Browser Game Pick: Small Worlds (David Shute)
Small Worlds is an exploration game created by David Shute for JayisGames' latest Casual Gameplay Design Competition, where the controls for your character can be a bit frustrating at times but everything else about the effort shines through. Even if you take all the wrong paths, this adventure is still a rather short one that will only take roughly about fifteen minutes of your time to complete.
Comments
very nice music, the game is also pretty good.
Posted by: joop | October 20, 2009 1:57 PM
That's a very atmospheric little game. As joop said, nice music too.
I couldn't leave it unfinished either. The estimated time is bang on.
Right, I really should be working.
Posted by: surface-tension | October 20, 2009 2:38 PM
I dug it, nice atmosphere and nice music choice, good little casual explorer game :)
Posted by: Anonymous | October 20, 2009 3:00 PM
Aesthetics/music/concept: amazing
Controls: awkward.. when coupled with many instances of precision jumping required, they become terrible. Not being able to stand on a ledge then run+jump (instead you run off the edge) is a huge problem!
Ending: would have preferred it without the text.
I don't see how this could be considered "casual" though, the jumping/movement required to progress is often brutal.
Ending:
Posted by: raigan | October 20, 2009 3:24 PM
Great music, and I think the controls were ok. For this graphic style there are no better controls, as your "edges" are sometimes just one pixel wide... But I agree, this is far from your normal casual game (or isnt it? If not, Im surprised that this type of game appeals to casual gamers)
Posted by: Bleagle | October 20, 2009 3:45 PM
I forgot to mention that if you guys like Small Worlds, you might want to try out BladeMasterBobo's Ludum Dare 15 entry, Fake Gold:
http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-15/?action=preview&uid=1217
similar concept, though not as pretty.
Posted by: Tim | October 20, 2009 4:17 PM
Brilliant game... At first I was like "hmmm" and then I was like "wow".
Just the right length as well.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 20, 2009 4:38 PM
pretty cool/strange
Posted by: Anonymous | October 20, 2009 5:32 PM
This one's a winner. Music and visuals work wonderfully together. More than just a pixelated maze, each world tells a story.
More Small Worlds, please?
Posted by: BigBossSNK | October 20, 2009 6:28 PM
Very impressed.
Posted by: zang | October 20, 2009 6:37 PM
why so short? ;(
Posted by: FizzyBlood | October 20, 2009 7:32 PM
Really amazing, especially the art and the music is very good too.
Posted by: Nikica | October 20, 2009 8:29 PM
Great, great maze story. I never thought I'd like a maze game that much.
Posted by: Michael Bacon | October 20, 2009 8:35 PM
Love the graphics, gameplay was ok, but the atmosphere made it worthwhile overall :)
Posted by: cactus | October 20, 2009 8:52 PM
What a beautiful game.
Posted by: Loki | October 20, 2009 8:53 PM
very nice stuff
Posted by: increpare | October 20, 2009 11:59 PM
Spectacular. A great, simple explorer which reminds me, oddly, of some distant cousin Seiklus and Secret of Evermore.
The steady reveal as you explore each area is not just a technical focal point, but an excellent use of pixel art. As you move around and the camera moves back, the image grows smaller and more detailed.
I don't know if it was the intent of the designer, but it strikes me as something of a metaphor; as you gain familiarity with an area, the image becomes more detailed and the resolution dials up and the whole thing becomes clearer -- to me the increasing clarity seems to reflect the 'big picture' of a space as you explore it.
As experimental gameplay goes, Small Worlds really nails it. There's room for improvements -- it could use better controls, and perhaps some more detailed interaction between the player and the environment -- but overall, it's an excellent production.
Posted by: Greg | October 21, 2009 1:20 AM
Wow... I loved the juxtaposition of the bleak, depressing ship as opposed to the brilliantly colored, wonderfully composed worlds.
Posted by: Coded One | October 21, 2009 3:00 AM
This was very pretty in a somewhat eerie way. The texture combined with the minimalistic style was very interesting, and the music was great too.
Really glad you pointed this one out!
Posted by: KniteBlargh | October 21, 2009 4:26 AM
A masterpiece! Though I, too, was disappointed with the ending text...
Posted by: Mike D | October 21, 2009 8:08 AM
awesome
Posted by: jinte | October 21, 2009 12:50 PM
That was wonderful
Posted by: Anonymous | October 22, 2009 9:40 AM
Does the creator have a website?
Posted by: Bood_War | October 22, 2009 7:04 PM
awesomeeee!
simple and goodmusiq
=number1 and only1 qualty!!!
from okinawa(japan)
Posted by: ファ～ファ♪ | October 25, 2009 6:47 PM
A simple, yet original idea, that is realised really wonderful.
I was amazed what beauty can be achieved with so simple graphics.
I suppose the gradual zoom out when you explore the levels has a bigger-than-expected influence on the gamer's perception.
Posted by: Dimitar Panov | October 30, 2009 10:24 PM
Simple graphics? Bad Controls? I think this is a masterpiece, pure art.
Posted by: volando | November 18, 2009 9:26 PM
the games being capable of art debate is a load of crap. that's all i have to say ;P well that and i dont think the controls were that difficult, you practically hold jump and move in the direction you wanna go. wasn't hard at all.
Posted by: Chris | December 9, 2009 3:07 PM
best online casual game I have EVER played....brilliant in design and story.
Posted by: jakdin | January 15, 2010 1:14 AM