Original, but just too damn short.
Lemme start by saying I love retro games; I grew up on the 8-bit NES. On top of that, I love music and music based games. Naturally, I had to give this flash game a shot.
With a hefty, big scaled screen, and consistent graphics throughout, this game delivered in the visuals department! Even gave a good, clean, original introduction cutscene! Although I'll have to admit, it's a little confusing after the Wizard disappears...
Immediately I picked up on how being turned to glass would effect the gameplay...really, that's a clever way to explain WHY you would die by touching things like in games like Silver Surfer...HE wasn't made out of glass, and just a tap would knock his ass down. Why more games haven't touched on this premise? I dunno...
But I'm getting side-tracked; it was confusing in the beginning because our protagonist never talks, wasn't clearly seen, or established as being our hero. Since the Bully was more distinct looking among the fish with his hat, had speaking roles, and continued speaking after the Wizard, I was under the impression that we were supposed to be the asshole bully fish...Our protagonist is mute? I thought he was frozen solid for some reason...all of the other fish did...but it was a minor misunderstanding that was quickly corrected in the beginning of the first level. Just thought I should share my reaction to how the intro was set up.
The gameplay was incredibly unique...key events happening along the side-scroller to the music was a neat touch, and the mobile save points were also very interesting. The moment that first statue starting blowing up in tune with the music, I grinned widely and proclaimed how awesome this game was going to be...I literally had to stop, scroll down and five it right then because I was pleased with anticipation.
The level went on, and the structure of the game held up solidly by changing the pace with the haunted ship, following the asshole fish. Still grinning, I trudged on...facing minor difficulties with the shifting ghost-fish and bats...
...wait...Bats? I thought we were in Atlantis! This aren't Aquabats, are they?
...No...not THOSE Aquabats...
Then we got to the whales mouth, and I'm like...Ohh, this oughta be interesting! Anticipating that I was going to encounter the mid-point of the level...maybe face a sub-boss (tee-hee! "Sub" boss...they're underwater...). Little was I aware of my grim impending disappointment.
It's not to say that the level was designed badly...the first time I heard the song, I thought it was awesome! So awesome that I honestly wanted it to go on longer to see what it would develop into, so you can understand that I was a little bummed getting to the final boss so soon. But, it was no biggie.
Oh shit. I died. Good thing I left an egg right by that cannon!
Wait, what? I gotta do the whole level over? ...Well, okay...at least it's short. Go through it again...jamming out a little lighter. Bounce the fireballs back into the Wizard...FUCK. Got hit again...
It became incredibly annoying not being able to save yourself from getting around that level...the boss fight was premature in it's arrival in the game, and what I didn't get was why the whole premise was discarded for the boss-fight. When Mega Man plays through the game, he runs, slides, jumps, and shoots. When he fights bosses, he does the same thing. When Starfox plays through a game, he bombs, blasts, brakes, boosts, and barrel rolls...When there's a boss, it's the same thing. This little fish played through the game timing his movements to music, level after level...why was all of that changed for the boss-fight? We get traded out from the catchy soundtrack we've been hearing for an comparitively bland and boring boss-theme. Take after Dr. Wily and make the final boss music the best out of the whole game!
The final fight wouldn't be a problem if the fish weren't as sluggish in the movements, but it's just rubbing our faces in it when we have to drone through the level repeatedly. Finally I just got fed up with it, and wrote the review.
Great game, but needs a sequel
