12 replies to this topic

[fenyxofshadows]

The Meaning of Life and Death

• Category: Shooter
• File Size: 8.5MB (v1.3)
• GM Version: 8.1 Lite
• Vista Compatible: yes
• Changes Screen Resolution: no
• Download link #1: v1.3 (most recent version)
• Download link #2: v1.2
  
• Download link #3: v1.1
• Download link #4: v1.0 (original competition entry)

Well, this was originally a game built for the Game Maker Community's Summer Jam. It tied for 22nd (out of 52), but it has since had bugs removed and has been expanded...

You play as a leaf fairy who must fight the keeper of light and darkness.

Controls:
<z> Shoot / Advance Dialogue / Activate menu item
<shift> Focused movement (Slow movement prior to v1.2)
<up/down> Select menu item
<r> Restart
<esc> Exit
<f9> Screenshot
<f4> Toggle fullscreen

Update v1.3 9-10-2011: Added a variable difficulty "Easy", "Normal" (the default), "Hard", and "LOL". As such, all of the patterns have changed to fit. Altered the pattern for "Encroachment of Chaos' Will". Changed the hitboxes to make them smaller. Changed Maynii's hitbox to be differently colored. Eisiol will now move around during some patterns. Removed the light/dark shading from "Finding Balance in Light and Darkness". Added and changed effects in the ending, also reducing the volume. Changed the name of "Fields of a Silent Dream" to "Waves of a Silent Dream". Maynii's bullets are more damaging on Easy, and progressively less as the difficulty is higher. Added a menu to the title screen. Added a custom icon.

Update v1.2 8-23-2011: Added two new patterns "Fields of a Silent Dream" and "Encroachment of Chaos' Will". Eliminated the redundant quality levels, making one level (1024x768, max particles, 32kb/s music). Added company information and the information log. Changed the beams to all be far more visible. Added a pseudo-scanline effect. Changed "Finding Balance in Light and Darkness", "Memoirs of an Ascended Human", "Innocent Fall and Folly", "Loneliness in Inner Peace", and "Ripples of Humanity on the World". Changed some hitboxes. Added a visible hitbox when using slow movement. The player's beams now focus when using slow movement. Updated screenshots. Added custom loading image.

Update v1.1 8-9-2011: Changed the healthbar on the HUD to be more user-friendly. Fixed all glitches. Made High Quality (1024x768, max particles, 128kb/s music), Medium Quality (800x600, medium particles, 64kb/s music), and Low Quality (640x480, less particles, 32kb/s music) versions. The original version is still up for download, of course. Changed the color of the reflecting beams to be more visible. Changed the card sprite and the gradient backgrounds to be higher quality. Changed "Finding Balance in Light and Darkness" and "Entrapment of Guilt and Decision" to be easier on the player and the computer. Changed "The Sentience of the False Creations" to be much harder and less random. Changed "Memoirs of an Ascended Human" to remove all glitches. Updated screenshots.

Screenshots:

Spoiler

Edited by fenyxofshadows, 20 September 2011 - 12:57 AM.

[Fuzzle]

This game is great. People should play this. Nice job.

[fenyxofshadows]

BUMP:

Update v1.1 is out! All glitches are removed, and the game is in 1024x768 now, or if you like smaller file sizes, you can still use 640x480. Also, beams are more visible than ever :)c Come check this shooter out! You know you want to ^^

[seal]

trying hq version will comment after playing

edit:
this game is hard lol but its really smooth

Edited by seal, 10 August 2011 - 07:23 AM.

[Saijee]

I think you had the right idea, but somethings about this game made the difficulty more of an annoyance(Difficult to Play) than a challenge (Difficult to Beat).

Sometimes I would find myself dodging sakura petals because they looked kinda like the red bullets. Other times I found it hard to spot the blue bullets because they blended in with the gray background.


Notice how in Project Shrine Maiden even though the if the BG and Bullets are the same color, there is a solid and easy way to differentiate between them.


Another thing that would be nice is to draw the hit box when using slow mode, and another lesser thing that isn't necessary but would be cool, is to turn slow mode into focus mode.

[fenyxofshadows]

So go even brighter with more contrast? That sounds... actually like a good idea...

[fenyxofshadows]

BUMP:

Version 1.2 is out, with 2 more patterns, higher difficulty, and some attacks changed. The bullets are also now very visible, too! Also, focus and visible hitbox.

Edited by fenyxofshadows, 24 August 2011 - 04:52 PM.

[fenyxofshadows]

BUMP: Version v1.3 is out, with difficulty levels, resulting in some change in the patterns to match... Also, a shiny new icon! Now, come download this little game :D

[interpolicer]

Dang... I'm not asian enough to play this game... O.o

[Keysle]

Somethign about a Let's Play

Here is the playlist.... Sorry I'm an hour late >.>
http://www.youtube.c...feature=viewall

[fenyxofshadows]

:3 Yeah... there's still some work to be done here with the game...

[Elyk19]

I found the bullets hard to see, especially the small red ones. I didn't even notice them until after I had died. Also, Balance Between Light and Darkness is almost impossible to dodge unless you're really lucky and the bullets(?) don't spawn near you.

[ParodyKnaveBob]

Howdy! I apologize that it took so long to deliver my review of your game. In attempt to greatly speed this up, I decided awhile back to simply upload my raw materials for the 37 games I played and reviewed. Originally, I recorded audio of myself playing so that I could go back through and type out my live reactions and feelings; however, I changed that plan and instead have been just giving everyone the audio itself.

Note that during the long reviewing process, I wound up changing some of my goals and recording+playing methods. Therefore, your review may or may not contain the following elements:

• Good, clear audio talking about your game.
• Terrible, spotty audio talking about your game.
• References to +1 and -1 etc. (which I had originally used for part of my review process for judging -- before the vote time ended).
• Concise descriptions of what I like and don't like.
• Long rambles about what I like and don't like. $:^ P
• Emotive grunts and hurrahs.
• Outspoken aggravation at some game-breaking bug(s).
• Disqualification (from my competition judgment/vote) for copyright infringement.
• Unrelated tangents from my mind wandering.
• An extra text file or recorded "post script" stating more about the game as an afterthought -- after I thought I'd finished reviewing.
• Long spans of time with no real audio -- which usually means I was quite engrossed into your game! Good job there if so! $;^ ]
• Long spans of time with terrible, spotty audio, in which you can tell I'm trying to tell you something, but I didn't do a good job recording. Wow, sorry if this is the case for yours. $:^ (

This link ( http://www.mediafire.../?67g4j40c2xwn2 ) will take you to my list of all the reviews. You can download yours -- along with anyone else's in case you're curious and/or want to compare. $:^ J

If you would like me to replay and re-review your game -- either because my audio is atrocious or because you've greatly improved your stuff since that summer jam many moons ago, or even something like somehow I missed something and you have information that you feel would change my whole view of your project -- just let me know, and I'll see what I can do. ~nodnod~

Many regards,