Hm ...
I was a bit dissappointed (?) or maybe surprised - somehow after the gorgeous main menu with the chill ambience, I did not expect a gotta-go-fast next.
But with that out of the way, the game was great. Loved the Play-session time for a level, and as you mentioned i guess you were eager to add some more but deadline cut you off there.
However i think its a great display of what can still come, therefore: well done!
And congratulation on finishing your first game jam.
Valid! My vision for the game, if it were to be finished, has a story with a dreamy, abstract, metaphorical feel to it, which could not fit within the scope of the game jam, and was conveyed in the aesthetic but not in the gameplay. My intent was to get a form of flow state vibe that merges difficulty and focus into a calm but active state, while remaining lighthearted and fun. But thinking back I don't know if that was achieved, nor if that direction is a good fit for a sonic-like.
Though I must ask, so I can weight your criticism and know if this is an issue I need to fix or player preference, do you generally dislike sonic games, faster paced, or platforming games? Do you prefer relaxing games? Or is it only the disconnect between the expectations set by the main menu and the core gameplay that ticked you off? If so, do you have any suggestions on how to better convey the intended user experience for newer players, whether that's in the game or on the itchi.io page or description?
Sure thing -
So it was really just the disconnect between expectation and actual gameplay - which I also did not take into rating.
Suggestions , lets see...
One thing is the sheer comparison of the bpm and beat of the soundtrack during the main menu.
Another thing that comes to mind, the pencil is depicted the line static... maybe an animation where he swooshes the line and then the menu buttons appear.
If any further idea come to mind, ill write them here later.
