Wind-based puzzle platforming!
Sailcloth is a freeware puzzle platformer by Plastiware. It was made in two weeks for Pandan Jam 01, a game jam with the theme "harness the wind". As such, Sailcloth is about an unnamed boy who gathers sailcloths and uses them to float, fly, and sail on the wind. Download it here.
This game contains examples of:
- Autobots, Rock Out!: The Final Boss theme is a rock remix of the first night level theme, in stark contrast to the soft, acoustic celtic tunes that make up most of the soundtrack.
- Black Bead Eyes: All characters have these, and briefly acquire Sphere Eyes when surprised or hurt.
- Block Puzzle: There are a few of these, usually involving giant crates.
- Boss Battle: There are two of them for a bit of variety, one against a giant seagull, and another the captain of the pirates.
- The Cameo: Captain Redbeard is a character from a yet-unpublished game that Plastiware started on months before creating Sailcloth.
- Captain Colorbeard: He's unnamed in the game itself, but according to name of the track that plays when you fight him in the soundtrack, the final boss, a large pirate captain with a bushy red beard, is named Redbeard.
- Crate Expectations: Large crates can be pushed around and allow you to climb to higher areas. Smaller ones appear beginning with the first boss fight, and get destroyed when dropped on enemies.
- Depth Perplexion: Used to the game's advantage to create puzzles in a few instances, as masts can pass through solid walls, but the player can't, rendering sails that end up inside walls unreachable, requiring you to get another sail from somewhere else.
- Dressed to Plunder: The Player Character isn't a pirate per se, but he is a sailor, and he does dress the part with a bandana and a sash. As for actual pirates, the generic ones have bandanas, eyepatches, Seadog Beards, and belts with big gold buckles. Their captain has an eyepatch, a magnificent red beard, a sash, a Badass Longcoat, and a Hat of Authority.
- The Drunken Sailor: Dropping a barrel full of grog in front of a pirate is a great way to distract him. He'll stand in front of it holding a frothy mug and be rendered completely harmless for the rest of the level.
- Excuse Plot: Your girlfriend is sick with a mysterious illness. Go find some flower petals to make a potion that will cure her.
- Gangplank Galleon: The entire game has a seaside setting, but the second half of the game introduces pirates, cannons, and even has a couple good-sized ships.
- Improvised Parachute: One of the main uses of sailcloths (even before boats are introduced) is as parachutes, allowing you to cross wide gaps, catch wind to move faster, and climb updrafts.
- Line Boil: All characters, plus a few inanimate objects such as sails and flowers, have a three- or four-frame boil to prevent them from ever going completely still.
- MacGuffin: The yellow flowers that serve as the goal of each level.
- Magic Cauldron: In the ending scene, the helpful witch uses one to brew a potion with the petals you collected.
- No-Dialogue Episode: The opening and ending story scenes are told entirely without dialogue. The only character who says anything talks in Pictorial Speech Bubbles.
- Puny Parachute: Sailcloths are rather small for the incredible wind-powered feats you perform with them.
- Sky Pirates: Although they have a couple regular, water-based ships, the pirates found in the night levels seem to have a lot of flying boats, too.
- Super Drowning Skills: The bottom of every level is lined with slightly-off-screen water. Falling into it causes you to fail and have to retry the level.
- Unexpected Gameplay Change: The final boss battle is a Vehicular Assault between your flying boat and his.
- Witch Classic: A friendly one of these; complete with long robes, a big hat, and a pointy nose; diagnoses the girl's illness, sends you to get yellow flower petals, and makes a potion out of them.
- Wooden Ships and Iron Men: A Lighter and Softer take on the setting, with wind-based sailing being a major gameplay aspect, and classical pirates appearing in the second half of the game.
