The first steps of the Mouse

In this entry i'm going to talk about the mechanics and the function of them in the gameplay.

As we know the game is a 2d Platformer Puzzle game, with simple moves Left, Right and Jump.

The objective is to get to the “Objective” and hit it twice (2 Dmg) with the character’s body. To do so are some tools that can help to accomplish this task.

In first place is the “Bucket” (Press 1 to use it) it’s function is simple. Provides a 16x16 platform and teleports the Player at “Player.Y - 20” to the top surface of the Bucket. This little tool helps to reach far platforms or to hit the Objective easier. Can be used in any platform as all the other tools.

The second tools is the “Table” (2) it’s function is similar to the Bucket, but this long friend has JumpThru so its more flexible. It’s really short at Y with less than 5 of altitude, but the X is a 60 longitud. So it’s more useful as a bridge then a Box to jump in to.

(3) “The Radio” This tools its one of the more useful of the game, it gives 10 more seconds to achieve the objective.

(4) “Eat or Food” A power up who grants the ability to double jump for 5 seconds.

(5) “Energy Drink” Another power up. This grants more JumpForce, changing from 200 to 400 making a lot easier to get the objective in tall spots. It lasts for 5 seconds.

And the final one “The Tool Box” (6) this is a projectile who goes in a straight line. At the beginning i was thinking about use it as last resort “If you use it you can use any more Tools in the run but it does 2 Dmg”, later using it and learning how to use it found it really funny to play with so decided to leave it as a normal tool dealing 1 Dmg. You can just throw it or use it to get across the room!

When the player starts a “Run” he gain 6 tools to use all across the run. The player can use always the same tool, or only the 3 or 5, all of them, etc. But only 6 times after that he has to finish the run without any help.

All the tools require that the Player stay still in the “Idle” animation in order to be use. And object like Bucket and Table disappear after 5 seconds, while the Tool Box disappears after colliding at the Objective or getting out of the screen.

After introducing all the tools I got an a idea. What if the game don’t tell you what does the tools do? I found it funny so at the beginning of the game decided to put a “Tutorial Screen” in this screen say’s “Discover the tools!” and after that the screen freezes and the player press “Space” as a maniac because he thinks, obviously, that the game crashed. But that’s the hole point, a sound of rumble starts to came in and suddenly the game starts.

The player is lost but knows what to do, and the rare controls make something so easy so hard, so he loses a couple of times and starts to use the tools wasting the most part of them to then find that he is in the first level and 4 more are waiting to see if he can make it. I don’t want to make the next Mario Bros, but instead a funny and short challenge with many options to accomplish the same thing. Hope you enjoy the game! Have fun and don’t get frustrated!