Results
Ranked from 15 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Judge feedback
Judge feedback is anonymous.
Horse World 2 is a gameplay sequel to Moon Lander, and a plot sequel to Horse World Online. It doesn't merge the two terribly strongly, but that was hardly the point so not really a bad thing there.
Liked
+ Stayed true to original game's intent
+ Horse Commander Best Commander
+ Grapple worked more than not (which for the style presented is quite the accomplishment)
Needs Work
+ Controls sometimes finicky
+ Restart speed
+ Maybe easy mode for babies like me?
This was one of my favorite examples of Unnecessary Sequel of the jam. It feels like a pretty proper Moon Lander sequel. It takes the original, keeps most of it (it is more forgiving with collisions being a big difference) then adds some extra features that were never really asked for. It's basically a modern version of a "physics game" where the original Moon Lander was a more grounded version of the same. The game continues the tradition of feeling really hard, but also fair within the rules it sets out for itself. When you explode, it's because you messed up, not because the game was unfair. I mean I doubt I will personally ever beat a game like this, but I feel if I sat down and practiced, I would be able to pull it off.
Sometimes it did feel like some things might be inconsistent, like if grappling onto a crate in different positions might alter how the ship flies, but that kind of reflects the modern physics style experience. I just couldn't quite nail down what, if any, effect it was having on my control. One other thing that would have been nice is a quicker restart into attempts. Having to go through the main menu after each death was just one more step pulling you out of the experience and one more opportunity to put the game down.
The art was simple and effective, it could have looked a little more polished, or perhaps been a little more friendly to the varied scaling window sizes, but it got the job done. The plot was cute, and thankfully didn't get in the way because with Moon Lander the control experience is pretty key.
All in all if someone where to make a sequel to Moon Lander this is exactly what I would expect to see. I could see some actual potential in this for a game that takes the basic ML game and expands it out with mini-missions and different interaction abilities. I would maybe make it WAY easier by default if it were to be sold, with an option for "classic" difficulty, but this was a fun and well done experience that absolutely served the jam theme well!
-James Rossi
Elevator pitch
Welcome to Horse World 2!
Pilot a lunar lifter to complete goals to help horses take to the stars!
Describe how your game adheres to the theme
Horse World 2 is a unnecessary sequel to Lunar Lander, being a lander type game with a horse world theme. It's also a space themed sequel to HWO, which is totally unnecessary. Also the "Horse World 2" is a second world being colonized by horses. Totally unnecessary! Finally the game play is setup as a string of touch and go deliveries, which is as close to unnecessary sequels as I could come up with.
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