itch.io

Finally got around to playing this (via catalog), and congrats on another great game! Couldn't stop until I did everything there was to do. I really like the BTS bonuses you add to all your games too. My only issue was performance problems during the final boss fight in the first ending, and the minor factor of Pulp gameplay very often being along the lines of "waiting for spikes or enemies to retract/gaps to fill" which I would've liked to skip while backtracking. The puzzles were really fun (especially the tile-filling ones in one dungeon), I loved that all the bosses had a completely unique gimmick, and some of the environmental hazards were creative, but the classic adventure/exploration game elements are where it shines the most. It's just a lot of fun running around the world and talking to people in these games - the dialogue is so good!

The Along Came a Spider games have such a weird personality to them that I really like. They seem cutesy and funny on the surface but have some edge and really dark humor to them which I really appreciate. Thanks, total steal at four bucks!

(Speaking of Catalog... am I dumb or is this game really hard to find there? I could only find your first game there and had to google this one to actually find it in their catalog. Panic's gotta add some additional sorting options or something). 

You're welcome! Yep - I actually expected the alt-controls to be how the game would control to begin with (I tested them for a few seconds just to confirm while I was playing through). Options are good but I agree that the default scheme is more thought out for the hardware and, I think, more fun. I really liked running around (without the blaster out) while twiddling the crank to get it in firing position - the controls themselves generate tension in a new way. It's really not the kind of feeling you can replicate with an analog stick, yet it's still intuitive after a bit of practice. You definitely nailed it man, great work. 

Just finished this (and got all the ghosts) after purchasing on the catalog, and absolutely blown away by this. Perfect Playdate game. To piggyback on what kittenclanclan is saying, the controls are a big part of what make it so fun and what you can really only get on this console. Usually I'd slap the A button to fire, move my thumb and forefinger to the crank, and then jump back to the A button when I'd start to overcharge, but sometimes it was advantageous to grip it in an odd position where I could move the crank with my index finger and quickly hit the A button when needed, and in other situations I'd adjust the crank in advance and keep my thumb on the A button while strafing and barely cranking at all,  and each layout of enemies required different strategies. It's the kind of game where the simpler button layout just makes it so much better than say, a more "modern" game in which you could easily hit a trigger button to prevent overheating - that brief bit of tension when you often have to actually readjust your grip to hit the button, like you're operating a machine, is what makes it work so well (beyond, of course, just being a well designed game with fun enemies to fight).

The whole game was just pure fun, but if I had to pick a highlight, it would absolutely be the 6th mission. I'd play a whole game like this in that large scale, Resident Evil-style design!

Also, huge credit to the incredibly crisp visuals which take full advantage of the 1-bit high contrast screen, and the catchy music and satisfying sound effects that hit just the right tone. You all really nailed it on all fronts here, so I just had to drop you a quick thanks here. I know Playdate is more about indie creativity than major profit generation, but know I'd buy a sequel the second it comes out (or whatever else you come out with, for that matter). Thanks again!

Picked this up on the catalog a while back and just played through it. What a great piece of work in every respect. Loved every minute (though I did use your guide to find one chest on the beach I missed - also love that you made that, classic gamefaqs style). Now to go for that "no damage" achievement...

Bought this on the catalog a little while back and just finished all fifty levels. Really ingenious and fun little puzzler, just the right level of difficulty to occasionally really stump me but never to the point of frustration. Great work!

Very cool little piece of art you made here - great work. Love the visuals, writing, and overall vibe.

Already got both of those! The music collection will go nice with the eventual speaker. Along Came a Spider is really fun, still got a couple endings to get (man that last stage is tough). Very happy to hear a sequel is in the works. 

This is an absolute must-buy if you own a Playdate, and a really great value. If you've never done a nonogram puzzle before, it's an excellent introduction to the game, including lots of the quality of life improvements that have been added to various console versions over the years. Really well-designed interface and really fun. 

If you do already like nonogram puzzles, here you get 250 of 'em, with the ability to download more and make your own (which people are sharing in the Playdate discord). This will be a permanent resident in my Playdate library.  

Awesome update. In some of the tougher puzzles where I've had to "test" placing squares in different places, that upgraded undo function really comes in handy. 

Thanks for helping me figure it out, knew there had to be another use for the button! Incidentally, playing through it again, can't get over how damn funny the sprites are. Love the swaying animation of the little dude.

Sorry my last post was confusingly-worded. Basically, my first time through the game I found an actual game-breaking bug that gets you stuck in the sky if you exit via the top left of the "people outside" screen. So my insane logic, after I found the actual bug (the item), was that I had to take it to the game-breaking bug (which totally seemed like it could be intentional in this kind of game). So I guess this is a bug report (with the qualifier that it didn't interfere with the fun, since I was replaying it anyway). 

You're not the first person to ask if I've played Kentucky Route Zero so I think I really need to get on that! I actually bought it on my Switch a while back and am definitely gonna finally play it soon. 

Really enjoyed this one, super creative and fun (and funny) little game that's like a classic adventure crossed with WarioWare, given how different every little area/puzzle/action sequence is. I'm definitely gonna buy Quest for the X. Love how you're pushing what can be done with Pulp visuals as well. (And hey, anyone else suddenly craving a Twin Peaks game?). 

Slight spoilers:
After playing through several times, I could never figure out how to get to the debug room, so you hid that well. I know how to get the <<spoiler item>>, and then tried to trigger an actual bug I found which gets you stuck in the sky (if you exit via the upper left of the screen with the people outside), but no luck. I'd appreciate a tiny hint if you're willing to provide one!

Yep, I love classic point and click adventures so I really enjoyed the to-do list! Just gotta get that last star (I didn’t quit the game a few times between plays so I think that might’ve messed with what I think the requirement for it is, but could be wrong and no big deal either way)

I’m really a big fan of these kinds of small but really polished games that you can keep at your desk which deliver little bite-sized doses you can pick and play any time (which is what the gym games are great for here, but with the to-do list and exploration and character aspect to give it some additional depth and personality). Like instead of twirling a fidget spinner or something, I’m twirling the crank. Playdate’s basically become an essential office accessory for me. 

Oh, great job on the music too!

Story and full completion of all puzzles and achievements! Clearly I was a bit hooked..

Thanks again, this sort of creative blend of genres and strange ideas with a lot of personality is exactly why I bought a Playdate. 

Finished this a few days ago and really enjoyed the creative writing and the simple fun of the puzzles, which start out challenging but become more of a zen trance by the end. 

Of course my one complaint was that I wished it had crank controls so I didn't have to tap through all the letters, and I see you added it in the latest update! Something to look forward to on a replay at least. 

Thanks for the great game and looking forward to whatever might come next!

Really love stuff like that which works within the Playdate's limitations to create a unique aesthetic. Looks great.

picked this up in the Playdate catalog, but just wanted to mention what a perfect little game it is to keep as a quick mental reset at work. The “exercises” are good simple fun but the art and personality are what really elevate it. Thanks!

Awesome! Happy I could help, happier that you’re making these cool Playdate games and supporting them. Thanks again!

Here ya go! No worries on sending back an edited json - the game is fun so I don't mind replaying. Thanks! :) https://www.dropbox.com/s/rk5lvrjyaxozvxd/store.json?dl=0

I'm getting this "stuck floating" bug a ton too - got it five times in a row right after getting the ice block and have to force restart the game. When trying to replicate (on Playdate hardware) I've been able to get it to happen in the room below the first statue with the rat (though I've seen it in other rooms) but I'm still not sure what causes it - I think something to do with switching items while levitating, or switching items too fast, or something. Maybe I play weird. 

Basically the character animation stops working, and you're able to sort of jerkily move all around the screen (even with up and down on the d-pad), snapping back to above the levitation cloud if you don't move in a staircase pattern. Weird bug, probably something with pulp. Got one hard crash too but that seemed to happen out of nowhere when I was just moving to the right, so no idea on that one. 

Edit: and right after posting this, hit a bug where after using the save teleport and saving after getting the third key, the game crashes every time I leave the room so I have to start over now. Bummer, great game apart from the bugs.

Hold B for five seconds at the title screen to disable motion controls. Still need the crank though, can't really see that going away since it's a big part of the game, but who knows. 

Holy crap, this is awesome! You guys are doing some insanely creative stuff on the Playdate. I tried out the Windows app in conjunction with the game even though I don't have anything to trade yet, and was really impressed at how it works. Also love that there's events with exclusives, since it's really fun seeing what crazy art and descriptions you came up with. 

The only thing I'd request is more options (I like this as a passive thing I can run in the background, so the as great as the music is it would be nice to turn off). Also, I noticed that simply not resting the Playdate flat on its back seems to count as "walking" with the ghost signal strength increasing noticeably faster. 

Really love what you guys are doing with this hardware, thank you!

Man, you guys are good, definitely not winning this! I think this is all I'm actually physically capable of on the console, my d-pad thumb just stops working properly at the higher speeds. :D

Great little game though with great use of the hardware, hoping for more.

You can speed up the d-pad via the sensitivity option, if you hit the menu button. :) 

Loved it. Clever puzzles that were fun without making my head explode, and it's very satisfying to control and "blob" the blocks together.