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A jam submission

Neon RunnerView game page

An entry for the #NdabJam gamejam. Neon style package delivery speedrunner.
Submitted by Achie (@Achie7240) — 1 hour, 6 minutes before the deadline
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Neon Runner's itch.io page

Results

CriteriaRankScore*Raw Score
Style#154.4294.429
Game Design#214.1434.143
Originality#334.0954.095
Adherence To Theme#723.9523.952

Ranked from 21 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.

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Comments

Submitted(+1)

I really enjoyed how simple it was, really reminded me of retro console games like atari and stuff. The game is straight up clear on what to do and you do a really clever use of colors to separate platforms and pack related objects. Well done!

Developer(+1)

Thank you for your feedback, went ahead and left some on your submission!

Submitted(+1)

I liked how simple and it was. Enjoyable game! After I figured it out it was easy and fun to deliver packages. Boost is pretty nice to do. I like the neon theme as well!

Developer(+1)

Thank you so much, and for the video as well!

Jam HostSubmitted(+1)

I love how stylish and smooth this is. Despite the game being super easy, I got into a "just one more delivery" state for a solid 5 minutes. I think you can gradually introduce blue obstacles at higher altitudes to keep the player on their toes, or have birds that give the opposite effect (dropping you straight down). I didn't really pay attention to anything on the map except the arrows telling me where my destination is, and spammed jump - boost - jump - boost until I ran into it. Maybe instead of a score attack a better format for the game would be delivering a certain number of packages in one part of the city before unlocking the next, and choosing the package destinations in a way that encourages more precise platforming and understanding of how the buildings work in that specific level. Overall though, great stuff!

Developer (1 edit)

Thank you so much for the analysis!

A more in-depth package system with multiple packages was in plan, but sadly i over-scoped my project for the jam (again …).

“Negative birds” are a great idea, i will keep that in mind for future updates. Unlocking different city parts is a good idea for the future, i just have to incorporate more stuff into the project and figure out a good vertical layout without confusing graphics (which level are you on and such). A good method is also needed for a bigger city to load into the map as you go, i’ll have to look into that as well, as i’m only familiar with top-down stuff methods atm. Thank you again!

I’ll take a look at your submission as soon as i’m on windows (working on linux atm)

Submitted(+1)

This game needs  music!!! Controls are great. I would like to see a bigger city and longer buildings because game is too easy with this map. Solid entry, Good job!

Developer

Sadly i’m not competent yet with music making, and more so in the Pico-8 tracker. Thrust me it’s better that i skipped it! :D This is a part that i’m trying to improve, but it’s a bit hard for me as i merely ever dipped my feet into music. Bigger cities and such are in plan, but for now i was limited with the actual size of the map sheet in Pico-8. I will look up how to expand for each dimension in the future! If you would like to see future updates, don’t fear to follow as i’m planning on developing this game actively. Thank you for your comment!

Submitted(+1)

Nice game!

This feels like some old arcade game, especially with this limited palette and 8-bit-sounds ^^

Although it's a bit simple (Which is normal for this genre), it was really refreshing to see something in a style that no other submission has :D

The only improvement tips I could give are maybe change the control settings to more commonly used buttons (AD / Space or WAD f.e.) and add some more variety to the gameplay while still keeping it simplistic.

I actually like that there's no main menu or retry button, as this adds to the feeling of playing a fun retro game in an arcade

Overall, really cool game!

Developer(+1)

I wanted it to be much more challenging, but ran out of time. I will look up control exporting as i see it as a general problem with the game! It’s nice to hear that i could deliver the arcade feel, is was trying on emulating it!

Submitted(+1)

this game is very interesting. I love the Design and Neon style of the game. The But I find it better to control the player with WASD because its much easier for me than control him with the arrow keys. The controls feel very nice and smooth and the sound is really nice. My conclusion: Its a very unique and cool game!

Developer(+1)

I will look up if i can export games with different controls than this. I haven’t dwelled deep in this territory for Pico-8. Thank you for your comment!

Submitted(+1)

I hear your call for an overly complex review for Jam games? No? Yes? Maybe?

Here it comes anyways!

Quite a little fun experience!

Summary

Adherence To Theme

  • Another twist on the packet delivery subgenre, this Jam has spawned. Nothing too daring but it gets the theme across very well. Nicely Done!

Game Design

  • The controls are nice for this game. They weren't too hard to grasp, although I had some time to figure out I could move with the arrow keys, since you didn't point that out in your description. I'm so accustomed to WASD movement so at first I thought the game was only me Boosting to move.(Which would've been entirely plausible.)
  • The momentum is frantic, makes this game really unique! As an huge of the original Sonic The Hedgehog trilogy, this made me very happy.
  • The inclusion of the Birds being sort of flying springs that propel you forward a lot made for an extra layer of depth and skill, welcomed in this game! But there are quite many of them. I would personally like to see them toned down quite a bit in spawn rate to make for a more rewarding experience hitting them, something special... But I also understand doing this would make the rooftop route always the best option. 
  • The Arrow pointing towards your goal was a bit far away from the focus of attention. It was sometimes hard immediately knowing where to go which is not what you want from a game like this.
  • The extremely over the top streak system was ingenious. And I want more states! MOAAAR. Oh also I didn't notice it change much, do you get more time for higher score streaks? It wasn't very clear. 
  • Perhaps there should be a score system, rather than judging on time alive and packets delivered. In my first run after I had understood the controls and objective a bit better, I had a lot of time left. I waited for almost 2 minutes to get my result, which was 50 packets.  Perhaps it is a bit too easy to continue streaks but I mean for the Jam it is serviceable. 

Originality

  • The game is highly original, what can I say, haven't played anything like this before. (Although my retro gaming experience doesn't go back quite as far. 90ies kid and all that.

Style

  • The form of pixel art is amazing, it reminded me a bit of the Atari games of old times. Commodore style. Neat idea and fits the game well.
  • What doesn't fit the game well is the sheer amount of same colors used for everything. You tried to indicate platforms as being pinkish color. Great! You already did a better job at communicating walkable surfaces than I did in my game jam entry. But then there are Birds in the same color... Ok. I guess you signify the player this is an object you can touch for positive effect. But then the delivery arrow and signal are the same color. It becomes very noisy, very quick. Same goes for the blue color for the the pedestrians and signal. 
  • Now I don't know the target system you where trying to emulate. My first guess was old school Amiga Consoles. The C64 mentioned above could show 16 colors as a palette. If I counted correctly you are already above that with the rainbow effect, player and background colors. So why did you make the signals and arrows the same color as everything else? A little bit of variation could make things more clear in my opinion.
  • I did a bit of research and found out about the Pico 8 Game environment. It turns out to have very similar architectural bounds as the C64. 16 Colors. So you did not go above the 16 color limit with the rainbow effect. Still you had much to choose from for the signals and arrows. I think you should still overlook their design once. That being said, knowing with what limitations you created the game made me appreciate it even more!
  • The sound effects where neat but the game was a bit quiet. I was ready to get blasted with Chiptune sounds haha.  A welcomed addition for the future!

Suggestions

  • Pull down the arrows a bit so it's clear where you have to go at a glance. Focusing on the tiny character sprite and going to the top (where the pink arrow might or might not be obstructed by platform and bird colors) is a bit jarring.
  • The Combo System was neat but overall felt a bit inconsequential. It was also very simple to get the combo going, which is nice for the jam but could be a tad bit more engaging in the future. Just a tiny bit.
  • Some more sounds (for example for boosting.) or a musical track could help make the game feel even better. (Bear in mind, that I don't know the exact limitations of the Pico-8 system regarding music and sounds, I did adjust my rating and took it not into consideration after I found out about the System.)

Overall

This game is a frantic and fun experience, I liked it quite a bit. Overall it didn't really strike the balance of being challenging enough to keep me playing and easy enough to get me started. It felt a bit too easy after I knew what was going on with any object and my limitations and goals. However for a game Jam this gets the Theme across and is pretty addictive! Great work!

Developer(+1)

First: Oh boi, this is a long comment! Thank you very much! Second: I really like the style and analysis you went with this, reminds me of the days i gave feedback for post-rock songs, gonna steal this style for myself too after this jam!

**For the aesthetic part: ** I wanted to make a very minimalist, and cyan pink grey scale color scheme for this, hence the over usage of some colors on parts. I wanted to grasp a feeling i tried to convey, but haven’t been able to achieve very well. I could not make the player 1-bit with the details, but gonna try in the future, as i’m gonna continue to work on this. Also wanted to reserve the rainbow colors for only effects to help highlight them more. The arrows being too far is true, that’s a valid point to consider in the future.

Game balance: Frankly i’m sad, but i didn’t have much time to tune the difficulty, so i just left it a comfortable level to not to discourage people from playing and enjoying it. This will change in the future heavily.

Birds are also an obstacle, colliding them with any other than falling velocity will cost you time penalty. You have invincibility frames, but those lack of indication as well.

Streaks and combos atm don’t reward you, as playing the game as of now is easy as it is, not counting bonus points from those. Adding more of them is a good idea i will incorporate in the future. Score system as well maybe counting traveled distance or so.

Sounds: Simply put, i’m dumb for that. I’m just grasping the idea of how to achieve certain sound effects, and music is way beyond my skill atm, which is kinda a disadvantage as a solo developer, but i’m willing to take that risk/point reduction. This is an area i know i lack of, but will try to improve myself in the future as well.

Thank you so much for this ultra detailed review once more!

Submitted

Oh no worries haha, I'm glad I made a few points you found valid. 

For the arrows, maybe it's enough pulling them down and give an outline.

I thought it was super fun jumping off of birds with boost, which shoots you extremely far, I had the feeling they had this risk reward, where you would  be quicker but sometimes overshoot your target a bit.

The difficulty is fine for the jam as it is. 

That's a bummer about the sounds haha. But you know what they say. Game Devs always learn.

Submitted(+1)

Ooooh nice, pretty, and simple. You made a really solid game :)

Developer

Thank you so much!

Submitted(+1)

Love this! Everything about it is just satisfying, bouncing on birds especially haha

Developer

I’m glad to hear that from someone with an awesome submission imo! I wanted to have satisfying moments in the game and i think i mostly nailed the bouncing part (there are some birds that move in the same tempo as you, so basically you can bird-taxi your way on the map with ease)

Submitted(+1)

I really love it! I spent some minutes playing without stop, lol! 

I missed enemies that would make the game difficult! But I like it so much.

Developer(+1)

I’m glad you liked it!

If you are interested in more gameplay elements stick around, i’m planning to work on this project once ratings have passed, i can fit in with my other games to my “schedule” to fresh things up!

Sadly time got the best of me and for now i could not have any more things in it.

Submitted(+1)

The game is really engaging. I could lose literal hours to this just running between different points on the map. The controls are tight and responsive, I really like the art style, and while I would normally harp on a game for being too silent, I think it fits this one given its old PC game feel. Good job!

High Score: 51 deliveries

Developer(+1)

Thank you so much for comment, it warms my heart to hear this! And wow, that’s a really high delivery number!

Submitted(+1)

I don't know if it is intentional but some pink placeholders are placed behind me and I can't turn backward which made me lose many times. Other than that great game, great art, and so many visual appeal to the game! Good Job!

Developer

Can you send me a picture about a replication of this problem? :O I haven’t encountered such thing, so it would be nice to see it for future development! Thank you for your kind words! I hoped that at least the visual aesthetic can carry the game a bit.