The name is the rule. The board keeps sliding past as you move, and anything that drifts too far behind is deleted for good. So when you spot the generator you need, you go for it, because there is no going back for it later.
Can't Get Back unblocked was made by Kipkat for the 2019 js13k contest. It shows a tilted, glowing board of swaying grass, and every picture and sound in it is generated by code rather than loaded from files.
How to play Can't Get Back
Press Space at the title, read the short story, and the level starts. A counter at the top tells you how many generators are left. They are gray machines with a number on them, and they must be switched on in order: 1 first, then 2, and so on. Walk up to the right one and press E.
Dark squares with red edges slide toward you as you explore. A touch costs a heart and knocks you across the board. Your shots, fired with the letter keys, shove them back. Shots curve toward the nearest square but don't destroy it, so a square is only gone once it leaves the board.
Turning on a generator also gives back one heart if you are hurt. Finish the full set and the next level begins with new colors, faster music, one extra heart and one more generator to find. Levels never run out, so you simply try to climb higher each time before your hearts are gone.
Controls
| To… | Keyboard |
|---|---|
| Start the game or restart after dying | Space |
| Move | Arrow keys |
| Shoot up, left, down or right | W, A, S, D |
| Use a generator or pickup | E |
| Mute the music (after the current loop) | M |
| Low-detail mode for slow devices | L |
Tips
- Check the radar every few seconds. The small box in the corner marks generators, enemies and pickups in different colors.
- Commit when you see the next number. Turning away risks it scrolling off and vanishing.
- Hold the medkit for later. It refills every heart, so it's worth more when you are almost out.
- Use the statue as a panic button. It makes you immune for a few seconds, and squares just bounce off you.
- Grab speed when boxed in. The blue speed block gives a short burst that can carry you through a gap.
Can't Get Back questions
What does Can't activate mean?
You tried a generator out of order. Only the one numbered right after your last activation will turn on.
What happens when I lose all my hearts?
A death screen appears. Press Space to try the level again, and that level's generators start over from number 1.
Can I play it on a phone?
No. The game is keyboard only, with nothing to tap on screen. If it stutters on an older laptop, there is a low-detail mode listed in the controls.
