Unmute : A World Without A Voice

This is my submission for the Synty 2025 Spring Game Jam. A music-driven puzzle-platformer. It marks my very first game jam, and I challenged myself not just to participate, but to see it through to the end. I had a lot of fun, and picked up some new skills along the way. This game is nowhere near perfect and I plan on updating it after the jam. I'm excited to keep learning and take on even more jammy jams.

The Jam theme is 'A World Without'

I'm recording most of the music, ambience, and sound effects for this game. The main gameplay loop involves progressing through a medium sized map leading to a puzzle boss encounter. Along the way, players must uncover the clue, both visual and audible, to solve the boss puzzle. That’s right: you’re required to keep the music on. Sound isn't just part of the atmosphere...it's part of the solution. There are objectives and an Easter egg.

Thank you so much for playing my game. Any feedback is most welcome! 

Setting

Fantasy-Futuristic / Post Authoritative

Story

A mysterious dark force has descended upon a vibrant world, severing the threads of music, language, and connection. In its grip, silence is law, communication lost, rhythm forgotten, and melody extinguished.

At the heart of this oppression lie four ancient Crystals, each imprisoning a vital part of the world’s soul: the Sphere of Melody.

You are the last echo... a lone force of defiance.

Your task: journey through puzzle-bound ruins, shatter the silence, and free the Sphere of Melody. Each Crystal is a challenge of wit and will. Solve the puzzle. Unleash the sound. Restore the voice of a world.

It’s time to Unmute.


Controls

Movement - WASD
Jump/Multi-jump - Space
Dodge/Roll - Q
Crouch - C
Glide - F
Sprint - Left Shift
Climb - E (Release)
Camera Zoom - Scroll Wheel

Guide to Crystals (*Spoilers inside*)

Objectives

Collect all 12 Skyrings - Glider heavy. Use the smoke plumes and wind zones to thrust you high in the air. Not all windzones are equal. Some are stronger than others.


Seek out the Runestones - Puzzle porn - What do these mean? You need to find these to discover a piece to the boss puzzle once you gain access to the Palace. The are guarded by the sentinel crystals.

Wake the Echoes - Release the music, free the voices. Musical chests are protected by the ancient Crystals. Use your surroundings. But don't delay too long. These crystals fire laser beams at the player when they come into proper range. You'll need to memorize the timing of the laser beam and use your roll maneuver to evade damage. Use structures around you to help cover you from fire. Plan your route. Manage your stamina. Look for heals.


Puzzle Boss - What's this dude's deal anyway? Decibelus has taken over the Palace and keeps a watchful eye on the Melody Sphere at all times. It's weakness is the power of a specific melody. Play the puzzle. Sing the melody.


Free the Melody Sphere - Somebody got to do it! You can obey the sphere's wishes, or you can adventure on and wrap up one final  objective, 'Learn to Fly'.

Seek out Auri for helpful hints

Health & Permanent Health Increases

What's your best time?


Where's Maxx? (Easter Egg)

Tips

-Use your glider as much as possible to get around. Use it to coordinate your drop position 

-Use your surroundings or Dodge/Roll to avoid laser beams. The upper Crystal fires in a rhythmic beat like. Think of it as a musical beat or rhythm. Manage your stamina. 

-Health and Health Increases are spread out around the level 

-Smoke plumes and wind zones will help glide higher

Engine & Software

Unity 6 URP
FL Studio
Malbers

Synty Packs Used

Polygon Scifi Worlds
Polygon Scifi Space
Polygon Fantasy Kingdom
Polygon Dungeon
Polygon Nightclub
Polygon Icons
Polygon Fantasy Warrior HUD Interface

Tested Hardware

Ryzen 5900x / RX 7800XT Avg 322 FPS
Intel I7 7700 / GTX 1080 Waterforce Avg 177 FPS

This build has been locked at 120 FPS Native

Ancient Sentinel Crystals

Each Crystal has a unique AI and must be approached a little differently. The differences are firing rate, damage, range and if they detect you or not. The upper crystal has different detection than the lower two. If you are attempting speed runs there is a method  for which order you take. But how to make a crystal seem scary in a vibrant world full of frozen mushrooms? I wanted to make them as ominous as possible. I made a circuit vocoder board and attached a mic and hobby speaker to record their voices.  I layered that with some synth and that's what they sound like.