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[Pocketninja]

Description

Sandy Evolution is a unique side scrolling shooter through an abstract world in which you eliminate enemy creatures. Upon killing them, you have the ability to absorb there fragments, transforming you into the enemy. You gain there abilities for a period of time.

Trailer




Download
Mirror 1:http://www.mediafire.com/?7g62tmgcfaw9nm8
Mirror 2: http://gamejolt.com/freeware/games/sandy-evolution/files/sandy-evolution/download/3157/4243/

Controls
WASD - Move
Down Arrow - Shoot
Right Arrow - Absorb Fragments (hold)
Up Arrow - Release Enemy

Sandy Evolution is finally done! When I say done, i mean I got what I wanted done for the competition.   The project we decided to tackle was quite big, and can not be completely finished by the end of this contest. We finished one level complete with a boss. We plan for the finished game to have around 10 levels, but that will not be any time soon.

I apologize for the large file size, and I will try and spit out a lighter version. Some resources within the game file that will be used for future game play are bogging it down a bit.

If you find any bugs please give me a holler! I apologize for the lack of updates and what not, but any time I would get on this site I found myself playing your awesome creations and browsing the forms instead of doing work!   (which is not a bad thing, but toward the end I really lacked time)

As the game continues past this contest I will be sure to update! We hope to explore the game mechanic a bit more in depth and hopefully create something even more intuitive with it. We are happy with what we released and hope you guys enjoy it!

--- Special thanks to Lee, Matt, and Mitch for helping test/design the game   ---

Initial Inspiration

[Inanimate]

Sounds interesting, especially the fact you might have to cope with your rapid evolutions.

[B_ill]

Nice, I picked the same one but went a completely different direction 

[Pocketninja]

Screen Shot Update!

Just a part of a level with some of the baddies.   (art work by David Sleboda)We are going to change the main character (the  orange) As of right now he shoots parts of his body. Its starting to come together quite nice!

[s0]

I love that art. 

Gameplay sounds a bit like a more action-y version E.V.O. Search For Eden or some hybrid of flOw and horizontal shmup. Shooting body parts is an awesome idea. 

[Melly]

Wow, that's looking great.

[Pocketninja]

Thanks guys! Right now it seems it will be much like a horizontal shump, and I'm trying to think of interesting ways to make the game play very original. So far, I'm figuring that when the enemies die, you can collect there fragments and you will slowly start to evolve and gain new abilities. The graphics are very unique and i'm hoping to craft some unique game play to suit -- but i'm having a bit of trouble. Any suggestions? Anything is much appreciated! 

[Terrorbuns]

Oh man those graphics  Really look forward to this!!!

Well the nature of unpredictable evolution would be pretty awesome within it's own right so yea. You can collect enemy parts to get an evolution but you can avoid them if you don't want to risk getting a not-so-helpful evolution or something. I dunno.

Best of luck! 

[Pocketninja]

Alright so the game is coming alone quite well, however ill have to crank in order to finish it in time  The game ended up as a semi-shump puzzler esq game in which you need to kill your enemies and evolve into them, using their abilities to efficiently navigate through the levels. Becoming the right enemy at the right time will help you gain more points and make it much easier to beat the level.

Below is a picture of a massive explosion!  18 enemies slowly begin to close in on you. Shooting one and sneaking out is an option; but becoming an enemy that the ability to shoot bullets in all directions allows for a much better option (as you can see). There is one enemy left that is about to be showered by shards of his friends. Ill post a build of a level soon so you guys can give some great criticism! Thanks! 

[Spross]

I look forward to playing this.  The art is pretty amazing and the evolution mechanic sounds cool.
  So how does the evolution work exactly?  Do you continue to grow and have new abilities stack on top of one another or are they like different weapon power ups? For example, if I collect the pieces of one that shoot bullets in all directions and then the pieces of one with homing bullets would I have homing bullets that shoot in all directions or just homing bullets? 

[Pocketninja]

@Spross

That is an awesome point; but as of right now you become the enemy you suck up (an orange variation of them) and have their abilities. As you use their abilities you start to shake and blur and then transform back to your original form. You quickly move in and out of people rather than sit as one. The abilities do not stack; although that is a great idea and may have to be implemented in the future. In 2 days ill have a build for you to play around with and see what its like. 

[moonmagic]

Kirby's Adventure: The Shmup!

I love ability-stealing in any game. Your art is fantasmo.

[Pocketninja]

What we planned on finishing for our entry regarding this game is finished! Please check it out and leave some feedback, thanks!

[chris_b]

Wow - this is awesome! Really love the style and gameplay... looking forward to a future version with more levels.

I don't really have any criticism except a couple of times I mistook the info panel for an enemy looming above me.

[Pocketninja]

Yea! I agree actually haha; I just couldn't think of another way to represent the score/attack power. Everything in the game (until that) was represented visually, and I liked that. Leaving text/health bars etc out was a cool approach (in my opinion hahah) However, displaying the score killed that, and I can't think of a great way to do it! Any suggestions?

Oh and Thanks so much for the kinds words! Glad you enjoyed it 

[Melly]

The art style is creepy-awesome, and the gameplay it pretty nice too. Not much to comment on as far as feedback goes. I'll let you know if there's anything later on. For now though, it's a pretty nice work.

[Pocketninja]

I just composed a quick video trailer, and it turned out quite nice  haha. Check it out:

[chris_b]

Yea! I agree actually haha; I just couldn't think of another way to represent the score/attack power. Everything in the game (until that) was represented visually, and I liked that. Leaving text/health bars etc out was a cool approach (in my opinion hahah) However, displaying the score killed that, and I can't think of a great way to do it! Any suggestions?

I think it's fine if the alpha for the background shape is reduced a bit so it's not quite as dark. Also maybe have a slightly more compact version of the shape (and without the dangly bit) so it's a bit less intrusive?

[Melly]

Avira accused the game's executable of being a virus. It's most probably a false-positive (Avira is great at those), but I thought I'd let you guys know.

I need a better anti-virus.

EDIT: Actually, that may have been the file in the torrent with all the games. I'll verify.

[Pocketninja]

  That very strange -- I can assure you it is not a virus though. However, that is odd; especially because you probably have downloaded various GM made games and they did not trigger. I wonder what made it different? Any details on the report?

It made it past YYGs virus scanner    hahah

But yea, it is definitely not a virus, but I also defiantly would not like it to trigger as one.

@Melly's Edit: Ah, ok. Thanks much, hopefully your assumption is correct.