Caver by Harmadillo

[raw]
made by Harmadillo for Ludum Dare 57 (COMPO)

​Explore a cave system.

A turn based exploration game.

Controls:

Scroll Up - 'w' or mouse wheel

Scroll Down - 's' or mouse wheel

* Update * Fixed incorrect label for Rope

screen1.JPG

screen2.JPG

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Ratings

Overall 223th 3.175⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Fun 229th 2.95⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 96th 3.55⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Theme 43th 4.1⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 258th 2.8⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Audio 214th 2.658⭐ 21🧑‍⚖️
Humor 211th 2.294⭐ 19🧑‍⚖️
Mood 131th 3.475⭐ 22🧑‍⚖️
Given 34🗳️ 16🗨️

Feedback

ZettaSimp
07. Apr 2025 · 02:42 UTC
I enjoyed it. The game didn't let we go any deeper after 24 layers, but I don't know if that's an intentional feature or not. Either way, good job!
kroltan
08. Apr 2025 · 15:54 UTC
Impressive mood-setting with just writing and simple drawings! Very nice!

Maybe I am dumb, but I found the control scheme very confusing and a bit tedious, having to click on tiles then either explore or move, yet I never saw a situation where both options were available. A simple arrow key movement would have been more enjoyable for me.
🎤 Harmadillo
08. Apr 2025 · 20:16 UTC
@zettasimp The 24 layers is intentional but completely arbitrary.
🎤 Harmadillo
08. Apr 2025 · 20:44 UTC
@kroltan It's not you, the controls are a bit tedious. Originally there was a search option too but I didn't flesh it out in time. With 3 options the buttons didn't feel as unnecessary(still not great).
AXLplosion
11. Apr 2025 · 17:08 UTC
The text-based descriptions are really charming to me, I dig the vibes. The gameplay is simple but it feels surprisingly immersive! I'm also always happy to see another Godot game - good work!
AXLplosion
11. Apr 2025 · 17:08 UTC
The text-based descriptions are really charming to me, I dig the vibes. The gameplay is simple but it feels surprisingly immersive! I'm also always happy to see another Godot game - good work!
floppynub
11. Apr 2025 · 17:20 UTC
Very interesting idea, pretty ambitious for a jam from a coding perspective. I thought your art did well to support it too! I wasn't sure if there was a way to win? I explored a whole lot, made it all the way down, and eventually ran out of light. Cool game though, great concept and it worked without any bugs as far as I could tell. Great entry!
Flying Dog Fish
11. Apr 2025 · 17:26 UTC
A nice little mostly-text-based adventure. As others mention, the controls could be improved.
Pincushion
11. Apr 2025 · 17:57 UTC
I like the mix of sketches and text descriptions per area. It's really a nice experience.

The select a tile+click an action is a nice control scheme for this kind of game, though I agree that as-is both actions can be handled by arrows. With search, it would have been great.

I didn't feel that I had much agency, so the game felt very random. It was enjoyable to see what was down the tunnel. It felt less like a game, and more like a non-linear story.

A bug for you: the heading for "ropes" is "torchs".
MoD_Wiz
11. Apr 2025 · 18:23 UTC
I do like this concept it's quite unique! And having a procedural generation is very neat, specially in a COMPO! I do agree with @axlplosion that the text descriptions are really elevate this concept, but i am also not sure if its possible to win like @floppynub mentioned. I feel possible goals could be just to reach the deepest level (and perhaps go into new run) or find and retrieve something to the surface While i don't get confused by control scene like @kroltan i do agree that keys would be slightly better, but current t control scheme don’t detract from this COMPO game for me personally.
What i am not a fun is music, but it's very easy to turn it (Thanks for settings) off in the setting and listen to something that i find more moody. And i also feel that balance is a bit off, too much rope and not enough torches.![results1.png](///raw/b63/46/z/6c03d.png)
CaptainDreamcast
12. Apr 2025 · 14:18 UTC
Neat, I made it all the way down to the final level on my third attempt! I got super lucky and was able to find a ton of torches and tanked all the bear and scorpion attacks.

Very cool game! I like how every movement is a decision and how you're juggling all your resources, torches, health, ropes. I was always on edge trying to make sure I'm not running out, I had to take some nailbiting decisions ("Yes, 4% chance MIGHT sound bad at first glance, but it doesn't say impossible AND it will save a torch!" - final statement before disaster strikes). Had lots of fun and a great time with this game, I was really getting immersed while trying to find a way through the caverns. Great job, very well done!
🎤 Harmadillo
12. Apr 2025 · 17:36 UTC
@floppynub There is no win condition. I did think about it but never go around to adding anything.

@pincushion Fixed the rope label. Don't know how I didn't spot that.

@mod-wiz The procedural generation I found relatively easy. I struggled with thinking up different description of caves and features/events to put in them.
JovialKnoll
13. Apr 2025 · 02:15 UTC
cool to see some dungeon diving (or close enough). I'd love some quality-of-life upgrades like keyboard controls to go through text boxes quicker and make gameplay actions without the mouse. Love me some proc gen.
gdman
13. Apr 2025 · 23:23 UTC
![screen.png](///raw/24e/f3/z/6c2c0.png) Curious exploration proc-generated game. I managed to get to the bottom, now I'm heading to the exit. I guess there is nothing to look for, just visit some rooms with descriptions of ancient mysteries.
Eugenik
14. Apr 2025 · 10:19 UTC
Its very fun!.
LittleGamer
14. Apr 2025 · 14:04 UTC
This was a nice trip, I liked the atmosphere. A bit confused that there was no real win condition, thought there would be something at the end of the cave, but I liked the whole concept. Only real downside is that the graphics were a bit simple and the depictions quickly repetitive.
grid96
14. Apr 2025 · 18:20 UTC
Nice little game you made there. I really liked the icons for the stats on the right. Keep up the good work!
kristinamay
17. Apr 2025 · 19:36 UTC
I liked this! I made it to the bottom and was a bit sad to find nothing there. This feels like the basis for a really cool exploration + storytelling game, and it's a lot done for a compo game! I found that the torches maybe got stuck and stopped updating? Or maybe I just had way more than I thought, but I ended with a ton of every resource. Anyway, good work!
Euler Moises
19. Apr 2025 · 01:15 UTC
Although a bit hard and repetitive, it is a good game. Needs a lot of polishing though.