Whoa, great game!
Great game idea here, kept me entertained for quite awhile. I got to the last level but those squares that go past you in like a split second are very hard.
Reviews for "Skears DX"
AcidDimensions responds:
Hard, but not impossible.
You'll get the hang of it eventually - just keep at it, or maybe try again another day?
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the game and hope you continue to enjoy my work. :)
Amazing challenge
Just to let you know, I really love this game, in case you can't tell from the score ;) Your touches of originality when creating levels knows no bounds, and even with a very limited amount of parts to the game, you very still able to create a very enjoyable if not a bit frusturating game.
The game graphics are not anything special looking by all means, but they get the job done. The way you arrange the skears is pretty cool for most of the levels, especially level 7, which was the most interesting level for me to play, because of the way the level plays out. You also change the colors of the skears sometimes, which was a nice touch.
Some things to think about would be how to add to this game without getting repetitive. You have ten levels so far, all of them diffilcult for the most part. Try changing up the background more. Maybe make it animated or simply just different, so the player can really see that he or she has moved on past the previous levels. A good way to do this could be to make the background darker as the player moves on, or something of that nature. You also only have two types of skears, and you use them creatively to create fun levels, but there is only so much you can do. There could be skears that change color, skears that disseaper and reappear, etc. Even slight changes to the types skears could open up a large variety of new challenges that you could base levels off.
Your somewhat humorus commentary that comes up every time you die was fun to read, especially while on my quest to become a skears master, which I have not yet become after losing spirit when making my first mistake on the last level. Oh well, I'll come back to this game later. What I would suggest, and this is something I think would be very important, would be that if you're going for the no mistake ending, that after dying at a level, there could be the addition of a "restart" button, so I could try again from the beginning, rather than try the same level over to beat the game, which I have already done. The ending to the game was cool though. I like the "THE END" screen where I had to destroy the skears to continue to the next screen, neat.
This is really a great game to play, and because of it's diffilculty, it shouldn't be considered a little mini game that you can shrug off in five minutes.
AcidDimensions responds:
Awesome review.
Your opening paragraph is gushing with praise and contains some nice usage of the English language.
You mention your few caveats and do go on to give suggestions, which is brilliant.
The one part of your review I couldn't follow is at the bottom of paragraph 2, where you write, "You also change the colors of the skears sometimes, which was a nice touch."
The Skears remain the same colours throughout. Or maybe you're talking about the way they're semi-transparent? I shall assume you were.
You give excellent suggestions, and expand upon them which is nice.
Even though I'd thought of them before (it has been years, after all), it's useful to know what you'd most appreciate seeing.
Incidentally, the abandoned version of Skears 2 does have 'warping skears'. Skears DX is the best imo though.
The point about the restart button, though, I had not thought of and it's a very good point.
It's nice how you get specific with your praise, like pointing out the commentary etc. Hearing about your experience (your horribly timed mistake) is always interesting.
Praise and criticism/suggestions both abound and are clearly put forward. Personal experience is touched upon and the last paragraph is a great summary.
Your usage of the language is commendable and there is no waffle.
My only complaint is that one sentence I mentioned earlier, which is a little unclear.
Also, in the last paragraph, you should have written, "because of its diffilculty" (no apostrophe). Only write "it's" when you mean to say, "it is".
9/10
Thanks for another great review.
Might I humbly request you write your opinions on my "'Asteroids' music video"?
Either way, thanks and stay funky.
- Bez
Aggrivating, but addicting
This game graphically looked much better than the other skear games. I liked the bigger screen size and I think it was a lot more challenging, especially the last level which was incredibly agrivating, but still fun to play. I still can't beat it, but I'd say you created a very good series of games off of this skear thing. Nice job.
AcidDimensions responds:
You get quite specific with your praise, mentioning "the bigger screen size". That's great.
Touching upon your experience is useful also.
However, your review does lack any real criticisms or suggestions.
That's the only real flaw in your review.
Still, it was somewhat useful to read.
Thanks.
Stay funky,
- Bez
4/10
Great improvement.
Well, good to see you took the skears games out with a bang, this sure was enjoyable to play. Finally, FINALLY you changed the designs and presentation around - it looks so much better! A lot more professional if you ask me. The increased game size (and screen size) was very nice to play with, and I must ask - how many people have attained the 'grand master' rank of Skears DX? I thought that after a while I'd get the hang of it and it'd become pretty easy... but after just completing the game for the first time, I'm not even going to attempt to do it all without making a mistake, haha.
Overall, a definate improvement in presentation, gameplay and length. I really enjoyed playing this one. Good work.
AcidDimensions responds:
Great improvement.
+: comparative praise
++: summarises opinion
Well, good to see you took the skears games out with a bang, this sure was enjoyable to play.
++++: very encouraging
Finally, FINALLY you changed the designs and presentation around - it looks so much better! A lot more professional if you ask me.
+++: somewhat specific comparative praise, elaborated upon
The increased game size (and screen size) was very nice to play with, and I must ask - how many people have attained the 'grand master' rank of Skears DX?
++++: specific praise
-: run-on sentence.
Hundreds of people have apparantly gotten the title. They're nearly all in the credits (there's so many that the textboxes mess up). Or check my site to see them.
http://aciddimensions.com/play/skearsdx.html
-: Does this mean that you didn't see the credits?
--: I don't know.
I thought that after a while I'd get the hang of it and it'd become pretty easy... but after just completing the game for the first time, I'm not even going to attempt to do it all without making a mistake, haha.
++: humour
+++: opinion given on difficulty
Overall, a definate improvement in presentation, gameplay and length.
+++: Comparative summary, covering many areas
+: implicitly says audio isn't better
---: but is it needed? I don't know your opinion.
I really enjoyed playing this one. Good work.
+++: encouraging
+++++: clear summary of overall opinion
constructive criticism: 0
telling your experience: 4
praise/encouragement: 9
clarity of expression: 8
elaboration & being specific: 7
coverage (how much): 7
overall: 6
You really needed to put in some constructive criticism. As this is the last Skears game (and it answered a lot of your previous criticism), I really need to know what you think prevented this from getting a 10. Tell me what wasn't so good so I can sort it out.
However, it is a really nice and encouraging review.
Simple and addictive
This game is quite a simple concept, but it is really enthralling. Some of the movement patterns on the blocks is really annoying, as you move the mouse to where they were and by that point, they've moved. sometimes it's infuriating.
A great game, but it could really have done with some sound, as it's the type of game that doesn't look complete without the occasional annoying ping :P
I note that this was submitted back in 2003 - any plans to make a newer version of this game, or will you just try something different?
[Review Request Club]
AcidDimensions responds:
Glad you liked!
Yeah - you need to anticipate movements and move to where they're going!
Skears 2 will be released in March 2009, by which time I'll have made 100 Non-Skears-related Games. (The NSG series). It's been in development for a while, and I reckon I could already get an award with it. But I'm aiming for top 50. ;-)
Mini Skears 3/4 do have sound, though the implementation leaves something to be desired. I'll be using variations of the same theme tune, but.... changed and with more interaction.
Thanks for the review!