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LORD OF THE RINGS : "The Bearer - Part IV : The Depths" - SPOTLIGHTED -

Archive: 25 posts

Hi everybody,

Ok, the fourth episode of ?The Bearer? series is finally published and fully playable!

OVERALL PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The whole project is called ?The Bearer? and is a series of levels constructed under the theme of ?The Lord of the Rings? by Tolkien. The difficulty and gameplay challenges will be increased progressively level after level, as Sackboy Frodo get closer to the end of his hard journey, in the Mordor?

If you didn't play the previous levels, i recommand to play them before playing this one. If you want TO KNOW and SEE MORE about the Part I (Incipit) , II (The Ring) and III (The Fellowship) of the series, please take a look to:
The Bearer - Part I : Incipit (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=t=7585)
The Bearer - Part II : The Ring (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=p=123463#post123463)
The Bearer - Part III : The Fellowship (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=t=8698)

Let?s me now present you the fourth level of the series:

Level: ?The Bearer ? Part IV : The Depths?
Creator: Takelow
Location: Near Australia (est coast)
Type: Tribute to ?The Lord of the Rings?
Difficulty: ***
(*: not challenging! ?*****: Very hard!)
Multiplayer: No. Designed for ONE PLAYER.

OVERALL LEVEL DESCRIPTION:
At the end of the Part III: The Fellowship, you reached Fondcomb and the Fellowship of the Ring was constitute. The fourth level take place immediately after, when Frodo leave Fondcomb to reach the depths of the Middle Earth, the Moria?s Mine. Enter the mines, find your way in Balin?s Tomb and survive the Khazad-D?m bridges. But be careful to not cross the legendary Balrog, soul of the earth and fire.
More than never, you must bear and protect the One Ring in order to progress througout the level. Don?t lose it, it could be lethal?Will you be brave enough to bear the ring safely and go out of these mines?
PICTURES:

http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=545&pictureid=4797

http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=545&pictureid=4795

http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=545&pictureid=4794

http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=545&pictureid=4793

http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=545&pictureid=4791

http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=545&pictureid=4790

http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=545&pictureid=4789

Any comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciate

P.S: I would like to gratefully thank Ccubbage for it intensive playtesting of the level and for it critical help and very useful suggestions

2009-07-05 23:02:00

Author:
Takelow

Posts: 1355

Man, I am SO glad to see this series continuing. From the first level in the series, it's been fantastic. I think anyone who is new here and hasn't played the earlier levels should go and play ALL of them. It's a great representation of the "Lord Of The Rings", and Takelow is the right guy for the job.

This entire series has some of the best custom graphics of any LBP level, as well as lighting to die for.

This one is no exception - it has a bigger than life feeling about it, and every section has something that is memorable about it.

Great job, Takelow - I've been waiting a long time for the next in the series.

2009-07-06 04:29:00

Author:
CCubbage

Posts: 4430

Thank you Ccubage

BTW, thank you again for your help for playtesting, your suggestions was brillant

2009-07-06 08:16:00

Author:
Takelow

Posts: 1355

I`m playing it just now.

- Right at the start, you get bounced up a mountain. I died and dropped the ring and it says I can go on (which is fine). On my second attempt, it wasn`t strong enough to push me up again. 3rd attempt it wasn`t strong enough either but I landed on the flipper platform just as it was activating and it bounced me right up in the air, and now I`m caught in some invisible wall that seems to go around the cloud above.

- A camera angle to show that monster outside of the gates would've been nice. The tentacle came out of no where and landed on me giving me no way to avoid it.

- The switch that opens the gate is a little hard to see since it`s so far away. When I did pull it, the ring fell down a hole that was in front of the gate. Then I got a speech bubble saying I was to bear the ring before jumping so dunno if I missed out on something. I found the ring down the bottom anyway.

- At the part with the columns, you are completey obscured by both the columns and the camera angle, which is unfair when you`re trying to keep the ring safe (which I assume ends the level if it breaks?).

- That issue is in the next section too, where sponges that you swing on are partially (the part you`ll be grabbing) hidden behind columns. I had a couple of cheap deaths because of them.

- Dunno what the deal was with the orcs, I tried to keep the ring away from them incase it broke. Was I meant to take it towards them? At one point I jumped on one of them and all 3 disappeared. They also had a habit of respawning while I was still in the air from the previous kill, giving me no chance to move before being killed myself.

- The last point leads me onto this one. After being killed by an orc, I respawned, with the ring right in front of the checkpoint I died instantly. I would recommend infinite lives. Not because your level is too hard, but because the ring can kill you at any time. The space in the middle of it is pretty small and while you can fit into it, sometimes the game engine just kills you. I died 3 times in my run simply because I tried to jump while infront of the ring and got squashed inside of it. I would`ve been mighty angry if I was on one life and died because the ring happens to be small.

Those problems aside, the level looks just as fantastic as I knew it would, and had some of the best lighting seen in LBP. I hope the wait for the next level isn`t as long as the wait was for this one!

2009-07-06 16:41:00

Author:
Matt 82

Posts: 1096

OK - I just got through playing this, and I loved it (as I have the rest of the series).

Pros:
+ Absolutely stunning visually (as expected).
+ Wonderful opening credits (also, as expected).
+ Nice bits of puzzle mixed with some platforming and really good gameplay.
+ Pacing was excellent - never boring.
+ Overall length was just right.
+ True to the storyline (one more time... "as expected")

Cons:
- There were a few places where switches and motor bolts became visible. Notably when the Moria bridge collapses. I assume we are meant to fall to the left and away from the breaking piece, but I instinctively pushed right and ended up on top of the big chunk that swivels/falls to the left. I could see the bolts and some dark matter here.

- I would have liked a bit more challenge at the Balrog (but I realize that's Gandolf's battle to wage, and not mine - oh well...)

- There is a spot - just before we get to Balin's tomb (actually, if I recall correctly - just to the left of Balin's tomb), where... using the ring, I jumped up onto the fallen pillar and was able to then run off and out of the level. I'm guessing you may be aware of this (perhaps even planned it) because as I was falling down from the ledge I was thinking I was going to fall into the underpinnings of the level, but instead I fell onto the scoreboard. However, as I did fall past a bunch of spotlights on DM, I thought I'd let you know just in case it isn't deliberate.

- Now this last bit... well, at first I thought there's no good way to fix this because of it's integral use throughout the level, but I have thought of a way that might work - so read on... I found that it is quite easy this time around (I don't recall this being an issue in the prior releases - maybe I just never tried) to jump into the ring itself. It was actually quite annoying the first couple times it happened (yes, it happened accidentally more than twice) because it can be difficult to get back out. But then I realized it could be used to create the infinite jump glitch, so I replayed the level and found that I was able to get into many places that I do not expect you are intending players to go (see the pics below). So my thinking on a solution (since it would be too much to actually change the size of the ring, what with all the "slots" for it to be placed throughout the level) is to insert a line or a cross of invisible rubber in the center of it, barring sackboy from entering.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/Ring-1.jpg

All in all, another fantastic effort. I do hope you have the will and stamina to complete the entire series. They are so fun to play and beautiful to look at.

:star::star::star::star::star: hearted and tagged: Beautiful and Brilliant

PICS:
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/APhoto_2.jpg
Over the gate into Moria
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/APhoto_4.jpg
Here I am still inside the ring after making a skillful landing on some DM
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u180/v0rtex2002/APhoto_3.jpg
This last one, there were points on the platform to my left, so it seems as though you expect players to get up here. But then why leave visible DM (to the right)?

2009-07-06 17:07:00

Author:
v0rtex

Posts: 1878

I just got through the level.

+ The intro to the level is great, I love the lettering.
+ Excellent boat ride with the moving oar
+ Very epic statues with nice detailed, they are well made
+ The visuals are great, I love the care and detail you put into them
+ You don't actually expect the rocks to break when you walk over them, a lot of times you see it coming before you even step on them, not so here.
+ Great puzzles and use of the ring.
+ The balrog was brilliant
+ The lighting is really great.

- I had the same problems as Matt on the Boss before you enter the gates, a better camera angle might eliminate the cheap death, as it is now, you just charge into it without the knowledge it is there until its to late.
- And the same problems as Vortex, I got stuck in the ring lots, and although I laughed at first (I looked like I was supposed to be in Killian's Problematic Packaging) it got fustrating later on.
- I found a flaw of my though to

A pretty game breaking one. When you are dragging the ring, just before the step sections there are some pillars, one is broken and laid on its side just before a checkpoint. You can use the ring as a stepping stone and get onto the pillar, then fall off the level onto the lights that are after the balrog (I uploaded two photos on the PS3 so you could see. If you jump across the dark matter holding up the lights you can get to the wrong side of the Balrog without the ring, luckily you can pop sackboy and get back to the top again with the ring but it needs closing off. You could put some secret here though (thats what I was orginally hunting for).

I really enjoyed the level, the puzzles and the visuals, you've done an excellent job. I thought you'd never finish the series, and am pleased you are back and working on it again. Looking forward to part 5.

*****, brilliant and hearted

2009-07-06 18:13:00

Author:
GruntosUK

Posts: 1754

I think the key to getting the ring perfect is this:

If there's no invisible rubber inside the ring, you get stuck in it and it's frustrating. But, if you put a single strand in it there's the possibility of sackboy getting squished jumping in front of the ring.

Probably the best answer is to put a few tiny strands in it and play with jumping in front of it until it works perfectly.

2009-07-06 18:45:00

Author:
CCubbage

Posts: 4430

Loved the Balrog pic, but I didn't play the level yet (and not even the other ones of the saga, since I'm not quite fond of LOTR...Thursday or Friday perhaps, when I take my PS3 to work???)

2009-07-06 20:34:00

Author:
OmegaSlayer

Posts: 5112

Great level! However I had to redo it all

When I almost completed the level right before a door that needed the ring... My ring broke and I had to do it all over again which took a while with how long the level is. I wish there was a way to add a new ring if yours broke or something went wrong because it got stuck between me and a ramp, I pulled back and it just broke. Try fixing it please and I gave it :star::star::star::star::star: and hearted

2009-07-06 22:50:00

Author:
Godshelp

Posts: 14

Loving the series thus far, keep them up. I just finished playing this level about 10 minutes ago so here's what I think

*PROS*
- Good Length, somewhat on the long side but not too long
- Well thought out level sequences
- Memorable scenes that i'll for sure remember past tomorrow
- Great intro

*CONS*
- Some glitches as others have mentioned, the ring glitch. Also when I had the ring during one of the collapse sequences I dropped it and it was long gone resorting in a level restart.
- Wasn't much of a a fan of some of the reused obstacles you used in other levels.

:star::star::star::star::star:

2009-07-07 03:15:00

Author:
Final Recall

Posts: 39

Played through it tonight and really enjoyed it. Your title sequence is amazing (I'm a big fan of title sequences...brings out my inner graphic design geek *squeals in delight*)

Lots of really pretty sections in this level. I especially liked the cloud section, the door to the mines of Moria, the columns in the mine and the balrog rocked! Excellent lighting in some spots too. Balin's tomb is amazingly lit and the firey pinkish red glow in the deepest parts of the mine are fantastic.

I didn't have any trouble with the ring but then again after playing the other three I'm very used to hauling it around and knowing when to just leave it for a second to go do something and when I'm going to need it. Those having trouble with it should realize you can let it rest for a few seconds to go take out the monster at the gate or the orcs. Just don't loose track of it.

The only trouble I had was on the steps section and it's minor. It's actually possible to jump down without the ring by accident from the upper level then you need to run back up or pop. Really minor complaint but I wanted to let you know it was possible given the layer design in that section.

Overall a very ambitious level in an even more ambitious series. As a big fan of the books and film I'm excited to see what you come up with next! I rated it 4 stars and hearted it!

2009-07-07 05:31:00

Author:
Morgana25

Posts: 5983

Hi everybody,

First of all thank you for all these feedbacks and comments. It is of great value for me in order to improv the levels of the series.
I made an update of the level in which i made most of the changes suggested

- A camera angle to show that monster outside of the gates would've been nice. The tentacle came out of no where and landed on me giving me no way to avoid it.

I changed the camera angle here.

-At the part with the columns, you are completey obscured by both the columns and the camera angle, which is unfair when you`re trying to keep the ring safe (which I assume ends the level if it breaks?).

I disagree. This part of the level is REALLY EASY to complete, even with columns. It is a choice here and i prefer keep a good visual in this section with columns.

- That issue is in the next section too, where sponges that you swing on are partially (the part you`ll be grabbing) hidden behind columns. I had a couple of cheap deaths because of them.

Hey, it is part IV now.... and then, No ace at the first play.

- Notably when the Moria bridge collapses. I assume we are meant to fall to the left and away from the breaking piece, but I instinctively pushed right and ended up on top of the big chunk that swivels/falls to the left. I could see the bolts and some dark matter here.

Yes... I tried this and your right. I made an update to fix this. Thank you

- I would have liked a bit more challenge at the Balrog (but I realize that's Gandolf's battle to wage, and not mine - oh well...)

Exactly. I must admit i have hesitated a lot about this. But, i want to stay as clopse as possible of the original story. And as you stated, fighting the Balrog is not the Frodo's job but Gandalf one...

- There is a spot - just before we get to Balin's tomb (actually, if I recall correctly - just to the left of Balin's tomb), where... using the ring, I jumped up onto the fallen pillar and was able to then run off and out of the level. I'm guessing you may be aware of this (perhaps even planned it) because as I was falling down from the ledge I was thinking I was going to fall into the underpinnings of the level, but instead I fell onto the scoreboard. However, as I did fall past a bunch of spotlights on DM, I thought I'd let you know just in case it isn't deliberate.

It wasn't deliberate!!! But i fixed it

- Now this last bit... well, at first I thought there's no good way to fix this because of it's integral use throughout the level, but I have thought of a way that might work - so read on... I found that it is quite easy this time around (I don't recall this being an issue in the prior releases - maybe I just never tried) to jump into the ring itself. It was actually quite annoying the first couple times it happened (yes, it happened accidentally more than twice) because it can be difficult to get back out. But then I realized it could be used to create the infinite jump glitch, so I replayed the level and found that I was able to get into many places that I do not expect you are intending players to go (see the pics below). So my thinking on a solution (since it would be too much to actually change the size of the ring, what with all the "slots" for it to be placed throughout the level) is to insert a line or a cross of invisible rubber in the center of it, barring sackboy from entering.

Yeah... THE BIG issue here. I tried a lot of thing to avoid this, and i thought it was not a problem anymore....but i was so used to bear this ring when i playtest, that i miss it... I tried to put thin invisible shape of dark matter, but, yeah, it seemed to kill the player.
Nevertheless, i think IT IS NOW FIXED !
Btw, thank you for the pictures of issues

- I had the same problems as Matt on the Boss before you enter the gates, a better camera angle might eliminate the cheap death, as it is now, you just charge into it without the knowledge it is there until its to late.
- And the same problems as Vortex, I got stuck in the ring lots, and although I laughed at first (I looked like I was supposed to be in Killian's Problematic Packaging) it got fustrating later on.
- I found a flaw of my though to A pretty game breaking one. When you are dragging the ring, just before the step sections there are some pillars, one is broken and laid on its side just before a checkpoint. You can use the ring as a stepping stone and get onto the pillar, then fall off the level onto the lights that are after the balrog (I uploaded two photos on the PS3 so you could see. If you jump across the dark matter holding up the lights you can get to the wrong side of the Balrog without the ring, luckily you can pop sackboy and get back to the top again with the ring but it needs closing off. You could put some secret here though (thats what I was orginally hunting for).

All these issues are now fixed.

When I almost completed the level right before a door that needed the ring... My ring broke and I had to do it all over again which took a while with how long the level is. I wish there was a way to add a new ring if yours broke or something went wrong because it got stuck between me and a ramp, I pulled back and it just broke.

Oh, i didn't expected that the Ring could broke in this situation...
I will think about a way to avoid this, thank you

- Wasn't much of a a fan of some of the reused obstacles you used in other levels.

I don't see what you are talking about. The only obstacle reused in all the levels are the black block with the Ring stickers... Or are you talking about some little sections of the part I (Incipit) that you cross in the other levels (here, the section with columns and textil roof)?

The only trouble I had was on the steps section and it's minor. It's actually possible to jump down without the ring by accident from the upper level then you need to run back up or pop. Really minor complaint but I wanted to let you know it was possible given the layer design in that section.

Yeah....you must be very careful when you progress in this level...but....you must protect the Ring and bear it everywhere you go

I rated it 4 stars and hearted it!
Considering your comments, i was thinking a 5 stars rate...perhaps for part V

2009-07-08 09:19:00

Author:
Takelow

Posts: 1355

play on my level as well the museum of vehicles thankyou

2009-07-08 12:18:00

Author:
geddez12

Posts: 338

Hi .

First off let me say I've been a fan of this series for a long time and am really glad to see it continuing. It seems a very long time since the last instalment.

Anyway here is my feedback

Pros :

Great design as always.

Very faithful to the original story and locations.

Cons :

Occasionally a bit awkward to get the Ring where you need it and although I managed OK I always had the feeling that it could easily be lost or destroyed. That may be just my imagination though.

Confusing at times as to which way you needed to go and where you did and didn't need to take the Ring with you. I felt a little info when you needed to leave it and go do something then come back for it would have been nice.

Overall :

Another great instalment and very enjoyable. Although the Cons look big they are only very minor quibbles and didn't stop me enjoying it or giving the usual :star::star::star::star::star: and a heart.

Just don't keep us waiting so long next time because I'm an old guy and might not have many good years left in me LOL.

2009-07-08 16:24:00

Author:
mistervista

Posts: 2210

Great design as always.

Very faithful to the original story and locations.

Thank you a lot

Occasionally a bit awkward to get the Ring where you need it and although I managed OK I always had the feeling that it could easily be lost or destroyed. That may be just my imagination though..

I think that the feeling you described is a good thing in this series. You MUST protect the One Ring! Completely! You MUST NOT loose it! Never... What a responsability, isn't it?
And as you said : you managed OK!!! I think this is the most important!

Confusing at times as to which way you needed to go and where you did and didn't need to take the Ring with you. I felt a little info when you needed to leave it and go do something then come back for it would have been nice.

Actually, this level is constructed as when you MUST leave the ring, you cannot progress further with it in the level. So, i thought that player will understand that he will need to do something without it before to continue its way.BUT, i will add some bubble speech as you suggested me

Overall :

Another great instalment and very enjoyable. Although the Cons look big they are only very minor quibbles and didn't stop me enjoying it or giving the usual :star::star::star::star::star: and a heart.

I am very glad! Thank you again

2009-07-08 17:26:00

Author:
Takelow

Posts: 1355

Aww... I did try to play your level series but I couldn't I'll see if the PS3 online mode is working now and if it does, I'll edit this comment with feedback!

2009-07-08 17:55:00

Author:
Keldur

Posts: 628

Just finished it. Took me two times, because the first time I pulled the ring all the way over to the squid monster and couldn't get back over there after opening the Gates of Moria (it kept forcing me back a layer into the gates)

2009-07-08 18:08:00

Author:
ZipCity

Posts: 208

I loved this series, but It gets annoying to make it challenging to the point where you have to restart the level over and over when you at a point whhere . Sure you need challenge in a level but with a very story based level t would work much better to simply give infinite lives and increase the challenge. The biggest time I saw this was with your fence jumping sequence.
ETA: Then again I've progressed quite a bit in story mode since... Sorry if that's why!

2009-07-09 00:01:00

Author:
ValinKrai

Posts: 21

2009-07-10 20:57:00

Author:
Takelow

Posts: 1355

What it's bad about playing levels like this one, it's that you feel... little. I mean, i felt that I was bad when it comes to visually design levels. This was great, absolutely. I did really feel inmersed in the Moria mines. (and I could recognize a part of it from chapter 1! You know, the introductory one)

For some reason, why I did like the most was the monster part, the octopuss thing that guards the entrance. And by this im not saying that everything else wasn't absolutely great; nop. It really was great, all in all but I dunno why, I really enjoyed the monster part. I even replayed it only to play that again.

What I liked about how you designated the moria mines was the vertical feel of descens, and the giantic feeling the whole thing had. Those columns were so... wow -you know what I mean. It is "amazing".

To me, the level felt pretty long, but the kind of long that I enjoy.
Oh, btw, the 2nd time I played, I felt and "broke" the level. I was going trough a bridge made with ropes and wood, bearing the ring, when I felt trough the woods if the bridge, so the ring stayed on the bridge while I felt trough :S. Besides, I felt onto a checkpoint, so respawning was meaningless D:

But, let's forget that. The balrog. Wow. How good looking it was! I won't go into details, I just want to applaud you for that job.

And about the challenge, it was ok. I had already went trough the other levels, so I didn't mind being it kinda easy. I already knew that I was heading towards a visual feast. And that was what I was looking for, amazing visuals, so I won't complain at all about the difficulty of it.

:star::star::star::star::star: You'd deserve even more than 5!

As for the feedback, I'd like you to give it on my really really soon incoming level, Lafarge's request. I'll PM you when the time comes!

2009-07-12 20:38:00

Author:
Keldur

Posts: 628

I'd been meaning to play this for such awhile now, and tell you welcome back,Takelow. It's such a good thing to see someone from when I first joined here come back to the game, and kick back into action in full form again... now we just need Neverynnal, OCK, and Voltiare.

The level was just as beautiful as your last, and your style is still very apparent. You're still a master of spotlights - a category I put you and ShadowFlareX in separately. I'm glad you're really pushing through to keep your flagship series going too, but I would also like to see what else you come up with - A Space Oddysee is still one of the most memorable levels out there for me.

2009-07-12 22:25:00

Author:
Unknown User

. I've been looking forward to seeing the entire Lord of the Rings done right in LBP for a long time now. Can't wait to see how the land of Mordor turns out!

2009-07-13 00:13:00

Author:
CCubbage

Posts: 4430

Nice to see new entries into this series! With each one, I think your visuals improve. I was absolutely blown away by the statues at the beginning! They were beautifully done! The rest of the level looks great as well and you do an excellent job of bringing the look of the movies into LBP.

Gameplay was good, but I did find a few of the puzzles with the levers to seem a bit out of place. Specifically, I thought it was a bit odd when the squid monster attacked and you simply pull the lever and it dies. Just seems a bit out of place in the world.

Other than that, I loved everything and I look forward to the future chapters!

Well done!

2009-07-13 05:19:00

Author:
mrsupercomputer

Posts: 1335

Thank you all for your nice words.
The level has been updated with near all the corrections required.

Btw, i would like to advertise that i am in debt for some F4F replies and i will give them ASAP. I am currently working on a project about the LBPcentral site (LBPcentral The Game) that take me a lot of time. Then i am sorry to ask to the concerned authors to be just a little more patient

Thank you

2009-07-18 12:17:00

Author:
Takelow

Posts: 1355

I will also give this one :star::star::star::star::star: because it also had really good detail and was true to the Lotr storyline.
However, it was sometimes unclear where to go (especially after the giant puzzle wheel)

2009-08-11 03:54:00

Author:
pocoroo

Posts: 14

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