You can't fall off a ledge without jumping, you die by touching the side of the screen (the VERY EDGE of the side of the screen, and it doesn't matter if you're falling), and you die by touching the side of a spike (as in, the not-pointy part). Other than that, it's a pretty well-made game.
Reviews for "Gravity Den"
Denver2003 responds:
Thank you for your review. I have fixed problem with edges of map.
Fun game. I like the simplistic presentation, with the electronic tune and the pixelated graphics, I just wish the music would change a bit more during the stages.
The gameplay concept is easy enough to understand, and it's pretty cool, although I do believe I have already seen other flash games with this exact concept, I just can't quite remember. While it's mostly simple to understand how the game works and the character moves, the controls are a bit confusing. You see, my instincts tell me to move the character with WASD, yet all that accomplishes is changing the direction of gravity, so I have to focus on the d-pad and then, whenever I press WASD again, I just proceed on using WASD until I remember to focus on the d-pad again, which becomes mind numbing quickly (maybe add an option to change the two around?). One thing you did right with the controls, though, is that the walking directions are relative to the screen, not to the character, which helps make movement a lot less frustrating in parts where I'm supposed to walk around in many different gravity directions in succession.
The stages were not bad, they were well designed and fun, save for a few frustrating moments (e.g. getting the stars in certain levels were you have to change gravity in midair), and I also love the references to other games such as Tetris and Flappy Bird. So, overall, the stages are nice.
With that said, I think it's fair to say this game is pretty enjoyable, even though its concept does sound familiar for whatever reason (not that this is a bad thing, two different games having similar concepts doesn't imply any kind of ripoff, only maybe a clear inspiration).
Denver2003 responds:
Thanks for the detailed review. I will consider your ideas.
It's difficult to review this game... It's fun for a while and tough as nails, but I had some issues with it. I'll try to be constructive with this.
It's very reminiscent of Super Meat Boy (which I love), but it doesn't feel as... forgiving, I guess? Whereas SMB kept me excited and wanting to see each new level all the way to the end, this game was like that for about 15 stages, then it only kept me playing so I could be done with it. I played the Christmas Tree stage about 30 times before wanting to throw my laptop across the room. When the game requires such precise maneuvers as dropping straight down from a ledge, it is a sin to make the character launch forward if you do more than a feather-tap at a time.
There was also something very strange happening that was really distracting. Sometimes, after switching gravity and landing on a platform, the screen would shake as if I was causing an earthquake. Is that supposed to happen?
I'm now on the Blood Much Blood level and I think this is where I'm calling it quits. It is way too frustrating finally figuring out the pattern for the saw blades, making it to the end, flipping the switch, making it all the way BACK, then getting killed on the way back up only to have to do that all again. It's just not worth it anymore. Backtracking through all that and risking starting over completely is not fun (to me, at least. I'm sure plenty of other people will disagree and that's totally fine). I did really like the game for a while, I thought the stages were creative and very challenging. But it ended after stage 15 or so. I like the style of it. I'll definitely keep an eye out for future games!
Denver2003 responds:
Thank you for such a detailed review. The way Den jumps of a ledge makes the game challenging enough to be considered interesting. Without that feature it will be too easy to pass some of the levels) And yes, the screen is supposed to shake a bit when the hero lands.
I'm pretty sure it's impossible to drown by lightly brushing water that is gravitationally above you. If you're going to have water be deadly to the touch, just replace it with lava or more spikes. Then at least my ignominious death will be remotely plausible.
Also, the medals aren't working. I've gotten 3 stars in every level up to Christmas Tree and I have none of the medals.
Denver2003 responds:
Thank you for review. You deaths will be plausible. Meet lava!
Sorry, I don’t know what's wrong with your medals. Other players don't have this kind of a problem.
A good idea, but sometimes the puzzles run themselves in circles.
Shifting gravity in 4 directions is a very cool idea, but the inability to jump kind of screws up some of your instincts you have. For example, there are a few areas where to get through a one block opening you have to shift gravity sideways, but my instincts make me want to just jump up and move in the direction.
I saw poor execution in the Flappy Bird level. To get the key to unlock the button you have to go forward three pipes. And then back three pipes. And then you have to press the button. This same problem is a lot more prominent in the Labyrinth.
I feel like more care should have been put in to the traditional controls. The lack of air control really screws up some jumps in some areas, especially when switching sideways after switching up, there's just momentum that you can't counteract.
I feel some of the "Puzzle Circle Running" could have been solved by having the puzzles take place on one screen, as opposed to scrolling. This especially would have aided the labyrinth leve.
Overall though, I'd say it's a pretty interesting game. In the future I would like to see a sequel or remake with these problems fixed, and at that point it would get a higher score, but at this point I just can't give it more than a 3.
Denver2003 responds:
Thank you for review.