itch.io

🎯 First Impressions
Another returning developer! Kisame712 charmed us with their previous entry featuring a little robot finding its way home, so I was immediately curious to see what they’d bring to the table this time. Ink did not disappoint. This time, you’re not a robot—you’re an ink pot. And somehow, this ink pot is brimming with personality. The subtle “breathing” idle animation gave the character life in such a simple, elegant way. The game wastes no time throwing you into the story with purpose and direction, showing once again that Kisame knows how to set a narrative tone without slowing momentum.

🔥 Fun & Engagement
What we get is a side-scrolling platformer with puzzle elements—and from the very first moments, it’s clear: this is a step forward. You’ve taken lessons from your last project and leveled up. The jump animation with the little ink blast? Chef’s kiss. It looks great, feels great, and makes immediate mechanical sense. You delivered a smooth, show-don’t-tell tutorial, which is always a win in my book, and the pacing of level design kept me curious about what came next. A really engaging, cohesive experience.

🎨 Theme Use
The interpretation of the jam theme was clever and layered. The monochrome world is part of the world design, yes—but also directly tied into the character’s creation and narrative. It’s subtle, smart, and well-executed. Big points here.

👁 Visual Presentation
We’ve talked about it already, but let’s say it again: that jump animation? Fantastic. The parallax backgrounds also added depth that’s especially important when working in a limited color palette. However, some visual elements could use improvement to improve clarity:

• Hazards like spikes didn’t stand out enough against the background. Giving them a brighter, sharper contrast—like a polished white or bold edge—would make them pop visually.

• Droppers, being your main collectible, could use more visual distinction. Options could include a subtle idle animation, glowing outline, or aura effect to make them stand out and draw the player’s eye.

🔊 Sound & Music
The relaxing background music suits the tone and pacing of the game, and the jump “sproing” sound adds just the right touch of charm. However, there are some improvements to consider:

• A sound effect when the player hits a hazard would help with feedback and immersion.

• Restarting the level/music abruptly after a death is jarring. Consider fading the music and adding a quick visual or audio transition to smooth the experience.

🛠 Technical Execution
The game is mechanically simple—and that’s a strength. It’s tight, focused, and clearly built with care. That said, one area to refine is hazard hitboxes. As with many early platformers, the hitboxes felt a bit unforgiving at times. When in doubt, err on the side of generosity. Investing time in learning how your engine handles collisions will pay off tenfold in future projects.

💡 Originality
I love short-form story-driven narratives in jam games, and Kisame consistently delivers them with charm. The idea of an ink pot adventuring through a grayscale world is wonderfully whimsical, and the personality shines through. It’s memorable, and that’s not easy to accomplish in a small-scope game.

✨ Polish
Polish is solid overall, but a few focused enhancements could take this game from good to great:

• Add visual/sound transitions for player death or respawn.

• Adjust spike and dropper visibility for better guidance.

• Explore a slightly more immersive restart mechanic to reduce abruptness.

Additionally, here’s a personal challenge from me: in your next 2D platformer, experiment with more Y-axis gameplay. Adding verticality—multi-level obstacles, climbing segments, or vertical puzzles—can expand the experience and showcase your evolving level design skills. You’ve proven you can build compelling side-scrolling levels, so now it’s time to stretch that vertical creativity.

🧠 Final Thoughts
Kisame712 delivers again—this time with more refinement, more charm, and a clear leap in development skill. Seeing this kind of growth in just one month between jams is genuinely impressive. You’re putting your lessons into action and crafting increasingly engaging little worlds. Ink is humble in scope but rich in character, and I’m already excited to see where this ink pot’s journey goes next—or what strange and wonderful characters you bring to life in your next entry. Great job!