Contingency Plan(et)

Hello! For the record, I had stumbled upon your account during Brackeys 2022.2, and noticed this game; I was intrigued and thought I would play, which I am finally doing. :) I also noticed you were happy someone commented on the game jam page, so, here is a second playtester! :)

Semi-on-the-fly remarks:

1. Staying in the menu for the complete music: wow, it is at the same time soothing, majestic, and orchestral! And quite long!
2. small misspellings: ‘recived’ -> ‘received’, ‘goverment’ -> ‘government’, ‘they’ -> ‘They’… (I know this is a detail, but neat language can make a good impression!)
3. I really like the whole cinematic introduction, the dramatisation is great, with the little animations and the fades, and once again, the music adds a lot.
4. Starting the propre game: wow, nice other music!!
5. Wow, reading time! ;)
6. I like that the scene is presented through interactive objects.
7. Nice that the manual stays on the page you left it at!
8. In-game music is a bit loud (especially since focus is needed!); I think a volume option would be nice.
9. Checking the game over screen: nice choice of music too.
10. A thought: the concept of having a comprehensive manual is interesting, but I almost feel like having it printed and at your disposal physically would help (I see VincentFoulon thought about it too!). There is so much to read!
11. Checking the planets screen: nice names, did you invent them or use some name generator? :)
12. Computer clock: purely decorative? You could have the handles move as time passes by, for even more immersion. :) (later: spoiler: understood, but my advice still stands XD Although it could be misleading?)
13. I wonder if you could do away with the timer; there is already quite a lot to do, and I think the game would still be interesting and challenging without it. Or maybe have the timer for hard mode only?
14. I realize the music comes to the end of its loop right at the end of the timer! On purpose? Nice detail. :)
15. Size: I do not get how to perform the name->number translation step… :o
16. Air and water: got it by trying, but things are not that simple upon merely reading the manual beforehand! X) I also like how you inserted ‘useless’ details for the telescope report, and the latency for the results from top to bottom. :)
17. Cable(s): after getting the blue cable, I get no cable in my next run, and I think the ‘no-cable’ situation is misleading to players if you did not get where cables would be and what they would look like; I would suggest not having this situation. (Also: not found the lamp yet. X) Later: found it, but I was stupidly trying to click on it way before!! XD Silly me.)
18. Not obvious to distinguish light blue and light purple? May be just me.
19. Oh, the laptop code changes! :) I had the same one two other times, and so I thought it would not change.
20. Weird, only three numbers to enter instead of four, this time!
21. I notice the lamp changes too! I was unlucky before, it was always red, which is why I thought it was only a cosmetic detail. X)
22. Not so obvious on the planets screen to distinguish between some medium- and small-sized planets, I think.
23. Won! :D But on my successful run, I did not need the water and air property; maybe you could make it so that the player has to achieve the three sub-riddles?
24. Victory music is sweet, but less majestic compared to the other ones, especially the introduction. Still, I like that rocket!

Takeaway: agreed with VincentFoulon, the whole ‘figure-it-out-yourself’ spirit is great, although SOME explanations are unclear. And I also thought like him that converting the planets to numbers was a tricky one. I think the water and air part is the most straightforward, although some may think the lamp and cables one is (it depends on whether you notice the right thing, and if you do not get the ‘no cables’ situation!). Music was excellent and immersive! And I also loved the whole narration and setting with interactive objects, it makes the player engaged in what he is doing. Thinking about the timer, I think it IS useful in the end, because it makes sure through randomisation that the player has figured out each riddle for himself and can then solve everything (or enough :p) in a single run. (I expect almost no one would make it in the first run, I was puzzled then! X)) I forgot to say the graphics are cute, especially the planets (and starry background); they have a ‘flat 2D’ appearance that somehow reminds me of some mobiles hung to the ceiling. :) As a last piece of advice, I think putting sounds would add to the experience and immersive atmosphere.

Thanks for the brain-teaser, at first, I was like a deer in the headlights, but it ended up being manageable! :)