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Reviews for "Anna and Bruno's Birthday Run"

Very entertaining game This game reminds me, very much, of the Bionicle Toa Mata Platform Game from the Toa Mata Nestlé Promo CD - a promotional item found in many Nestlé cereal boxes back in 2001. I've had the pleasure of playing that game when I was much younger. The similarities are unmistakable: the scrolling platforms, the increasing difficulty as you get to the later stages of the game. It's probably just a coincidence though.

I commend you on how charming this game is. I especially like your choice of music and the cute visuals (even the bloody splatter when you plummet to your inevitable death or hit a thorn is kind of cute). I also like how the platforms are randomised. It seems people don't like this but everyone would be bored to death if all the same platforms appear each time. It is unfair sometimes (I got a high score of 99 on my second play-through after missing an impossible jump, for example) but that's just the way it is. I have no problems with that.

I will raise some points that I found annoying - mostly the balloons. It's quite frustrating when you're on a platform and you don't really want to step on a balloon but you bounce of it anyway. I thought, at first, that the balloons were either poppable things (they weren't; stomping on them multiple times didn't do anything) or something you could use to help you, which is true in some instances but for the most part they were a nuisance bouncing you around when you don't want them to. I'm not saying get rid of the balloons; they're part of the game's charm, but I do hope they weren't so annoying and bouncy when the dog's paws are already on a platform. Nonetheless, this wasn't really such a huge hamper to the game's enjoyment.

I don't really have too many negative things to say about this game. It's plays like one of those viral mobile games - simple and easy but not really too interesting; the only thing keeping you playing is the prospect of beating your high score. And for that reason I agree with CyberDevil that you could add a leaderboard.

Another suggestion I have in mind is to have unlockables, similar to what theplayer234 said. New backgrounds would work really well. Maybe the platforms could be made to look different too, e.g. snow instead of grass and sharp icicles instead of thorns. I remember the Bionicle game I played had unlockable backstory cutscenes for each character when you collected all the things you had to and finished their part of the game... if I remember correctly. I'm thinking too much here, but you get my point. It's fun as it is but adding more stuff would make it better.

To be honest though, I got bored after I got 100+ and I didn't want to play anymore. I know this wasn't really meant for me, or anyone else here anyway, so I understand if you don't want to bother with a leaderboard or future modifications. As a gift for your girlfriend this works really well. It's simple, cute and fun. It doesn't really matter that it's imperfect. It's great for what it is. Plus, you always make really good games so godspeed to you!

SeethingSwarm responds:

Wow, thanks for the awesome review and all the feedback! :)
I'm really glad you liked this little game of mine. I've never heard of the Bionicle Toa Mata Platform Game, so it's just a coincidence, but it's nice to know that this game brought up some nostalgia within you. I like all your suggestions. New backgrounds, unlockables, a leader board etc., would be awesome. If only I had more time to work on this, but unfortunately I'm extremely busy with other projects. Anyway, thanks again for the comments! I'll keep your suggestions in mind for future stuff!

I know a few bits on how to improve this game. I understand that it is made in 4 days...which is like around 2/3 a week so there are limitations.
For keeping the Teen rated game:
Give the dog the ability to eat the rabbits :D That would be very amusing! You don't have make the dog become a canine beast and just shred the rabbit. Just something that's satisfying enough.
For getting back the E for everyone rated game:
Substitute the burst of blood when the girl and dog dies with the burst of circles you see when you play megaman and died at that game and make the girl's death noise be the sound when you hear when your character from street fighter gets defeated.
Sooo.. burst of circle death from megaman with a" AAaaaa AAaaaa AAaaaaa"
In general:
Give the platforms a bit more spacing and have the balloons be pop-able for extra points.
Have two new backgrounds like:
waterfalls and forests.

Anyways, tell Anna and Bruno happy birthday for me. Cheers.

SeethingSwarm responds:

Thanks for the suggestions!
I always like to add some sort of twist to my games and with this one it turned out to be the way the player dies. Gobbling up bunnies sounds pretty twisted too, but my girlfriend wouldn't have liked that too much, hehe :P

I had the feeling that in the main floating-platforms-level, there are often parts that I can literally not pass. And having the feeling that I can't beat the game because of randomly placed platforms that block the way, is kind of annoying. :I

SeethingSwarm responds:

Yeah :( The only thing is that this does not happen often at all, quite rarely in fact. I get the sense that something difficult and tricky is being too easily scraped off as impossible by some. But in any case, random platforms that completely block all pathways are not things that should EVER happen in a game, so I understand your annoyance and I apologise.

Here's me being a bit too sensitive. I'm aware of this game's many flaws. I did not expect a huge score or raving reviews and I'm actually very happy with a 3, but it would be nice if people could see this game for what it really is and not compare it to other games that took months to develop. It's just a small game I made in 4 days and the fact that it is even playable is a monstrous feat in my book.

Sorry, I'm being stupid and over-sensitive with this one, because I really like your stuff mr. Molkman and even though I agree with your review and I see your points, I wish you could have said something nice about this imperfect little game.

I do appreciate your review. I'm very happy with the 3 stars. So maybe just ignore all my previous comments and take my thanks instead. So, thanks! :D

EDIT: Ugh, I feel bad for the way I react to some reviews. I should really just take the constructive criticism and learn from it.

Appreciate the medals, though a list of highscores would be another nice addition! Overall this is a simple; fun little platformer, though a little annoying in how easy it is to slip off ledges, or accidentally bounce away on a balloon, or get stuck under a low platform not able to jump to the next one, and the packages you collect seem to appear at a bit too random intervals sometimes, I think I jumped around at least a couple of minutes at one point without a single one on screen. But anyway, small improvements disconsidered, it's a fun game! Happy; addicting. Nice work.

-cd-

SeethingSwarm responds:

Glad you liked it :)
Sorry about the annoyances and imperfections. I had such a small timeframe to make this game. Thanks for the feedback though, much appreciated!

It's not bad for the length of time it took you to make it. It's cute and catchy. I felt like I was going to a fiesta which is always fun. Good job keep evolving.

SeethingSwarm responds:

That's what I was going for, thank you! :)