Small Worlds

October 21, 2009 11:30 PM

Small Worlds is an exploration game created by David Shute for JayisGames' Casual Gameplay Design Competition 6 (the theme this time around was "exploration"). It's short and there are no enemies to kill or items to pick up but it has faux pixelly gorgeousness and decently atmospheric music.

Protip: the controls really don't like you hitting jump and moving sideways at the same time. To jump horizontally, first hit the jump key then hit the key to move sideways after.

Bonus links:
CGDC5 (theme: "Upgrade")
CGDC4 (theme: "Ball Physics")
CGDC3 (theme: "Replay")
CGDC2 (theme: "Grow")
CGDC1 (theme: "Puzzle")

posted by juv3nal (23 comments total)

I played a couple levels, and the music on the second level (presumably it's not random every time you play) is a real neat juxtaposition with the pixels. It was surprisingly calming in some way I haven't figured out.
posted by Corduroy at 11:42 PM on October 21, 2009

Protip: the controls really don't like you hitting jump and moving sideways at the same time.

Works fine for me.
posted by delmoi at 11:46 PM on October 21, 2009

this is neat. thanks.
posted by krakedhalo at 11:53 PM on October 21, 2009

What a wonderfully compelling little game. And the music was beeeeeeeautiful. Cheers for this one.
posted by AzzaMcKazza at 11:58 PM on October 21, 2009

Hmm, I do notice I have some trouble if I'm moving and hit the jump button. But hitting the jump button first works fine, or if you hold down the jump button, you can move sideways and 'bounce'
posted by delmoi at 12:01 AM on October 22, 2009

Reminds me of the first metroid.
posted by delmoi at 12:07 AM on October 22, 2009

Effective and affecting. Thanks!
posted by Iridic at 12:11 AM on October 22, 2009

direct link
posted by XMLicious at 12:16 AM on October 22, 2009

Is there a good ending?
posted by TwelveTwo at 12:37 AM on October 22, 2009

How delightful! Thanks, I needed that little touch of mellow today. The ending was a bit odd, though. I feel strangely compelled to find out more about teeny matchstick person and their fate!
posted by Mizu at 1:00 AM on October 22, 2009

Is there a good ending?

You win.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:02 AM on October 22, 2009

That was great! I love JayisGames all the time, and the Casual Gameplay Competition especially, but hadn't checked it out recently, so thanks, juv3nal; this one is beautiful!

TwelveTwo, there's a real ending, if you are wondering whether you just wander around forever...
posted by taz at 1:02 AM on October 22, 2009

I don't know much about art, but I know it when I see it.

Now after taking tongue out of cheek, I thought I'd repost a comment by the game creator that is buried in amongst all the reviewer comments.

Hello! I'm the writer of Small Worlds. Thanks so much to everyone who's commented or voted so far - I'm absolutely over the moon with the amount of interest (good and bad!) it's receiving. I was just pleased to have actually finished making a game!

I'm really sorry the jumping control is so screwy - In an ill-fated attempt to streamline the movement code, I changed the order in which key presses are processed, which had an unintended side effect: 'Jump' gets ignored if you're moving sideways off a ledge or walking down a slope. I'd really love to be able to upload the fixed version right now, but a deadline's a deadline - and for better or worse, this is the version I submitted.

As soon as the competition's over I'll send Jay the improved version though - It'll give me a chance to fix some other (minor, cosmetic) problems that slipped through the net too.

Posted by: David S Author Profile Page | October 21, 2009 3:55 PM

So you might want to wait for the fixed version. But really, once you realise you have to jump before moving sideways it's not really too tricky. A beautiful game.
posted by Pranksome Quaine at 6:40 AM on October 22, 2009

Very cool.
posted by marginaliana at 7:12 AM on October 22, 2009

Wow. That was really cool.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:42 AM on October 22, 2009

If I could have one wish in life it would be for there to be some way to launch the missiles in Winter World.
posted by XMLicious at 9:58 AM on October 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

I think they're way ahead of you, XMLicious. The point of the missiles was discovering that you're actually in Nuclear Winter World.
posted by roystgnr at 1:35 PM on October 22, 2009

I HEART platformers. Thanks!
posted by brundlefly at 7:26 PM on October 22, 2009

This is transfixing. I know I'll eventually go tired of the blocky-design aesthetic in casual games, but something about the little corners just makes me feel safe and loved.
posted by The Whelk at 7:34 PM on October 22, 2009

Nice music and graphics but... nobody else found this boring? replays Cave Story
posted by ropeladder at 8:32 PM on October 22, 2009

I found it the perfect length for what it is. Attractive and compelling, thanks!
posted by meinvt at 9:11 PM on October 22, 2009

Cave Story is awesome.
posted by brundlefly at 10:34 PM on October 22, 2009

Nice music and graphics but... nobody else found this boring?

Think of it like a poem.
posted by empath at 6:13 PM on October 23, 2009