Nifflas' Support Forum

Temporary => Knytt Stories Level Releases => Topic started by: Fubaka on April 25, 2016, 13:44:59

Title: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Fubaka on April 25, 2016, 13:44:59

(http://orig12.deviantart.net/164d/f/2016/116/d/e/column_image_by_blahson256-da0aqxj.png)

Made in one month, inspired by the Knytt Swapsies event.

Featuring music by SineRider, Michael Sandler, and yours truly. Also featuring several custom tilesets by both myself and the Nifforum.

Download here: The Column: 1.0.1 (http://knyttlevels.com/levels/Fubaka%20-%20The%20Column%20v1.0.1.knytt.bin) (41.62 MB)

Spoiler: Some details (click to show/hide)

This level consists of two almost entirely separate paths, one leading upward and the other downward.  After you've played the level, please post here saying which path you wound up on first.

Also, if you encounter anything wrong with the level that I or my beta testers failed to find, please let me know, and I will upload a corrected version.

One more thing:

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

There is a secret challenge and reward in this level. It is much harder than the rest of the level, and is excluded from the general difficulty rating.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on April 25, 2016, 14:53:57

I already gave Fubaka my detailed feedback on this one during the testing phase, so I'll just say you guys are in for a treat. This is one solid, well-balanced level with a lot of nice custom assets and clever challenges :D

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

And no, I'm not being paid for saying that.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

...or am I? :P2

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: sergiocornaga on April 25, 2016, 15:08:18

This stellar level receives my genuine, unpaid endorsement too.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Purple Ink on April 25, 2016, 23:25:39

Well I got paid so I don't know what happened with you guys.

This is a great level, stop reading and download it right now!

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: lilmanjs16 on April 26, 2016, 21:29:24

Downloaded this last night and have played a little bit of it. I am very much enjoying this level!

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: dessgeega on April 26, 2016, 22:51:50

this level was pretty interesting until it got too hard for me (ghost and water zone). hanging and double-jumping off tiny walls is just not my expertise.

okay one thing though? you know what's not fun? puzzles that involve trial and error that have skill challenges in the middle of them so you have to dodge the same enemies over and over while you're trying to solve a puzzle about colors. i totally got to the end of one long section and realized i had to start over and go all the way back.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Fubaka on April 26, 2016, 22:58:16

Quote from: dessgeega on April 26, 2016, 22:51:50

this level was pretty interesting until it got too hard for me (ghost and water zone). hanging and double-jumping off tiny walls is just not my expertise.

okay one thing though? you know what's not fun? puzzles that involve trial and error that have skill challenges in the middle of them so you have to dodge the same enemies over and over while you're trying to solve a puzzle about colors. i totally got to the end of one long section and realized i had to start over and go all the way back.

Keep trying, pard. Though don't forget to take frequent breaks as well.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: egomassive on April 26, 2016, 23:53:06

This was fun. The puzzles were creative and took some thinking to beat. The original graphics were good, and it was nice to see those recently finished community tilesets in use. The animated fountains were especially creative.

Spoiler: End Game (click to show/hide)

I took the downward path first. I didn't really care for the challenges at the very end of it. They required higher precision and faster fingers than my body was ready for. I found the upward path way too tedious with jumping challenges on unconventional shapes and umbrella challenges. If I have to quickly open and close the umbrella to slide between spikes, then as a rule I hate you. >) The puzzles in both directions were pretty neat though and I enjoyed your signature conversations with multiple-choice answers.

As for the secret area I haven't found it yet. I've seen some cryptic signs which I can't figure out. I also saw some ghost blocks that have no purpose as far as I can tell. Guess I better give it another go.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: yohji on April 29, 2016, 18:40:56

I have such mixed feelings about this level... I went up, and enjoyed playing immensely - until the challenges suddenly became just too frustrating. It was as if the whole thing suddenly jumped from Environmental/Puzzle/Normal to Challenge/Hard! Maybe it's my KS challenge skills which I haven't used much in years, but I notice other people have complained too.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

And the worst part was, the ending was so anticlimactic after all those challenges... all that hard work for just some credits :moody: If only there was a witty ending or something. In the secret area maybe? Haven't found that yet.

I still have to explore the downward path, but I have a feeling that it'll be somewhat similar in those respects. Other than all that, stellar work on everything. I enjoyed the puzzle a lot, level design was absolutely great, the tilesets made me want to steal them for my level, the dialogue was so great... You deserve a medal, or something, for the way you designed the start of the level alone.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Fubaka on April 29, 2016, 22:44:11

Quote from: yohji on April 29, 2016, 18:40:56

I have such mixed feelings about this level... I went up, and enjoyed playing immensely - until the challenges suddenly became just too frustrating. It was as if the whole thing suddenly jumped from Environmental/Puzzle/Normal to Challenge/Hard!

So I haven't labeled this level incorrectly then.

Also, where was this jump in difficulty in your opinion? I think I have an idea, but let me hear it.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: yohji on April 29, 2016, 22:52:34

Quote from: Fubaka on April 29, 2016, 22:44:11

Also, where was this jump in difficulty in your opinion? I think I have an idea, but let me hear it.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Why, the final stretch of course - after the pointy islands in the sky.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Fubaka on April 29, 2016, 23:17:32

Quote from: yohji on April 29, 2016, 22:52:34

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Why, the final stretch of course - after the pointy islands in the sky.

So, you were having a good time until the last six screens in the game?

That's interesting. I suppose those screens really were just a means to try and mirror the down path anyway. Perhaps they don't fit that well after all. I will look into a small revision for the next version.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: pfrangip on April 30, 2016, 16:08:06

This came out of nowhere! Downloading to play now...  :)

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: pfrangip on April 30, 2016, 23:25:43

Alright, well I did both paths, but I started with the downward path.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

I really loved the concept! I really liked the cyclical levels. I also really liked the animations you put in there (like Juni entering a door or the column rising). The puzzles were really fresh and fun, too. Great stuff!

Downward path was definitely harder, more challenging, and had more interesting puzzles. I enjoyed the challenges, but then again, my favorite difficulty is somewhere between Very Hard and Lunatic, sooooooooooo.......  O_o

I would probably label the upward path Hard and the downward path Very Hard.

I hit a wallswim at.... errrr... level editor says......... at the lower left corner of x987y992.

Also the stalagtites at x984y970 were far more difficult than they should be. I can usually umbrella-jump my way from one side of a 24-pixel-wide pillar to the other no sweat, and these stalagtites SHOULD be easier in theory, but in practice, they were very hard. I suspect it has something to do with the game mechanics and being unable to climb under certain circumstances.

I think I know where that third ending is. I'm going to try for it soon.

EDIT:

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Well... got the secret! Gotta say, that was quite lunatic. Almost wanted to cheat. But I didn't! I persisted! And I got the radio thing!

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Fubaka on May 01, 2016, 04:52:47

Quote from: pfrangip on April 30, 2016, 23:25:43

Alright, well I did both paths, but I started with the downward path.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

I really loved the concept! I really liked the cyclical levels. I also really liked the animations you put in there (like Juni entering a door or the column rising). The puzzles were really fresh and fun, too. Great stuff!

Downward path was definitely harder, more challenging, and had more interesting puzzles. I enjoyed the challenges, but then again, my favorite difficulty is somewhere between Very Hard and Lunatic, sooooooooooo.......  O_o

I would probably label the upward path Hard and the downward path Very Hard.

I hit a wallswim at.... errrr... level editor says......... at the lower left corner of x987y992.

Also the stalagtites at x984y970 were far more difficult than they should be. I can usually umbrella-jump my way from one side of a 24-pixel-wide pillar to the other no sweat, and these stalagtites SHOULD be easier in theory, but in practice, they were very hard. I suspect it has something to do with the game mechanics and being unable to climb under certain circumstances.

I think I know where that third ending is. I'm going to try for it soon.

EDIT:

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Well... got the secret! Gotta say, that was quite lunatic. Almost wanted to cheat. But I didn't! I persisted! And I got the radio thing!

You sound like the sort of person who might enjoy the update that I intend to have out for this level soon.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: egomassive on May 02, 2016, 02:32:17

I keep forgetting to tell you, I found an SGE on screen x1014y1033. There's a corner of green glow that shouldn't be there.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: LordMarzog on May 20, 2016, 04:21:21

I'm loving this level so far! I'm at some puzzle place location with stuff that does things.

Yeah.

But it's pretty awesome! Just the right balance of skill, thinking, and luck. Can't wait to see how it ends.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: plural on June 09, 2016, 09:19:08

I enjoyed the upper path more because it felt more fleshed out because of the city but also the environments felt more natural. The tiny island area is something I really liked the art within. The whole level had a really good ethereal quality to it.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: GrayFace on September 28, 2017, 02:28:59

Great level! I went up first, then immediately got stuck in the clouds, played the downward path through and returned to the save with the way up.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Wallswim 1:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/h53q4t28v1nrcq6/Fubaka%20-%20The%20Column%201%201a.png)
(see top-left. The screen above has non-solid tiles)

Wallswim 2 - x981y992:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/a7bzp8sjiohd040/Fubaka%20-%20The%20Column%201%201.png)
(high jump needed to reach)

I only found the secret area thanks to pfrangip's mention of radio. I did go back to x1018y1068 on my own, but didn't find the ghost blocks screen to the right of it. I always tried jumping up, not to the right.
I slightly cheated in the secret area: cheat-saved at x1209y1064 to bypass the tedious non-challenge. There should have been a save point.
Oh, and the radio was nice.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Fubaka on September 29, 2017, 07:28:25

Quote from: GrayFace on September 28, 2017, 02:28:59

Great level! I went up first, then immediately got stuck in the clouds, played the downward path through and returned to the save with the way up.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Wallswim 1:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/h53q4t28v1nrcq6/Fubaka%20-%20The%20Column%201%201a.png)
(see top-left. The screen above has non-solid tiles)

Wallswim 2 - x981y992:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/a7bzp8sjiohd040/Fubaka%20-%20The%20Column%201%201.png)
(high jump needed to reach)

I only found the secret area thanks to pfrangip's mention of radio. I did go back to x1018y1068 on my own, but didn't find the ghost blocks screen to the right of it. I always tried jumping up, not to the right.
I slightly cheated in the secret area: cheat-saved at x1209y1064 to bypass the tedious non-challenge. There should have been a save point.
Oh, and the radio was nice.

Thanks for the feedback. Might have to update this level soon.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: GrayFace on September 29, 2017, 18:43:55

Forgot to mention a thing I didn't like: gates auto-saving the game.

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Fubaka on September 29, 2017, 21:38:20

Quote from: GrayFace on September 29, 2017, 18:43:55

Forgot to mention a thing I didn't like: gates auto-saving the game.

That's what they do in the Kirby games though.  :P

Title: Re: [Challenge/Puzzle/Large] {Hard} The Column
Post by: Fubaka on March 18, 2018, 15:12:50

I know it's been two eternities, but I've released a minor update to this level, which fixes some issues mentioned through this thread.

I wanted to do a more substantial update initially, but when I got to working on it, I eventually lost steam. Thus it sat for years. So I thought to myself I might as well scrap the ideas I had planned and just upload a version with the minor corrections.

Download link is in the original post. (Version 1.0.1).