Feedback so far
Took a small break while I got some feedback from the demo. I did not get any downloads from itch traffic initially so I have to thank everyone that tried it through the forums,
Positive feedback
A lot of players really enjoyed the atmosphere of the game. They enjoyed the art and music in particular. The most promising feedback was that most players got past level 15, showing they understood the game and were able to progress past the tutorial which is great to hear :)
I have also got a few comments comparing the game to the Pokemon rangers series and saying how the mechanics are well implemented which fills me with confidence.
Critical feedback
The loudest feedback was regarding the difficulty. Most players tried the game on normal but were forced to play on easy where still they struggled. Some players made it to the end despite needing multiple attempts at each level. Its the crux of the developer, I can ace the game and forget how difficult it can be for other players
Most players also blamed their own skill for the game, I think there is a massive skill gap with drawing circles on a screen but I cannot blame anyone but myself as no one should be struggling this much to play the game.
Fixing difficulty
There are a dozen ways I can go about reducing the difficulty but I want to be careful as the game is currently beat-able, I just need to make sure its fair for players. Some ideas;
- Normal mode will become easy mode as this is the favored mode. Easy mode will be an even easier mode (less AI health and more time)
- A hard mode can be added down the line which I guess wont be far off the current normal mode
- Reduce the difficulty curve - AI get less health later in the game
- Adding powerups to the game - an expensive choice for dealing with difficulty but gives the player a better toolkit to beat the game
- Adding explosive barrels to the level to give the player more coverage and options for big crowds
- A brief slow-motion powerup to make it easier for the player to sew (Sew-motion)
Appreciate all the feedback so far and have some big things planned for Sew Lovely
Want to give the game a try? try the free PC demo: