Hi Everyone,
My game is It only takes one.
I would like specific feedback on how the game made you feel. It is an abstract game but I was trying to make the player interpret what is going on. I am curious what your view on it is and whether it worked for you.
Here is the link https://itch.io/jam/gmtk-2019/rate/462278#post-884531
Viewing post in Design Discussion: What do you SPECIFICALLY want feedback on?
Hi n00begon!
I felt that each of the other entities in your game did a good job of feeling abrasive/unhelpful, but the part that really got ME personally was toward the end.
When those slightly more blue shouty people vortex you in and debuff your speed, I found myself thinking 'shit man, just leave me alone, I just want to reach the top of the goddamn screen'. And tell you what, I've had a lot of days where I've felt like that.
It's a good mechanical representation of trying to get through a day with a depression, you did well.
If you were looking to improve it further, one area might be making the character at the end who does you kindness a bit punchier mechanically. Removing the speed debuff from the shouters is excellent, but it would be nice if they also followed you as you moved to help you feel like you two were interacting.
Of course, that's only really relevant if you interpret it like I did, which was meeting someone who you could share your day with.
If you're going the random act of kindness from a stranger who ISN'T going to be in your life from there forward, perhaps there should be a part at the end that is impassable until the stranger is kind to you.
Perhaps an effect like pushing through wind, or something similar. I think you tried to do it with the crowd earlier, which was really effective, but one more beat which REQUIRES the strangers help would I think make the message hit harder!
Hi Crime Dog, thanks for the feedback. The end person will follow you around. In an earlier build they rushed towards you and stuck to you and the feedback I got was that it was that they were a significant other. I was trying to make it a more general person than that so they will keep a 'respectful distance' from you. This was added right at the end so I think that the main thing that players experience is that they just stand still and you can walk up to them but they won't react (Because they are not moving when you are in their bubble) which did not come across quite as I had hoped.
Yeah an extra beat at the end would be great, I left a lot of ideas out to get it in on time but it is one that I would like to revisit.
It seems like I got the same interpretation as Crime Dog. I felt depressed/sad until the end and then waited a good minute just listening to the music and thinking about the game. As the character at the end didn't follow me I just pushed it to the top with me :) The crowd part was also a strong one, having to force your way to the top.
Thanks for the feedback :) . Damn I seem to have messed up the end character. When I play it I think I usually push along the side so you can see them walking towards you. I have also heard that it can not trigger the end set of music so maybe there is just a straight bug I need to find in there. I need to remember to set aside time on the last day of a jam to grab people to play test it.