In the world of block pushers, this one is actually pretty fun. I got to level 14 before I decided I was too dumb for this lol, but I might come back to see if I can can actually beat this.
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Kickback's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Fun | #5 | 4.250 | 4.250 |
| Controls | #8 | 4.143 | 4.143 |
| Overall | #11 | 3.964 | 3.964 |
| Accessibility | #21 | 3.500 | 3.500 |
| Originality | #23 | 4.071 | 4.071 |
| Theme | #25 | 4.143 | 4.143 |
| Audio | #32 | 3.643 | 3.643 |
| Graphics | #38 | 4.000 | 4.000 |
Ranked from 28 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Godot Version
4.7.1
Theme Interpretation
The player charges punches, resulting in different block and player movement mechanics.
GWJ Participation Level
1
Team Size
1
Generative AI Disclosure
I confirm that this jam entry does not contain any AI-generated content
Comments
51 days ago(+1)
You are very kind. I will add more levels, but I probably will not sell it. If you're interested, check back in in a few weeks and I might have the updates uploaded and an optional payment setup.
I do have jam experience with Ludum Dare and the GMTK jam. It's just been awhile, and I have only ever had 72 hours before. So the 9 days has been a welcome change vs what I'm used to.
Thank you for playing!
Some puzzles have multiple solutions. Level 14 actually has 2 solutions I know of. But most of them have one intended solution and, probably, a few unintended ones.
Lvl 15 is definitely my favorite. I think you sorta need to use all of the things you've learned to solve it, without it being too difficult to reason through. And agreed, I think lvl 14 is the hardest. I wanted at least one level that really leaned into the use of the overcharged recoil to move around.
51 days ago(+1)
Thank you for your kind words.
I don't know how people do puzzle games in 48-72 hour game jams. I felt like I needed every day to iterate on the levels. Names too, actually. I spent more time than I will admit on renaming levels.
You did well! I attempted the same in a previous jam! It's tough work and whilst i think i did an OK job of teaching the player as the game went on(I even threw out named levels last minute, it's hard!) yours is on another level.
Thank you!
Haha, "only" 14. I'm happy you got as far. I think 14 is the hardest, and 15 is my favorite.
Yeah, it's one of the only things I'm still not sure how I'd change. But I'm open to suggestions. I'm planning to add another 15ish levels after the rating period is over, as well as to fix/improve aspects of the game I've got feedback on.
Do you feel like it's a UI thing, a timing thing, or both? Is there anything you'd suggest that might improve the game feel or player feedback?
And thank you. If I didn't have the undo implemented early, I'd have rage quit by Tuesday.
I think it's mostly a UI thing, otherwise the timing is good and the mechanic works well.
Maybe you could the charge bardivided into three equal parts, and as you charge, when a section gets completed it pops out and the gauge changes color as it does now, that way you'd visually see the three punch levels and it'll be clearer which one you is enabled.
51 days ago(+1)
Thank you!
I don't know if I have much insight for you. I don't think I had a process for this project that I would know how to distill into something helpful/reusable for others (or even myself).
I don't know that I could recreate a similarly good game with similarly interesting levels in general. I think this was just a combination of a good jam theme, a simple enough idea to implement in a day, and 8 extra days to think of puzzles and to polish. And even then, I've been kicking myself since submission for all of the changes I've wanted to make after the fact.
52 days ago(+1)
Yeah, I tried to make it clear on the startup menu and in the game page under the controls.
I think I realized that adding a gif of the gameplay somewhere is probably the simplest way to signal that to people.
52 days ago(+1)
Thank you for all of your kind words.
I'm so glad somebody confirmed they finished it! I was worried it would be "I got 13th lvled" or "I didn't realize I could charge punch" every time I read a new comment. I needed someone to experience lvl 14 and 15!
In retrospect, I wish I added a "last level" and "next level" button so that people could jump around if they needed refreshers or wanted to skip 13.
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