Hi! I found your game from https://itch.io/jam/gamedevtv-jam-2022/topic/2148162/feedback-for-everyone-windo.... I have tested and rated the game and here's my feedback about it:
- The graphics look really great overall! Although as just a small comment: it can be seen that at least some of the graphics are from different sources/authors. For example the fence at the beginning area looks out of place because it's so pixelated compared to the rest of the enviroment.
- Background music and environmental audio effects are great and building really relaxing atmosphere.
- I did not notice the controls being explained anywhere. If the controls are not explained in the game itself, you should probably at least explain them in the game description on its itch.io page. Luckily, I still managed find running button. Also, it helped that you used intuitive control scheme.
- The slight zoom effect when running looks good and is used well to create illusion of more speed.
- Some suggestions about collecting the orbs. As the main gameplay is around finding the orbs, there could be more highlight in the event of successfully finding and collecting an orb. You already have a fitting sound effect which is great but you could also consider adding a visual effect for it to make it even more rewarding to collect orbs. It might also be helpful for the player if the game would have an UI showing the number of collected orbs and total number of orbs so the player would know how well they are doing. I could not keep count anymore after reaching 4 or 5, so at least if would have helped me!
- Some of the objects in the game world seemed to have unmatching proportions. When inside the shed every object seem to be super large compared to the player character. They eye level of the character is below the top of a table for example which would not make sense unless the character is meant to be a child(?). Also, the shed itself seems to be almost the same size as the 2 floor nearby.
- The game world is impressively large for a jam game! Of course this also made it bit difficult to search for the orbs. Luckily the orb placement was pretty good as the orbs usually were found in a places that looked visually interesting, drawing the player to visit them
- Still I did not find all of them. When I ended playing I think I had found 5 or 6 of the orbs (at least the one in the house, in the shed, in the second shed, on top of the hill and somewhere around the trees on the other side of the fence). I thought I had already been in all places but apparently not. Where the last ones would have been? Is the something that happens when the player collects the last orb?
- As you have probably already figured based on the comments by others, the blue orb on top of the stone is very confusing. If I had not already read that I don't need to collect it I would have certainty thought that it must be collected. One "rule" that I believe is generally followed in game/usability design is: things that look the same, work the same way in the game. Because I have seen other colorful orbs in the game and those were collectables I as a player would assume that all the other colorful orbs share this same function that they are meant to be collected. Following this idea, if you would want to make it clear for the player that the thing floating above the stone is not to be collected it should probably look different from the collectable items.
- This game is not really my genre and not something that I would usually play on my free time. To me the gameplay is too simple but I want to emphasize that this is really subjective matter. I still find the visual/audio scenery you have here as very impressive for a game jam entry. And there is probably people out there who really enjoy that kind of experiences more than I.
Overall: you have managed to build a really good atmosphere here. This games probably works the best for those who enjoy walking simulators or other slow-paced games that are more about the emotional experiences than complex or action based gameplay.