Home    LBP Showcase / Reviews / Recommendations    Level Showcase
#1

Sack, The legendary: Level 2 of 13

Archive: 19 posts

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/031/4/b/4b33db5ef97a127654631bad7a715526.jpg

Sack, The legendary: Level 2 of 13Luos_Desruc

"Lost woods of the Wickers"
Level 2 of 13 of "Sack, The legendary" series.
A storybased adventure that brings Sack to a world where sackpeople have not been seen for thousands of years.
One player experience.
all

Story:
Sack finally made it out of the cave thanks to Amber the FireAnt and gets caught by Sackatulla, a giant Wicker(spider) who realizes that he caught a sackboy and brings him to the lost woods where some of the wickers took refuge and in memory of the villagers who lived there in the past.
Who knows.. Maybe someone still lives in the old abandoned houses?

Images:
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs37/f/2009/349/8/5/85a980f27a992b28930c95367734b863.jpg
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs36/f/2009/349/4/3/43437cb396456616a37bf8900560f4f5.jpg
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs36/f/2009/349/f/8/f8e4ae6718da3d79d0f52814c8f004f9.jpg
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs36/f/2009/349/7/f/7f1c864e66bceb7061499342145de837.jpg
http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs37/f/2009/349/4/1/41e6b1406d3dcef6838e9183d4455eab.jpg







Average playtime: 15 minutes.
Average "cutscene/talking time: 2 minutes

Level 1 of 13 (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=t=19564)
Level 2 of 13 (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=p=351782)
Level 3 of 13 (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=p=359957) *Spotlighted*
Level 4 of 13 (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=21990-Sack-The-legendary-Level-4-of-13)
For the whole project,
check out: "Project Legendary" (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=t=19616)

I would like to thank Ladylyn1 for getting me back to lbp-editing and for his input in this level/playtesting it with me.

Enjoy!
Any comments, reviews and head-up's for problems in-game are appreciated!
I would also like to know what you people think of the conversations in-game.

No F4F this time, but are willing to try out and review some levels in return of a nice review

Improvements over level 1 of 13:
More score-bubbles.
More gameplay.
3 times bigger.
Added secrets.

Extra's
People who are willing to review the level are allowed to name one of the upcoming characters.

Updates:
You can now choose to skip the two minute short-cut,
easy for scorebubble collecting or when replaying it.		2009-12-15 17:37:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

Updated level 2,
found two switches that where visible.

still nobody willing to check them out?
Must be the month of the year 		2009-12-17 22:37:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

I checked out the first one a bit earlier, and will be checking this one out in a bit. I really enjoyed the first one, although (and I hope you don't mind me putting this feedback in this thread) the one thing that I think you should try to limit is the cut scene cameras. Constantly jumping to the ant saying things and jumping back I think hurt the experience a bit.... maybe instead have a single cut scene and from that point on just have the text box appear to come from off screen.

I gave it a heart - really enjoyed it. Now I'm going to go check out the 2nd one.		2009-12-18 02:38:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

Well I played the first and I really enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars.But one suggestion would be at the beginning to lower the fog because it was very hard to see.

Then I started into the the 2nd level and you know the part where you get caught by the spider and he talks to you well the first time I played through it broke and I fell threw the floor and out of the level but I think it was just a weird accident.

But on the second time I made it through the whole level without any problems and overall it was a good level and I gave it 5 stars and a heart, I also really liked those butterflies that you used to make it seem like they were actually flying.

Can't wait to see what you do in level 3 :hero:		2009-12-18 04:09:00

Author:
Unknown User

Ok, played it - very nice! Loved the spider mechanics, nice platforming. There was a few plane shifting issues where I would jump and get shifted back unexpectadly because of material angles behind me, but it wasn't too bad.

5 stars and a heart on this one - I definately liked it better than the first one (which was good also).		2009-12-18 04:12:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

I thank you both for trying the levels out, :Big hug:

I am thinking of adding a switch at the beginning of the 2nd level that allows one to skip the spider-part, would probably increase the replay value a bit.

Will lower the fog of first level a little more 		2009-12-18 12:08:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

I thank you both for trying the levels out, :Big hug:

I am thinking of adding a switch at the beginning of the 2nd level that allows one to skip the spider-part, would probably increase the replay value a bit.

Will lower the fog of first level a little more
Maybe a sticker at the end of the level that allows you to skip it if playing through again. This would definately help - I loved the text the first time but if I were going for top score I wouldn't want to sit through it again.		2009-12-18 16:50:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

I dont really like to add such stickers in a level,
if one disabled community items, one cannot use it.

so there must be a better idea.... *keeps thinking*
in the meanwhile, I updated the fog thingy,
and also changed the cut-scenes from Amber when Sack is roaming the temple into just talking.		2009-12-19 11:32:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

Note:

Player is now able to skip the two minute cut-scene with Sackutulla!		2009-12-19 13:59:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

Pros:

-Good forest feel!
-Love the arachnidas. It makes a really freaking nice excuse for grabing stuff to proceed and so winches and ropes don't look out of place.
-Bubbles over the waterfall yay!
-Shortcut to prevent backtracking -- cool.


Cons:

-I pressed a button without being warned what it was and I've been teleported further into the level. Is that your story skipping?? Felt wierd. Maybe explaining what the button does?


This is looking for being a great series. I can't wait to see what his your whole idea and see if you can keep us interested until episode 13! Looks like a big challenge to me. Well, so far it does work and I love your little world and the creatures inside it. If you keep me interested like this without ever going overboard with the amount of story and bubbles, you will probably get me until the end.

:star::star::star::star: + heart


EDIT: Oh well, just did the level again and saw that you explain the button when you go right... Hey, I also forgot the tell you that you layer work and narrow space envirronements are well done.

2009-12-20 03:52:00

Author:
RangerZero
Posts: 3901

7:30 am and i am still awake from a snow-storm shoot.
gonna empty my CF on the pc and off into the blizzard again.
wanted to thank you for your kinds reviews!

/me goes off into the snow.
10 cm/4 inches in 2 hours.		2009-12-20 06:27:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

Hiya Luos,

I really enjoyed your first level so I'm back for more!
I write my reviews as I play so you get a chronological list of my thoughts...

The first text bubbles I missed one because I did'nt press O fast enough.

The opening scene is lovely- especially the firefly (with LED). I'm confused about the 'now I can speak reference'. didnt your previous story just have me going through a door?

The trees swings are harder than they look (deliberate?) because the first one goes behind the second with the thin layer between them,. This means I kept missing the second grabbable and didn't understand why for 4 lives.

The combination of green sponges is nice and your underground section looks good.

The titles are better this time. Pull sackboy past them is a lot better than using Mouths.

You're queuing up a lot of mouths during the cut scene. I'm not sure whether to press O manually or whether it will scroll through by itself. I'm enjoying tho and I don't want to miss any.

Ok it ended... and yes I did miss some magic mouths. You may want to think about your mouths again for your next one. I'm a fast reader and I was pushed on some of those.

Swinging on bugs is fun. I like the way you make your obstacles part of the environment rather than additions to it.

The rockcave section was fantastic! double thumbs up.

I'm at the toadstool house and I'm not sure whether to go left or right. This may be the point. ..ok i got it now

The scenery is still great but the webbing blockages look a bit pants sorry.

Wow... you know how to do trees. I realise just how bad my puzzling pine looked compared to this. You've GOT to give me a scenery tutorial.

Aha! a bit of scenery that doesn't look as good! I just swung across some spiders and ran behind a tree on some leaves. I came out of a rather awkward square cutout. Looks weird compared to all the flowing lines around it. (yes I am nit picking )

I haven't mentioned this yet, but there have been some nice extra point bubbles around. I haven't found any secrets yet and I did think in the cave section it would be nice to have some hidden caves - but i might have just missed them.

The pointbubble waterford is awesome and the shortcut back down is well done.

The spiders web section is mean.. but thats a good thing because there hasn't been many deadly places in the level so far. There was one bit after a checkpoint where you drop down and I didnt know I had to grab so I died.

I think that the section with the toadstool house might be a little bit too grayed out. Everytime I walk past it I notice the effect. ...and I think if a player ever NOTICES the effect then it doesn't feel natural.

nice touch advertising the next level with the next creature. I hope we get to fly around with him.

I loved this level. 5* from me.. and a heart... and because I like both levels - a heart for you too. I just missed your score by 500. To be honest, I'm not sure I'd play the level again to get a higher score, but thats not what this level is about. Its an unusual adventure with a good story.

I really like the fact that visuals haven't taken second place to gameplay. always make sure the gameplay comes first. I think the length of this one was better too. Not too short, not too long.

well done!

...and I'm not joking about a scenery tutorial.

Adi and Clarie		2009-12-21 08:50:00

Author:
TheAdipose
Posts: 533

wow thats a lot of text,
*sits back and reads*

@ ranger-zero, thanks for checking out the level
I noticed that the skip-button can be activated before one knows why to use it,
will be fixed somewhere today.

@ the adipose,
first of all thank you for playing the level,
I allready created a new speech-bubble logic that wont delete the prev. said thing, unless really needed but would to too much of a pain to redo all that logic.
So my next level will have a better system.

about the "now I can speak" part,
I assumed that every sackboy gets back to his pod after reaching the finish,
so when he got back to the level where he set up his tent after fixing the pod-connection with this world....
I think Sack also hints a little on that in the conversation with Sackatulla.
(The tent will be a returning thing probably, since level 3 will start out all dark again.)

About the swining tree's (first sction),
First I had just two swings, and after a day it showed up with 10 plays and 2 stars overall. all you had to do was swing back and forth before jumping but people kept dying.
I will take an extra look at it.

The webbing blockage idea came from LadyLyn1 after the level was first released and was put there with a minimum of thermo left, so I couldnt do any more with it without sacrificing. (and yes, I am a bit lazy ).

You want a scenery tutorial?
No problem, add me and if I have the time I can show you some tricks.

I know exactly the place you mean that looks out of place @ the tree section.
Will go over it with my popit and make it more natural thanks for pointing out.

There are no secrets in the caves, though just when sackatulla dropped you, the first mushroom house, the forest-part and the forest-end-waterfall have secrets.
I can show you if you want.

The dropping down section was done intentionally.
The fast responding gamers will notice the first white grabable object and can still clinche onto the second one before dying.
I have seen a few people pull this off and liked the results of that a lot (you will autmatically swing to the next grabable spider-egg-sack).
since dying will result in a 5 second loss, there is an infinite checkpoint and 99.9% of the people will know that they have to grab the second time they jump made me decide to keep it like this.
(I hope thats okay )

You mean the mushroom house on the left side of the level?
And yes, you will meet and fly around on the fly and a few other aviating insects.


Come to think of it, many people responded.

at the moment I still need to name the fly, bee, queen ant, queen bee, dragonfly and a boss.
So, ccubage, adipose, zero and newbie if you guys want, you can name one of them.
first come, first serve.

will pm you later today about it.		2009-12-21 13:40:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

edited:
updated the level with most "problems" mentioned before,
cannot edit the "spiderwebs" since I do not have any thermo left.		2009-12-21 16:08:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

how about putting a webby sticker on it?

As for names I would probably just give you terrible puns rather than anything useful

I will add you here and on PSN. 		2009-12-21 16:37:00

Author:
TheAdipose
Posts: 533

webby sticker?
I have looked my sack-end off to find one, but couldnt find any :/

I will make shots of all the creatures,
If the pun-name is rather funny I wouldnt mind 		2009-12-21 16:41:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

I played both levels and I love the setting and gameplay! The first is a little simple and short, but I realize it's an introduction. I love the platforming in the second level! It's a little hard to know where to go sometimes, but I never floundered for long! Overall, I gave the first 4 stars and the second 5! I love the spider! how cool!2009-12-21 17:27:00

Author:
Aselrahc
Posts: 185

Sack, the Legendary - Part 1 and 2 - Luos_Desruc
(Due to the first level being incredibly short, I decided to put both of these in one review.)

Graphics - Wow. Tons and tons of detail obviously went into this level. I could tell right from the start that a beautiful oasis of colorful and scenic environment awaited me. the sheer amount of stickers used to change and bend the environment is uncountable, and it all comes together in a wonderful mishmash of serene and harsh beauty.
Gameplay - This series' gameplay mechanisms don't seem to be too complex. The most used plot device, by far, is the door-and-switch. Three in two levels, a little bit too much, don't you think? However, the door-and-switch is played wonderfully, making you backtrack through the level and solve new puzzles.
Story - This level follows a comedic and epic storyline revolving around a fire ant named Amber and a sackboy who happened to fall on Amber's back one day. As you trek around the caves, Amber speaks non-stop. He's been stranded in a cave for two weeks, and the only way for you to get out of the cave is with Amber. Soon, after being separated from Amber by a falling rock and trekking through the forest a little, you stumble across a very large, very repulsive spider (whom likes to shout "omnomnomnom nom"). He asks you some questions, but is elusive whenever you ask any. Later, you meet with Sacklespitle (or something) again, and he leads you to the Land of Filth.
Replay - There's not much in the way of secrets, but this level most indefinitely deserves a replay every once in a while.
Tips/Other comments

When I first played Part 1, I didn't fall on Amber's back, so when he left I couldn't keep up. You may want to make that impossible.
I love the music selection in this series. There are only three tunes, but you bend them so well it sounds like there's twenty.



OVERALL RANKINGS
Graphics - 10/10 - A visual masterpiece. There's nothing else to say. It just blows you away.
Gameplay - 9/10 - Door-and-switch mechanism is used fairly often and occasionally the level design can get a bit tedious, but the rest of it is amazing.
Story - 10/10 - One of the most abstract and detailed stories I've ever seen incorporated into a LBP level series.
Replay - 9/10 - There's a few secrets if you want to go for that high score, but not many, and there's so much to discover and observe in this level... It's one of the levels that you look towards for inspiration.
OVERALL SCORE :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: and a heart from me on both levels. There's just nothing better than an innovative and beautiful level to inspire and awe you.

A very nice review from Project_MK (http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/member.php?u=4725) @ this link (https://lbpcentral.lbp-hub.com/index.php?t=t=20117&page=2)		2009-12-27 11:15:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136

Added header for this thread,
Also updated links.		2010-02-01 00:16:00

Author:
Luos_83
Posts: 2136


LBPCentral Archive Statistics
Posts: 1077139    Threads: 69970    Members: 9661    Archive-Date: 2019-01-19

Datenschutz
Aus dem Archiv wurden alle persönlichen Daten wie Name, Anschrift, Email etc. - aber auch sämtliche Inhalte wie z.B. persönliche Nachrichten - entfernt.
Die Nutzung dieser Webseite erfolgt ohne Speicherung personenbezogener Daten. Es werden keinerlei Cookies, Logs, 3rd-Party-Plugins etc. verwendet.