Endeavore: Dawn Seeker

Just tried this yesterday, I think there's a lot of promise! I got through the first three maps and they were fun, although the second map was rough mainly because the physics and jump height are a little inconsistent right now (and also I'd have to wait awhile to be light enough to jump, but I didn't notice the belly rubbing devlog till just now). The skill tree is also really cool, but I had about 3 good attempts on each of the first three maps and I still couldn't even get out of the basic skills. The leveling feels like it takes super long, and once I realized you HAVE to max the basic group it really started to feel like a grind. But it was still a good time, the art is nice and the controls, menus, and mechanics all work very well! Considering the camera feels a little close for my taste I really like that you can quickly look up and down to see where you're jumping!

Nice game. The controls are a handful - or three rather - but once you get behind it, the game plays quite nicely. Though the game definitely has its ups and downs. What makes matters worse is that the first two maps are really hard with how the game progresses. First, when you have no equipment and points in the skill tree, you get bullied by all the slimes until you've gotten a good grasp of the controls and some good gear. I tried my luck in harder maps before I beat the first one to get some better gear at least, which somewhat worked, but it doesn't feel nice to scrape some leftovers wherever you can get some just to be able to beat the first level. (Maybe I'm just bad on a skill level though, so I'm not really upset about it)

The second map is... weird. It's a maze, sure, and with the instruction to collect the keys for the bossfight there's some direction to it, but the layout really is annoying. Some passages you can't take because you either miss a little bit in jump height, or you're just a little bit too tall. So finding and memorizing not only the layout but also the paths that are viable is quite annoying. Here I noticed that the healing items only replenish your bursts when you're completely healed, otherwise they activate straight away. So a single hit from an enemy can keep you from stacking bursts. In the middle of a fight it might be useful that they activate instantly, but for every other purpose I think giving the player the choice of when to use them would be better. And then there's the bossfight... this could be me being too unskilled again, but I really struggle with that boss and only ever gotten a draw where we killed each other at the same time, even with level 3 and 4 gear. 

Third map is my favourite one of the four. Really the opposite of map two with how there is only one path. The cysts on the walls are a bit annoying, but that seems to be their intended purpose. This map tests your patience though as there are a lot of monsters with little room inbetween, so I had to spend quite a long time just waiting for digestion. Especially after I had to decide on a xp boost for either slaying or eating enemies. I think it would be nice if digestion sped up over time, like normal speed when you've just eaten and then faster and faster the longer you do nothing, or massage your belly. The boss here was a bit weird. The first time I had beaten and eaten those dogs before I realized they were the actual boss. After that I tried to figure out their moves, but now I think you're better off not thinking about that at all. The more you think you understand how they move, the harder the fight seems to get.

Fourth map - is a map. Nothing really stood out. Which is not a bad thing really, as I find the enemies and map design are a good combination. Haven't beaten the boss yet, but that one really boils down to energy management and mastering the controls. Speaking of which - they feel like really unintuitive. I know there were lots of games that used similar keybinds, but I can't remember playing  any of those. To me it felt like you were trying to map a controller onto the keyboard without reaching a satisfying setup. I think this game would really benefit from adding controller/gamepad support. Everything just feels like it's a ported console game. 

I hope there'll be lots of levels in the future that allow me to unlock more of the skilltree. I feel like the game could use a story that connects the different levels, but not necessarily so. Right now it's about doing whatever you want to and getting stronger through that, which is totally fine, although a bit unrewarding. With either a story or an unlock system (or potentially both) clearing levels and beating bosses would serve a higher purpose rather than just average loot and a bit more xp than common enemies

An probrability of next update in soon time or around 2-3 months?

what's the maximum capacity in the game? and biggest belly size?

Is there a consideration of WG making it to illustration of Character? Also, is perks out of first one, basic area, is allowed or still work-in-progress?

I wish I had a map.The key is hard to find al

When will be next update?

Are you considering supporting other languages in the future?

Is this game playable on JoiPlay

Having thought about it some more. I think I have a better solution to my idea of an 'extra stats' skill. Instead of having to nom a piece of gear and dealing with all that. It could be instead done by a 'companion skill' of sorts. 

While the addition of belly rubbing has made the game much more enjoyable. I do find myself wondering. "Who or what is exactly doing this mechanic on the protagonist? Just some ethereal disembodied hand?" Instead of that strange idea, I think throwing in a companion would be all sorts of fun. It certainly doesn't have to be some fleshed out sidekick with loads of character. I think just a little robot buddy would do the trick. While also acting as a helper for many other things. Like carrying some special items for the protagonist. Acting as the games encyclopedia, perhaps even being a tool for hacking. OR perhaps, as a better implemented form of alternate skills? Such as of course, instead of eating a piece of equipment. This helpful buddy could instead, temporarily absorb the equipment. Attach to the protagonists back/suit and provide them the extra stats in that fashion? Basically, transforming itself into an 'extra piece of gear' for the protagonist to 'wear'. 

Though I still like the idea of perhaps getting some ultimate skills for the protagonist as well. This is your game however, so while I like all these ideas. I am also aware that perhaps this isn't crossing your mind as a 'good idea' by any means. I'm just excited to see where this game goes and the story behind its universe. <3

i hope this game continues to get updates and support as it's a nice little game

Congratulations on the itch release! love the update that added the cut-ins (I was often opening equip menu just to gawk at myself) I’m impressed you managed to conserve save compatibility with the reworked skills. I like the system, as I feel extra incentivized to grind, which is fantastic because the gameplay is fun in and of itself.

I’m underleveled for it, but my favorite area is stage 4, with stage 1 also feeling great.

Also, I may have said this before, but the playable char is incredibly cute and I absolutely adore them.

Great game altogether. Beautiful animation's, good gameplay, lovely protagonist and best of all, an interesting story waiting to unfold. I patiently wait for more updates to this game and its story.

Until then, I will give my full opinions on this current demo and report some minor bugs I came across.

Stage 1 was absolutely perfect. Aside from of course, figuring out controls and just getting used to the gameplay itself. It was arguably easy to beat on my first attempt. (Though I did have to cheese the boss by kicking its crown from the safety of a high ledge. Bordering the boss arena.)

Stage 2 was by far the worst of all the stages. Especially if you are tempted to replay stages for XP or just to explore the game. Thankfully being just, the second of four stages. It can be dealt with once and never touched again. My personal reasoning behind its lack of overall grandiose. Is simply because you MUST explore every little corner in this stage. While being tedious it is also riddled with "pitfall traps". Which force the player to re-walk areas already traversed. While it was also a problem, I can see what was being attempted during the entirety of this stage. So, I cannot truly lay blame on someone's good intentions. Namely speaking the parry mechanics. While the parry system itself is good once you can mostly master it. This stage was simply a bit too much to for it. Needless to say, I died at the boss and was not desiring to rematch it anytime soon.

Stage 3 was nicely balanced, not overly easy but certainly not difficult. The hardest part was probably reaching 'optional' platforms that had extra healing. The boss(es) of that stage was also a tad bit annoying. Mostly when trying to use the small window of time. That allows the player to attempt a devouring attack. The A.I. seemed relatively confused as to when it should jump. Which of course, makes the aforementioned attempts of devouring harder to time.

Stage 4 was certainly the hardest challenge of them all. I didn't even die my first time around. Inside the boss arena of all places. The 'optional boss' made sure of that. The boss of stage 4 was also a bit overwhelming. Attempting to fight it without a massive pool of HP. A good build of rupture DMG. Or a lack of stomach capacity. Makes it all but certain you won't beat it unless your very high leveled. Seeing as you'd more naturally have better passive stats. I wouldn't change much about it though. As it's great for XP farming should you desire to see how far the protagonist can grow.

With that all said, I found 2 minor bugs/glitches while playing. The first of which being, the stage 4 boss's flunkies. While devouring them shows that you've gained XP. You actually get a total of zero. Not sure if that's just a graphic glitch. Or that something is just preventing the protagonist from getting the XP. I would hope that you can in fact get XP from the flunkies. As it would help tremendously in terms of grinding out LVL's. Rather than repetitively replaying the 4th stage endlessly. For barely 1 LVL up around the 30's. 

The other glitch I found was a very strange occurrence. That I 100% do not know what/who/why causes it in the first place. While I think it also happened in stage 2 at one point. While playing stage 4 the protagonist starts spam locking the parry command on themselves until all stamina is drained. IDK if it's a random chance of certain enemies' attacks. IDK if it simply just happens while attempting to use parry. Or if simply my keyboard is haunted. Regardless, I wish I could say more certainly what causes this. But all I know is that it sometimes happens.

Thank you Endeavore for making a wonderful game. And sorry for the long comment.

The discord link seems to have expired. Could I ask for a fresh one?

how many weight stages are currently in the game? as i can only seem to jump between 0 and 1, unless there is some way to unlock more?

Looking forward to where this goes! Great art, great concepts, and an ambitious implementation.

It would be nice to have some way to actively digest, like in Project G.L.U.T.T., when considering predator-heavy playthroughs.

srash

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good game, mechanics aren't really explained well but it's understandable with enough trial & error.