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I’ve Been Holding My Breath Since 2008's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Most Heartfelt Award | #2 | n/a | n/a |
| Community's Voice | #8 | 4.107 | 4.107 |
Ranked from 28 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Creative Vision / Rationale / How Did You Incorporate the Theme
Creative Vision / Rationale / How Did You Incorporate the Theme
The Nokia Connection: The classic redraw "connecting hands" animation is used as our game’s opening sequence. We interpreted the theme’s minimalist silhouettes as a modern reimagining of the iconic Nokia startup screen. It represents the literal "booting up" of a dormant past.
The Reconnection of Selves: Symbolically, the two hands reaching out represent the protagonist’s attempt to reconnect with their past self and their lost friend, Alex. The "Creation of Adam" pose mirrors the final choice: to finally "Make the Call" and close the gap between the two people, or to let the hands drift apart forever.
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Comments
Beautiful game. Beautifully made. After rating well over a hundred entries and with only a handful to go, this is the best I've seen.
Knowing we've made it to "the best I've seen" is incredible. 😭 Thank you so much for playing and sharing your thoughts on this game.
Really cool! I think this is the most complete game I've seen in the game jam so far, although I think I got soft-locked at one point (there was a puzzle where I had to select 3 items on a list, and none of the buttons on the phone seemed to work to make selections). Nevertheless this is a very impressive project!
Thank you so much for playing and showing your love towards our game, we really appreciate it.
Sorry for the confusion. For puzzle 3, please use the RIGHT BUTTON to select your answers. Hope it helps!!
When the first nokia animation popped up, I just instinctively started tapping the screen instead of pressing a button. I got real goosebumps from this on. The inner content of each mini application feels rich and purposeful, and nothing felt unnecessary for the narrative (you locked the unnecessary ones with hints, very smart choice :). What I loved most was how the game incrementally handled repeated wrong answers, even in a small game jam project. The reminders were genuinely helpful and felt alive in the. I even intentionally typed the wrong answers just to see what the next reminder would be. Heartfelt care on details, incredible text-writing, and a very well-crafted interaction loop that works beautifully as a complete piece of art. Five stars!!!
We are really happy to hear that our design choices have made an impact on how the game is perceived. This means a lot to us. 😭 Thank you so much for playing and leaving your thoughts!
This was really enjoyable to play through! I felt immersed piecing together the story by going through different files, and it was a story I can definitely relate to being an artist who made friends online during that time. I also liked how we are to navigate the phone by pressing the buttons of the phone, it makes the UI feel tactile. I love it! One thing to note, I think I ran into a bug where I couldn't input the bucket list options.
Anyway, fantastic work from everyone on your team :D
Hi there! Thank you for the kind and thoughtful feedback! We are so happy to hear that the story resonated with you :D
This game is actually quite personal to us. We spent our adolescence making online/real-life friends through art too.
We wanted to capture the inevitable loneliness we all felt at some point of our lives as humans, and the subtle, sharp kind of angst that happens when you care too much.
When we first started making this, I just finished reading Herman Hesse’s Steppenwolf. I was really moved by the ending, where the protagonist says, “One day I would be a better hand at the game. One day I would learn how to laugh.”
I think we’ve all been waiting for that day.
Until it arrives, we should learn how to breathe through the regrets.
For puzzle 3, please use the RIGHT BUTTON to select your answers. Hope it helps!!
I think is my favorite of the jam so far, really great story told through so many vectors.
Thank you!!! Glad you liked the storytelling. This being your favourite one so far is the highest compliment, we feel so honoured!
The Nokia throwback hits different with the depth you've given it. The opening animation sets up the whole theme perfectly, and that final choice between making the call or letting go feels genuinely earned by the time you reach it. Great use of a nostalgic object to tell a story about reconnection and closure.
We feel so glad you noticed the connection between the theme and the game objects :D Thank you for giving this game a try, this means a lot to us!
This was such a touching and relatable story :) I also love the interpretation of the theme...and art...and everything about it!
Thank you for playing! We're glad you enjoyed the story
It was a really great story you told here, that incorporated the mechanics of using a phone well. I think that first puzzle was a bit too specific. I wrote emo at first, then rock but the solution was emo rock. I think maybe having a few possible answers could help. But regardless, this is best entry so far.
We had a difficult time deciding the "forgiveness" of the puzzle answers worrying that it might be too general, to a point that players don't see enough of the protagonist mumbling. But we really appreciate your feedback and glad you enjoyed it.
So realistic UI!
Thank you so much! Really appreciate the recognition we put in for the attempt of recreating a clunky mobile device :)
This game gets my most heartfelt award and it's not even remotely close. 11/10
This is such high praise 😭 Can't express our gratitude enough.
The narrative is so engaging and genuine. The characters really feel like they type and act and think like kids. This game is big standout from this jam!
Thank you so much for showing your love towards our game ❤
hiiii everyone!! ^^ just dropping the navigation guide here to help you get started :D
we also made a trailer if you want to check out the vibe before diving in!!
TYSM FOR ALL THE LOVE & FEEDBACK SO FAR it means everything to us!!
hope you have a beautiful time playing!!!!
i know im gonna be bias with the ratings, but the narrative is beautiful 😭😭 thank you for this art ❤️
Really appreciate your comments. It's a huge encouragement because this is our first ever game jam entry for most of the team member. We are genuinely so excited to receive comments from the community
Really amazing stuff, great art style and audio. Great storytelling!
Thank you so much for playing! Your love means so much to us
Intriguing game! I got stuck at the third locked entry, I wasn't able to select any of the options for some reason. Art is very cohesive and you have a solid premise! There's a bit of suspension of disbelief I feel I personally need to have with the main character being 10/11 with their art skill level and way that they talk with their friend, but other than that I had a good time snooping around. It's good that the hints are forgiving, some of the puzzle answers feel very specific.
Sorry for the confusion of the gameplay controls. In the 3rd and 4th puzzle, you can use LEFT/RIGHT arrow key to toggle your options.
Thank you so so much for your feedback, we hugely value it, and we will forward this around in our team chat.