Could be better
The graphics aren't very good in my opinon. You could add in some music, even some sounds. It's not very addictivate but it's pretty average. I can't get past lv 16 ( I think). It's not that easy but hey that's just me. Atleast it is a challenge. I like the original concept of the game. You just need to expand the idea. Your ideas are very good but when it comes down to graphics, sound and other things it's not that good.
You're totally correct.
This was during my 'purple period'. I made a point of making everything a shade of purple (i.e. red and blue both greater than the green).
I was lazy with the sound and didn't have the skill to implement it. Nor did I realise the benefits that sound can have.
Bear in mind that this was 4 years ago.
Don't worry. When I've created 100 games unlike Skears (to prove that I do have other ideas in my head), I'll return to this. Skears 2 was started again twice after this, though never released. When it finally is, it'll be great and use all my skills, including my new graphic design skills.
Thanks for the review! Stay funky!
Lacking something
[First off let me just mention I find it great you're reviewing reviews. I WILL GET THE 10/10! You just wait.]
Anyways, on to the review. Like I mentioned previously, your game seems to be missing something. I'll give you that it is a solid game, and nothing really seems to be wrong with it, but its lacking a certain element to actually make it fun and addictive. I would highly reccommend adding sound to the game to set the mood, ect. I think this could help it out.
Second and probably the most important is your graphics. I mean, they were just blocks. It would be nice if you added, oh, I don't know, some particle effects to the blocks moving around perhaps?
Third. The game was too linear in my opinion. Get that purple one, get the other purple one, okay, done. I love the games where it's more like, okay, gotta get that one, wait, before I do that I have to hit that switch over there, okay, now go get it, then I have to go trip an alarm system... anyways, your game seemed like you were just doing stuff, and it felt more like work then actually playing a game.
Fourth, some levels would last a long time, and then reset to the beginning when you messed this up. This bothers me because you can't speed it up; you have to take it the same speed every time. This just makes the game tedious.
Fifth and finally, the learning curve at the beginning was way too slow. I was probably one of the people who could have just skipped to level 7; I reccommend saying something like 'if you've played other mouse games before, just skip to this level'
Other notes: 'Click here' looks kind of sloppy. The font was kind of dull as well...
In closing, don't mind my harshness because really I was just focusing on the less attractive aspects. It really isn't that bad of a game over all. It just needs a few modifications :)
review of your review:
+++++ Basically, you make a bunch of great points. I would be content with just one piece of constructive criticism. You give me 6!
+++++ Everything seems well thought out. Points are valid and well explained.
+++++ After making your criticisms, you elaborate (to the level required) and go on to make a bunch of great suggestions.
++++ You organise your paragraphs well and the whole review's really easy to read and follow. Some other long reviews can become a muddle to read when referring back.
-- I honestly would have appreciated a quick summary of your play experience. I am led to believe you died at least once. Did you get to the end? Did you die a lot? I have to make as/presumptions there. A couple of lines detailing how you played would have been nice. Something like: 'Clicked to begin level 1, played through to end, dying 3-6 times on later levels. First death on level 12. That was probably the hardest for me.' would have been ideal.
-/3 Some typos. 'ect' in para 1. Another one exists, though I forgot where it was. I'm only mentioning typos because your review's so good I need to nit-pick. ;p
'Click here' looks kind of sloppy. The font was kind of dull as well...
-/2 Those notes could perhaps be elaborated upon a bit more. Not really necessary, but would have been nice. Maybe.
- My only other negative comment is that I'd have liked maybe one SPECIFIC bit of praise. Your closing comment helps me realise that you liked it, but it would have been nice to know what exactly you liked. As it is, I'm not sure if it's just because you like the genre, or if you felt my game actually did anything particularly well.
overall
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The constructive crit. you give is of an incredible quality and a great quantity.
This review made me smile in appreciation. Definitely the best review I've gotten since I started reviewing reviews.
I feel almost overly greedy not giving you a 10. But I'll try and base my review scores on Edge's quality threshold. (Computer games magazine. Been around since Snes/MD. Given 10/10 to 4 games ever - Mario 64, LoZ:OoT,
Gran Turismo, Halo.) Although maybe /slightly/ less strict.
I delayed reviewing this review because it was so close to a 10.
9/10
Now... any chance of you reviewing my 'Skears DX' game? I'm curious to know how you feel that compares as I made it after this. Also curious to know if you find the last level too long.
If you feel like reviewing anything else of mine, have a look at 'Asteroids' and maybe 'Spot the Difference'. The others I don't care about feedback to the same extent (though I always appreciate it. ;))
Man, that sounds cheeky/greedy. Just that you've given brilliant feedback. I appreciate it massively and if you reviewed any of those other things in the same way, I'd appreciate that too.
Thanks for one of the best reviews ever.
Good.
This was better than the other skears games that I've played so far, this was the best I'd say. Not only did you have a lot of levels, but they were pretty hard towards the end, and you also incorporated a few new features which I really liked. Such things as the morphing/yellow skears, and the mouse button feature really made the game a lot more interesting.
Still, I can't give this a positive score since the graphics and presentation were again very poor, and although this skears game was pretty hard, it still only gave the player 5-10 minutes of play all together.
Btw, I decided I give your review for rol-ovir 2 a 7 because of that 'so'. Sorry for retroactively changing my score. I'm still wondering if you just liked it so much because you didn't finish it...
If you e-mail me and let me know, I'd appreciate it.
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I rate sentences vaguely from +++++ to -----. As long as something is '+', I actively appreciate it.
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Good.
+: It may be a boring word, but it serves as a summary.
This was better than the other skears games that I've played so far, this was the best I'd say.
A good comparative illustration of your thoughts.
Not only did you have a lot of levels, but they were pretty hard towards the end,
++++: specific compliments. Means I know what to include for the long-delayed Skears 2.
and you also incorporated a few new features which I really liked. Such things as the morphing/yellow skears, and the mouse button feature really made the game a lot more interesting.
++++: I like how you get so specific.
Still, I can't give this a positive score since the graphics and presentation were again very poor,
+++: Pointing out areas to improve 'again'. Hehe.
and although this skears game was pretty hard, it still only gave the player 5-10 minutes of play all together.
+++: opinions and constructive crit.
Graphics: 3 Sound: 0 Interactivity: 5 Style: 7 Violence: 0 Humor: 0
Seems to go with your review.
I like this review. It was all clear. You pointed out areas that needed improvement and got specific with your compliments.
I also like the way you have a positive first paragraph followed by a negative 2nd. They balance each other well.
-: By way of criticism.... I'd maybe like to see a summary. (Though your existing ending is a nice summary of thoughts.)
-: Erm... I'm not sure exactly how much you approve of the game being hard. Is that a bigger contributing factor to your liking this than the new features?
--: And why exactly do you prefer the levels so much more than those of Mini skears? Is it the difficulty? Is it that you enjoyed the variation brought upon by the new features? Maybe you found you had to think and enjoyed it? Other reasons?
I don't know. Ideally, I'd ask you to answer the question of why the gameplay is better in further detail.
-: Also, more criticisms would be nice. More anything's often nice, if it's good...
But as it is, it's still really a great review.
You pack an awful lot into not an awfully long review.
8/10
Best Skears game yet
So far, this is my favorite skears game. I liked the many new features in this one like holding down the mouse as protection and teleporting skears. That added a whole new depth to the game and made for new strategies. I really liked the tutorial levels and I actually beat this one all the way through. It was pretty challenging and fun to play, but could use some funky music to go with it. Nice job.
Praise, some of which is very specific; a bit of info about your experience; a piece of constructive criticism; and a summary exist within this review.
Nice job.
More criticisms/suggestions would have been nice though. Also, maybe break up your review into paragraphs.
6/10
Stay funky,
- Bez
This is fun
Well like your other skears game this is fun.
I would like another selection of which level to start out on. Higher than level 7, maybe 14 or so.
even Starting at level 7 was easy. I played 1-6 jsut to see what kind of comments you used. I found your sarcasism good.
Even though your coments say this is incomplete I think this is preaty good as is. I do not see that you ever finish this. Which is too bad. I played this for some time and found it fun, I really didn't have any problems with losing to the much higher levels.
Could have used some sound to go with this.
Great review.
Despite the length of your reviews, you pack a lot in. I get the impression that English isn't your first language and you make a few typos from time to time, but you almost always manage to get your message across.
I like the way you give a couple of real suggestions this time.
You give more specific positive feedback too - it's nice when people mention small things like my 'sarcasm'.
I gather you think I'll never makes Skears 2. In the contraty, after completing my 24-a-day comic challenge, I plan to make 100 game prototypes and learn Flash 5 AS 100%. Then I'll make Skears 2.
This old version of Skears 2 had about 42 levels before I ran out of frames. The other levels can be played on my old Geocities site if you so wish.
Back to your review - I would have been interested to hear the tales of conquest you normally regale me with, when you first died etc.
It was probably your best review for me yet.
Thanks.
7/10
Stay funky,
- Bez