A jam submission

PistolManiaView game page

Submitted by JAESU — 4 days, 11 hours before the deadline

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PistolMania's itch.io page

Judge feedback

Judge feedback is anonymous.

Graphics - Please no holo blue/red overlay; it kills my eyes. Otherwise, very polished. GDD: Yes, well described and fits the game. Does it fit the theme: literally yes! love the idea of being the gun that moves around the space. Gameplay - Music's amazing and fits the vibe. The initial few seconds of the game as you're killing the ghosts is great, the actions have consequences gameplay loop is engaging and well developed. Once you hit a wall, you're kind of stuck with a choice of killing the increasingly spawning ghosts or moving out of the way. While this is a good choice to have generally, the removal of the recoil while against the wall makes the game more of a point and click shooter; added development of what to do to stay off the wall would be the next step to add to the game. The enemy ghost dash is a fun improvement that gives the player a chance to dodge or kill; each has a cost associated which I like. I would like to see some upgrades that focus on just the dodging mechanic, maybe a double recoil/bounce/teleport? Bugs - clicking an upgrade takes a bullet. Improvements - recoil is negated once you hit a wall - this eliminates 50% of the gameplay challenge until you run out of ammo. Maybe add a wall texture around the screen and bounce off to keep the dynamic actions in game or a wall is lava, keep away from it at all costs mechanic? I'd love to see that change as you level up to add an extra challenge as the game progresses.

Link to your Game Design Doc on Google Drive.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QSRcTRcoIUd4BhL2X-wQ0LoznrnDEtsbDXeCv5Ml-d8/edit?usp=sharing

Have you checked that your GDD is publicly accessible ?
Yes

Is your game set to public on itch.io so we can see it?
Yes

Summarise your game!
Pistol Mania is a 2D top-down arcade shooter where you play as a gun, using its recoil to move and survive against endless mobs. Every shot serves as both an attack and a means of mobility, making positioning critical. Players must manage limited ammo, collect pickups, and level up by choosing upgrades to survive longer. Featuring vibrant pixel art and impactful anime-inspired sound effects, Pistol Mania offers fast-paced, skill-based gameplay.

Please explain how your game fits the theme:
The theme "You Are the Weapon" is embodied in Pistol Mania as the player directly controls a gun. Movement, survival, and combat are all tied to the weapon itself, making it central to gameplay and strategy.

Is there anything you'd like the judges to pay particular attention to?
Gameplay. While art is always a work in progress. I would love to get feedback on playability and how fun the game is. :)