Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
Tags

noriah

2
Posts
4
Following
A member registered Aug 27, 2014

Recent community posts

I really *want* to love this game. I tried it after picking up the Ukraine bundle and it really is extremely charming. But it's entirely too hard for me to continue after an hour of playtime.

As a casual player I could only make any progress with a constant stream of vitriol about unfair it was and restarting every time I got hit, and even then I hit a brick wall at Cave level. There weren't any levels I could finish without dying and losing most/all my power-ups, and despite really liking the aesthetic and being really interested in where the story was going, there is no way I'll find out. 

As someone else suggested, an easy mode with unlimited lives and continue where you died would make it possible for me to see the story without being in a state of constant anger that drives my SO out of the room. I'm not really interested in flying through levels without enemies - I'm here to play a shooting game -but your normal mode requires memorizing the level layout, enemy placement, enemy behavior, bullet patterns, etc. I can't look at where I'm shooting and keep an eye on my character to dodge bullets at the same time, I just haven't got the shooting game chops and this game discourages me from developing that skill by being inordinately hard from the start, and only going up from there.

Ironically you already have an easy mode implemented in "Single Stage" mode, in that I can start with extra lives or power-ups, from any checkpoint and even at the boss. But I can only play levels I've already been to in this easier mode, which is a catch-22, seeing as I'm not good enough to get to the next level to unlock it. If there was a way to unlock all levels, this would also aid casual shooter fans that would like to enjoy your work. [but it seems story isn't enabled in this mode] [alternatively just having an option in Retry prompt to retry with power ups and lives]

On another note, I'd really appreciate some accessibility features:

  • option to toggle off screen effects 
    • there's some kinda screen blurring effects?  like this priest boss that swoops up to me and bops me and the whole screen blurs? I have idea no idea what's happening there, and it was both visually ouch and just very confusing.
  • similarly in the inebriator mode, which I find very cute and fun, the "drunk" screen effect is headache inducing for me
    •  an option to toggle that screen effect off - the controls getting weird is enough handicap for me
    • I understand that the drunkenness is kinda the point, and the screen effect is a large part of that, so sure, leave it as default and mark that setting as intended experience, but personally I find games that insist on physically hurting me for longer than 3 seconds to be unplayable.
  • option to slow down gameplay
    • for those of us that are bad at shooters or with cognitive/motor issues, this would greatly improve the accessibility without changing your level or other game design choices
  • Overall, these guidelines are very helpful, and you may find even more features you might add

I've suggested a number of ways you could make this game easier, because I really want to love it and see the ending, and any or all of them could make this game accessible to me. You've pitched it as "beginners, enthusiasts, and experts can all enjoy" but I wouldn't say this is true in it's current state, unless you count playing halfway through one level as enjoyment. 

As an indie dev myself, I can imagine that this feedback isn't fun to read, or that you might not have the resources to implement any of these features and that's fine. I'd like to tell you I'm still glad this game exists, and I look forward to your future creative endeavors. Thank you for all your hard work, and for offering this game in the bundle in service of such a good cause.

(2 edits)

Do this to get key:
Screenshot instructions img1, img2