The game was really good, I like the experience. The atmosphere is great, maybe they can be have a music for the introduction of the story than a ambiance to have more emotion or something. But in gobal, Great work !
The controls are quite hard to control on keyboard... It's mostly on the left side and it's a pain to get used to. Too bad, too, because this game looks really cute!! Here they are because they aren't listed for some reason:
Z = Jump
X = run
^ = look at signs
WASD = walking, climbing up and down
My suggestion for improvements: Shift = run, Space = jump, Z = look at signs, WASD is the same
I think WASD + Z/X is not the right combination, there are two keymaps in the game, one is [Arrow Keys + Z/X] as classic game boy emulators use, and the other is [WASD + J/K]. That is a callback for keyboards without the arrow keys.
Bom jogo, mas eu não entendi porque me levou para uma parte que eu não tinha como passar, não teve nenhuma indicação que estava no caminho certo ou que deveria fazer algo antes... Enfim, muito maneirinho, principalmente a música em 8-bits, brabo!
Cute game, fun gameplay. The construction worker signs and dark visuals sent me back to Undertale's Waterfall location and made me feel "at home". Love it!
Edit: turns out if you press Up Arrow on the pillars in the wizard area you climb them. Maybe put that in the description as it is hard to know that without accidentally softlocking due to that minor thing.
I have mixed feelings. The graphics and music evoked a sense of nostalgia, the mechanics were simple and well introduced and taught, and the story was...ok.
I'll just be straightforward. This is the kind of game that has a sort of 'moral' at the end of the story, but the endings didn't really exemplify the 'be true to yourself, don't let others decide how you want to live, etc etc'. The wizard...actually, I think the game is fine. No, it's good. It is, after all, a tiny game. You can't expect too much from it.
For what its worth, I feel its definitely one of the better small games I've played, but definitely not the best. You did a pretty good job, developer.
I disagree, actually. Choosing the wings isn't having someone you're not thrust upon you. It's still making the choice. Meaning YOU want the wings, not necessarily because others want you to, but because YOU want them. That still holds to the theme, I think.
I don't like the game because I felt like it was trying to teach me something, but it basically just said "be yourself :)"
If I really want to please people and I really want to fit in I would be like "no you are wrong they will like me if I do this and I will be happy" because that's not convincing and how could that easily sway me. This game felt the same as being told "just be happy" (without being dismissive)
and it also never told me what was so bad about having wings. How does that prevent me from being myself. Like, I could hang out with the wizard AND have wings. Like if you give me a jetpack I would be like "that's so cool!" and there's nothing wrong with that.
I would had liked this game if the Raven went through the consequences of not being themselves. Doing the whole thing to get wings. Especially if people like the Raven for having those wings but the Raven is unhappy and starts a new quest to go back on their decision. This is the path I was hoping the game would take. Either that, or, just help me understand why having wings is so bad (through the game I mean). Have the Raven show discomfort at the idea of having wings, get into some monologue, something to convince me to tell the Raven "no don't have wings". I think this path is more connected to the topic the game wanted to touch on.
I went through half that thought process and then got off at a) it's a baby raven, it needs the village for at least some time and then they can go f*** themselves ... and b) it's a baby raven without wings ... if it can have them back, why the hell not! it's a baby raven! it doesn't have that many options, all instincts are tied to wings and the wizard has offered no more than a cup of tea, ...
wait ... can I go back to the wizard before hitting the caves? ... GOD DAMN IT!
and if he's not gonna offer to teach some of the magic he wields, like his TELEPORT, I'd be a baby raven without wings; without magic; with no clue of what the hell is going. And so I have to retrieve my wings -- not the least because it's literally the first info I'm offered other than "f*** off, freak" -- and then let the village teach me the few bits they know and then, if I can withstand the brainwashing attempts, fly away like the big birds do ...
Becoming complete or compensating for it does not necessarily mean changing your self, neither do growth or evolution. You are extending your potential at best and to the best of current abilities. There are, of course, exceptions, ... which, again, extend the rule but the rules have been build via trial and error and edge cases and exceptions cannot be foreseen when the system is not finite at all and demands diversity for the sake of it's own survival whenever the old guards fuck up so bad, entire eco-systems just die off ...
I must say that I did not consider this perspective while developing this game, but I love hearing takes like this even if it is not at all what I initially had in mind.
I appreciate your post, and PorpraTibs9☆'s post who you responded to, for taking some time to think about and engage with this game. Definitely some good feedback for me to keep in mind as well. Thanks for the comments!
Nice game. GB STUDIO is really awesome, I've been wanting to get into it and every project like this I see is a testament to it. This could easily be a commercial game if made longer. As a bird lover, I identified with the story. Love the multiple endings too 8)
I really liked the cute storyline in this game. For how short it is, I think it tells a well written reflection about self acceptance. The last 3rd of the game where i was falling down the spike hole was fun and gave the feeling that you were getting deeper and deeper into your thoughts on what decision the raven should make. Reminds me of how some people isolate themselves from the world when faced with a tough decision of their future. But when the raven makes their choice to be who they are. He comes back to the surface to spend time with their friend.
Very well made game, but theres a bug on computer wich doesnt allow me to run right and jump, when going right the buttons run and jump override eachother making that glide jump to the right in the chase impossible to pass trought, really hope it gets fixed
I played the game on computer and didn’t experience that. Were you holding down the run button when you jump? I don't think i noticed any button overwriting.
Different keyboards have different key rollover limits, which is the number of keys you can press at the same time and have all the key presses still register. I suspect this is the problem you're facing.
It may change depending on which keys you are pressing, for example right+z+x could not work while left+z+x could work. Really unfun problem to have, but I believe it is mostly unfixable without changing keyboard, sorry.
this might actually be a keyboard thing. Since I have a toshiba notebook from 2015 and there, I cant press left, up and z at the same time.which in some games basically is the combination needed to jump-glide to the left.
is a keyboard thing where the lazy producers smelted certain keys together, so they cant be used together
This reminds me of Anodyne 2, in a way. My purpose is spelled out from the beginning by society, but the course of events hints that I don't have to follow those instructions. At the end, I'm given the choice to follow the role laid out for me, or forge a different path, knowing whatever I do will be my own choice.
After some thought, I decide to finish the work I started. Even doing what I was told, I can still choose freely.
Then the game tells me I chose wrong. Surely I don't really want to return to conformity, I just lack the conviction to be free yet.
Oddly, until I conform to its spirit of rebellion, the game doesn't respect my free choice.
Thank you for such a detailed review of your thoughts! It means a lot to see someone engage with this game in the way you have.
I love hearing the perspective you have about the way choice is handled in RAVEN-STAR. From my own perspective, the ending choice shows the chance to accept who you are regardless of if other people see it as the correct choice. In a way, I guess I sort of did the same thing in making one obviously right choice, a “correct” choice, that the player might decide is not the one they want to choose.
This game reflects a lot of my own experiences, and is always going to be seen through my own lens wither I perceive it or not. It’s super cool to see that you had a perspective different than mine. Thanks again for such an awesome comment!
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Nah, I don't trust random links like that.
Also, the area after the jumping area causes you to not be able to go to the next area after jumping.
If you go to the area in which you jump, then go down the ladder, you immediately appear at the bottom of the ladder.
Love it so much! It has such a strong character and the mechanics are easy to learn but the mastery keeps you going!
The game was really good, I like the experience.
The atmosphere is great, maybe they can be have a music for the introduction of the story than a ambiance to have more emotion or something.
But in gobal, Great work !
The controls are quite hard to control on keyboard... It's mostly on the left side and it's a pain to get used to. Too bad, too, because this game looks really cute!! Here they are because they aren't listed for some reason:
Z = Jump
X = run
^ = look at signs
WASD = walking, climbing up and down
My suggestion for improvements: Shift = run, Space = jump, Z = look at signs, WASD is the same
I think WASD + Z/X is not the right combination, there are two keymaps in the game, one is [Arrow Keys + Z/X] as classic game boy emulators use, and the other is [WASD + J/K]. That is a callback for keyboards without the arrow keys.
This explanation in the description is missing.
Ah, I see. Altho I tried moving with the arrow keys but I couldn't for some reason
Description has been updated to include the arrow keys. Thanks for the feedback!
600 KBS?? holy crappadoodle!!
Cute, but I wished for wings not a feel-good pep talk xD. Nice short and sweet, tight gameplay.
Bom jogo, mas eu não entendi porque me levou para uma parte que eu não tinha como passar, não teve nenhuma indicação que estava no caminho certo ou que deveria fazer algo antes... Enfim, muito maneirinho, principalmente a música em 8-bits, brabo!
Cute game, fun gameplay. The construction worker signs and dark visuals sent me back to Undertale's Waterfall location and made me feel "at home". Love it!
That was a cute, fun, little platformer! I quite enjoyed that.
Very sweet! (maybe that's just because I chose sugar in my tea at the end.)
Cute game
Is there a way to see all the endings without playing through the whole game again?
there are 2 endings so you dont have to play it that many times. One ending if you chose the wings and another ending if you chose the other options!
So both of the options for the not choosing wings option do the same thing?
I think the wording might be slightly different, but they’re pretty similar compared to the other ending
Can't jump
Edit: turns out if you press Up Arrow on the pillars in the wizard area you climb them. Maybe put that in the description as it is hard to know that without accidentally softlocking due to that minor thing.
Thanks for commenting, I was totally lost. I never would have intuited that a bird could climb.
Thanks for mentioning this.
Oh, you've updated your game? That's cool!
tiny and neet gb platformer with a good art style and level design
👍
ez
Loved the game! Very charming and I had a good time playing.
Hi,
I run RetroGear.nl, a site focused on emulation handhelds.
Would you be open to bundling your game with us?
Best,
Jorne
info@RetroGear.nl
I have mixed feelings. The graphics and music evoked a sense of nostalgia, the mechanics were simple and well introduced and taught, and the story was...ok.
I'll just be straightforward. This is the kind of game that has a sort of 'moral' at the end of the story, but the endings didn't really exemplify the 'be true to yourself, don't let others decide how you want to live, etc etc'. The wizard...actually, I think the game is fine. No, it's good. It is, after all, a tiny game. You can't expect too much from it.
For what its worth, I feel its definitely one of the better small games I've played, but definitely not the best. You did a pretty good job, developer.
P:S I think the raven is cute
I disagree, actually. Choosing the wings isn't having someone you're not thrust upon you. It's still making the choice. Meaning YOU want the wings, not necessarily because others want you to, but because YOU want them. That still holds to the theme, I think.
hm that makes sense I actually agree with your view
This was a lovely little platformer. I love the art, and it had some passion put behind it. I hope to see more games like this. <3
I don't like the game because I felt like it was trying to teach me something, but it basically just said "be yourself :)"
If I really want to please people and I really want to fit in I would be like "no you are wrong they will like me if I do this and I will be happy" because that's not convincing and how could that easily sway me. This game felt the same as being told "just be happy" (without being dismissive)
and it also never told me what was so bad about having wings. How does that prevent me from being myself. Like, I could hang out with the wizard AND have wings. Like if you give me a jetpack I would be like "that's so cool!" and there's nothing wrong with that.
I would had liked this game if the Raven went through the consequences of not being themselves. Doing the whole thing to get wings. Especially if people like the Raven for having those wings but the Raven is unhappy and starts a new quest to go back on their decision. This is the path I was hoping the game would take. Either that, or, just help me understand why having wings is so bad (through the game I mean). Have the Raven show discomfort at the idea of having wings, get into some monologue, something to convince me to tell the Raven "no don't have wings". I think this path is more connected to the topic the game wanted to touch on.
I went through half that thought process and then got off at a) it's a baby raven, it needs the village for at least some time and then they can go f*** themselves ... and b) it's a baby raven without wings ... if it can have them back, why the hell not! it's a baby raven! it doesn't have that many options, all instincts are tied to wings and the wizard has offered no more than a cup of tea, ...
wait ... can I go back to the wizard before hitting the caves? ... GOD DAMN IT!
and if he's not gonna offer to teach some of the magic he wields, like his TELEPORT, I'd be a baby raven without wings; without magic; with no clue of what the hell is going.
And so I have to retrieve my wings -- not the least because it's literally the first info I'm offered other than "f*** off, freak" -- and then let the village teach me the few bits they know
and then, if I can withstand the brainwashing attempts, fly away like the big birds do ...
Becoming complete or compensating for it does not necessarily mean changing your self, neither do growth or evolution. You are extending your potential at best and to the best of current abilities. There are, of course, exceptions, ... which, again, extend the rule but the rules have been build via trial and error and edge cases and exceptions cannot be foreseen when the system is not finite at all
and demands diversity for the sake of it's own survival
whenever the old guards fuck up so bad, entire eco-systems just die off ...
I think the wizard never offers to teach you anything. Even if you interact with him again or go back to him before entering the cave
I really want to smoke whatever you are smoking. This is a good read, I like your take
I must say that I did not consider this perspective while developing this game, but I love hearing takes like this even if it is not at all what I initially had in mind.
I appreciate your post, and PorpraTibs9☆'s post who you responded to, for taking some time to think about and engage with this game. Definitely some good feedback for me to keep in mind as well. Thanks for the comments!
Nice game. GB STUDIO is really awesome, I've been wanting to get into it and every project like this I see is a testament to it. This could easily be a commercial game if made longer. As a bird lover, I identified with the story. Love the multiple endings too 8)
Is it just me or does the Shadow Raven remind me a lot of Badeline?
How to support the author?
Great Game, Simple jet effective in both it's level design and story lovely shit. 👍
Awesome game man !
I really liked the cute storyline in this game. For how short it is, I think it tells a well written reflection about self acceptance. The last 3rd of the game where i was falling down the spike hole was fun and gave the feeling that you were getting deeper and deeper into your thoughts on what decision the raven should make. Reminds me of how some people isolate themselves from the world when faced with a tough decision of their future. But when the raven makes their choice to be who they are. He comes back to the surface to spend time with their friend.
Very well made game, but theres a bug on computer wich doesnt allow me to run right and jump, when going right the buttons run and jump override eachother making that glide jump to the right in the chase impossible to pass trought, really hope it gets fixed
I played the game on computer and didn’t experience that. Were you holding down the run button when you jump? I don't think i noticed any button overwriting.
Yea i hold run then i go right, when i press jump it doesnt work but if i relase run then it works, pretty weird
Different keyboards have different key rollover limits, which is the number of keys you can press at the same time and have all the key presses still register. I suspect this is the problem you're facing.
It may change depending on which keys you are pressing, for example right+z+x could not work while left+z+x could work. Really unfun problem to have, but I believe it is mostly unfixable without changing keyboard, sorry.
Oh damn
this might actually be a keyboard thing.
Since I have a toshiba notebook from 2015 and there, I cant press left, up and z at the same time.which in some games basically is the combination needed to jump-glide to the left.
is a keyboard thing where the lazy producers smelted certain keys together, so they cant be used together
Awesome game mate! I played on an emulator and it controlled and sounded great. Cute, short, fun, and full of heart!
LOved it!!! Great game with such a cute story
This reminds me of Anodyne 2, in a way.
My purpose is spelled out from the beginning by society, but the course of events hints that I don't have to follow those instructions. At the end, I'm given the choice to follow the role laid out for me, or forge a different path, knowing whatever I do will be my own choice.
After some thought, I decide to finish the work I started. Even doing what I was told, I can still choose freely.
Then the game tells me I chose wrong. Surely I don't really want to return to conformity, I just lack the conviction to be free yet.
Oddly, until I conform to its spirit of rebellion, the game doesn't respect my free choice.
Thank you for such a detailed review of your thoughts! It means a lot to see someone engage with this game in the way you have.
I love hearing the perspective you have about the way choice is handled in RAVEN-STAR. From my own perspective, the ending choice shows the chance to accept who you are regardless of if other people see it as the correct choice. In a way, I guess I sort of did the same thing in making one obviously right choice, a “correct” choice, that the player might decide is not the one they want to choose.
This game reflects a lot of my own experiences, and is always going to be seen through my own lens wither I perceive it or not. It’s super cool to see that you had a perspective different than mine. Thanks again for such an awesome comment!
It is so cute and wholesome. I almost cry.... No, I probably did.
That was a pretty cute and cool game! I liked replaying it to get different endings and speedrunning the game to see how fast I can beat it.
A raven, thats so me XD. Amazing game btw, love it.
Cute
Very cute! A nice little introspective adventure with great graphics to match.
great work , love it !