The game looks fun but game play needs to be refined.
Reviews for "I Can't Escape"
I don't know if it was your intention, but I think it represents a descent into madness well. I spent awhile trying to actively escape, but after that, I started actively seeking out the holes, going as deep as I could. I won't spoil what's at the bottom, but I say well done.
My only complaint is that I walked away from the game to get food, and when I came back, I was still alive and unharmed. I felt like that took all the danger factor out for me.
davidmaletz responds:
Yeah, the game can definitely be seen as a descent to madness - trying desperately to escape, yet somehow getting deeper, and even intentionally going deeper when you feel there's no other way. The fact that there even is an escape, but it's almost impossible to find make the analogy even better!
As for leaving the game and nothing happening, I've had the opposite response too! They left the game to go to the bathroom, and ended on a different level and were upset! Most of the time, when you fall, it is by your own actions (which again follows the madness analogy), so you wont often fall without moving. But, sometimes, in rare instances, you will fall even without any input at all!
I love Soul Reaver 1 soundtrack. those soundtracks fit everywhere!
You build a really great atmosphere and I have to say my first go at this game gave me a really great impression. However, the following playthroughs weren't that good. You soon realise that once you fall beyond the third floor it's just better to start over. Also, you should make it clearer what the keys do, how many you've collected and such. It would help they player feel like he's making progress and will make it that more heartbreaking when you fall >:D
You might also want to add some other feature to make the player feel like he's doing some progress. But maybe the feeling of wandering aimlessly and not getting anything except more lost was the thing you were going for. That has its charm too!
Not a big fan of the fake gates though. All other holes and such can be avoided but the fake gates just randomly resets all your progress. Not a feature I am a fan of but then again maybe you were going for the frustration of being locked away and just maybe able to escape.
great game! i really like it!