Plasmarift's game Reviews on Newgrounds

[Deeper]

The concept, music, sound effects, and story (from as much as I can find) is good. However, the game feels very sluggish after a while of searching for the objects (I have so far only managed to find 4. The environment being very minimalistic and only a few colors doesn't help much either). I ended up exploring the outside edge of the level without knowing that wasn't where I was suppose to go. I also found that I could go through some of the walls while others were solid (I'm not sure if this was completely unintentional though). I do like these kind of games, but I feel like this one is just too frustrating in the exploring aspect when there's nothing simulating on screen except for text and the occasional sound effects (which never occur again after). Still, it is a good game.

[Lone Ghost & Cat]

The game concept and puzzle mechanic is great, but there are problems, specifically with the challenge.

Problems
- In many of the levels, including some of the last ones, the difficulty is way too easy (I was able to just walk straight to the door on some levels). now, if you were required to bring the cat with you, then the difficulty would go up, but as it is now, the cat is expendable and I can drain all the life out of it I want to beat the level (unless there is an alternate ending that I am missing).
- The story seems like it would be interesting, but it is not explained. Is the character in a retirement home? (that would explain all the old ladies). Is everyone a ghost and is that why they can absorb my energy? Why can the cat absorb their energy yet I can't take theirs? Am I actually a ghost or do I only become one with my energy taken away? Why do they seem hostile toward the main character? Why is the bus at the end flying? What was with that weird tongue monster? Is this all taking place in the afterlife? All questions I'm still unclear on.
- This one goes back to the unexplained story. The controls and goals themselves are not clearly explained. These can be figured (although everything seemed very odd at first with the door in the wall closing up) though I thought the "petting the cat" mechanic was only for entertainment. I didn't connect it with the fact that the cat would follow me if I only petted it ONCE.
- The game was also short, but this isn't a huge problem (I know this is your first game). I was more so just disappointed that it had too end so soon.
- The tongue elevator was a good idea though the guy wiggling his feet while it is going up just looks weird. It seems like it would be controller if he stood still, but that's just me.
- I'd encourage a menu screen and pause button in your next game for access to instructions and credits among other things. Not really necessary for this game though.

Good
- The controls and environment were great. I loved the perspective for the over world and for the levels (it reminds me of old school 90's games).
- The graphic are pretty good (especially the distortion used for ghosts) and although I already said something along these lines, I really like the concept and gameplay.
- The music was also fitting. It had a nice spooky yet techno feel to it. The sound effects were also good.

I do like the game despite my complaints and I look forward to your next. Good job!

PhilllChabbb responds:

Hello Plasmarift,

First of all, thanks for all the feedback. It's really hard to accurately change your perspective to what someone else might see, and you've given me just that. A crucial ingredient to grow. :)

So many issues you've bring up did pop-up in my mind. I can't use "it's my first game" as an excuse for all of them, but it did affect my design process in a way. The unknowing part of it. Only realizing now some of the issues.

The difficulty curve is really out of whack. It's true some levels were easier, like the one where you could just walk to the exit. This was an experiment in letting the player chose what to do without rewarding the action. Maybe the action itself was the reward? Most of them was bringing the cat to the exit or not. I'm a big fan of letting player choice be worthwhile and meaningful. Not just a static do this (maybe) meaningless action to get a reward. I might of not executed those levels well, but it's a little level up in that area. :)

For the story aspect of the game, you are 100% correct. You've actually made me think more about it and what ended up in the game. Since it was my first game, learning to program, to play piano, to compose music and trying to design a game for the first time kinda took more energy and the % of my time. So the story did in fact lack a lot. My only knowledge of story telling is the pace and "show don't tell". So it's something I must work on for the next games. Once I'm more comfortable in an area can move in the next to improve the skills (hopefully!).

And I feel the same way about the game length and menu/pause options. Glad to be on the same pace.

Overall it's been a great experience working on this game. And, again, a huge thanks for playing and helping me grow with your feedback. :D I'm also looking forwards to my next game! Haha. :)

Phil

[The Valley Rule]

A very beautiful game. The sound effects (except for the jump sound) were great and the game felt very relaxing because of them. The power ups worked well together and the environment was beautiful, yet old and desolate. Although the puzzles weren't really tough, the maneuvering required to scale cliff was difficult yet fun once you got used to it (you should have seen me flying up those cliffs).

There really wasn't much of a story though and the name itself isn't really explain (if the game was meant to take place in a valley, then the environment did not convey this. It looked like a temple). Though I can't take off too many points for this because games don't need stories to be good and this could be seen as an art game, where the conclusions as to the story are left up to the player. Also, does the girl have red ears or is that a bow in her hair?

Very good job. my only regret is that it was so short. I encourage you to make a sequel to this and I'd be glad to help in any way if you need it (writing, beta testing, voice acting, level design). I may contact you in the future for questions on Stencyl since you seem to have a firm grasp on using it (especially on the small shrubs and grass). Good luck in the contest and good luck on your future projects.

Raiyumi responds:

Thanks!

Yeah, the name is a bit weird for what it is. We had a lot more planned for the overworld and lore, but we had to cut it short, unfortunately. :(

[30 Days Remain]

It's definitely a tough game. You can get through it without losing any places, but it is tough (I almost did), but I just think it is ridiculous that if one of them is overlapping a person that I can't get them without hitting a citizen. Sometimes, there are just too many people on screen to get in a clean shoot. Still, I like the game and the idea. By the way, if none of the places are lost by the end, is there a different ending?

koe415 responds:

Yeah, there's three endings based on how many locations are lost when you reach day 30. Thanks for playing!

[Station D1]

I am actually impressed with this game despite what it is lacking (usually, as sad as it is, I do tend to judge games based on the their score coming out of the Under Judgment category). It reminds me of the Good Morning, Captain or something like that. The exploration, as limited as it is, is fun and jumping from astroid to astroid is cool and takes a little maneuvering. I don't know if there is anything to gain by collecting cargo, but the idea for this game, along with the graphics, are awesome. If you could add different level (different solar systems or different backgrounds), and maybe even add some obstacle like aliens or flying small comets that can hurt you, this game would appeal to a larger audience, but I understand it was for a NASA space app contest though I could definitely picture this as being in a space museum as a simulation for kids (even if it isn't realistic). Great job.

[RaggaMuffin]

I can see your art improving with every game (you really like food, don't you?) The game was very well put together and challenging in some parts as well. There are a few bugs, where on the moving platforms, there are times you are unable to jump unless you are moving on it (you can't jump on it when you are standing still). The game was awesome and love the jokes and things you put into this. Keep up the great work!

Munguia responds:

Thanks Plasmarift, yes i like food, who doesnt? i will try to fix the move platform stuff, :)

[This is A Leap of Faith]

To those confused, the clouds can help you in the game though I won't say how. Experiment. (Also, there is a little surprise with the text if you can make it to the door consecutively without dying).

And to the author, I see what you were going for, I think. A leap of faith indicates that a person is taking a risk and going blindly into a situation. However, if you play the game right, there is no or little to no risk so the message I found could very well be true if life were like this (perhaps it is).

I liked the concept. Although the controls feel a little slippy or too fast, I guess it is necessary to those who know how to win. Great game.

[Exercise]

Thank you very much good sir. Through your game Completion and exercise, you've given me an idea for what could be the greatest art game ever made.

And as for the game itself, even though there is no reward at the end, it was challenging, fun, and a little frustrating. (Also, the game is called Exercise, but exercise for who: the character in the game or for you :)

[StarBright]

I liked the game. It was a fun little challenging game at times though there are some problems. Sometimes, the rotating saws will stop mid-air when you are not directly near them and the only bug I came across was once glitching through a grass wall, but I was able to come back out without a problem. Also, having to restart the level from the beginning after getting a star becomes annoying when it would've taken less time to get the second star in some levels without restarting.

By the way, I found six of the runes, one in every level with stars to get in them, but you say there are seven and the only level left is the final level where the stars get displayed and I've looked everywhere in that level. Is there more than one rune in a level that I missed?

SirNightOwl responds:

Hey thanks for the review! Yeah the saws do stop in your just under a screen width as to do it so they are constantly rotating can cause lag :(

You were correct about the runes! My mistake, updated the file and the 7th rune is in front of the spawn on the final level, glad you liked the game enough to gather them all, hopefully it was a bit of a challenge :)