Like A Moth To A Podiatrist by Verbante

[raw]
made by Verbante for Ludum Dare 56 (JAM)

Guide one (or more) moths to the podiatrist's office.

Controls: - Left click: Turn on light - Right click: Turn off light - x: retry level

Inspired by the Moth Joke of Norm Macdonald

RIP Big Man Gone but not forgotten

Ratings

Overall 55th 4.188⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Fun 32th 4.203⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 18th 4.297⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Theme 98th 4.234⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 247th 4.141⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Audio 84th 4⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Humor 160th 3.75⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Mood 127th 4.078⭐ 34🧑‍⚖️
Given 10🗳️ 22🗨️

Feedback

unloosed
07. Oct 2024 · 03:50 UTC
This game has a cool atmosphere and clean pixel art! I also really like the sound effects, they are very pleasing to listen to.
Wouter52
08. Oct 2024 · 18:51 UTC
This game is so cool! Never played anything like this. 10/10 for innovation. I had fun :-)
SerenityDev
08. Oct 2024 · 22:06 UTC
Very unique concept with a brilliant execution! Love that it's based on Norm Macdonald's moth joke, absolutely love that one. The game is beautiful visually with the lighting, the audio design is pleasant. Normally I like to give critiques for improvement but you frankly did amazing with this one, I have no critiques to give.
Prismapunch
08. Oct 2024 · 22:39 UTC
Very fun game, not too often do you see a picto-8 game on here, especially one with mouse controls! Very cute graphics and very cute concept. I do like the forgiving levels since you can't directly control them, and it is fun trying to see how many 3 pixel moths I can get to the end.
evindor
08. Oct 2024 · 22:40 UTC
Poor moths, smashing in the walls with no light :D Very cool little game, solid execution! It can easily become a full-fledged puzzle game with just a couple more mechanics of splitting the flock(?), leaving some behind to open some door and stuff like that.
checkyourgages
08. Oct 2024 · 23:23 UTC
So elegantly simple, and extremely satisfying. The sounds were just the right amount of crunchy!
erasemenot
08. Oct 2024 · 23:54 UTC
Great game! The levels get's trickier and I'm so sorry for the moths. I'm too clumsy playing it with a trackpad with an absence of a mouse.
kuggenhoffen
10. Oct 2024 · 19:41 UTC
Great gameplay mechanic and very well executed! Good job!
Historymaker118
11. Oct 2024 · 19:51 UTC
Hey a Pico-8 game that I almost missed! So glad I didn't this is a really good unique concept that's executed really well. Very simple game idea, but very well implemented, which makes for a fun puzzle game. Good job doing all this by yourself in a weekend, and I especially enjoyed the music. I always really struggle with making music in pico-8 in my games so the fact that you managed to nail the sound design on top of a finished game in the time limit is awesome. Hope you keep making more Pico-8 games and I hope to see you on Splore.
LDJam user 189270
12. Oct 2024 · 11:53 UTC
This is really great, although it's a simple mechanic it's one I've not tried before. At first I was a bit frustrated there wasn't like "optimal" ways to win each lvel as you seem guaranteed to lose a few but by the end I was embreacing the chaos. Feels like a game that could be developed more with more puzzle mechanics.
🎤 Verbante
12. Oct 2024 · 15:32 UTC
Thank you everyone for the wonderful comments!

@serenitydev Glad to meet another Moth joke enjoyer :D

@prismapunch Happy to know that difficulty curve works for you :)) I also try and get as much moths as possible

@historymaker118 I had the chance to spend some time on sounds for this one :)) I actually uploaded it to the Splore too after your comment, with the same name

@perrin ideally this concept could support multiple playstyles, glad you ended up embracing the chaos
Miku
12. Oct 2024 · 22:04 UTC
Ok, this game is an absolute gem. I really like the art style and the simple gameplay, and it felt really satisfying to each the end of the levels.

I was getting really attached to my little moths too and was really sad when they were squishing into the spikes :cry:... Overall, this was such a great jam entry!
OGma_badparenting101
13. Oct 2024 · 16:29 UTC
So fun!
Andreadbx
13. Oct 2024 · 18:03 UTC
Wow, this has got to be the most original PICO-8 game i've seen so far, intresting mechanic, well executed and overall a good vibe, great game!
Mal
14. Oct 2024 · 12:14 UTC
Brilliant entry. I want more levels lol
Urfoex
14. Oct 2024 · 18:07 UTC
Really nice 👍

I didn't do anything in the first two levels and enough moths found their ways to finish XD
drludos
14. Oct 2024 · 18:48 UTC
Woaw, this is outstanding! The concept is brilliant and the execution is great! I love the graphics and audio, and I had a lot of fun completing the game.

Regarding feedback, I only one suggestion, that may be more a "personal preference": often my moths dies because I tried to turn of the light by clicking again with the left mouse button, instead of using the right one.

I think several players (including me) want to naturally press the same button again to turn a light on/off (like a light switch in real life!). So maybe it would feel better with only the left mouse button used? (I know it'll be better for me, don't know about other players).

Overall an excellent and unique game, congrats!
CaptAndrey
15. Oct 2024 · 19:15 UTC
The theme is nailed perfectly, and the mechanic, while simple, keeps things engaging. Sometimes those poor moths just can’t avoid the spikes, though! The graphics and audio are solid, and the game strikes a good balance of fun and challenge. A few too many moths sacrificed, but it’s still a blast!
🎤 Verbante
16. Oct 2024 · 15:54 UTC
@drludos Thanks a lot!!! Toggling lights with left click could be an option in the pause menu after jam. You can also drag the mouse around to quickly open or close a multiple of lights. There are some pretty cool tech in there that lets you save some additional moths :))

@captandrey Thanks a lot!!! Regarding poor moths, Level 7 is pretty brutal but there is actually a way to pass level 5 while losing no moths at all. I only know because my friends tried to optimize the game, getting a final score of 15 moths.
TRASEVOL_DOG
17. Oct 2024 · 16:13 UTC
Really nice entry! The game's main mechanic / the way to control the moths is really interesting, would love to see more done with it! Great job on the sound effects, and the graphics work really well too! Always nice to see Pico-8 games. :)
LDJam user 243193
18. Oct 2024 · 12:51 UTC
Nice short game! Too bad the moths are hard to control but it's good thing the game tolerates deaths greatly so it's easily completed.
Sasa_2010
19. Oct 2024 · 09:38 UTC
Wow! The game is so wonderful! Keep making games!