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A jam submission

MonomaniaView game page

Does an ancient cosmic mind order the universe? Solve cryptograms to find out.
Submitted by Chris, ness, Monkey Oliver — 9 hours, 24 minutes before the deadline
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Monomania's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Overall#393.9893.989
Gameplay#443.7783.778
Gameboy Soul#504.2224.222
Soundtrack/SFX#673.7783.778
Interpretation of the Secondary Theme#684.1674.167
Graphics#1004.0004.000

Ranked from 18 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

How does your game meet GBJam's theme?
It's a puzzle game with horror elements about decrypting messages written in eldritch runes and the effect that has on your psyche.

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Comments

Submitted(+2)

The setting is excellent! The puzzles are pretty cool! The story ties it pretty well, with the tones being really moody! Excellent entry!

Submitted(+2)

Loved it!

Submitted(+2)

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2265992076?t=2h34m55s

Here's my live review of your game if you're interested!

Developer(+1)

i just wanna say that yesterday i had a lot of miserable work to do (grading homework as a teaching assistant T_T) and watching your stream cheered me right up LOL tysm (again) for playing the game on stream and for all your kind words, rly glad you liked it :D

Submitted(+2)

Of course!! I'll probably be streaming my No-Hint run at some point just to be self-indulgent. I'll ping you whenever that one goes live!

Submitted(+2)

I love a good cypher puzzle. I got 3 hints my 1st go. Plan on going for a zero hint run at some point. Fun game that does exactly what it sets out to do.

Submitted(+2)

A book
That was quite clever! The art is unnerving, the soundtrack is creeping, and the atmosphere is genuinely despairing.

I like the way the endings are laid out. The most natural outcome of a first playthrough is exploring all the room has to offer, which is the easiest run. It forms a natural difficulty curve: try again with fewer hints. By the time I tried my hand at a 0 hint run, I had a good sense of what sort of thoughts the poems were trying to convey, and I managed to snag a key word. It's a great design choice!

Fantastic! Great work!

Developer(+1)

ok master puzzler! tysm for your comment!!! glad you got the book ending :D

Submitted(+2)

I absolutely love this, but I'm a sucker for cryptography. I've done two endings so far, and I'm curious how many more there are. Great story built in a single room and I love that the music was diagetic. Well done on the atmophere and really everything else as well.

Developer

tysm for your kind comment! i was really hoping to read a comment about someone getting an ending and you have blessed me by saying you've done two :D glad you liked the game!!!!

Submitted(+2)

I went back in and I think I've gotten 4 total now. Great job on this!

Submitted(+2)

I really loved the idea and it was executed really well! I loved the puzzles and the atmosphere was spot on. And the art is really pretty!

Submitted(+2)

My brain hurts, but it be worth to decipher. a really good game i'll say.

Submitted(+3)

man that game is really good, i mean decoding 2 or 3 words start to unrable the mistery but the graphics where really good and the music too, great overall

Submitted(+3)

Loved the cryptography as well as the color palette choice!

Submitted(+2)

I had actually be toying around with doing a cryptogram puzzle for another game concept separate from the jam, so it was exciting to see this.

I think despite being built in a more modern engine, it really captures the Game Boy spirit. Navigation was a little bit of a challenge, but I think that is to be expected with the limited control scheme.

My only bit of feedback is I think the puzzle screen could've used a little indicator of how to navigate back to the room as well as a "blank" letter for when you misinput and wanted to reset a certain symbol.

Submitted(+1)

Yo! Thats the first thing i thought as well. This cryptogram minigame would be great to add to the tool box. Reminds me of the old da vinci code games on ps2. Probably would have to do it with tile switching in the long run though.

Developer(+1)

Definitely agree with your suggestion - lack of feedback/instruction in the puzzle screen is major missing piece of the game. Thank you for taking the time to play and leave your comments!

Submitted(+3)

very nice atmosphere, i suck at the puzzle tho...

Submitted(+3)

Liked the theme here and the puzzle!! It really was creepy too! Good job!

Submitted(+3)

Nice puzzle! The creepy mood and the way you gather clues are quite unique.

Solid entry, congrats!

Submitted(+3)

Of all things, I think the way you used the 4 colour palette its genious! I love it. Good job!

Developer(+3)

Thanks! Our artist is a real talent

Submitted(+2)

A very interesting puzzle. Also, I like creepy atmosphere in the game. But I had my time trying to exit the desk :)

Developer(+1)

Thanks for playing! We will definitely add some on-screen indicators of how to leave the puzzle view after the jam

Submitted(+3)

A very solid game! I love the way we have to decipher the messages and the music really matches the atmosphere of a dreary place.

Developer(+3)

Thanks for checking it out - we were very lucky to have such a talented musician on our team