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The Islands Saga (Now With Photos!)

Archive: 12 posts

The Islands Sagaresistance1
Grandmatser Sensei has another task for you! Make your way through her castle in search of the Inedible Homie!
all
This is a sort of spin-off level from my Canyon Saga series, as the more eagle-eyed people will have noticed. I also have entered this into the back to the basics contest, so the fact that everything is visible cannot be changed. As I am typing this, it has nine plays, 7 people playing a 2(!) star rating and 1 heart. So it's up to you kind people to get that rating UP! Please. Can't wait to hear your exclusively positive feedback, see your hearts, and explode with excitement (As you will when you play the level) When I see your :star::star::star::star::star: rating.

Yes, this is sort of a "tribute" To Lafarge's request. It wasn't originally meant to be, originally, but it sort of just turned out this way.

Screenshots!:

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo39/coconut424/APhoto_13.jpg

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo39/coconut424/APhoto_14.jpg

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo39/coconut424/APhoto_15.jpg

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo39/coconut424/APhoto_16.jpg

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo39/coconut424/APhoto_17.jpg

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo39/coconut424/APhoto_18.jpg

Thanks to LittleBigSackBoy for the fotos!		2009-08-10 20:06:00

Author:
resistance1
Posts: 812

Sounds cool I'll play it tomorrow and tell you what I think 2009-08-10 20:16:00

Author:
Plasmavore
Posts: 1913

Man, that was quick! XD2009-08-10 20:27:00

Author:
resistance1
Posts: 812

Can you check out mine please? It's in my sig!

Thanks!		2009-08-10 20:36:00

Author:
Plasmavore
Posts: 1913

Ok then. *Adds ten characters*2009-08-10 21:21:00

Author:
resistance1
Posts: 812

Just like your other level, this one captures the SP theme well and holds out for the entire level. I liked the way the floor looked and the materials you decided to use went very well together. The way you made the switches each have a special box was a nice touch, and to make things better, they looked like they belonged in the level. The obstacles had a nice variety, but the last one bugged me. The camera angle your using makes it hard to gauge the jumps we have to make.

:star::star::star::star: and a heart. If you could try Hectic Hallways, I'd appreciate it.		2009-08-11 07:21:00

Author:
RickTheRipper
Posts: 345

Thanks Rick. The switches were fairly easy to make, I just did what Mm did with them in Skate to Victory, and IMHO it worked quite well.
I tried to make the last obstacle as hard as possible, trying to make it like a "boss," but bad camera angles weren't what I was aiming for. I'll try to adjust them. Again, thanks, and I'll try your level.		2009-08-11 09:57:00

Author:
resistance1
Posts: 812

All I wanted to say Rick said already lol2009-08-12 09:24:00

Author:
Plasmavore
Posts: 1913

So, according to you, if I changed everything rick said, then my level would be perfect? Surely there must be something wrong with it? 2009-08-12 11:57:00

Author:
resistance1
Posts: 812

Resistance1, thank you for the feedback on my level.

I got to play Islands Saga last night, but lost my internet connection near the end so was unable to register stars, hearts or comments.

I thought the level was fair, but tough. The very last section with the pillars sticks in my mind as it took more than 20 odd attemps before I was able to succeed. It was a good feeling to get to the end, so you were successful in giving me a sense of accomplishment. I'm not sure how many other average plays would persevere to complete the level.

I like the overall asthetic look of the level and atmosphere, you captured the Japanese feel well. Although perhaps the house could do with a bit more colour. I know the Japanese style is very minimalist, but that gave the level a certain blandness.

I didn't think your title page fitted with the look and feel of the rest of the level. It was too bright, needed to be more stylish.

Bar the end section, the difficulty, puzzles and variety was well judged. Maybe it could be slightly longer. You could also make the aiming the Cat firing section a bit more of a challenge. As soon as I grabbed the Cat my first shot took out the wall, perhaps that is what you wanted to happen, but it was over so quickly I didn't really get a chance to savior the moment. May be make the wall stronger or have 2 walls.

I will definitely go back and play again, it would be good to have the completed stamp for this one.		2009-08-12 12:36:00

Author:
NickLaslett
Posts: 9

This is a fun level to play through. I enjoyed the visual style you've set up, it is both reminiscent of the Islands theme but also different enough that it isn't a re-tread.

I really liked the wood inlay that you've used along the floors and through the wall and rice paper screens is a good visual element. (I didn't even know we had a rice paper screen material. doh!)

The challenge progression worked out fairly cleanly with the challenges getting progressively more difficult. (With the exception of the last challenge.) The two layer platform jumping to jump on the switch that lets you progress is a good warm-up for the final, insane jumping segment.

This is the type of challenge that would never work without an infinite life checkpoint and I'm hoping that you haven't made it needless difficult simply because there was an infinite life checkpoint there.

It was a very tricky and precise amount of jump and velocity needed to pass and even when passed you still had the fire logs to complete. Yes I was happy to have passed it but I really chewed up my score in the process. I think that this challenge may put off a few players who may not have the skill to complete it. (It does seem a couple of notches harder than anything seen previously.)

However the last challenge isn't impossible and isn't really terrible, just a little practicing and patience and you'll find your way through and you've placed the checkpoint at the best possible spot.

The bomb gun and the wall did seem a bit out of place with the rest of the level and I wasn't sure what if there was a challenge component to it or if it was just to break up the action and content a bit. I couldn't adjust the bomb trajectory and a simple grab on the gun was enough to clear the path.

It is just that everything before and after is jumping and spinning but here is the lone wall and bomb gun. Hmm. It is a fun diversion but a bit odd with the set up of the level.

This level is very clean looking and plays through smoothly from start to finish. I didn't have anything break or fail which is always a relief.

One last thing that jumped out at me. There is a point at the start where you need to find and press all of the switches before you can progress. The player goes up a level and there is an elevator. Now the staircase up to this elevator has stair steps so tiny that it may as well be an inclined plane.

The scale of the steps seems at odds to the scale of the rest of the area and gave my sackboy some fits and starts as I tried to stand or walk/jump up it. There may be other mini stairs in the level but this one jumped out at me.

Good work.		2009-08-12 17:27:00

Author:
Trindall
Posts: 297

Resistance1, thank you for the feedback on my level.

I got to play Islands Saga last night, but lost my internet connection near the end so was unable to register stars, hearts or comments.

I thought the level was fair, but tough. The very last section with the pillars sticks in my mind as it took more than 20 odd attemps before I was able to succeed. It was a good feeling to get to the end, so you were successful in giving me a sense of accomplishment. I'm not sure how many other average plays would persevere to complete the level.

I like the overall asthetic look of the level and atmosphere, you captured the Japanese feel well. Although perhaps the house could do with a bit more colour. I know the Japanese style is very minimalist, but that gave the level a certain blandness.

I didn't think your title page fitted with the look and feel of the rest of the level. It was too bright, needed to be more stylish.

Bar the end section, the difficulty, puzzles and variety was well judged. Maybe it could be slightly longer. You could also make the aiming the Cat firing section a bit more of a challenge. As soon as I grabbed the Cat my first shot took out the wall, perhaps that is what you wanted to happen, but it was over so quickly I didn't really get a chance to savior the moment. May be make the wall stronger or have 2 walls.

I will definitely go back and play again, it would be good to have the completed stamp for this one.


This is a fun level to play through. I enjoyed the visual style you've set up, it is both reminiscent of the Islands theme but also different enough that it isn't a re-tread.

I really liked the wood inlay that you've used along the floors and through the wall and rice paper screens is a good visual element. (I didn't even know we had a rice paper screen material. doh!)

The challenge progression worked out fairly cleanly with the challenges getting progressively more difficult. (With the exception of the last challenge.) The two layer platform jumping to jump on the switch that lets you progress is a good warm-up for the final, insane jumping segment.

This is the type of challenge that would never work without an infinite life checkpoint and I'm hoping that you haven't made it needless difficult simply because there was an infinite life checkpoint there.

It was a very tricky and precise amount of jump and velocity needed to pass and even when passed you still had the fire logs to complete. Yes I was happy to have passed it but I really chewed up my score in the process. I think that this challenge may put off a few players who may not have the skill to complete it. (It does seem a couple of notches harder than anything seen previously.)

However the last challenge isn't impossible and isn't really terrible, just a little practicing and patience and you'll find your way through and you've placed the checkpoint at the best possible spot.

The bomb gun and the wall did seem a bit out of place with the rest of the level and I wasn't sure what if there was a challenge component to it or if it was just to break up the action and content a bit. I couldn't adjust the bomb trajectory and a simple grab on the gun was enough to clear the path.

It is just that everything before and after is jumping and spinning but here is the lone wall and bomb gun. Hmm. It is a fun diversion but a bit odd with the set up of the level.

This level is very clean looking and plays through smoothly from start to finish. I didn't have anything break or fail which is always a relief.

One last thing that jumped out at me. There is a point at the start where you need to find and press all of the switches before you can progress. The player goes up a level and there is an elevator. Now the staircase up to this elevator has stair steps so tiny that it may as well be an inclined plane.

The scale of the steps seems at odds to the scale of the rest of the area and gave my sackboy some fits and starts as I tried to stand or walk/jump up it. There may be other mini stairs in the level but this one jumped out at me.

Good work.

First of all, thanks for the feedback.

@ NickLaslett, I belive I've already said that the end section was meant to be incredibly difficult. Belive it or not, earlier today I actually made it easier, due to complaints! I suppose I can make it a bit easier again.

Hmmm... Yes, I tried to add some stickers & decorations to make the level look a bit nicer, but I'm really not good at that type of thing. Maybe I'll improve somehow.

The title page? You mean the bit that says "Welcome to the Islands Saga,"? I thought it fit well. Besides, it was the secong thing I made in the level and it took some time to make so I'm not about to get rid of it.

I see what you mean about the cat section. I'll change it, methinks. maybe put the cat on a bolt. Ah! I've just changed it and it's much better.

@ Trindall, I was sort of aiming for the Story level feel.

The wooden inlay was actually inspired by Lafarge's request and also the Mm levels.

A few notches harder than anything you've ever seen previously? I suppose I'll just take this as a compliment :hero:.

The cat section has been dealt with. Wow, that sounded sinister! :kz:

Very clean looking? Yay! Simplicity is the best counter to bugs!

I've made the steps one small square bigger.

Thanks!		2009-08-12 20:47:00

Author:
resistance1
Posts: 812


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