itch.io

Hi everyone!

The evaluation period for Ultimate AI-Powered Game Jam #2 is coming to a close! A massive thank you to all the creators, prompt engineers, and players who played, rated, and supported each other's games. Seeing your unbelievable velocity and creativity with AI has been absolutely inspiring!

As we await the final rankings, we are thrilled to announce that Ultimate AI-Powered Game Jam #3 is officially live and ready for registration!

🗓️ When: Sep 11 – Sep 14 [72 Hours]

🍛 Theme 1: "CURRY"
(Culinary, functional programming, analogies, or pure creative chaos!)

You have almost a full month to polish your AI pipelines, experiment with tech stacks, and brainstorm your next hit. Let's take the energy from Jam #2 and bring it to the next level!

Check out the results, gear up, and join us for the next challenge! 👇

🔗 Ultimate AI-Powered Game Jam #3 Page:

https://itch.io/jam/ultimate-ai-powered-game-jam-3

Thank you all for making this community incredible.
See you at the top of the leaderboards! 🚀

Thank you so much for the update, and I apologize for the lack of clear guidelines regarding updates during the evaluation period!

Since I didn't explicitly state the update rules in the guidelines this time, please don't worry about it at all for this jam! However, as a heads-up for future jams (here and elsewhere), it's generally best to hold off on adding new content during evaluation to keep things fair for everyone. I'll make sure to clearly outline this in the official rules for the next event!

As for downloadable versions—I personally LOVE having a downloadable offline build! 🎮✨

While HTML5 web versions are amazingly convenient for quick plays, I’m the type of gamer who loves to keep and treasure the games I adore on my own hard drive so I can play them years down the road. So if you ever release a downloadable desktop version alongside the web build, fans like me would be absolutely thrilled!

Most importantly... thanks to your quick bug fix, I was finally able to swim with my dream OCTOPUS BUDDY! 🐙🌊 It made me so happy. Thank you for creating such an inspiring and fun game! 🙂

Yes, I think you're absolutely right about the location. Thank you. That made sense, so I tried it again. However, even though the gauge was at about 80% on a few of my attempts, pressing the F key didn't seem to have any effect, and in the end, the result didn't change. It seems that even understanding the theory can't make up for my lack of skill...

And then came the second attempt.
After repeating the same gameplay—which looked virtually identical—for over 30 minutes, I gave up.

The gameplay is similar, but I’m posting the last two attempts—out of several I tried just now—that didn't work out.
Here is the first one.

A game jam can never succeed with just one host.
It's only when many of you participate and submit amazing games that makes a great jam.

Playing every game, evaluating them fairly, and providing feedback—this is my way, as the host, of giving back to you all, however modestly. Welcome to the Ultimate AI-Powered Game Jam, built on this philosophy!! 😉

The jam is just the beginning of a great game.
I believe the game’s fate depends on how it’s handled afterward.

I’ll definitely be coming back to play even after the jam is over.
I’m looking forward to it 😉

I gave it another try. It's no longer too dark, so it's actually playable now✨

I didn't make it all the way through, but I did complete the tutorial and Stage 1. I fully understand the game's appeal now. The world-building is great, and the music is fantastic. Even the cutscenes in between are wonderfully cinematic. However, I still didn't quite grasp exactly how to trigger Resonance without fighting. If there's a way to do that, I'd definitely like to try it.

I found the “OK” button on the hint box difficult to click. There are rarely moments when the player is completely stationary, and since the box moves along with the screen scroll, the OK button moves with it. There were several times when I thought I'd clicked it, but it was no longer under my mouse cursor… It might also be because my machine is underpowered and the game was running slowly.

It's strange that, even with all these lavish features, I still feel the same sense of wonder I did when playing well-crafted boxed games from the early days of the PC.

I only played partway through, but I had a wonderful time. I'm sure I'll come back to play it again. 🙂

I like games like this one where you can learn new things. You can relax and enjoy it while feeling excited, wondering, “What's coming next?” I also thought the idea of “DIVE” into Quantum Foam Soup was interesting. I like the cute BUDDY, too.

However, if this were a game intended for commercial release, I don't think it would catch on. I'm certainly not criticizing this game itself—after all, it's not even being sold. I just want to touch on something that's always been a source of frustration for me. Games that incorporate educational elements (though I'm not saying this applies to all of them) have historically tended to fade away without gaining widespread acceptance…

Personally, I've always thought it would be nice if there were more games where you could actually “learn” something. Against that backdrop, this game really stood out to me. That said, in terms of gameplay, adding some kind of “reason to keep playing” might attract more players.

And I really love the little particles flying around in the background—whether they're seaweed scraps or bubbles. 🙂

I was curious to see what happened next, but after the "Still Not Awake" scene, no matter how many times I restarted—dozens of times—I couldn't figure out how to progress, so I gave up and stopped playing. It's such a shame.

Since I never reached any kind of emotional response—whether it was fun, moving, or anything else—and it just ended with me struggling desperately, I have absolutely no idea about the gameplay, but I think the game's atmosphere isn't bad.

The fish graphics are really beautiful.

I love slots, so I played this with great excitement. I found it to be a very easy game to play, with a low difficulty level. Overall, I think it's a very beautiful and well-designed game.

I had a lot of fun. 🙂

I really like this game♪

It made me wonder: if this competition actually existed in real life, just how much trust would you need to have in your BUDDY to be able to compete together???

I was also impressed by the background music via Web Audio—even though it's a simple loop, it plays without ever becoming annoying.

At first, I didn't know what it took to get a “PERFECT PAIR” rating, so it was a lot of trial and error, but I've finally gotten to the point where I can consistently achieve it.

I had a lot of fun. 🙂

Diving into blood vessels… This unique take on “DIVE” is really appealing.

Plus, the premise of sending your white blood cell “BUDDY” to eliminate threats, combined with the gameplay mechanics that let you do this through coordinated mouse and keyboard controls—I feel like all of these elements work together to create a positive experience.

I thought it was interesting that you used arena.ai to create the bootstrap. I've been experimenting with various things myself, but I've never actually started from that. I've decided to give it a try next time.

The gameplay was a very exciting experience. Although I had to stop partway through due to time constraints, I'd love to take my time and play it more thoroughly. 🙂

Actually, I've checked out the Legal Shop once, but I haven't bought anything there yet. For some reason, I felt like if I bought something there, I'd lose some of the fun of playing (at least for me). If there really was a bug like that, I might have been right. I plan to stop by once I've played enough to get bored, but it seems my score is in a different league from everyone else's right now, and I don't want to dominate the leaderboard all by myself, so I'm trying to hold off on playing a bit. 🙂

When you fail, the upbeat background music cuts off abruptly with a deflating sound. This feels incredibly satisfying. It immediately makes you want to play again. The use of background music and sound effects is just the best!!

I feel like the air gauge mechanic is what sets this game apart from your typical “run-of-the-mill” titles. But, since it's a dolphin, I really wish they'd let you swim alongside your BUDDY. Even if it just followed right behind you along the same path, that would have been the bare minimum.

Anyway, I had a great time playing it. 🙂

Unfortunately, I gave up on the Bell Bearing Giant Clam section because I didn't know what to do. It wasn't that the controls were too difficult or anything like that—it was more that I genuinely had no idea what the correct action was…

The game is very beautiful, and the music and sound effects are wonderful. I felt it really captured the atmosphere of the ocean well. Maybe this part will be unlocked later, but personally, I'd be happy if it weren't just an “errands” game the whole time, and if I could freely explore and enjoy fishing and treasure hunting… Of course, this depends on personal preference, so I don't think this is the “right” answer at all.

Anyway, I had a great time. 🙂

I confirmed that the game is playable.

Since there's no way to tell whether the operator is telling the truth or not, it seems pointless to follow their instructions. However, after playing a few rounds, I still couldn't find the black box.

I thought it was an interesting experiment. 🙂

I've finally mastered the skill of making the dream cake (and ONLY that) every time♪ (What kind of game am I even playing…?😅)

...But it's nice to be able to play however I want.

Even the slightest shift changes where it lands, and since sugar, cherries, and strawberries each have different physical properties, it's fun to make adjustments suited to each one.

It was a wonderful time. 🙂

No matter how many times I try, I always get stuck just past the entrance to the building and end up crashing. I still don't understand what exactly I did wrong.

The 3D graphics are stunning, and the sensation of floating is delightful. I really wanted to see a little more of the game, but I gave up.

Still, I think this game has genuine appeal. 🙂

Become a Kraken and crush the whaling fleet… Just seeing this theme alone is enough to make you imagine how much fun it'll be.

And when you actually play it, the thrill far exceeds your expectations. You just can't stop playing. The controls are very simple, but there's an ultimate strategic battle lurking beneath the surface. That's exactly why it's so fun. Plus, you even get a cute BUDDY to accompany you.

It was a wonderful gaming experience. 🙂

To be honest, I've been really intrigued by this game ever since it was submitted. The spirit of those nostalgic, good-old-fashioned point-and-click adventure games that this game embodies really draws me in.

Due to time constraints, I've only played the very beginning so far, but even from that brief experience, I'm convinced that “this is the real deal.” It's exactly the kind of game I love. I also really love how the DIVE and BUDDY themes are incorporated naturally yet seamlessly into the game.

I'll definitely come back to play this again when I have more time. 🙂

I was just having so much fun and got so absorbed in the game that, before I knew it, I had reached that point. If you dive in with status like these, you'll naturally end up reaching that point. 🙂

To be honest, I’ve thought about this many times. Which is more important: the records of my precious BUDDY—things only I know or could ever know—or the factual data that someone else will likely discover someday, even if I don’t preserve it myself? The answer probably varies from person to person, but I’ve always felt that I want to live my life placing greater importance on BUDDY’s information. I chose BUDDY’s information without hesitation.

It was a truly wonderful game. 🙂

It's sad that I can't just ignore the core and keep digging straight down—the game won't let me. It just forces my path to veer toward the core against my will… I really thought I'd be able to enjoy that kind of freedom once I'd fully unlocked all the skills… 🥺

…But putting that aside, this is a really enjoyable game. The thrill of being able to dig straight through in one go is simply indescribable.

I had a great time!! 🙂

It’s frustrating, but no matter how many times I tried, I just couldn’t figure out how to succeed with the balloon.

Still, it’s a game with a certain charm—it’s simple, yet somehow completely absorbing. I also really liked the night views, which had a nostalgic feel to them.

But not figuring out the mystery of the balloon leaves me feeling unsettled. I’ll probably come back to play it again. 😅

I love the simplicity of this game—the menus are HTML components, and the game itself is built using JavaScript code on a plain canvas. Even though it doesn't use any assets, the way the jellyfish's tentacles move is incredibly captivating and draws you in.

And I love the glowing buddy. The leaderboard certainly spurs you on, but what really caught my attention—and surprised me—was the inclusion of a “Daily Dive” feature. I find this game has so many elements that just make you want to keep coming back…

And even though I didn't aim for the top, I found myself playing long enough to at least make myself visible on the leaderboard. 🙂

Even if you max out every item available in the shop, you'll still start out with a maximum of two BUDDYs. I guess that's part of the game's balance. After all, you'll end up dominating the game pretty quickly anyway.

It was a bit disappointing that when I chose a diver as my starting BUDDY, I got two divers, but when I chose VOLT THE EEL, I started with just one diver and one VOLT THE EEL. I really wanted to try playing while surrounded by four VOLT THE EELs.

With four such powerful BUDDYs by your side, you can dive into shark-infested waters with peace of mind. I had a lot of fun. 🙂

At first, I thought it was just another one of those typical games where you dive to collect treasure and earn money.

But once I started playing, it turned out to be completely different. It's so much fun!!!

As you progress, you lose track of what you're avoiding and what you're picking up, but you just keep diving deeper and deeper to the beat of the upbeat music!! Every now and then, you catch a glimpse of a giant fish's shadow swimming by. It feels amazing✨

I had a blast♪ 😆😆

By the way, it said that Shark Buddy would unlock once you reached 25 km without moving, but after I passed 25 km and saw a message saying “Shark Buddy Unlocked,” I felt relieved and started moving—only to find that I actually couldn't select it. Again, I had to go all the way to the point where my oxygen ran out without moving at all, and then it finally unlocked.

This was about as far as I could get... I wanted to go a bit further, but I suppose I just lack the skill...

Still, I really love the atmosphere. The way it gradually grows darker, the two glowing Divers, and Pearl—it’s all so beautiful. It was the kind of game that completely captivated me before I even realized it. 🙂

I was immediately drawn in by the title screen, where the background of repeating "01"s is glitching out.

It was more suspenseful than I expected. It took me about ten tries to get the hang of it, but once I understood the mechanics, it became a really fun game.

At first, I didn't realize rapid-fire was an option; since a shot wouldn't fire unless the timing was perfect, I was mashing the button so hard I thought I was going to break my mouse. 😅

Hmm, I guess this is as far as I can go... I can't stray from my buddy; the deeper I dive, the darker it gets, and my air runs out faster... What a realistic game this is!! It's frustrating, but I don't think I can get a higher score than this.

And I really love the chill music that fits this world so well. It's such lovely music—it really feels like I'm diving deeper and deeper into a truly quiet ocean.

I had a lot of fun♪ 🥰

I absolutely love this game.

At first, I didn't even know how to land properly, and it took me a little while to get the hang of it, but once I figured it out, I realized just how much fun this gem really is. I've been completely hooked on it ever since.

It's a little frustrating that I want to pick up all sorts of things along the way, but doing so results in penalty points. Well, I guess the game wouldn't work any other way💦

I had a really, really great time‼ 😆😆

Personally, I felt that whether or not players could stick with the game's challenging controls until they got their hands on the TILT JET would be the deciding factor in whether they continued playing. And by the time they've acquired the MK.III CRAFT, I think the option to quit playing is pretty much gone.

Filling out the upgrade tree is a really exciting experience, and I find myself wanting to give it another try time and time again. I had to put it aside partway through due to time constraints, but it's the kind of game that makes me want to come back to it. 🙂

This game surprises and excites you right from the title screen. This's beautiful…

I started playing with high expectations, but it was so dark that I couldn't read the instructions. The game screen was dark as well, so I paused the game and read the comments, which made everything clear. This really drives home the importance of offering a downloadable version.

I'd like to say, "Since fixing bugs that interfere with gameplay is the bare minimum and doesn't violate the Jam's rules, please release a patch soon..." but I understand you're currently on a travel. I can empathize with your frustration right now.

I believe that eventually I'll be able to play a more polished version, so I'm looking forward to it and will wait patiently (even after the jam is over). 🙂

If there’s a complete separation between the vertical and horizontal axes plus restrictions on communication, it’ll exceed the brain’s cognitive limits and turn into a “Sai no Kawara” scenario, so I think this requires a signaling function on the game board. After all, the current communication functions are all completely disconnected from the board. As it stands, I think the difficulty level is on par with carrying out a mission on a space station with communication failures. 😵

For example, if players could use colors to signal things like “I think this spot is confirmed” or “This is just a tentative mark,” wouldn't this game transform into the ultimate cooperative game?

I was incredibly excited by the concept (DIVE×BUDDY)! This is a game I’m really looking forward to seeing in the future. 🙂

After feeling sorry for the boss, I had to laugh at how straightforward the ending screen was.

It was funny how the up, down, left, and right directions got reversed partway through. The role of a buddy is also interesting. Also, I tried to cheat by leading all the enemies toward the door, but they wouldn't let me open it. It's a harsh world💦

I feel like this would have been even better with some music and sound effects. 🙂

I can't find either the browser version or the downloadable version on your project page. 🤔
Please publish at least one of them.

FINAL SCORE 75900 pts
Saba:152 | Aji:110 | Bri:53 | Maguro:0 | Swordfish:10

I'm not sure how good this score is, but one thing I can say is… I didn't manage to eat a single tuna... 😭 ...Anyway, I really wanted to keep playing through the deep-sea-like scenes for as long as possible, so I put all my points into Stamina💦

As for the volume issue, part of the problem likely lies with the TinCLE engine, which doesn't currently provide an easy way to handle it (though it's not entirely impossible as things stand). I'll make this a higher priority for implementation.

The only drawback is that even after playing through it a few times, it's still unclear what exactly accumulates the points used for upgrades. I really wanted to figure out a strategy…

It was a really fun game. 🙂

This is a really fun game. The retro-style graphics/music are also really great.

I played for a while, but I got the impression it was quite deep, so even though I was reluctant to stop, I took a break after completing the first LAMP. I wanted to keep playing until I got the cute BUDDY-`OCTOPUS🐙`, but in PREVIEW mode, you can't press STUDY, and I never figured out how to get it. I saved my progress, so I plan to give it another try. It's a shame there isn't a download version.

I really love this game. 🙂