So, finished my second Ludum Dare jam. This time I was on my own, but got som really good original music made by a friend during the jam. I admit I really wasn’t thrilled about the theme at first and considered sitting this one out. Then I remembered an old idea for a jrpg-like combat system and decided to give it a try.

If you like jrpg-style combat and tactical games like XCOM you can give it a try here.

Was pretty pleased with the result, I might actually keep on working on this project. But like last time I was really pressed for time and didn’t really have time to implement all of my ideas or give the game all the polish it needed.

Here are somethings i would have implemented given more time:

– Start and help-screens (Probably transparent overlays to still be on the “same screen”).

– More balanced gameplay.

– More enemy types.

– Several levels (same background but different setup of enemies and harder each level, with a bossfight at the end).

– Improved feedback. I knew on launch that some players might find some aspects of the game confusing.

– Cooldown on certain skills.

– Better AI.

– Improved graphics, animated characters.

– Possible levelling-system (would never have made that in 72 hours).

I’m also thinking about learning another engine/framework for the next jam. I only really do 2D-games and Unity feels a bit complicated for this purpose, and obviously designed for 3D from the start. I’m not sure on wich framework to learn. HaxeFlixel? Suggestions are welcome!

I was planning to post one of these favorite entries-posts when I reached a hundred games rated, but since I’m nearly there, time is starting to run out, and since I wont have time to rate games during the holidays I’m going to go ahead and post at 84 rated entries.

And because ‘Deep Space’ obviously was supposed to be the theme for LD31 I’m going to post about my favorite entries fitting that theme (not really, almost all of my favorites for this dare just happens to be set in space).

1. A Place in Space – Lokijki

A Place in Space

A very well polished, and quite hard, shooter set somewhere in space. Retro music and graphics creates a very cool atmosphere. Gameplay is simple but fun, a couple of collectable power ups gives the the game some variety.

2. Atticus VII – Deconstructeam

Atticus VII

A murder mystery (and more) set in, well, space. Made by people behind ‘Gods will be watching’, ‘Nihilumbra’ and ‘Super Rocket Shootout’. Gameplay is a bit different from most mystery-games and I think the player actually is rewarded for thinking on his/her own. Has several possible endings.

3. Orion – feiss

Orion

This probably doesn’t need an introduction. Everyone interested surely has played it by now since I’ve seen it on so many lists? Still it clearly deserves to be on here. One thing I really like about this entry is the feel of its buttons.

4. Last Ark – Nuclear Napalm

Last Ark

Basically a survival game where you have to save humanity (and their robot overlords) from extinction by finding a new planet to colonize. I the mean time you have to manage the energy, oxygen, supplies, and embryos aboard the ship and make som customisations to the ship itself.

5. Serenity – rxi

Serenity

Short but very atmospheric metroidvania game which isn’t explicitly set in space but still has a very spacey feel to it. The developer didn’t have time to implement player damage, but the puzzles and atmosphere of the entry still makes it one of my favorites.

6. ROCKROCKET – Backterria

ROCKROCKET

Another one not explicitly set in space but come on, it has ‘ROCKET’ in its title. That’s close enough no? The game is a short exploration and puzzle game that’s really worth the download and short time it takes to play. Again a very atmospheric entry. I seem to be a sucker for those.

7. Mr Fish’s Awful Adventure – Nanolotl

Mr Fish’s Awful Adventure

This one isn’t set in space (or is it?) but still makes it on to the list. The entry is a very well executed metroidvania/platformer which basically is a series of problems and clever power ups you have to collect along the way to solve them. It is also challenging, I probably died about 30-40 times while playing it but that isn’t a problem since you have unlimited lives and the game has several checkpoints. At the time of writing this post the game only has 11 comments but every one of the commenters seems to love the entry. The game sadly lacks sound.

Bonus: SCREEN HEAD – NickZangu

SCREEN HEAD

Ok, this doesn’t seem to be set in space either but maybe in a parallel universe. You play as an obsolete CRT-monitor going postal in your old office. Shooting people with the stapler alone makes it worth playing.