Planet Mort

I initially reviewed this negatively, because it had a game-breaking bug that happened frequently where you couldn't jump correctly after leaving the water. The developer has addressed this, and so I don't think a negative review is appropriate for a free game. There are still some issues leading me to not want to "recommend" this game just yet, but I didn't want to dissuade people from trying it. I think this game shows promise, and has some intriguing world building. It has a fun N64 esthetic, evoking Majora's Mask at times, which is cool. I do still have several complaints though. First and foremost is that platforming is a big piece of this game, and yet there are some jumps that feel sloppy. If you jump and then swing your watch, you can gain a little height, allowing you to reach higher platforms, BUT sometimes it's like the watch is bumping the platform you are trying to get on, stopping your forward movement, so you miss the jump. This seems especially noticeable in the first room when you jump out of the water onto the wooden dock. Additionally, a crouch jump is required (though never taught in game) where you duck and jump quickly. This move is extremely useful as it also can double as a "sprint" because it is faster than your normal walk. However, if you run into a wall afterward it causes you to bounce backward. I think this is fine if you are in the first half of your jump, but even if your jump is ending and you just nick a wall, it will give you the full bounce-back, making platforming not only difficult, but unintuitive. There also really needs to be some in-game tutorial for the controls (especially since your health is on a timer). The developer did add some control documentation to the store page, but I really think there needs to be something in game (even if just a static image mapping the controls) Since platforming is a big piece of the game, there needs to be some sort of weighty thunk sound when you hit the ground to help it feel more impactful. Also, a shadow on the surface where you are landing would help it feel a little more like Mario 64. The enemies also need some sound design for when they are hit. They feel floatly and non-corporeal at the moment. Most of the enemies also feel like skins of the same generic enemy, rather than having distinct personality, attack types, and threat types. The enemies also need to make some sort of unique noise. Thing about the Goombas in Mario64. You'd hear a noise that they'd noticed you and were approaching. They would zoom past if you jumped over them, and then it would take them a bit to turn back around. No other enemy in that game had the same method of noticing you, nor the same sound, nor the same attack/recover pattern. It gave them a "personality" even if it was a very basic one. Also, when food pops out of the enemy it needs to make a sound and maybe bounce once or twice. I don't mind that it's a 2D sprite, but the fact that it just appears suddenly and motionless makes it feel like a face thing totally separate from this 3D world. Granted, it'd be better if it wasn't a 2D sprite, but I don't think that's a deal breaker. Lastly, the level design lacks some clarity. In the 2nd room, you have to explore to find the yellow button underwater (which is fine), and when you hit it it raises a platform making it clear where you are supposed to go next. Awesome. After you do that next room, it lets you back out at the top of the 2nd room. It is unclear if you are supposed to stay here, try to climb somewhere, go back to the 1st room, or replay the 3rd room and find something else. Eventually you can discover an underwater tunnel in the 2nd room leading to another level. There needs to be some level design reason that compels you to go that way. I understand that exploration of a map can be fun in-and-of itself, but with the health-on-a-timer mechanic, there have to be some indications of where to go. At a minimum, there should be a sign next to the save point at the top of the 2nd room with an enigmatic hit about following the Nautiluses or something. So while my recommendation comes with some caveats, the game is no longer broken and I did not want to leave a "negative" review up.