Don't undersell the time mechanic by adding a mode that makes it go away

[hotohori]

You can do so much more with this. When I was starting to rush to the third boss the game reminded me a bit of Warioland, specifically 4. A more modern take on the formula would be Pizza Tower.

I think the timer is one of the best strengths of the game, keeping you on the move and making you consider if it's worth it to try and go a different direction to get more money for future shrines in exchange for precious seconds. You could expand it by working how much time you have left with enhanced monsters later on if you're too fast or even let people go over the limit but making monsters lethal, so you have a chance to continue but it won't be easy. Stuff that synergizes with your time having pros and cons depending on how much you have left e.t.c.

On the other hand levels seem way too straightforward. You can rush one direction and end at the next zone, it gets old very fast. After dying three or four times going through the first areas gets very boring since you are just walking upwards while killing everything as you pass through.

Personally I like the vibes a lot, the voice acting/setting is on point and the general gameplay feels good, but the game loop feels lacking.

[Insanity Pilgrim]

I'm also unsure why the timer stops at bosses. feels like if you were on the clock (hehe) to also kill the boss in the time frame it would incentivize unlocking extra time and the red portals. even without either of those i can still fully clear every zone and kill every boss 1-2 minutes under.

[Mark-]

We are working on adding an enrage timer on bosses instead.

We currently have the time freezing on bosses because sometimes it was frustrating to reach a boss with little time left on the clock.

This is the game's main innovation though, so we expect we'll need to iterate and change things around until it feels 100% right

[Gama]

I must say that I wouldn't even have downloaded the game if I had realized that there was a timer rushing me. Luckily, I was greeted with the info that this can be removed, and I had a blast playing through the first 10 floors.

I hope you will keep working with the timer-freeze version and make it clear to future players that this mechanic is optional before some may otherwise decide to not purchase the game.
I don't mind other mechanics that may make the timer-free version harder to balance the experience, but an actual timer rushing me with a fail state is an absolute no-go for me, even if it were generously balanced.

[mix master meat]

Strongly disagree with the OP's original subject line - adding more options to how you approach game mechanics and difficulty doesn't 'take away' from anything else, it just promotes different playstyles - and promotes fun indie devs selling more games. I love the fact that the game openly broadcasts the time mechanic (I usually hate timers in games, but I really like it here, so I appreciated being given the distinction and choice).

Keep up the great work devs, and any time someone blatantly says: "Produce my intended gameplay experience to the exclusion of everyone else" just eat a biscuit and keep on walking.

[hotohori]

Originally posted by mix master meat:

Strongly disagree with the OP's original subject line - adding more options to how you approach game mechanics and difficulty doesn't 'take away' from anything else, it just promotes different playstyles - and promotes fun indie devs selling more games. I love the fact that the game openly broadcasts the time mechanic (I usually hate timers in games, but I really like it here, so I appreciated being given the distinction and choice).

Keep up the great work devs, and any time someone blatantly says: "Produce my intended gameplay experience to the exclusion of everyone else" just eat a biscuit and keep on walking.

I didn't say that they should remove any options and nobody asked them to make the game a specific way. I've already seen you in other threads being an arrogant prick, just stop.

[Jen]

Originally posted by hotohori:

Originally posted by mix master meat:

Strongly disagree with the OP's original subject line - adding more options to how you approach game mechanics and difficulty doesn't 'take away' from anything else, it just promotes different playstyles - and promotes fun indie devs selling more games. I love the fact that the game openly broadcasts the time mechanic (I usually hate timers in games, but I really like it here, so I appreciated being given the distinction and choice).

Keep up the great work devs, and any time someone blatantly says: "Produce my intended gameplay experience to the exclusion of everyone else" just eat a biscuit and keep on walking.

I didn't say that they should remove any options and nobody asked them to make the game a specific way. I've already seen you in other threads being an arrogant prick, just stop.

Strongly agree, btw the devs just announced on discord that future playtests will include ways to "counter" the clock during each run via tasks to perform in the floors ie: defeating a boss gives back 30 seconds. But like mark said, they are still balancing it

[PersonalC0ffee]

Very STRONGLY disagree. Keep the option to disable the timer. I wouldn't have even wishlisted or joined the play test if I couldn't disable the timer.

[Jen]

Originally posted by PersonalC0ffee:

Very STRONGLY disagree. Keep the option to disable the timer. I wouldn't have even wishlisted or joined the play test if I couldn't disable the timer.

I wasn't agreeing on getting rid of ways to get rid of the time, I was agreeing on the guy being a prick

[PersonalC0ffee]

Originally posted by Jen:

Originally posted by PersonalC0ffee:

Very STRONGLY disagree. Keep the option to disable the timer. I wouldn't have even wishlisted or joined the play test if I couldn't disable the timer.

I wasn't agreeing on getting rid of ways to get rid of the time, I was agreeing on the guy being a prick

I don't like timers so if they don't give the option in the future, that's me gone.

[Jen]

Originally posted by PersonalC0ffee:

Originally posted by Jen:

I wasn't agreeing on getting rid of ways to get rid of the time, I was agreeing on the guy being a prick

I don't like timers so if they don't give the option in the future, that's me gone.

The option is already there, it's the easy mode, only thing changing is the clock being frozen all the time iirc

[PersonalC0ffee]

I wouldn't say Easy mode. It is relaxed mode. Damage numbers, stats, health, etc don't seem to change. Literally just freezes the timer so you can go at YOUR pace.

[Jen]

Originally posted by PersonalC0ffee:

I wouldn't say Easy mode. It is relaxed mode. Damage numbers, stats, health, etc don't seem to change. Literally just freezes the timer so you can go at YOUR pace.

I said easy mode because I didn't remember the exact name of it

[PersonalC0ffee]

The point is that it is not an easy mode. Removing the timer does not change the damage limits and health pools.

Calling it an easy mode is doing a dis-service to the game.

It turns the game from a frantic, anxiety inducing mess into a nice calm diablo-esque experience.

[ProVegaGamer]

I only play with the timer off. so keep it optional.

[Troy Muni]

I also hate timers in games but this game is so good I didn't even mind it...yet, at least.