Archive: 18 posts

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Frozen in Time 1-4: The Soul Foundry Saga - epic open-ended adventurenarF72 http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb125/tanarri69/fit3scenes.jpgEXTREMELY LONG & COMPLEX open-ended adventure. Full of puzzles, platforming, bosses, and complex tech. You awaken from what you thought was your own death, only to find out you're trapped between the land of the living and the afterlife. Hours and hours of discovery await you as you acquire new powers, open up new paths, and discover the truth of this surreal netherworld. (PSN: narF72) NOTE - This post is very long, because these levels are like nothing out there in LBP, and there's just alot to say. I've spent much of my PS3 time, through two ylod crashes, over the last 6+ months to bring these levels to a finished state. Just the TESTERS alone have clocked (heh) in well over a hundred hours worth of help. Some would say that just one of these levels has the same content as half a dozen average LBP levels. That should give you an idea of the level of complexity. I'm saying this to warn you... these levels take ALOT of time. You can save your progress often via sticker keys, but it should take a whole evening just to beat them, and maybe another one to find all the secrets. If this isn't your thing, these levels aren't for you, and I'm cool with that... but if you like these open-ended adventure levels, I promise an experience you will never forget! =) Now, the fun stuff.... FROZEN IN TIME - THE SOUL FOUNDRY SAGA In the eternal cycle of death and rebirth, there is one constant... a land that lies between the worlds of the living and the dead. It is here, in this "netherworld", that countless unnamed gods watch over mortals, ensuring their soul's safe passage from their world to the afterlife. And it is here that you have found yourself trapped, after a wrong step in the Bunker left you among the ranks of the dead. Is this heaven... or perhaps a darker afterlife you have earned? You soon find out that it's neither, and your only hope is in searching for ancient secrets - or perhaps, a kindred soul - in this enigmatic place. Ghostly lost souls fade in and out of reality, screaming their sorrows and sending chills down your zipper. But one friendly voice can be made out among the screams, and it beckons you deeper into the netherworld... "I am the Goddess Kali, Liberator of Souls, and I am your only ally in this place." Chapter 1: The Celestial Clock (story/concept) After recovering from the shock of death, you awaken in your own dark tomb. Some exploration reveals that you are in what looks to be a giant clock tower, whose purpose is to measure and count down the lives of mortal souls. But for some reason, every one of these clocks has stopped, except one... yours. This has somehow trapped you along with dozens of other lost souls inside, and sealing off the afterlife for those who would pass on. Out of all of the souls frozen in time, you are now the last one who can find the combination that restarts the Celestial Clock. (gameplay) Your journey will start in your tomb, but you will venture into a wide variety of realms, from exotic to evil, all with their own sets of unique challenges. The first picture here shows pictures of the different realms. http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb125/tanarri69/cc3.jpg The goals in all realms of the clock tower are similar... find and free the lost souls, while looking for clues to the "big puzzle" which is how to restart the giant clock. Along the way are also several map rooms, shown here, to let you know where you stand in the tower as a whole. http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb125/tanarri69/cc1.jpg Throughout your adventure you will fight bosses, encounter tricky platforming, and acquire various items and keys, which will unlock more and more areas of the tower. Besides the main goal, there are many optionals along the way. Every lost soul corresponds to a miniature clock, and if you can free them all, the Master Key can be yours... Chapter 2: The Soul Foundry (story/concept) (You do not need to beat ch 1 to play ch 2, but it's highly recommended) The Celestial Clock once again chimes, and the severed connection between the realms of the living and the dead seems to be repaired. But passing through the white light, again, it's not the afterlife you find yourself in, but another part of the strange netherworld in between. At least there's a calming voice... the Goddess Kali... a sole helpful presence in this unforgiving place. She now calls you Timekeeper, and says you have reached the Soul Foundry, a sort of factory where the process of soul rebirth happens before your eyes. Through six powerful energy foci, scattered throughout the Foundry, each soul must pass. These foci, called Essences, also can imbue you with power to control the elements. Kali says you will need this power, because the balance of the six Essences has been broken. Twelve shadowy beings, calling themselves the Zodiac, have been meddling in the netherworld, and as Timekeeper it's apparently your new job to find out why. (gameplay) The Soul Foundry is essentially the "hub" of the series. You are meant to achieve things here, progress to another level, but eventually come back to explore paths that were previously unavailable. Your main goal is to seek out the Essences, which take the form of sticker prizes. Essences will give you elemental powers, if used in the correct place, such as using wind to create air underwater, blinding an enemy with light, or cooling lava with water to create steam flows. You can use these essences in many places all throughout parts 1, 2, and 3. Some of these places to use essences will be obvious, but some will be hidden. http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb125/tanarri69/fit2scenes.jpg This level is MASSIVE, and so there are occasionally maps and signs to help you along. You'll also soon master to use the mini-vehicle called the Scryer, which serves as your wings, a decipherer of ancient texts, and a few other functions. Mastering this device will be essential. The picture below shows the control room, map, and some use of the scryer device. http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb125/tanarri69/fit2features.jpg While there are certainly optimal paths to take through this open-ended level(think: Mega Man), the order in which you find the essences is entirely up to you. If you're diligent in your exploring, you may just find a hidden map, and an entrance to some place... else. Chapter 3: The Echo Side (story/concept) Peering into a gate buried deep in the Foundry, you see a room on the other side that looks much like the room you are standing in. You aren't sure if Kali intended for you to find this portal, or even knew it existed, but the Zodiac are taunting you to enter. Hesitantly, you step forward, and feel the shadows reach out to pull you in. You find yourself in some sort of alternate reality, where nothing is as it seems, and the spirits are much less friendly. (gameplay) If you've ever played Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, consider this level a tribute to that game's "big secret". This level is just as massive as part 2, and will require much more thought and skill as you find yourself a very lonely soul in this realm of hostile shadows. This level actually has more 'optional' goals than 'mandatory' ones. Your main goal here is still to find all six essences, and learn as much as possible. Depending on the choices you make, you could end up traveling between parts 2 and 3 several times. It's hard to say more without giving much away... the Echo Side is focused on story, mystery and mythology. This level is my best work to date, in my opinion. I believe in making levels better, the further you get into them, as part of the "reward" of making it this far. If you make it this far, I think you'll love the concept. I can't even show you many pictures of it, because not only would it spoil, but there are many effects and illusions that are distorted or invisible on a LBP photograph. Here's a few teasers, though =) http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb125/tanarri69/fit3scenes.jpg Chapter 4: Turbulence (STILL IN DEVELOPMENT) (story/concept) Having collected all six essences, you've ascended to your most powerful state. It seems that the Zodiac might fade away now, and balance is within reach. The Foundry's vortex chamber is now open to you, and Kali tells you that your final task - one last foe - lies beyond, but it's a place where the elements are so turbulent that not even you can control them. But you are now armed with knowledge, and if you have learned the truth behind the Zodiac, you won't be as powerless against your environment as you think. (gameplay) Part 4 is essentially a boss stage, and is very short compared to the others. Inside the Vortex, the elements cycle at regular intervals, and affect things in both good and bad ways. None of your six essence stickers will work here, but there may be other ways to control that cycle and use it to your advantage.

2010-03-28 19:56:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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Hey tanarri, I saw your post on gfaqs on how you were having trouble getting noticed here, so I figured I'd help you out little. You may not have time for this but the best way to get people to play your levels here is feedback for feedback, so I would recommend trying that out. As you know, I've only completed the first one but I want to let everybody here know that it's a awesome and very unique level that I highly recommend playing. From what I've played of parts 2 and 3, they're even better than the first and I'll definitely be finishing them when I have access to my PS3 again. Anyway, good luck on promoting your level!

2010-04-01 01:47:00 Author: Camden1 Posts: 83

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Thanks... I didn't post the level as F4F because I didn't want to commit to playing X amount of levels if I wasn't sure what I would have time for. Also, because of the extreme length, it just didn't seem fair to leave feedback on somebody else's normal-sized level, only to ask "okay, now spend a couple hours playing mine for feedback". So I thought that still leaving feedback, while working outside the "official" F4F system, was a good idea. I guess I was wrong, though, as this thread went pretty much ignored for days without the "F4F" at the top. Are people more hesitant to try a level made by somebody new to the forums? Because I can assure you, I'm not new to LBP and this is not my first level. It's the first one I thought "grand" enough to post in this forum, which is why I'm relatively new here. Just give it a try, please... I know I'm new here, but I won't disappoint you, if open-ended levels are your thing.

2010-04-01 12:44:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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Ok, I started playing through again, but I got stuck after finding the earth essence. It says that a new path has opened above but I can't seem to find this path. What do I do here?

2010-04-04 23:29:00 Author: Camden1 Posts: 83

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After finding the earth essence, you can keep moving through the caves to the lower right until you get to the volcanic area. If you have Water, you can progress here, if not, you need to go back a bit =) I don't remember where it would say there's a path above, in that area, though... if you are talking about the room with the clock, that path is a hole in the right side of that room. Using the essence sticker on the symbol there opens it.

2010-04-05 00:04:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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Alright thanks for the help. I'll get right back to paying.

2010-04-05 01:17:00 Author: Camden1 Posts: 83

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Good luck! Once you get that spirit essence, it opens up almost all of the rest of the level, since there is a way to use it and create a Celestial Key right at the control room in the beginning. Doing that makes exploration on further replays much, much easier =)

2010-04-05 15:47:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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Hello, people need to give this one a try. If you like Metroid, Castlevania or any of that sort of game, you'll love this. It's packed to the full with secrets and hidden things that are extremely rewarding to find out. There are more optionals than mandatory goals, in fact! I think I can't say anything more than tanarri's first post could but... Just my opinion. And anybody stupid enough to try to beat my hi-scores on Echo Side or the Celestial Clock... Be ready to bite the dust!

2010-04-06 13:59:00 Author: Arradi Posts: 183

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If you're still on the fence, please give this a try! PSN messages asking for hints have slowly trickled in, and I'm not sure if they are from people on this forum, but feel free to post any questions (other than major spoilers) if you get stuck, and maybe we can generate more interest in these levels. Come on people, the levels have more hearts than completions, and 4 or 5 stars... please ignore my "lint" title you won't be disappointed with this series!

2010-04-08 13:46:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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Ok, unfortunately, I am stuck again. I reached the hunter boss that you have to "defy by staying alive" and I can't figure out how to kill him. I stayed alive in front of him for a really long time, but I don't think anything happened. What do I do here?

2010-04-09 21:37:00 Author: Camden1 Posts: 83

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Wow you made it far =) I saw you on the other day and was wondering how far you had made it hehe. What do you think so far? I'd especially love the opinion of another open-ended level creator, but I was assuming you were holding it until you finished them. Have you found the other Zodiac... particularly Aquarius, Virgo and Gemini? All three help you in the fight, but they are optional unless you are going for the hidden "true" ending so it's possible you may have missed them. SPOILERS - SPOILERS - SPOILERS The lights in the hunter's area give a subtle hint when you are in his sights, and as you stand in the 'bullseye' it enrages him further and further. It's easier to see the lights if you've defeated Aquarius. Was he shooting three types of arrows? As you enrage him, he gets more and more attacks. Eventually he fires freezing, shocking, then plasma arrows, and then you get a "My head..." message which indicates you have destroyed the 'protected' brain. This hidden brain, and one visible brain on his body, need to be destroyed, and then he will be defeated, freeing the teleporter inside of him and finally opening the way to you-know-what /SPOILERS

2010-04-09 22:09:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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I finally finished the level. I thought it was very good, but there were a few things I think you should fix. To start out with the pros, it is, like you said, like no other level out there right now. It does a pretty good job of combining two levels into one, and because of this, it is a very lengthy adventure. You have some pretty cool puzzles and an interesting story as well. This is one of those levels that can sometimes really make you think on what to do next, and when you figure it out it can be very rewarding. Now onto the cons: The biggest problem with this level is that it just may be a little too long and complex for its own good. This isn't a problem for everyone, but I think that the level's complexity may throw a lot of people off and prevent a lot of people from experiencing the greatness of the full level. I know there's nothing you can do about this, but I thought I would mention it. Next, the visuals could use some improvement, but I suspect that the thermometer is overflowing due to the size of the level, so you probably can't do much about that either. Here is a list of things I think should (can) be fixed in the Soul Foundry -There are a lot of places with visible dark matter -Some of the places that use a direction switch to control something would be better with a permanent switch. For example, if you put the celestial key into place to access the spirit tower, but then hit the switch and spawn another one, you will have to put it into place again. -It is very difficult to see where you are aiming with the light beam puzzle. Maybe you could use a camera zone that activates when you are near each lever. -In the pond under the fountain, the little hole that you go through to get to the water essence is very small and may be hard for people to find. -In the wind area, it is kind of hard to see where the clouds are. If you didn't already, use a camera to zoom out in this area. Here is a list of things I think should be fixed in the Echo Side -Like in Soul Foundry, there is visible dark matter -It's kind of hard to tell that the material you have to grab to access the fire fountain is grabbable. -I kept getting burned by by the fire fountain while I was trying to fall into it. -In the fight with Sagittarius, it is very hard to tell where you're supposed to be. (I think you said it was easier if you had found secret areas, but I hadn't) Overall though, these were awesome levels and I gave you five stars and a heart on each. Keep up the good work on part four! I'm looking forward to it!

2010-04-10 13:20:00 Author: Camden1 Posts: 83

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Thanks so much, and I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm not sure if you realized it yet, but there is still a major section you haven't found yet, involving the foundry pinnacle. If you enjoyed the story, I think you will love the hidden areas, as they really tell the backstory behind it all =) Also, did you find your own personal hidden message... and how many Zodiac did you find/defeat? I know that the major "con" is the length, and I don't expect everyone to love that aspect of it. I'm hoping that just like races and bomb survivals appeal to certain people, that these open-ended levels will appeal to other people (like us hehe). I just have to hope there's more of us out there! The other things you mentioned I can look into, though. Visuals in general I can't do a whole lot with now, except maybe add stickers, but adding too more shapes or layers is pretty much impossible considering the thermo. These levels have all been lessons in efficiency, but I can only stretch that thermo so far before running the risk of random emitters breaking. - I know about the various visible dark matter parts and now it's just a matter of catching them all, since there's so much actual space to look over to find them. They should have been weeded out before publishing, but after months of testing I really wanted to get the levels out there and get feedback first. Many are already fixed on my moon though. - The light beam puzzle camera thing is a great idea... I think Ill do that if I can squeeze in the sensor switches and cameras. - The entrance to the water essence area should be somewhat hidden but I've heard a few people say they missed it entirely. Since it's vital to level progression, I think I'll add at least a hint, if nothing else. - Maybe a hint or material change for the fire fountain area is in order... as it is a bit hard to find now or realize that ceiling sponge can be grabbed. The fact that the fountain itself burns you if you aren't careful going in is part of the challenge, though. - The cameras in the wind area are unfortunately zoomed out as far as they can go, for the most part. This is the one thing on your list I'm not sure I could address due to the limits on camera zoom. The other stuff I didn't respond to directly will still be looked over and fixed, if thermo allows. Thanks for all of those details, they are exactly the type of feedback I need. I'll try to get a new update out this week... in between working out the details of parts 4 and 5... oh and finishing Mysterious Planet 3 =)

2010-04-10 16:00:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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I don't think I found any of the hidden areas, but I'll certainly seek them out if I play again. I did see the part you put about me and the mysterious planet, its an honor to be mentioned in such a great level.

2010-04-10 19:35:00 Author: Camden1 Posts: 83

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It's my pleasure, man... this type of level needs to get out there more and yours is an excellent example, one that gets better with every sequel. Been super busy at work but there are a few updates which should go live this week. I still can REALLY use the plays and feedback though, so as before I'll F4F anybody who checks out these levels. I am not too proud to beg, either. *kneels*

2010-04-15 00:31:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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All three levels have undergone some updates and minor bug squashings. Celestial Clock - The clock tower now has secrets for every essence, so if you've made progress in parts 2 and 3, you will find more hidden goodies here. If you've gotten the master key, then you can sneak through the shadows to make your lost soul saving that much faster Soul Foundry/Echo Side - Added a few more hints where people tend to get stuck, and made some camera angles much more friendly. Tweaked the platform in Leo's room so that you can get back up more easily. Eliminated a couple glitches where music and lighting didn't trigger when going between areas. I got rid of a few visible DM pieces, but I'm still trying to find them all so let me know if I missed one. Slightly tweaked the hunter's ice arrows so they should freeze you a bit more often. Turbulence - Still working on it =)

2010-04-17 20:25:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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Hey narF. I could record a (short) gameplay footage for these level if you want. Interested? EDIT: I might not be able to do it... But, tell me if you want it anyway. Hopefully I can.

2010-04-18 07:26:00 Author: Arradi Posts: 183

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I'd love that... the levels are way too long for any video review of the full thing (you'd need a DVD hehe) but if you could make a recording of some of it, I'd love to attach it to the threads here and the other forums. I don't have a way to do this on my own so I'd greatly appreciate it =)

2010-04-18 13:12:00 Author: tanarri69 Posts: 32

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