Excellent level! Definitely one of my favorite Environmental Levels... maybe even 2nd favorite. Anyone at all interested in scenery seriously needs to check this out.
I really enjoyed exploring, I enjoyed finding the secrets, I REALLY enjoyed the scenery and the environment. I loved all the creative detail, a lot to see and take in and wonder about. One of my favorite parts was the "my legs feel better," I like it a lot when the upgrades are removed from the game mechanics like that. I think you could have done something similar with all of the upgrades in some way and been very successful.
The "regular" ending was great, especially the underground windows which might've been one of my favorite areas, but one thing I did NOT like was the secret ending. The secrets were all really well hidden and I enjoyed finding them. The large, cavernous spaces holding each key, and and the "false" secret endings seemed to be leading up to something grand and spectacular, like a hidden ancient alien spaceship or a castle or hidden dimension or something and after such an amazing, scenic, detailed level with all its intricacies, I was really putting my hopes up... and then the big secret was just four screens of green background paint. And it didn't seem like it was "LOL SECRIT ENDIGG!!!" tongue-in-cheek anti-climactic either, which I think would have been funny, it seemed like a genuine anti-climax. Maybe some trees and animals with a few more screens to really convey a hidden garden of Eden sort of thing? Just a suggestion. :P
Have a :hiddenstar: for making a level I will definitely be replaying.
Wow, thank you! That's high praise :D
If there is one thing I were to improve with this level it would definitely be that last ending. I planned for the garden to be there early on but when it came to design it, it proved to be a difficult task with the tilesets I had.
I still feel that I could have done it better, but I kinda rushed this out to work on my next project. I might go back and improve it some day, but I still don't know how I'm gonna do it. Some more screens and animals would definitely improve it so I might just do that, but I would rather improve the entire theme of it. Make it feel more "divine" or something :P
Thank you for the feedback, I'm always trying to improve and highly appreciate it :)
Wow, thank you! That's high praise :D
If there is one thing I were to improve with this level it would definitely be that last ending. I planned for the garden to be there early on but when it came to design it, it proved to be a difficult task with the tilesets I had.
I still feel that I could have done it better, but I kinda rushed this out to work on my next project. I might go back and improve it some day, but I still don't know how I'm gonna do it. Some more screens and animals would definitely improve it so I might just do that, but I would rather improve the entire theme of it. Make it feel more "divine" or something :P
Thank you for the feedback, I'm always trying to improve and highly appreciate it :)
There was one scene, about halfway through, at x996y988 that I really liked... the little bright waterfall with the green trees. For some reason, it was so beautiful and peaceful, and you only get a glimpse, that I was sure that this would be part of the ending in some way... like maybe the climbing upgrade would allow you to reach it or the end would look similar. I think if you a secret ending with a similar visual style would be successful... it just looks like what the Greeks might've imagined a grove of the Gods to look like or something.
@pfrangip:
I did actually try that, but the feeling was lost when I turned it into a full area. And giving the player the climb upgrade I feel would be a mistake as there would suddenly be too much to explore. But maybe if I block off some passages.. Hmmm..
I've definitely got some things to think about now. Thanks once again for the feedback :)
When you go from where you get the high jump towards the ending there is an alternative path you can take. From that path you can find the key :)
I particularly enjoyed running around the different areas looking for all the items required for the special ending. It took me a while to fully explore the map and find everything, but it never felt frustrating or unfair.
I discovered a wallswim in the very last screen of the normal ending (x1013y984), when I tried to go back into the cave by jumping to the left (the ceiling tiles are not solid).