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Ascent's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Overall | #5 | 4.454 | 4.454 |
| Audio | #9 | 4.263 | 4.263 |
| Gameplay | #10 | 4.329 | 4.329 |
| Graphics | #10 | 4.579 | 4.579 |
| Authenticity (use of resolution) | #74 | 4.645 | 4.645 |
Ranked from 76 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Did you work in a team?
I started out alone but at the end of the jam, @VavMusicMagic offered to contribute music and sound effects which really elevated my motivation as well as the end result.
Was the resolution a challenge?
Done a lot of 64x64 before so no surprises, but I generally try to keep UI to a minimum and focus on simple core mechanics as much as possible.
What did you learn?
I've never done a metroidvania before so that was fun! Also, I usually have almost no story in my games but this time I tried to add a little backstory that the player can learn as they progress.
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Comments
Amazing ambiance, and great gameplay packed into such a small package. Brings back flashbacks of Another World, Prince of Persia and Axiom Verge. Well done!
I can't rate this, but wanted to share :) Will play more!
Alas, I cannot rate (as did not enter the jam) but this is fantastic! 🤩
Everything about it is brilliant: the level design, progression, gfx (gorgeous), music - EVERYTHING!
Just the right amount of "ARGH how I do- OH, that's how!" 😅
Loved the backstory too - kinda reminded me of "The Dig" (LucasArts adventure game)
Sadly, I missed one spirit (heck knows where that blokey was - but close enough!)
All the best with the jam - you deserve ALL the points! 👏
This was really great!
It’s quite important to keep the mechanics consistent when creating a Metroid-like, and you really nailed it. Very polished stuff, especially if this was your fist time doing something like this!
The sense of progression and the abilities offered felt quite natural. Really loved playing around with the mushroom-bounce and dash! I guess the vine-powerup was the one that felt a bit underwhelming, since you didn’t get to really use it that much.
I think I spent half of the playtime stumbling around until I found the final area. Kinda wish there would’ve been a visible counter how many spirits I’ve collected when playing.
Also, was I supposed to get here? Good thing you added a boundary down there. Was afraid that I’m gonna get myself soft-locked poking around!
The three “levels” had nice color-schemes and own varied personalities to them. Music was pleasant, and those particular arpeggiated chords reminded me of old Gameboy-Zeldas. Would’ve been cool to hear own themes in the different areas, but that would understandably be a lot of work for a jam-game.
(My own entry had literally 90% less area to explore than this, but I went and produced three tracks of music! I guess that was a bit overkill!)
Would be interesting to see a zoomed out map of the game area. It’s always fun how the sense of scale feels so different in games like this when you’re offered only a small perspective when playing.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the in-depth feedback, really appreciated!
I had a counter for the spirits at one point, but it kinda made the game into a collect’em up and ruined the atmosphere so I removed it :)
I cannot rate the game as I wasn't part of the jam. However, what a gem! I liked everything about it. The controls are absolutely great and polished, the art is super clean, and the game design is incredible. Very well made game!
Thank you so much for letting me know. Means a lot!
Very polished game. Good usage of low resolution!
Perfection
This game is so cool!
Audio and art is simply awesome! That melody could loop forever.
I did not expect to die from a high jump, but it made sense afterall.
Very well polished, a nice story, and enought time to play! Perfect to me, honestly!
Cool game, nice graphics, and fun gameplay. You did pretty good on the Metroidvania pieces, especially considering the 2-week time frame. In a perfect Metroidvania world, after you get a new power, you get a teensy little tutorial on how to use it (even if it's just like "climb this wall -->").
Nice story based metroidvania, got a little stuck near the end and had to check a walkthrough to realise you could boost then jump to move in an upward direction instead of jumping then boosting. But all round great entry.
Gorgeous to look at, a pleasure to play. Full marks.
Great little game very polished.
All around great game. It was fun to play and yet intuitive. The animation and art in general was awesome. And the sound was a great.
A clear winner, by far, and well deserved! Almost impeccable experience; art, game design, game feel, sound, and music.
My one and only complaint would be with the ability where you get a downward boost — breaking the forth wall, the instructions were along the lines of "press jump while in the air" which to me suggested the boost would have an upward trajectory. This assumption got me stuck for a bit trying to get one of the optional pickups. Really a minor issue considering the whole experience, just thought I'd mention it for completeness' sake.
Hats off to you both!
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated!
I've struggled to come up with a better instruction for this so I'm happily taking suggestions. :D
Pretty good game! Slick animations all around, I love the mushrooms especially! It's a bit easy to get lost from time to time, but no complaints otherwise.
Thanks! I considered a map at one point but it felt unnecessary. Hopefully the game isn't too big to get lost for longer periods of time.
best game on this jam
Love style and art. Game atmosphere reminds me of Flashback a little. Very good, thank you!
SPOILERS :
I managed to unlock the dash ability and the main character was basically all green, but after that I got lost and wasn't sure where to go lol. I'm definitely coming back to this to try and finish it though.
I always get lost in most metroidvanias so don't worry lol. Either way, great level and map design. Every section felt unique and had some tight platforming. The graphics were absolutely amazing and the sfx and music were cool to listen to. Nice that there was another section of the map which had a different art style lol. Great pallete choices as well. Love how subtle the actual story is.
My only caveat is that I'm not quite sure how to the dodge works and ended up doding towards either the lower left and right directions when I was dodging in the air
All in all though, a really great entry
Thanks for the feedback!
Not sure it makes thing clearer, but dodge just sends the character straight down. :)
Played this for a good bit!
Level design was amazing. It's cool that as you progress you have to explore places you have already been to but with new abilities. I really like this and think its somthing that people should do more often . The movement felt really good and consistent and the music dose not get old even though its a pretty short loop.