Temple of the Water God

Presentation really goes a long way, doesn't it?  I'm playing a very obscure game on my phone (more on that later...dun dun dunnnnnn), and I swear it has the potential to be big... like, Temple Run big... if only it were presented a bit more cleanly.  Temple of the Water God understands this.  It went with a very simple mechanic and very simple level design, but presented that simple game as best as it possibly could.

My first and greatest "wow" moment when playing this game came to me close to the beginning, when the sun in the background gleamed gloriously at my character and its surroundings, illuminating them with an almost supra-professional polish.

And speaking of supra-professoinal, props to the guys who worked on the music and sound editing for this game.  It's nice to see that there are still people who take such seemingly insignificant parts of the game so seriously, and the effect is great in every sense of the word.

Now, let's talk gameplay.  The mechanics are sort of similar to Snowfall's, except not designed to piss you off.  You use one button to suck and another button to push...water, that is.  You use this water to transport yourself from one area to the next, with the help of sea turles, jellyfish, and sharks, all of whom must be manipulated in slightly different ways.

The mechanics bring their share of frustrations and triumphs, but honestly that's not the most interesting part.  Where the game really excels (other than the polish, of course), is in structure.  The game is the perfect length for a relaxed yet dedicated play session and features a fair difficulty curve.  In the game's climax, you're super powerful and you feel it. Yet, the game doesn't get easier as a result.  The game was simply designed around your newfound superpowers, allowing you to reap the rewards of your labor while remaining challenged.

Temple of the Water God is a game that you can learn from, which makes it worth a play in my book.  If you're starting out in game design and already have your mechanics and narrative planned out, but just need to know how to translate them into a well-rounded and well-polished experience, then this game has the answers for you.  That's all I got for now.  Until next time, stay wet.

Links
In the Name of the Water: https://www.digipen.edu/?id=1170&proj=26713