WEB GAME

On Fire www.bit.ly/LD36onfire

The theme for the recent Ludum Dare 36 was ‘ancient technology’, and LD newcomer dietzribi has gone for one of the most ancient of them all – though he’s used some artistic licence in his interpretation of prehistory. As his version has it, when man discovered fire, he simply ran until he burned to ashes. A meter in the screen corner shows your remaining time; torching scenery as you sprint past will top it up, or you can throw a fireball that instantly kills you but passes the torch to anyone it hits. Things are complicated by waterfalls (an instakill unless a helpful diplodocus stoops in for a drink) and some exacting platforming, but the time limit’s the heart of the thing, finely judged despite the game being made in a weekend. At seven levels long, On Fire may not stick around for long, but it sure burns brightly.