Plasmarift's game Reviews on Newgrounds

[Winter Bus Driver 2]

The controls work fine (though when I continue to turn and back up in a specific direction when the back of the bus is already folded, it appears as if the bus starts skidding in the direction of the fold. The mechanics you put in for the vehicles and people were good (you made cars and people stop when the bus was in front of their path, just like in real life). The tire tracks left by the bus, the bus sounds, and the art for the game was good as well. The concept of the game can be exciting, but the way it is executed in this game through different programmed definitions makes it frustrating, slow, and boring.
- The bus moves way too slow to create any real challenge or concept that the driver is rushing to pick people up. I understand that when it is snowing, vehicles move at slower speeds, but couldn't driving fast have been the fun? A bus trying to go extremely fast in icy weather, trying to avoid people and car would be a difficult and maybe sometimes even funnier challenge (if there is a way to move faster then . Also, the bus moving even slower while off the road, which is way to slow. It would make more sense if it slid when going off the road.
- You say in the comment section we are free to choose our own route yet we have to park in a certain direction. What if the path I chose led the bus down the right street, but in the wrong direction? I'd suggest making it so just stopping in the space will count.
- Usually in games, the difficulty after each level or task increases. I could be wrong, but I didn't see anything getting tougher in the game. Some games don't need this, but since the level is not changing and driving from one spot is the same as driving to another, more additions or difficult would be good.

Overall, the game looks good and the concept is good, but the game lacks in enjoyable gameplay, which I believe should be a game creator's first concern when they are putting it together. This is however, only my perspective (I'm just one opinion). Still, it is a decent game and I hope to see more of your games in the future.

[Jumper]

To anyone who will complain about the game, I dare you to try and finish it. It is quite difficult in some parts. Also, there are no game breaking glitches and the controls are explained (there are a number of games that get to the game portal that don't even have these qualities so this deserves to make it). He also credited the music source, which is great.

capner responds:

thank you

[Faller]

This is definitely a step in the right direction! You got rid of the going off the sides of the screen and restarting problem. The music isn't playing though.

I believe there is power in numbers and I look forward to you and your partner's. Let me know if you need any help.

(By the way, you say this was your first game with animated sprites. Didn't your first game have animated sprites?)

[Grumpy Daruma]

I'm kind of on the fence with this game. The concept is good, but the gameplay can become boring after awhile since there isn't a whole lot of challenge to the platforming (except for the single platform jumping) and it takes awhile to reach the top. If there was more challenge in climbing the tower, like maybe flaming words falling down that you have to dodge, it would be more exciting. I'm not sure if it is boring or interesting that there is only one direct path you can taken up the tower.

I must say though that I didn't know Thomas Jefferson did that. They didn't teach that in history class.

handcraftedbymg responds:

Hi Plasmarift, this game was originally made for the Nexus 7. My main interest was to use the accelerometer to control the daruma by tilting the device clockwise or anticlockwise. The game is probably more fun to play on an Android device. It also looks better, the font I used for the Buddhist verses looks lo-res in Flash.

In any case, after trying iOS and Android development, I’ve decided I’ve had enough of touchscreens and so I intend to use Flash as the target platform. I did this with my latest game “The Holy Inquisition”, which I know you have already played too. Anyways, thank you again for your feedback!

One last thing, the version of the Bible Thomas Jefferson made for himself is unsurprisingly called “The Jefferson Bible”, you can look it up on Wikipedia or even buy a copy on any book store if you’re interested.

[The Holy Inquisition]

I was skeptical when I read the author's comments and even when I saw the simplified interactions the player was allowed to have in choosing questions. I thought that this game would make fun of Christianity. However, I liked the way you went about this game. You took actual replies from Christian forms instead of paraphrasing a stereotypical response and you presented each side of the argument well (there were some answers that made sense while others did not). This is why I am not a strict follower of the Catholic religion, but I am a Christian. I think bad things happen to good people because God has basically let us go on our own. (Don't worry, I'm not going to go on a religious rant).

The storyline was interesting (I like that you gave the player the choice to choose at the end) and the music was good as well (I noticed that you used what I believe to be a classic sounding piano piece). The music also reminded me of the silent film era movies. My only two complaints are that I couldn't hit a back button to ask the other questions in the listing since they don't appear again and there is no mute button.

Still, a great concept and great game. Hope to see even more from you in the future.

handcraftedbymg responds:

Thank you for your thoughtful critique. I did take the whole enterprise of making this very short game in all earnestness. I would like to believe in Christianity but there are just some things that don't fit for me but might make sense to other people. The game was inspired by a famous thing Mark Twain said in his autobiography: “But who prays for Satan? Who in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?” I think the redemption of Satan is the key to the saving of humanity, as he says to the Pope in the game: “If there is no hope for a fallen angel, what hope then is there for you?”

* About the music: It is indeed a piece of classical music by Béla Bartók.
* About not being able to backtrack: I thought it would give the game a little replay value.
* About the mute button: I'm totally going to implement that in any future game I make. It makes more sense to have people click on a mute button than having to make them lower the volume manually.

[RedMan]

To all those who are complaining about the difficulty: if it is too hard for you, go play something else. Some games are easy and some are hard.

I liked the game. The graphics and environment were good (the environment appeared mcu hmore vast than what it may have been, which is a good feeling to have while playing. It gives a sense of freedom). The concept for the most part was unique; the player technically only had one devise to you (this being the bomb), yet its inclusion was a major part of what made the game fun and challenging along with the Redman's strange jumping and running mechanics. The game did remind me of Mario Bro. 2 (it looked like the RedMan was pulling the bombs out of the ground) and the coin dispersement after being hit reminded me of Sonic the Hedgehog.

I must also compliment you for taking the complaints and advice of the commenters to make the game better, like you did with the longer invulnerability.

I do, however, have a few things more to say about the game.
- I was disappointed that there was no actual ending. I really wanted to find out what the RedMan was after. What was your inspiration for this game (it reminded me of a Native American because of the setting, the hidden crouch the red man does when he's still, and the spirits of the things you kill being left behind. The missiles made me think the Americans were trying to take the land. Also, I was playing this without sound so it may have had something to do with thinking this).
- I didn't really see the point in collecting a lot of coins seeing as they do not help you in any way other than allowing you to take one hit. Sometimes, if hit close to a wall, the coins would lodge themselves in it.

Still, you did a great job on this game, just as you have in your past ones. If you ever need any help making games, voicing acting, or even beta testing, let me know.

Floriaen responds:

Thank you for the review, it must appreciated.
I take in account your request about a real ending and your help on making games.

About collecting coins, it could become useful if I add a scoring.
This was my first intention but finally I didn't without real reason.

... I will see if I can use those coins with a special ending :D

[Lone Cistern]

The gameplay was good and the grades were good as well, but the Mech upgrade that makes it so you can shoot from front and back makes it extremely difficult not to destroy the factory and to get the good ending. In a way, this makes it unfair and when you compare it to the story, will either mean you shot from the factory entrance and let the robots destroy it or you moved around and ultimately destroyed the base yourself. I'd suggest making it so the player's bullets can't destroy blocks. Also, for the mech upgrade (the upgrade where the entire appearance of the mech changes), Perhaps you should have an indicator for which mech has already been bought.

The only only thing I can suggest is a level selection screen of some kind or being able to replay the last level after beating it because as much as I enjoyed playing this, I don't want to go through it again to get the best ending medals and I like medals. Still, very good job.

tadgamers responds:

The trick is to hold the S key to stand still and then make sure bullets go only left and right, the enemies will circle you and all eventually die. And only 50% of the factory bricks need to remain. Thanks for the feedback, and thank you so much for playing the whole game, it does auto-save, so as long as you have not cleared your browsers cookies, you will auto-start from level 10 next time you play, thanks again!

For everyone - Here's how to play and beat the game real easy -

You don't ever need to buy armor, just keep your health at 400 - 500
when you have a lot of money, get your health to 1,000 (lvls 7-10)
first upgrade speed to at least 1050 before any other upgrade. (lvls 1-5)
this will upgrade your rate of fire a lot! The game gets really really easy then.
next concentrate on getting to the 7,000 cistern upgrade,
then you also need to have 7,000 more gold by the time the games over to get the best ending
read my note above about how to not destroy the factory,
thanks for playing! Enjoy your shinny new medals xD

[Escape #7: The Office]

Ah, we've missed your escape games, Afro-Ninja. Thanks for another great game. Your games use common logic that can be figured out with enough thought and that's what I like in escape games. Others say that this is shorter compared to your others and I really don't see it; any escape game can usually be breezed through in a small amount of time. Though I must say, I liked your older games. They just seemed to have more surprise, sneakiness, and creativity to them. (no offense). The game was fun regardless and I like the backstories you throw into the mixture; it adds a sense of reality and in this case comedy to the situation. Very good job.

[Broken Dreams]

Alright, I've read the reviews and the amount of criticism this game is getting is ridiculous. People have described it as being a plagiarism. The sprite characters are indeed taken from Maplestory, but so what? Do you complain about a game that uses a Mario sprites? I've yet to see anyone complain about that so why is this different. It does take a lot from The Company of Myself, in the shadow concept and when the game switches to two characters, but the story, background, music, sprites, and level design are different and those who say the background art is stolen have yet to give one single example.

Even if you did consider this a remake of "The Company of Myself", so what? It's a lot more polished than the original and wouldn't it be paying homage to the game? Though I do think the author should have given credit to the game and said where he got the sprites from (You should always cite your sources). Had the author done this, I'm sure he wouldn't have gotten so much hate/

I thought the voice acting was great: it had emotion in it, which is good. The puzzles really weren't that tough, but this is just my opinion (some of them were tedious, like the 10 lights level).

People are also complaining that the guy is possessive. Yes, he is. That's what the author was trying to convey and I thought the ending line was perfect: it brought truth to the surface and in a way, "broke" the foundation of the main character's dream. I do feel that after the "The End" text appears that the level should end; not just go on for eternity.

The music was fitting and beautiful and overall, it was a good art game.

[Notebook Mayhem!]

As much as I hate to agree with the guy below me (who I'm sure doesn't know how young you are and who claims he likes making games, yet he hasn't posted any), he does have a point. I know Stencyl is capable of making great games, but you seem to be recycling things you've used in your previous games and no offense, this one is bland (a guy trying to get home was the plot of another of your games). I hoped that each new game you released, I would at least see something cool and new (like a rotating hotdog in the background). Perhaps you should start experimenting with other game making programs like Unity3D or Game Maker Studio (they are both free to download). You can also get some free sound effects for your games off of freesound dot org. You could also ask your family for help. Maybe they could assist (there are definitely a lot of tutorials on making games online available). I really do hope to see more games from you. Just try and improve with each one, no matter how small.