[platformer] An Untitled Story

Type: Platformer

Description: you are an egg who must find where to go and what to do


Download: http://mattmakesgames.com/games/AnUntitledStory.zip

I remember playing this a long time ago. I gave up at the Black Castle, though; never finished it.

I like the game design and variation of environments in this game. The graphics are pretty basic and bad.
But the game itself is good, its a real challenge thought.

This remains among the best games ever.  Right up with Iji and Cave Story.  In my opinion it does just about the best job of any game at maintaining an atmosphere of exploration and discovery, and unlike many games of its type it also remains a fun challenge at the same time.

Spoiler: spoiler (click to show/hide)

hatch into a bird

wow, what a huge, horrible spoiler....  

btw-i put the spoilers there-it wasnt originally there, just so no one gets confused.

EDIT:
comments about the game-
I think that this is a very good game. I actually like the graphics... and I also like the "shop" idea.  

wow, what a huge, horrible spoiler....

I agree. Put that in spoiler tags, please. Let's not ruin what little story-related events there are.

In my opinion it does just about the best job of any game at maintaining an atmosphere of exploration and discovery, and unlike many games of its type it also remains a fun challenge at the same time.

I felt like I was exploring and discovering things until I died and had to replay the same areas dozens of times. (This happened in Seiklus too, with its horrible instant-kill things.)

The gameplay is good. But, the graphics and music aren't. The graphics are at least consistent, though, even if I don't personally like the style. However, the music is all bland, painful MIDI (at least, I didn't recognize any non-MIDI instruments), and it feels pretty slapped-on: like a placeholder for better music to be made for the game later.

Also, I felt the heart barrier things were pretty cheap. Forcing the player to replay the same area until they can get through it without getting hit once in order to advance is really irritating.

So: I think this game is worth playing, but not worth replaying.

Also, I felt the heart barrier things were pretty cheap. Forcing the player to replay the same area until they can get through it without getting hit once in order to advance is really irritating.

you don't actually need to go through one of those to beat the game.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

but a jump upgrade, lucky pots, and some hearts really help. (upper nightwalk is the really hard one, and only gives you a toughness upgrade. may i suggest free heart hints?)

If you're good enough to get past an area without getting hit at all, I don't think you need a toughness upgrade.

Uhh, a few things here.

I felt like I was exploring and discovering things until I died and had to replay the same areas dozens of times. (This happened in Seiklus too, with its horrible instant-kill things.)

Since when does Seiklus have instant-kill things?  Since when does Seiklus have any kill things?
As far as getting stuck, there's almost always somewhere else to go, barring the very beginning, very end, and the second Grotto boss.

The gameplay is good. But, the graphics and music aren't. The graphics are at least consistent, though, even if I don't personally like the style. However, the music is all bland, painful MIDI (at least, I didn't recognize any non-MIDI instruments), and it feels pretty slapped-on: like a placeholder for better music to be made for the game later.

Personally, I really like the way the graphics look, but I'd agree on the music.  I never liked MIDI (does anyone?), and a few of the tracks are pretty poorly made.

Also, I felt the heart barrier things were pretty cheap. Forcing the player to replay the same area until they can get through it without getting hit once in order to advance is really irritating.

Ugh, this has been covered so many times (though not on this forum, obviously).  You don't need to trigger a single heart gate in order to beat the game.  The only one you should feel obligated to get through is the StoneCastle one with the jump upgrade, but honestly, it's very easy.  Actually, I never had any trouble with any of the heart gates.  However...

...this brings me to my next point about the game: I think it's really, really easy.  Laughable, even, on Simple and Normal, and only vaguely challenging on Difficult.  I found it pretty hard on my first playthrough, but that was on Masterful.  Currently I'm only likely to die if I play on Insanity (though obviously very likely, but...).
Other people seem to find the game very hard, and I think that probably keeps me from understanding what other people say about it.  I'm not sure why I find this game so easy because I, as a general rule, suck at games, but oh well.

Quote from: googoogjoob on July 17, 2009, 03:47:54

I felt like I was exploring and discovering things until I died and had to replay the same areas dozens of times. (This happened in Seiklus too, with its horrible instant-kill things.)

Since when does Seiklus have instant-kill things?  Since when does Seiklus have any kill things?
As far as getting stuck, there's almost always somewhere else to go, barring the very beginning, very end, and the second Grotto boss.

Seiklus has instant kill things in the...

...this brings me to my next point about the game: I think it's really, really easy.  Laughable, even, on Simple and Normal, and only vaguely challenging on Difficult.  I found it pretty hard on my first playthrough, but that was on Masterful.  Currently I'm only likely to die if I play on Insanity (though obviously very likely, but...).
Other people seem to find the game very hard, and I think that probably keeps me from understanding what other people say about it.  I'm not sure why I find this game so easy because I, as a general rule, suck at games, but oh well.

I couldn't even finish the Black Castle. Now I feel even worse...

What difficulty were you on?

Seiklus has instant kill things in the...

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

giant living organism that swallows you

Ah, I suppose you could call those instant-kill things, yes.  Forgot about those to be honest.  (Though that is only the one room...)

Seiklus also has those
Not technically instant-death traps, but functionally the same.