Ok, heres my 'Spillage' of thoughts:
I absolutely loved this game as it has an attractive unique feel to the game. I can not say for sure if it is a unique plot idea, but the gameplay seemed good enough.
I liked the fact you included 2 versions of the game: the Lundum Dare version (original) and an improved one, and you can definitely tell the difference between the 2!
What I thought was a bit of a shame, was, like many reviewers had said, was the lack of ending. You present the game impressively, a young warrior who wants to rid the village of the evils that lurk beneath the surface/ waters, and after wise words of the master, decides to dive head first into dangerous waters.
If that is the case, why can you NOT complete the game with all abilities? I understood the last ending credits, but if that is so, why even have a total of how many bosses you can kill at the bottom corner (9 I think?) then to cut the experience substantially by ending it by 3/4?!
UNLESS of course, there is a way you can NOT choose an ability and continue to hunt the monsters down. I have tried, but I can't seem to find that out!
Please, have an official ending, as I feel that my time invested into playing this game was cut short, and in turn, I feel cheated! :c
The controls and shooting seemed close enough...HOWEVER I feel that the aiming reticule (i.e., when you see both arrows coming together) should of been a different colour, as it clashed with the white background from the outside/ surface.
Also, I think what would of made the game slightly easier, is if you had an incoming arrow as to where the boss was going to approach. Ie, at times, I would lure the BOSS monster out of the waters, dive into the water then dive straight back up, only to sometimes run into its body and die instantaneously. Maybe if you had a warning arrow (or even the master who stays by the surface 24/7 to shout out 'left! right!, above left! etc') would of aided in the game playability greatly!
Yes, I am bearing in mind that there are 2 versions of the game (which I think is an EXCEPTIONAL option that ALL LUNDUM DARE DEVELOPERS SHOULD DEVELOP AND INCLUDE!) and for the original version, I rate it 8/10 stars (or 4.5/5 stars)
However, as you have included both versions, I am going to review it as if this was a DVD re-release of a great movie with 'added bonuses' lol. Because of the criticisms (as i have stated above), I think that though the bonus version is a much improved version of the game, it is unfortunately, too little, i.e., too SHORT to get the full 4.5 out of 5, therefore:
Final review?
Music:10/10
Playability:8/10
Re-playability: 6/10
Bonuses: 5/10
Therefore, 4/5 stars.
Hope this review helped and hope that you will continue to make even more great games!
M
