Overall: Tight gameplay, simple mechanics that build in intensity, great graphics and sound; what's not to love?

Gameplay: Felt really good with the combination keyboard/mouse layout. Gameplay mechanics were easy to remember, but all the enemies turned it into a bullet hell near the end. Really great balance of convenience and challenge, a benchmark I think many other devs should strive to reach (myself included).

Music: Great selection of 8-bit tunes and I loved the Sawyer banger at the end.

Story: Not a lot. I also couldn't see how the game ended because Godot gave me a black screen after I beat the final boss. I could still hear everything that happened though.

Graphics: Sprites are really clean and have a lot of character despite their resolution. Loved the CGs during cutscenes as well. It should come as no surprise your art is among the best of the jam and very possibly my 5-star.

Comedy: Not a lot but that's not a big deal.

Harold Voidskipper is a refreshing departure from the typical RPG Maker entries that dominate the Harold Game Jam. By utilizing the Godot engine, the developer has created an action-oriented game that benefits greatly from the engine's capabilities, resulting in a smooth and engaging experience.

The first thing that stands out about Harold Voidskipper is its pixel graphics. The visuals are well-crafted and add a layer of charm and nostalgia that complements the game's overall aesthetic. The art style is cohesive and polished, making it a visual treat from start to finish.

Gameplay is another area where this game excels. Unlike many RPG Maker action games that can feel a bit clunky, Harold Voidskipper runs smoothly and efficiently. The controls are responsive, and the action sequences are fluid, providing a seamless experience that is both fun and challenging.

The chiptune music deserves special mention as well. The soundtrack is a perfect match for the game's retro-inspired graphics, enhancing the atmosphere and keeping players engaged. It's clear that a lot of thought went into the audio design, which plays a crucial role in elevating the overall experience.

However, Harold Voidskipper is not without its challenges. The difficulty level is on the higher side for a game jam entry. While it's not insurmountable, it can be a bit daunting, especially without a save option. This lack of a save feature means that players need to complete the game in one sitting, which can be a hurdle for those with limited time.

Despite this, the game's quality shines through. As a Godot game, it may not break new ground, but in the context of the Harold Game Jam, it stands out due to its unique approach and departure from the RPG Maker norm. This difference alone will likely earn it attention and praise within the jam community.

Overall, Harold Voidskipper is a standout entry in this year's Harold Game Jam. Its smooth gameplay, charming pixel graphics, and engaging chiptune music make it one of the more enjoyable games in the competition. While the difficulty and lack of save option may be challenging for some, it's a game worth experiencing. Definitely a nice addition to this year's jam.

As a huge twin-stick shooter fan, I really enjoyed this one! It was rough not using a controller (I assume it would have prompted players if this was possible). This made me feel like I was extra clumsy, and definitely led to some extra hits from enemies, especially those jerk green bats. 

Reid was epic! I enjoyed the different phases. It was classic twin stick level boss. I'm grateful for the many chances to heal amid battle or I don't think I could have made it through. 

Bummer not to see the final cutscenes in game but what I saw was so awesome.

I really liked it, but felt each island have far too many waves of enemies, and while they got new tricks, Harold did not, and it got boring, quick.

Fun combat! It was fun charging up spark for a big aoe attack. Very cool reid boss fight at the end with challenging boss patterns. The dodge roll feels like could be a bit shorter in distance might make it easier to hand and less risk of rolling off the ledges. All the pixel art looks great!

For me this might win 4 of the categories by the end.

Music: Every track is well chosen and consistent, works well keeps the energy flowing.

Graphics: Probably the most consistent graphically in the jam, will be really close to winning again great job.

Story: So this part was just serviceable but the good side of serviceable, thats fine though cause a deep story would have kept me from the gameplay.

Gameplay: This is wonderful, super smooth and feels really nice. 5 stars. That said I have a couple of tiny pointers (one controller support), two I feel the roll is a little too far so when I dodge I’m dodgin miles away. I’d also like to be able to dodge through enemies as it would go a long way to sorting my one minor issues. Getting stuck on corners. The pixel movement was great but I felt like I was catching the edge of tiles on things like bushes etc.. which probably have square tile collision, also I wish there was some kind of star tiles so trees etc.. weren’t blocking movement and I could pass under the higher parts. All in all though a phenomenal job.

Overall: For me strongest game I’ve played. Great job, I’d actually buy this.

This was fantastic! I loved every fight, and the music (discounting my bias for the track I wrote) was all very good!

The dodge system felt a little jank to me, and healing in the heat of the moment was difficult. However, the presentation here is top notch, with great graphics, music, and gameplay! One of the best entries of the year, hands down!