SquareMan cover
SquareMan screenshot
PC Steam
Genre: Platform, Tactical, Adventure, Indie

SquareMan

Challenge Me, The developer in a Speedrun of his very own Game SquareMan.
So You've landed Randomly upon this game. Wonderful. I've been longing for a challenger.

Care to Challenge Me? Hop on over to https://www.speedrun.com/squareman

Under the Category Any% "Normal". The time to beat is 4m 47s 560ms. Goodluck.

Update Version 1.2.4

Update Version 1.2.4


Timer

  • There is now a toggle-able "Time Reached" bar that opens up the 4 locations in the game.
  • A Timer has been added for reaching each of the 4 locations.
  • All of the Timers reset back to 0 when you teleport Henry back to the Hub, this has been placed in the game for those who want to speedrun the game. This also comes as a Quality of Life patch as players will no longer need to go back to the Main Menu to start a New Game every time.

Teleportation

  • On the Pause Menu, there is now an option "Tp to Hub" which teleports Henry back to the very bottom where Hilda is resting.

Pausing

  • You can no longer pause the game when you are in the falling Animation, this has been done to prevent any bugs from occurring that may glitch the Quick Time Event when saving yourself.

World Changes

  • The Wall Resets now Emit light when near.
  • Moving into the cheese slices now Emits light.
  • Willpower Checkpoints now have lighting that further reflects if it is active.

Customisation/Henry Effects

  • Whenever Henry hits a Spike or a Slope, he will now glow brightly, then stop glowing once he hits the ground.
  • There is now a particle effect that reflects Henry hitting a spike or slope which is based off Henry's current colour.

Update Version 1.2.3

Please Start a New Game in order to prevent any bugs from occuring


Update Version 1.2.3


CUSTOMISE HENRY!!


New Content

  • Meet the new NPC who has arrived at the very bottom of the Caverns with Henry. Her Name is Sorceress Hilda. She's run low on Mana so she'll be there resting. She has the ability to alter Henry's appearance.
  • Sorceress Hilda can alter the appearance of Henry by allowing the player to change from an array of colors.
  • "Normal" Difficulty only has the color of Henry be altered. When you play on "As Intended" Difficulty, Henry's Current Color is also reflected on his Trail and Glow.

Bug Fixes/Changes

  • The Corners of ceilings have been fixed and you can no longer "Hang" on the side of ceiling blocks.

The Dark Blue Castle

  • The ground has been retextured to be carpet.

Version 1.2.2 Update

There is now an Official Discord Server for SquareMan


Here is the Link: https://discord.gg/6Ve7dVhF4P
The Discord Server is where I post all the information on Updates/Patch Notes, Future Content that I will be adding, it is also a place where you can share your experience on the game with others or if you have any questions regarding the game or is stuck. I can help you there. Updates on Speedrun.com will be posted there too.

SquareMan now has a page on Speedrun.com, Check it out!


Here is the Link: https://www.speedrun.com/squareman
It's still in the process of adding more information however if you'd like to submit your own run, you can.

SquareMan has its own website now


Here is the link: https://squareman.manakeep.com/
There is only a small amount of information in that website at the moment. I would suggest you rely on discord more as it is where I am most Active. The website will not be updated as often yet.


Version 1.2.2 Changes


Quality of Life

  • The In-Game Timer stops once the screen begins fading to black rather than on the start of the end cinematic.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed a UI bug on load which showed all of the places discovered on the screen all at once when it shouldn't be.

The Dark Blue Castle

  • Remade the whole area to make it more tight and less spacious.
  • Added a new Willpower Checkpoint to make it easier.

Update Version 1.2.1
Hey! In preparation of building a community. I will soon be making an Official Discord Community Server for SquareMan. My game has officially been accepted in Speedrun.com and I am currently setting up the pages and Speedrun categories for it. Hopefully I can start it off by doing a speedrun and adding it to the leaderboard itself for anyone to beat. I am also working on a Roadmap for future content.

Future content that is definitely going to appear are:

  • Color customisations for Henry.
  • Trail customisations for Henry.
  • Special Trails and Colors that can only be unlocked by reaching the harder areas.
  • A Golden Trail and Gold Color for those who unlock the SpeedRunner Steam Achievement.


Future content that will most likely appear if I receive enough support for SquareMan in terms of sales:

  • New areas that add new mechanics that Henry has to learn.
  • Implementation of a multi-verse where I attempt to add the main characters from the games Jump King, Celeste, Getting Over It by Bennett Foddy into the story mode. Making my own version of those characters/remaking them and adding their own lore that matches the universe Henry is in. You will be either helping them or going against them in the story.


Version 1.2.1 Changes


Added Content

  • Added the feature to save your progress simply by pausing the game because it is a hard game and it should have been there from the start.
  • Added volume sliders but removed the mute buttons for Game and Music Volume.
  • Added the setting to Rebind the "Climb" Key.


Bug fixes

  • Fixed a Crucial bug where you can lose your progress by being allowed to pause the game whilst in the Quick Time Event.
  • Reworked the Quick Time Event to be more responsive and displays Seconds with Milliseconds.


World Changes

  • Made changes to parts of The GreenWoods to make it easier for camera transitions.
  • Completely remade The Path Of No Return and made the path more smoother to go through.


You Gonna Cry Update! v.1.1
Hey Friends! Hope you read it all if you're interested.

This is an update to add in another difficulty - "As Intended". Compared to the Normal difficulty where you have checkpoints that you run into called Willpower, which allows the access of Quick Time Events to save yourself. The "As Intended" difficulty (accessed by kneeling to the Eagle Statue) completely removes the Willpower checkpoints and rearranges parts of the world to give you that extra cushioning when falling leaving you with a 50/50 chance to either be saved or to continue falling. It's RNG at its finest having to watch Henry tumble a few times on a spike just to feel the relief from or the horror of falling again.

As an Indie Game Developer of SquareMan, It is fully released. However, I believe this is just the beginning of this game. Art style/graphics is something that is valued a lot within the gaming community and I feel like my game is still lacking in it due to my inexperience in that field. If you open up the game every now and then, you may notice, the world will look better than before through small updates. I will continue to improve the look of the game and polish it more because Art is something that will always keep improving.

In terms of the game mechanics, I believe it is just right at its current state. If bugs are to be found, it will either be patched or, will be turned it into a gimmick/mechanic. Sometimes bugs can make a game fun and there's nothing wrong with abusing it if its for fun or is easily replicated.

For my future plans, updates. If I get enough support or peeps purchasing SquareMan, I will no life getting the next major update for you people. There's nothing better than receiving feedback, whether its positive or negative. What matters is you. It's nice to know people enjoy what I've made especially since it's my first indie game. Now, the next big update/free DLC is hinted by the Eagle Spirit when you've beaten the game. However, I'll leave a small hint now. You will be returning once again in another part of Squared and will be going against a certain "Knight".

I've also added 3 new OSTs which cycle between each other whilst you are playing the game. I added a new Main Menu Theme as well, listen to them carefully. You might just get them stuck in your head.

Back in Early Access, there was a Multiplayer but I've fallen back to Single-Player only mainly because I was inexperienced in having to code it through steam, still am by the way. I wanted to focus more on the Single-Player first before I go ahead and do anything with the networking. Like I stated earlier, if I get support from you guys and this game does well. I will learn how to implement it somehow.

I also recently requested SquareMan to be on Speedrun.com. However, it may not yet get accepted due to failing to meet the criteria of being "popular".

Thank you Friends for those who supported me by purchasing my game and have read everything. I appreciate it and I hope you try to unlock all the Steam achievements. Take care and stay safe.

Beating the Game.
So.. I've finally done it. I've done a speedrun on SquareMan with the willpower checkpoints. I've beaten it in 9m: 22s: 23ms. You wouldn't normally see the game developers beating their own game as fast as they can but since I personally enjoy seeing speedruns of other games. I figured why not. It's satisfying to see players break a game and exploit it for the fun of beating it really fast. I'm hoping to be able to enter my game in Speedrun.com. I know it's possible to get a sub 7 min run and I'm sure someone out there can do it. I challenge any gamer, streamer or speedrunner to beat my time. In a days time. Also, to whomever beats my game without the willpower. I would really like to see it. This is the start of a lot of rage compilations. Here is a video of my speedrun, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwZ7FJjIR0Y&t=11s Goodluck!

SquareMan Full Release
Are you ready to climb up to the top and escape the Path Of No Return starting from the bottom of the Caverns? Henry is now waiting for you to help him get out after falling off a cliff. Meet the Rat, then learn the dashes that can be master to help you move up in the area of Squared. Will the Eagle Spirit help you or will he mock you?

Here is the full release of SquareMan "I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!" Enjoy this punishing 2D precision platformer that'll leave you possibly sad you failed the Quick Time Event to Save Yourself!