Nifflas' Support Forum

Temporary => Knytt Stories Level Releases => Topic started by: Lucinda on December 14, 2022, 03:49:52

Title: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: Lucinda on December 14, 2022, 03:49:52: Presenting my second level, and my first level in five and a half years!

This level is about a small, post-apocalyptic village whose entire culture revolves around obsessing about not going to a nearby area called Vleindergurk. Juni, a teenager in the village, decides to rebel and secretly go.

This level features a lot of baroque classical music, plus a traditional folk song from the far future. And there are no two knytts in this level that look alike!

Download the NEW UPDATED VERSION here which has bug fixes, totally redone cutscenes, smaller file size, and additional polishing.
https://knyttlevels.com/levels/Lucinda%20-%20Vleindergurk%20v2.knytt.bin
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: egomassive on December 14, 2022, 05:22:35: There's a lot of fun features in this level. Many customized NPCs and an especially charming custom song. I certainly will never go to Vleindergurk.
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: plural on December 14, 2022, 08:13:04: This is great. It's got the charm of the older/first custom KS levels along with the effort, style, and substance of later efforts that have the level editing down, effortless storytelling both ambient and narrative, great custom art and great music throughout. Love it.
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: Lucinda on December 14, 2022, 20:38:32: This positive early feedback is warming my heart 8D I'm happy with the storytelling results I got this time, as the story for my last level was pretty cheesy. As someone with a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing, I needed to do right by Knytt Stories!
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: Polana on December 15, 2022, 19:55:30: This is going to be one of those levels that I'll replay from time to time even after another 15 years with KS. The story is both funny and touching, there are many little secrets and the custom Knytts are all very cute.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)
For some reason, I had feeling that the dirty secret of Vleindergurk is going to be radiation from the very beginning. Maybe we both read the same article. But I certainly didn't expect squareman, Jesus and the hippie ending, so I enjoyed the level anyway.
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: Purple Ink on December 16, 2022, 01:06:37: This level is probably the most "pure fun" I've played in a long time. Like Polana I'll probably revisit this level occasionally. :)
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: Lucinda on December 21, 2022, 22:56:40: That makes me super glad. I think returning to play the level once a year/every two years or so is the highest compliment, or at least that's how I express my love for levels. Such as Gustav's Son :shifty:
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: Lucinda on March 01, 2023, 08:56:38: Version 2 now exists. Knocked it out in one day after a "tap tap I'm waiting" type message from none other than DonDoli.
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: pfrangip on March 03, 2023, 23:43:43: What a wonderful level! I loved the custom content! Really, flawless execution all around.

Spoiler: The Great (click to show/hide)
* Best Music in a KS Level, ever.
* Excellent twist on what's now a bit of an established concept.
* Well-created challenges that were never dull nor tiresome.
* Multiple endings are always a treat!
* Stick-finger animation is fun and impressive. I love how his arms move as he falls.
Spoiler: The Not-So-Great (click to show/hide)
* Folk song should be longer. Needs several verses, actually. Possibly an album.
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: Wibi on March 04, 2023, 06:09:14: good level. queer themes, though probably i'm looking too deep into it. the "jesus advises" cutscene cracked me up.

questions:
Spoiler: (click to show/hide)
1. are the effects of the vleindergurk radiation "contagious" like the informational bureau claims? in ending 3, does anyone else in teltenvaki eventually mutate as well?
2. why does juni turn into a stick figure when the rest of the people affected by vleindergurk are round spiders? i'd presume it's just the initial form of someone who'd been mutated, but she stays that way even after the "seven months later" cutscene (malnourishment?)
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: Lucinda on March 05, 2023, 00:42:31: Responding to some questions and comments

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)
Vleindergurk effects are not contagious, I think that was some misinformation on the part of the Bureau. Juni lives peacefully with the Teltenvaki with no complications in the third ending.

I think Juni probably just stays a stick figure because Vleindergurk effects every victim differently and she just happened to not get the bug symptom. I took that sprite from the mysterious level Squareman's Adventure and I was originally just going to have regular spiders as the other victims until egomassive encouraged me to put green heads on them. So you could say it was all an experiment in me starting to make custom content.

Queer themes probably wiggled their way in there by accident, but they may very well be genuine.

Thank you for the support everyone :-)
Title: Re: [Normal/Hard] [Medium] [Challenge] [KS+] Vleindergurk
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on July 26, 2023, 13:10:58: Not much for me to add to what has been already said in terms of feedback, just wanted to chime in to say this was a very enjoyable short level. Thanks for making this!

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)
Now, if you would kindly excuse us, me and my new and much improved form still have some other totally safe villages to visit. ***bzzzz***