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Crystal Lab's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Interpretation | #17 | 4.059 | 4.059 |
| Gameplay Innovation | #24 | 3.235 | 3.235 |
| Overall | #27 | 3.471 | 3.471 |
| Visuals | #29 | 3.765 | 3.765 |
| Audio | #32 | 3.176 | 3.176 |
| Fun | #56 | 2.647 | 2.647 |
Ranked from 17 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Spoiler Level
TV Show Name/Season/Episode
Breaking Bad
IMDb link to episode
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/
Episode description
No particular episode, but inspired by the drug making parts
Please list any pre-made art/music/other assets that you used.
The only pre-made assets are sound effects:
-Freesound: Footstep sounds by Yoyodaman234 and button by JarredGibb.
-Gamemaster Audio - Pro Sound Collection: typing sounds and switches
-Sonniss GDC Game Audio Bundle: machines and boxes sounds
How many members in your team?
List your team's social media / website links!
-Code, design and graphics by niadocraz: https://twitter.com/niadocraz
https://niadocraz.itch.io
-Music by Sergi24:
https://soundcloud.com/user-597538718
https://itch.io/profile/sergi24
Anything you want to say to players before they play?
Controls:
-Move ======> WASD/ Arrow keys
-Press/Grab ==> Left mouse/ Left control
-Drop/Cancel => Right mouse/ Spacebar
-Press escape to display the exit Game button
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Comments
This game could really use a tutorial. I had no idea what I was doing, and the cooking guide didn't really tell me what was what, and what I should put where. I liked the graphics, and the addition of the stereo for music was nice.
Interesting concept and great result for a team of 2! Like others, I was a little confused with how to play or the order of cooking, I mostly ended up with what looked like burnt cookies. I think just a tiny bit more clarity on how to play would be useful, but I did like the experimentation of it all! Plus I loved the art style. Overall great take on the show!
I've found it a bit hard in the beginning to figure out the process, but honestly it was actually fun to mess around with the tools until I found out what does what – I was quite proud of myself when I completed the first level :) Then it was more like farming simulator, nothing stressful, just clicking the right places until you have ticked all the boxes to exit the level. Very nice overall!
I really enjoyed playing this game, Breaking Bad is like my favourite TV series!! I thought the idea and the gameplay were cool. The simple top down art style was so good. The game was a bit slow at times waiting for some things to mix/cook, I would have preferred to be getting on with other stuff whilst this happens but I guess that's how you make meth....right? haha! Loved the addition of the boombox for the music which I enjoyed and the little coffee brewer in reference to the programme (its the little things). I played before the patch with the cooking guide so I found it slight difficult at first then I got the hang of it,,,,apart from the rainbow level (however that's cause I'm an idiot haha! Loved it! Be sure to check out my video where I play the game! :D
Thanks for your comment. Just watched the video, it's nice watching someone playing a game I've made =).
Yesterday I updated it, now the cooking time changes depending on the ingredient; also changed the order of the levels so the Purple stuff comes before the Rainbow.
The artwork was really nice and I liked the addition of the boombox for music. Gameplay was a bit slow for me, but I thought making all the combinations was really cool. I did find if I was holding something I would still be holding it when the level went to the next one (useful holding something like purple or rainbox). A couple times too I would drop the box on the ground rather than ship it off. I would just have to pick it up and drop it again, but it happened quite a bit to me.
Really cool game and well made, great job!
Thanks for the review, glad you liked the artwork and boombox. When changing level it should remove the current object, but it seems I forgot to do it, I'll add it in an update. I'll look into the box dropping issue, probably adjusting the colliders solves it.
Okay, so I played the Crystal Lab.
I found the early game experience quite frustrating. It’s pretty simple to cook the first batch, but the mixing and cooking rules are quite unclear. They require a lot of experimentation, when ideally they should be defined beforehand. Clearly explain the rules, but introduce many possible outcomes. In first 7 levels all the rules were unique, which meant you spent time learning them, but had very little enjoyment using them. They were one-off mechanics. Didn’t seem like you can combine them in any meaningful way besides 1-2 outcomes.
That said, I liked the pacing of middle/end game. At the beginning the delays feel long, which hinders the desire to experiment with combinations, but once you understand which does which, you can confidently manouever between the tables, and it feels nice.
I liked the atmosphere. It wasn’t in the mood of drug making, though. My feelings are mixed here.
Visuals are simple, but consistent and pleasant. With smoother animations, they can be confidently used in a full-sized game, I feel like.
Consensus:
Mixing should be more intuitive with clearer rules. I see a big opportunity with standart color mixing: (Red + Yellow = Orange; Green + Blue = Cyan and so on), and more standartized outcomes of mixing and baking.
Maybe the durations of operations should be smaller at the beginning, so that the player can experiment a bit more without feeling punished.
Graphics are nice and quite likeable.
The atmosphere is chilled and relaxing, but it contradicts the tense and ‘always downhill’ mood of Breaking Bad. It depends on your goal, but because of the Jam’s theme, it expected to represent the TV show.
Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed review.
From the feedback I've received it's sure there's some work to do to introduce the mechanics and rules of the game to the player. I'll have to find the balance between explaining everything and giving some room to experiment; as you mentioned, explaining the rules seems reasonable.
I've also been told about the long delays at the beginning; changing the time depending on the complexity of the item seems like a possible solution.
The game is intended to feel like a place where you can't fail and just take your time to figure it out. Perhaps it contradicts the overall feel of the series but it's intentional.
Not sure how to play this, maybe a little more instruction on the website or in-game would help? I'm not sure what to do with the blue stuff that I made (meth?) other than place it on the table.
You're right, some hints would help. After placing it on the table you can interact with the bags to fill them with blue stuff, after that interact with the empty box to pack it. Then you can grab it and release it in the delivery spot.
Watching the gifs will give you an idea of the flow of the game.
Managed to get to the rainbow section and a little stumped on what to do. Waiting for the bar to fill up was also a little monotonous. Needs a little more guidance and given the interaction with the various devices, some clues as to what can or cannot interact would be useful. For the package delivery my package often gets stuck at the door as well. I like the chill radio tunes though and the vector artwork is refreshing and cleanly done.
Quite cool game! This is my first time making crystal, so took a while to get the combinations. Like the art, and music. Good job! :D
Thank you! Glad you liked it