Nifflas' Support Forum

Temporary => Knytt Stories Level Releases => Topic started by: Christian S. on October 14, 2011, 14:03:03

Title: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Christian S. on October 14, 2011, 14:03:03
Hi everyone!

It took me quite a while to finish "The Extinct Bird". The level relies almost entirely on custom tiles and music. I even felt compelled to animate the grass and create some new water animations.

It would be great to get some feedback! Especially concerning the difficulty level, I think it is a bit too easy (see screenshot :)).

Download it here: http://www.reduktion.ch/the-extinct-bird/ (http://www.reduktion.ch/the-extinct-bird/)

(http://www.reduktion.ch/content/2011/09/extinctbird_2.jpg)

Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: bulbapuck on October 14, 2011, 16:06:45
Wow, this is an excellent level! The best I've played in a while C)p
It gives you that feeling of "not exploring everything" which is great, because the world feels quite open-ended which helps with the immersion. Speaking of the immersion, the story was really well done. A simple story, but very well executed. I really felt as if I was chasing a bird.

The tilesets and CO's look amazing, I especially like the grass and the vines or whatever they are that are hanging from the ceiling.

Don't worry about the level being easy, a lot of people around here appreciate easy levels (me included :))

Two things I wanted to point out (attached some screenshots)
1) This invisible wall didn't seem to serve a purpose (unless you're planning a sequel?)
2) It felt weird that these things were solid, since they look like the belong in the background.

But those were only tiny things, great job :)

Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Salmoneous on October 14, 2011, 17:07:31
Agree with bulbapuck. Great level. Very good material.
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: TheYeIIowDucK on October 14, 2011, 22:23:05
A fairly good level. I liked the artstyle, and the custom objects were well animated. The running bird that fled from you every so many screens was an original and awesome idea. The music fitting well with the level. It's such a shame that the level's design is mediocre quality. Lots of "cheap shots" such as flat walls and nearly-empty screens waste the tilesets' potential. On top of that, the level was too easy and you 'gave away' power ups too early and too frequently.

I have to ask you something though, does the level has only one ending? On my way to the end, I stumbled across several side-paths I didn't take. Either your level has more than one ending, or all of them were dead-ends and I just was lucky enough to always take the right path.
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: SiamJai on October 15, 2011, 05:34:16
The comments and the screenshot above made me dig out KS and give this level a try, and I'm glad they did. :)

It's a nice, very enjoyable level. The screens are well-composed, so is the music. A couple of SGEs and design mistakes aside (which I'll list below), I found nothing faulty. The difficulty level was just right for me. Nothing outrageously frustrating that would've made me resort to cheating or quitting (though the platform-sequence-continues-on-the-next-screen-you-just-gotta-guess-where-to-land' type of challenges brought me close to it X) ).


The SGEs are a floating enemy and a couple of wallswims, shown on the attached screenshots.

Good level overall - thanks for sharing! :)

Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Christian S. on October 15, 2011, 10:13:12
Thanks!

@pulbabuck: there's just one ending. The invisible wall serves the same purpose as that pile of rocks which blocks your way in the cave: it should give you the feeling, that the world doesn't have a border. – but perhaps that's stupid.  :/

@TheYelloWDucK: There shouldn't be any dead-ends. Where you can choose between two ways, you'll still come out at the same place. - You're certainly right that the power-ups are given away to easily. I'll try to fix that.

@SiamJai: Even I'm annoyed by the platforming-part! Needs to be changed!

Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Widget on October 16, 2011, 02:58:04
That was a really solid little level. The tilesets are lovely and some of the screens have really interesting designs, especially for a Normal difficulty. Catching glimpses of the bird all the way through really brought the story to life as well.

I did notice that it's possible to get past the overhang on x1016y997 and climb up which causes a wallswim, though  :P
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Christian S. on October 16, 2011, 13:46:37
I uploaded a new version with bugfixes and a few design improvements.

Your feedback really helped me a lot. Thank you all!  C)

Still, suggestions how to improve are still welcome ...

Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: ortoslon on October 16, 2011, 20:45:58
playthrough without dying (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmS5kwIiV14)
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: variad on October 18, 2011, 23:13:23
Hello! I loved your level, and I don't think there's much to change! I noticed a few wall-jumps, at least one void screen... I didn't take note of them, but I can tell you the WIN-tiles at the end are not high enough, since the 1st time I jumped behind the bird and climbed to a wall-swim. So probably 5 or 6 corrections to make. I love the light-diffusing anemones, the backgrounds, and the moving grass, although it moves kinda slowly (don't know if it was your intention). Thanks for the level :)

PS. The music and FX also fit very well! I will play the new version to test the wall-swims.
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: sergiocornaga on October 21, 2011, 01:08:31
Played and beaten. Nice level!
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Christian S. on October 21, 2011, 07:59:12
Thanks! Especially for the playthrough, ortosion! :D

A version with fixed WIN-tiles is now online.

Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: GrayFace on October 22, 2011, 17:50:03
Wonderful graphics and atmosphere.
Spoiler: bugs (click to show/hide)
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Christian S. on October 27, 2011, 08:14:56
One more update ist online. Hopefully this closes the chapter on wallswims. 
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: yohji on October 27, 2011, 15:01:00
A very nice level! Can't really add much to the praise others have already given; as for drawbacks, I thought the world was a bit empty - not much in the way of little plants here and there, harmless critters, etc.; just the essentials for the most part. Also,
Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Also, interesting music here. I don't think I've ever heard anything as.. post-rock-ish?  :crazy: as this in any KS level before  :)
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Christian S. on November 04, 2011, 09:00:08
Hey, thanks yohji! Sorry, it took me some time to answer, but anyway:
It puzzles me how you got the umbrella without going through the underground castle.
Do you remember? Were you able to jump over this trench (see screenshot)? I wasn't :/
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Deformed Knee on November 07, 2011, 20:13:50
Yes once you have climb it's possible to jump over that, and in general there was a lot of backwards and forwards-ing because I wasn't so sure where to go. Found one void. Also I can't quite understand how Juni got up to the egg room without any power-ups; in fact it's impossible to get back up there no matter how many power-ups you have - i had to use the cheat option!

The ending was a bit abrupt.

Otherwise it was a well-made level. Good atmosphere. Good difficulty as well, it was definitely normal, bordering on Hard at times.
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: egomassive on November 12, 2011, 06:19:56
I finally played this level today. It's a great little level. I think the dead-ish ends were a nice touch, especially the one with the rocks blocking the way. The world really does feel a lot bigger than it is. The custom graphics were very nice too, especially the custom objects. Thanks for making it.
Title: Re: New Level "The Extinct Bird"
Post by: Christian S. on November 12, 2011, 16:29:27
One bug less: Now it should be impossible to get to the umbrella without passing the underground city. I just uploaded a new version!