Version 0.1.675 - First Prototype open testing

So it begins!

After 2 months in development prototype of roguelike-like dungeon crawler Vinculike is ready for open testing. Originally planned as an entry for Strawberry Jam https://itch.io/jam/strawberry-jam-6 but obviously I’ve failed the deadline… but a lot :D

It’s my first experience of releasing a prototype so early, so please don’t go too hard on it. The game still lacks most core gameplay mechanics and content. It’s only a basic proof-of-concept.

I’d be very thankful if you can give feedback on feel of the game (that mythic “user experience”). Is combat mechanics intuitive enough? How does the input feels on desktop, on mobile? Do the maps feel “too small” at the beginning or “too large” at the lower (>10) levels?

Major limitations of the prototype:

1. Current map generation algorithm is trash. It’s often not clear where the Player can go and where not. It will be significantly improved in future.

2. Monsters do not block passage. This often results in them blending into single entity or literally being able to rush through the whole map to the exit without getting hurt.

3. No nutrition mechanics. The values of Vitality, Vigor and Psyche degrade and are automatically regenerated without relation to character’s thirst and hunger. There’s also no way to speed up the process by sleeping.

4. There is no way to get captured. Player character blacks out and respawns in a random dungeon place. Repeat until max vitality goes below zero and game glitches :D

5. No save game. Only options are saved.

6. No player character’s UI - the items are just hanging there on the right, blocking the view.

7. Stepping on stairs down immediately moves player to the lower level. Sometimes it can happen by accident or can block a significant portion of current level.

And many many other planned but not yet implemented features. So, there isn’t much point in reporting absence of the mechanics above or pointing at low quality of some assets.