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Gaia's Return's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Enjoyment | #14 | 2.455 | 2.455 |
| Execution | #15 | 2.273 | 2.273 |
| Overall | #15 | 2.273 | 2.273 |
| Sensory | #16 | 2.364 | 2.364 |
| Metroidvania | #18 | 2.000 | 2.000 |
Ranked from 11 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Engine
Godot 4.3
Team/Developer
pacorp
External assets
Music from freesound
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Comments
This was a fun platformer, I like the ledge creation mechanic it is unique and was fun to do with doing wall jumps back and forth like you do in the end. I like the nice chill music that plays while you platform too. I'm not sure what the solution would be, but the way you have to aim the camera at where you want to create a platform made the wall jumping section slow on controller cuz I was just waiting to rotate the camera back and forth over and over and I wanted to go fast lol. Great job on this I had fun playing thru it!
Thanks for the feedback. A good reminder that I need to add thumbstick sensitivity, which might help but not necessarily solve the creation issue. As you noted, it's where the camera is aiming but I need to try it from the direction you are moving, which a friend thought of after the deadline. I also want to put in some sparkly/highlight effect where it'll spawn from so it feels very predictable.
Really nice work. I got to the part where you jump into the hole back to the starting platform (based on the other comments, it sounds like that’s the end?).
I’m sad this entry was so short, because the wall jump section where you get to use your platforms one-after-another was really cool. There’s a lot of potential to this idea.
It’s kind of funny: Metroidvanias have so much platforming in them but I basically never see ones that are centered around creating new platforms. Like I said, lots of potential here, I enjoyed myself with this one even though it was short-but-sweet. Nice work!
Yep, you made it to the end, next time I'm doing what you did, that was great. I'm glad you liked it, I'm always trying to do weird stuff in jams, not-infrequently to the detriment of it being a game.
I completed a full circle of the map, it seems that's about it for this prototype?
I encountered an issue at the start of the game: the camera was looking at my character from below and it would spin on its own uncontrollably. At some point, moving the mouse fixed it and I could play normally.
The initial jumps are probably the hardest part of the game because they feel very tight and if you fall you have to walk all the way back to the initial platform.
The ledge-creation ability is really the stand-out of this entry. It's quite unique and has potential, as demonstrated with the way it allows for wall jumping. It can feel a bit buggy as it creates platforms on the ground if you're not jumping, and there's nothing telling you they only disappear once you jump off them. But once I figured out those quirks, navigation became a nice little puzzle.
There's not much to it visually but the music is relaxing and as the appropriate "chill puzzle game" vibes. The sound effects were really quiet tough, I had to go to the settings and crank up the master volume while reducing the music volume to be able to hear them.
Anyway, lot of potential there!
Yep, you made it to the end! I'm kicking myself that I didn't but put some text as you ascend saying so. I definitely need to tune the start, I wanted to set the expectation early about the platforming but it was definitely too much.
Indeed there are some bugs with platforms in dumb places, I made tools to help place them and it needs bit more work. I have a bunch more ideas on how to use the platforms so hopefully this turns into some realized potential in the near-ish future. I'll have to look at the audio again, I wonder if I did something weird, there sfx are definitely a little quieter.
I haven't encountered the camera spinning, I'm assuming you were on controller?
Yes, I double-clicked the executable and immediately grabbed my gamepad as it started, so I didn't touch the mouse until I tried to fix the camera spinning.
I like how the name ties into gameplay with you growing platforms only from "grassy" areas
Thanks for playing! There was supposed to be a lot more to the lost world but hit a point where I realized how much art it was gonna take and I didn't even have the factory arted. Classic over-scoped solo project.
Cool, definitely got some potential there. A bit laggy even for a web GL build, were you using lots of lights?
Music was nice if a little simple. I found the jumps a bit too difficult, could do with a bit more leeway, I was falling off and having to retry the same jump again several times. I got stuck after unlocking the ledge ability, didn't know what I was supposed to do there.
Thanks for giving it a try! Comically only using 2 lights, the main directional and a spotlight from the character. My guess is the heavy use of shaders and prototyping asset I used are the culprit. I always make web builds for player convenience but need to figure out how to debug perf for web.
Definitely need adjust the jumps too, l quickly got used to them but should have pulled them all in for earlier section. There actually is really forgiving coyote time so you can really push how late you actually jump. I wanted it to feel like you're always getting away with something but didn't make enough game or design what I did make well enough to build up the confidence. Hopefully I get some iteration for SMVM some time to remedy this.
After getting the ledge, you go to the right to make your way into this section where you get an upgrade to make your way back to the start but there is zero payoff because I really managed my time poorly.
This has great potential! Obviously still needs a lot of work but I like what I played. It was a little laggy for a WebGL build though, might be worth sticking to an executable.
Thanks for playing! You're right, I totally forgot to test on other pcs so added the exe's as well.