smooth complexity growth chart through whole game.
First I just levitated few floors and got stack without mana, then I figure out how to "gather" it and later tried to cast several levitations sequentially when one wasn't enough.

![fly.jpg](///raw/6ca/c/z/64f14.jpg)

I would only suggest do not punish player too hard for only one collision with fireball. Perhaps 3 hp + "kick" would be more tolerant and player-friendly.

Overall, I enjoyed it, nice entry!

Ps. Now I am wondering if there is something else top above, because I collide with temple and instantly got win screen. It would be a nice opportunity for easter egg :wink:
dimesto52
03. May 2024 · 06:26 UTC
It took me a long time to understand that I had to do key combinations and the jumps are very complicated.