nielisson

[nielisson]

Gato Roboto

Just a quick thought, just as quick as my playing experience.

Even though I see all the hard work put into this game and appreciate its unique aesthetics that make it stand out in the crowd, there are two things that bother me the most: the first level's boss, which appears only 2 minutes into the game, is excessively difficult, and the room feels quite claustrophobic. I sometimes found myself trapped on the corner of the screen not being able to dodget the bullet or the enemy. Am I too old for metroidvanias? Halp ! 🆘‼️

Aesthetics

Returning to the aesthetics, yes, I genuinely like them. However, as a UI/UX designer, I can see potential accessibility issues for players who struggle to distinguish between enemies and non-enemies. It bothered me that I couldn't discern whether the frog was actually evil (I mean, frogs are cute!), so I ended up shooting everything that moved without understanding why. Perhaps I shouldn't have skipped the intro, but the dialogue sound effects were driving me crazy, so I did. Well, as Michelle Visage would say in this case, stop relying on that non-interactive tutorials!

I hope someone gets this reference!

Nothing personal

I do want to express positive aspects about the game. I still appreciate the aesthetics; I LOVE the animation of the floppy disk! However, I didn't connect much with the characters, not even the player's character. That may be due to the fact that I prefer more colorful games. That's probably why! Ah, they also have another mode that's not entirely black-and-white; it's more grayed out, and I prefer that the most.

[nielisson]

Best-Looking GMTK 2020 Games Part IV

CockaTune

Impeccable pixel art and animations. I am just speechless! Great job! I wish I could say more, but I really don't have patience for that kind of gameplay.

Check it out.

Out of Body

Looking at the team composition, we can see that they did have a very good art direction. I was just a bit disappointed with the bugs, the gameplay is not that interesting. Other than that, this game is really beautiful!

Check it out.

Insomniacs Get Some Sleep

I'd love to know what shader they are using. I know nothing about shaders =x I really love how they used the shader, it made the world so mysterious. I think shaders are very trendy nowadays.

Check it out.

Why Can't I Just Speak Normally To My High School Crush?!

This is probably one of the best video novels I've played! I really recommend it. Nice colors, gameplay is also interesting!

Check it out.

Bready... Set... Duck

Just check it out! Really! So funny! PS: Bread is not good for ducks, most birds shouldn't eat bread. It's bad for them.

Check it out.

Water We Doing

Very nice 3D models. The leaves falling are just very charming. It's a shame that the gameplay is very limited. I love it anyway!

Check it out.

Gravity Drifter

Another amazing pixel art game from the jam. I am impressed with the character's animation. Very professional!

Check it out.

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Honorable Mentions

Little Friends: Share the Planet

Very cute game. I am obsessed with the sounds! It's an honorable mention because the shader is doing all the work in this case, which is not a bad thing...

Check it out.

[nielisson]

Best-Looking GMTK 2020 Games (Part III)

itslikesnake

I found these graphics very fun, especially the colors they used. I really like how the world is almost cylindrical. In general, it's a very easy game to play (I love that arrow that helps the character find the items) and I do recommend this one. This is a great example of how to do a successful remake of a classic game.

Check it out.

Soothing Sequence

I have no words! They have made all that in 48h! It was indeed a very soothing gameplay which is quite simple and fun...for a while. I think that kind of gameplay gets boring very quickly. It's safe to say that this is one of the most beautiful games from the jam.

Check it out.

SGNITTES CLUB

There is only one scene, but it's so well-done that it deserves to be in this list, and they do know how to present their game, just check the Itch.io page. The sounds and music fit the game perfectly. I just didn't quite understand what I was supposed to do...Was I supposed to change my gender in order to enter the bar? Why would I enter a bar that imposes such a thing? I noticed that it was possible to change the time...Well, it didn't quite help. It seemed like I had to control the game through the settings. It's a good thought, but maybe I needed some more guidance. Great art, though!

Check it out.

LAZY PIRATES

This game made me laugh so hard. This could easily win for the best sounds. I don't know how they did the voices, but I LOVE THEM. I didn't even care if I was playing it right, I was just having so much FUN! Thanks for this game!

Check it out.

Picnic Pals

Well, they are not really pals, since they are eating each other...So! the game looks astonishing and the cartoon shader they are using makes it even more beautiful! The color palette looks very pleasing. I would actually buy this to play with friends! I couldn't actually play because it's a multiplayer game, but it seems fun, and I hope they release this one day!

Check it out.

Sketch on Fire

This game is very similar to student project called It's Paper Guy, except that it's a platformer. I find the game stunning, and the animations are not bad at all. I just thought that the element at the end of each level didn't quite match. Nonetheless, this is totally worth your playing time.

Check it out.

Gossip Ghosts

I am not sure, but I think the authors of this game is making a reference to The Midnight Gospel. If not, they should definitely look into it. I am a huge fan of cute cylindrical worlds, so I couldn't leave this game out of my list. Also, I absolutely love the fond that they are using! Regarding the gameplay, I was not very engaged, I didn't think it was super fun to go talk to every NPC in the game. I may have to come back to this later on!

Check it out.

Game Fixer Kit 2020

Very nice art style, the pink was a bold choice and it worked. The gameplay is very interesting as well. I really enjoyed playing this. At first I thought that it was weird to have the screen divided like that, but it didn't bother me afterwards. If anyone knows anything about that shader, I would appreciate it! Awesome game!

Check it out.

AWRY

Very cute characters and the idea of the gameplay is very appealing. However, I was not really understanding why the boss wouldn't get damage. I didn't get past the first boss, so I don't know if they have another scene, but they did everything so well, especially the animations and the visual effects. I think it was lacking some feedback sounds. The instructions on the screen at all times are very helpful, but there could be a way to hide it in order to make it more presentable. I hope you guys keep working on it!

Check it out.

Otsukare!

When I saw this being streamed by the owner of GMTK, I was shocked with the level of dedication of these jammers. Chanko Studios really knew how to use the perspective, and you can confirm that by looking at the objects. The animations are really nice and it feels so good to break things! Great job!

Check it out.

Elemental Golf

This game is simply adorable! I read that they did everything, so no pre-existing assets! I thought that those little colorful trees and the houses really look amazing. It's just a shame that they used the same ground to make the mountains, they could have used other 3D models for the mountains and the sky could have a different color to match the lighting on the village. Anyway, this deserves to be here.

Check it out.

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Honorable Mentions

The OoC Weeds

Very nice low poly work! I just thought that the ground was not really blending in with the rest. Also, the sounds were not really that good. However, it's a quite beautiful game for a jam!

Check it out.

Roll the Die

I had a very good time playing this game and the graphics were pretty good, too. I just thought it was not at the same level as the ones on my official list. Great job, guys!

Check it out.

A Little to the Left

Another game that really impressed me, but I suppose I don't have a lot of patience to organize all those things. I barely organize my bedroom! Jokes apart, this game adopts a pastel color palette that is really blend in together. Very satisfying in every way!

Check it out.

Ctrl-Q

What makes this game even more beautiful is the shader and the post processing that there may be. I like that concept of making copies of the player and teleporting. I've actually made a game with that concept. Nice entry!

Check it out.

Hamma Hat.

I couldn't forget to mention this game, because it's very well presented. I just didnt enjoy it as much: the game was laggy and the spinning sound was a bit annoying. Also, I am not sure the music really matched the game assets. Moreover, I didn't see my health bar or a timer, so I thought that I wouldn't die if I were to just stand there...Something has to be done about that if you guys want to continue working on this game. It's a shame that we can barely see the details of this beautiful game due to the camera angle and the distance. Other than that, the gameplay is fun and I think this game has potential!

Check it out.

Succumb

I'd like to congratulate the ONE dev who made Succumb for the character design and its animation. The gameplay, however, was quite frustrating: the jump was a bit off and it was quite hard to jump on the platforms. Maybe the controls were fitting the theme...Well, it's nice, but this is not really playable. Having that said, I find it amazing that he did it all by himself. Great job!

Check it out.

[nielisson]

Best-Looking GMTK 2020 Games (Part 2 )

Nursery Curse

And Blackthornprod joins the fun! Famous for his thick black outline and funny-looking characters, Noa, the owner of Blackthornprod, knows how to mix colors very well. He is really devoted to his art style, which is very nice. The game is also quite fun and things get really out of control at a certain point. I really enjoyed the aesthetics and the gameplay, even if I was a little annoyed with the children's sounds...but I guess that was the point. Great job!

Check it out.

Two-Timin' Towers

I had so much fun playing this and the graphics are quite impressive for the time given. I saw that they are at least 7 members. It may have been difficult to manage so many people in one weekend. I particularly love tower defenses, and I love that plot twist where the towers can also attack the player. It took me a few minutes to figure out everything, but then I understood the strategy. I recommend this to everyone!

Check it out.

Unbelt Management

Maybe I am just mesmerized by these glowing geometric shapes, but I found this game very appealing. I didn't quite understood what I was doing wrong, I believe the tutorial could be a bit clearer. Either way, this is a very nice entry.

Check it out.

The Dusk of Emulch

It's hard to believe that they have created all the assets in 48 h, but this game has to be in the list for obvious reasons. I found the walking animation of the character somewhat weird. I wonder if they used Mixamo for the animations. The UI could be a bit better, maybe with a low poly style to match the game. Regarding the game design, I didn't see anything innovative. Other than that, this is a very solid entry.

PS: I was informed that they used pre-existing assets, which is allowed in the jam. It's a nice game either way.

Check it out.

Rigid Bloody: Blackout of Control

I really really really enjoy clay-based aesthetics! The gameplay is quite messy but so funny, and that is the point whole point of using ragdoll physics. If this was easier to play, I think this could be a very good game!

Check it out.

[nielisson]

Best-Looking GMTK 2020 Games (Part I )

This list takes in consideration the short time for production

t h r u s t

One of my favorite games from this game jam. The graphics and the sounds are just impeccable! All those shaders and post process really added so much juice to the game. I am really curious to know how they made the background, since it has some sort of dynamic lighting happening there. I hope they release it...maybe with some modification to the game design.

Check it out.

Skrybblebot Can't Be Stopped!

For a 48-hour game, this is quite impressive. Not just graphically, the sounds and even the game concept are on point! I really enjoyed to play this game after I understood the controls. I just felt like it was not contrasted enough. Maybe it was due to that notebook page filter-like. I really recommend this game!

Check it out.

Our Castle Is Running Away, My Lord

The art style reminds me of Don't Starve, so I clicked on it right away. The graphics are indeed nice, taking in consideration the short time they had to make everything. I am not sure why the character jumps every 2 seconds, I am not sure if that's the idle animation...In general, the game design doesn't bring much innovation, but it's a very nice entry!

Check it out!

OH MY GOD

The graphics are quite impressive for the short period of time. The theme was present at all times, the animations are OK for the jam. I thought the player's walking animation could be a bit better, since we will be looking at him at all times. The game lagged a lot, so I couldn't really enjoy it as much. I also didn't quite understand the gameplay, even after reading the "how to play". I noticed that it was possible to switch the enemies' places, but what can we do about that? Anyway, this game deserves to be on my list as best-looking, but it's lacking in other areas. Interesting game, though!

Check it out.

Dog Walk King

This is the second dog walker game from the jam that I am playing. This one probably is better looking, even though there are some inconsistencies in the art style, and some of the graphics were blurrier than others. I believe they used some pre-existing assets, which is allowed in the jam. I just thought they could have chosen assets that match better. Also, the size of the world is not quite proportional to the character: a fire hydrant is bigger than the character, for example. Nonetheless, the character and the dogs are very nice, I have to say.

Check it out.

DROOC

Even though I couldn't play the game due to some technical problems (the game wouldn't download), I was very seduced by the art of this game. If it works as it says in the description, this game deserves more visibility. Well done, guys!

Check it out (and let me know if it worked!)

Border

" Your life is out of your hands, maybe if you can make it somewhere else, something good will come, but can you give up on old habits? "

Yes, that's the description of the game. I found it quite depressive, but there is some beauty in it somehow. The gameplay is quite short, but it's meaningful and it brings up delicate subjects. Graphically speaking, I found the perspective a bit off. The character's animation could be a bit better as well, and I know how hard it is to make a game in 48-hour, so I am not judging anyone for it.

Check it out.

[nielisson]

A Mortician's Tale by Laundry Bear Games

I would say that this is what a cozy game should feel like, even though the theme is quite sad. I learned many things just by playing it. I never thought that the blood of the cadaver has to be replaced for the funeral. That must be a very hard job!

Sound Design Very relaxed sort of ambiance. There could be a few more feedback sounds, but everything seems to go well together.

Art I like how they combined 3D for the environment and the flat art for the interfaces with the tools. It would be very difficult to do everything in 3D. I also like how they used the colors to guide the players. I was not really impressed with the graphics; although, this is an indie game and they may not even have a lot of budget, so it's a very good game!

Game Design I've never played any game like this. It felt like I was playing a serious game, which is not a bad thing...there is no "fun factor" per say, especially if you don't accept the game for what it is. The gameplay is quite simple and it's fully guided (at least in the beginning), so I wonder if there will be an option to hide the upper text and we can finally use our own memory to do the job.

Overall, I really enjoyed this game concept and I am curious to know what will be the "big surprise", as they advertised. I wouldn't recommend this to sensitive people, though.

[nielisson]

Sky Rogue by Fractal Phase

This is a very fun game for those who enjoy flight simulations. I confess that I had some difficulties to fly around. I couldn't go where I wanted to go and that was quite frustrating. However, I think that's not the game's problem, it's just that I am not use to this kind of games. Game Design I personally have nothing to add in this part, but I found the tutorial a bit overwhelming. The instructions could appear little by little, since the first priority is to learn how to fly.

Graphics The low poly style is very well executed in this game, and the visual effects are just a cherry on top.

Sound Design Sounds really matched the game objects and all of them seemed to work well together.

[nielisson]

forma.8 by MixedBag

I was sold just by the cut scene in the beginning, which is well done and it makes us wonder who or what the character is. Great intro!

Graphics The art reminds of Free Fall and Limbo, nothing really revolutionary. However, they really succeeded at it - they really stick to that formula with silhouettes and a limited color palette for the rest. Thanks to those particle systems and the 3D/2D mix, they ended up making the game even more lively and juicy. Everything seems pretty "affordable" for gamers in general, I didn't even need a tutorial to get around. I really liked when they zoom out at certain areas so you can see how big the map really is.

Sound Design Very chill and it matches perfectly to the environment. I really felt like I was being carried away by the game at a certain point.

Game Design These are my favorite mechanics:

Possibility of throwing the bomb at any direction by pushing it with another power. When I discovered that combination, I felt really smart!

Opening passages by pushing through moving objects (the big cog in the first or second phase);

Overall, the game and level design are on point. I did not feel bored nor too frustrated. I just gave at the first boss, because I didn't quite understand if it was taking the damage. That is probably the negative feedback I would have for this game. A health bar for the boss would help us understand if we are actually doing some damage. I am not sure if it is a good idea to just let the player run away. I wonder if that was on purpose...Maybe for a beginner, that is quite convenient, since we can just get away and try to recover our health points somewhere and then we can come back.

[nielisson]

Mu Cartographer by Titouan Millet

If you like to press a lot of buttons and search for hidden treasure: this game is made for you!

Graphics The map is procedurally generated, so it all depends how we tweak things. If you set your goals to find the treasures, though, you will probably see better sculptures. Everything is very lively and you can customize many different thing.

Sound Design The ambient sounds are ridiculously amazing. Even the feedback sounds are very charming.

Game Design In my humble opinion, If it wasn't for the treasure finding, this could not be considered as a game. But this goes beyond that stereotypical question. Game or not, this is a very interesting experience. Also, this may be used as tool for game designers.

[nielisson]

ART SQOOL by Glanderco

Graphics I wish I had the time analyze this a bit longer, but I have to say they really stick with this color block style and a lot of grain filter.

Sound Design The glitchy ambience sounds really matched the game.

Camera It’s a shame that the camera is just so frustrating to control. It’s definitely not something that prevents me from playing, but sometimes it’s just super hard to direct the camera to the right place, especially if you are in a narrow place.

Game Design The game design choices they made were not just “happy accidents”, they really thought them out carefully in order to make the message come through, like falling while you are drawing or the grading system that sometimes is unjust to you as a player. Speaking of happy accidents, I wonder if they know that we can fly by spamming the jump button. Well, that actually allowed me to go from an “island” to another without any difficulty. Actually, the only challenge here is to get good grades.

[nielisson]

A Short Hike by Adam Robinson-Yu

I'd like to describe this as a cozy stress-free game where your main objective is to reach the highest point of the Hawk Peak.

I would personally play this just for the flying mechanics which feel great, but there is so much to this game that I was positively surprised. I found myself wandering around aimlessly, I didn't even know where to go (the compass wasn't helping that much), and it was just fine! You can be carried away so easily in this little world.

Feedback and some notes

Graphics The art style is just stunning. It seems like they are using some sort of "pixelated camera" that transforms all the 3D assets in pixel art. Moreover, I really enjoy the color palette of this game, since it's quite colorful and the colors are not very saturated. There are many visual effects that give life to environment.

Sound Design The music and sound effects are just so on point and seamless, and they only used "freesound.org" and Chiptune. Bravo!

Game Design I really appreciate the fact that there is no "losing condition", there are just a few things that we may actually feel like we lost something, but the game is not punishing you for every mistake. On the contrary, the game actually tries to help you somehow. I found the dialogues and the story in general very well done, even though it felt a bit superficial at times. This is one of the best games I've ever played, and I really enjoyed it from beginning to end!