Don’t Look Back

Posted in Complete Games don't look back
By Terry Mar 5, 2009

[Play Don’t Look Back on Kongregate]

I’m proud to finally present Don’t Look Back, my very first game in flash! For the next week or so it’s available only on Kongregate, but after that I’ll provide a standalone version of the game here.

Being a flash game it doesn’t have a readme, so this seems like an appropriate place to say thanks to the people who helped me test it and gave me feedback during its development! I’d like to say a special thanks to Denis Cavanagh, Stephen Lavelle, Gregory Weir, Alex May, Josiah Tobin, disasterpiece, benzido, Tim W., zaphos, dock, Noyb, agj, Kian Bashiri, cactus, Annabelle Kennedy, Brandon McCartin, Ian Snyder, Porter, ozdy, lachhh, and finally, to Kongregate.

I hope you enjoy the game 🙂

[Edit 12th March] Don’t Look Back is now also available on this site!

[Play Don’t Look Back on distractionware]

[Download offline ZIP for Windows]
[Download offline DMG for Mac]

[Edit 26th March] To those of you looking for the soundtrack; you can find it here.

292 thoughts on “Don’t Look Back”

  5. The simplicity and nostalgia of this game was perfect. Strangely enough I really enjoyed what music there was. Strange how it is more meaningful after your first play through. Love it!

    Reply

  6. “When you’re being followed, at one point you drop down, there are two stalagtites, and there are two passage ways that are not blocked off. Since you can’t look back, you can only go one way”¦ I’m curios about the other way, is it some kind of easteregg? If it is I don’t believe it’s very accessible :(“¦”

    If you replay the game, you’ll see that you were actually there before you fight all the big monsters. That’s the second room in the caves

    Reply

  8. I found this games on newgrounds and was intrigued. Frankly, I loved it. Masterfully done and simple enough for anyone to play…beautiful. I won’t sit here and repeat everything everyone else has said, just that it reminded me of the feeling i had playing my NES back when I was a little kid, and that no amount of graphic smoke and mirrors can ever compete with a good story-Thank you

    Reply

  9. I played your game 3 times already! I LOVE IT. Simple yet brillant. This game entertains and says a lot more than some of the the biggest budget titles out there now.

    I’m honored to have enjoyed your game.

    Reply

  11. This game is really awesome. GREAT. And could I know specific story of this game “Don’t look back”
    ? Why man go underworld and Who is the man that apper after finish?

    Reply

  15. I didn’t know where the story came from but I thouroughly enjoyed this oldschool arcade romp.

    Two thumbs up!

    Reply

  16. Jeeezzzzz, You really changed the way I look at games! I tell you, this game deserves a 10.5/10 for not making the player play the game, but to make the player ponder about it. By the way, The guy who wrote the Reply “Not as good” and “one more thing” is an example of today’s plauged gamers who talk before they think. I hope you enjoy my Review on this game!

    Reply

  19. This is beautiful. The Atari-esque graphics, the music, the wordless story…. It all fits together perfectly. This is a game from the creator’s heart, and THAT’S what we’d all love to see more of.

    May I get copies of the music sources? Please e-mail carrmd@NOmgcSPAM.edu (remove the NO and SPAM, of course) if I may.

    Reply

  21. a very beautiful game. the mood reminds me a little of silent hill. could you upload the music sources?

    thank you very much for this wonderful game.

    Reply

  24. Great game. Now maybe I’m thinking too hard, but I wasn’t sure if there would be an alternate ending if you could beat it without getting killed… makes sense that you die in the end if you die inside? Man, I’m a nerd. Anyhow, I’ve been trying but to no avail. Anyone have any ideas?

    Reply

  25. Perfect game, I’ve never seen something like that, so simple and so incredible! Now you have a brazilian fan! Thanks for this awesome game!

    Reply

  27. EAmazing. Excellent gameplay, oustanding sound, perfect atmosphere. Haven´t played any platformer this good since Braid.

    Congratulations from Spain, Terry!

    Reply

  29. A beautiful game, well crafted and masterfully delivered in minimalistic fashion to deliver a thought provoking and original idea.

    Reply

  32. Excellent game. I reviewed it on my blog. A summary excerpt:

    “The revelation, without words, of this story–the hero’s motivation and intent, and the eventual resolution of the story–is very well done. As a platform game, Don’t Look Back is only average, but as a piece of storytelling it is really excellent.”

    I analyze the game a bit more in the full post; should you want to read it, it is here: https://tmftgame.blogspot.com/2009/03/don-look-back.html

    Reply

  34. I love the ending. The game is amazing.

    I like the nice, clean way of re-doing. How easily you retry reminds me of what I read in “A Theory of Fun”. You have a talent, dear sir. Wowee!

    Cheers,

    Bradley

    Reply

  35. hi there…i just end this game… and the end left me with the mouth open… i play this on http://www.minijuegos.com … i now get the picture of the idea… still i dont understand the ending.. i mean the “body” doesnt look back!! so why they both desapeard?? and is she her sister or loved one or a striper he fell in love before the herpes eat her brain???…anyway… good game i download it already…WANT MORE!!! try another mitology…you will make the people go to the web and read something interesting…gratz dude… good game…good history…good ending…awful gameplay…but it really worth the time…greetings from mexico..

    Reply

  36. When I saw a snapshot of this game for the first time, I thought it would be one of these weird, full-of-pixels game.

    But all this thing about the grave, the spirit, the return… gosh, I have to admit it really moved me.
    What a great soundtrack u chose for this game, by the way.

    I’d like to know what your meaning is for this game. I don’t usually post comments about games, but this time I felt I had to.

    Congratulations on your creation – simple and great

    Reply

  40. I liked your game Terry, didn’t finish it as of yet. I think I got stuck at some part, anyways – the pixel effect is great. Good minimal stuff going on.

    Reply

  42. Good game.
    Some parts are hard, specially the ones with monsters.

    I loved the END. I didn’t spected it.

    Reply

  43. My fraternity borrows much from the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. As my chapter’s webmaster, I’d really like to embed this game on our website. Is this embed-able, or should I just distribute the downloadable exe/dmg?

    Reply

  45. the thing is that its a realy asome game but the ending doesnt make any sense at all can someone tell me

    Reply

  47. […] Don’t Look Back est déjÁ  plus un jeu qu’un “essai contemplatif” comme l’est Judith. Le joueur est ici confronté Á  un plateformer 2D toujours old-school oÁ¹ il devra s’enfoncer dans les profondeurs terrestres retrouver l’Á¢me de sa défunte compagne. Ici le challenge est présent et plutÁ´t corsé : des pics et ennemis de partout, parfois requérant une bonne coordination, une précision millimétrique et des tirs bien placés. Les boss sont également de la partie et vous donneront du fil Á  retordre je peux vous l’avouer. MÁªme si l’histoire bien qu’abstraite a une place importante, le cÁ´té “jeu” reste plus exploité, et c’est Á  mon sens la meilleure réalisation de Terry Cavanagh. […]

    Reply

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