Karoshi

By: Derek Yu

On: March 4th, 2008

Karoshi, which means “”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kar%C5%8Dshi">death from overwork" in Japanese, poses an interesting challenge to the player: kill yourself! It’s a gimmick that’s actually carried quite well across the 25 levels of this unique puzzle platformer. The game often messes with your expectations to genuinely hilarious effect – I love that you can pick up a gun, but can’t use it to off yourself directly. I don’t know why, but I love that.

Despite the lack of polish in the game’s overall presentation, Karoshi is, in my opinion, much more entertaining and clever than Adult Swim’s Kill Yourself in 5 Minutes.

(Source: dessgeega, via The Gamer’s Quarter forums)

Posted in Freeware, Highly Recommended, Platformers, Puzzle, Unique / Bizarre | Tags: JesseVenbrux

Derek

If you get stuck on level 12, well… hehe.
Quiest

I’m stuck on the level in the screenshot >_< any help?
Robert

Derek, have you tried, uh.. pressing a suggested keyboard key?
Lim-Dul

Quiest – uhm – but you figured out that the boxes are made from metal and so can conduct electricity (just a little hint =)?

Also, it’s not always advisable to press all the buttons as soon as possible… That’s all I can say. ^^
Joola

Yes, i’m stuck in level 12. More hints?
GirlFlash

that was awesome, really clever levels. some reminded me of the impossible quiz
Spenat

Im having the same problem as Quiest, I am stuck at lvl screen, with a ticking sound in the back, i can move mouse and so on, but nothing happens when i press the level 0…

am I stupid o what?
Dusty Spur

Ugh. I am stuck on level 3. I feel really dumb.
Dusty Spur

Or not.

Man, that was way obvious.
Adam Atomic

Absolutely great, reminiscent of Poyo in some places!
Jon

I’m stuck on level 24… any hints?
cmspice

Jon: It’s something that you totally wouldn’t expect or know about from playing previous levels.

It has something to do with a wall you can walk through but you have to make it so you can walk through it.
Weasel

Can’t start the game. I’m stuck on the level select screen and can’t click the first level. Am I missing something obvious?
http://www.distractionware.com Terry

Seems like a few people are getting stuck in this, so I wrote a little walkthrough:

http://www.indiefaqs.com/index.php/Karoshi
http://26k.org/dev/zero lowpoly

Pretty fun little game, I got to 19 before I had to leave for work, probably finish it off tonight. I like how I was being cautious about certain parts and then remembered, ‘oh ya, I’m supposed to die!’
muku

Loved it. Some levels were a bit too “gadget-y” for my taste (like the infamous K level), but it was great fun. More please!
Phyte

Now that is what I call level design!
Andiaz

Not bad at all, even if some levels feel rushed. Feels nice to kill the main character and still progress for once. :>
Fishy Boy

I really like how sometimes it was really cool puzzles, and other times it was just amusing deaths. It struck the perfect balance between the two, and I never really found myself bored. I really think this game totally understands the difficulty curve and what length is perfect.
http://www.venbrux.com Jesse

Hey, I just want to say I’m incredibly pleased with all the comments here, and on indiegames. I read them all of course, and it’s so great to see people having fun and figuring out/helping each other. TY!

2Dcube / Jesse Venbrux
kloi

i found a hidden easter egg in level 25, try to get to the end without dying.
Julius

what a weeaboo easter egg
gustav

^_^
gustav

the only thing i don’t like about this game are the blood spats on the screen. but that’s just me, nitpickin’.
Simonitro

This game is really fun.

Loved every moment of it. :D