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Vagrant sword

Archive: 37 posts

Hi guys, Gek is back



Title: VAGRANT SWORD
Author: GEK83

http://lbp.me/v/ymc4hs

Gameplay:

You control a sackbot that can do sword attacks (try do 3-4 slash in one second is cool!) and dash/roll like Kratos from GoW,and can do the same thing on air to change direction or jump more far.

You have 1 life,no more.
The level is'nt your friend.
You fall,you die
You end up in water,you die
You get hit 5 times,you die
You eat an apple you d... ehm no, apples restore energy

The level is a lil bit hard but FAAAR from be impossible,specially for veterans of the glorious 16 bit era.
Is not hard is more about be focused,one stupid error may kill you
Just don't noob-run like mad.
I know that single life and no checkpoints is going to be unpopolar... i don't care

The level is'nt that long,specially not counting the side places to collect points/secret stars... so if you die feel the taste of game over and retry,next time you will do it

Collect all 5 hidden stars to get a massive points bonus and 2 prizes

SINGLE PLAYER. If you enter in more than one is single player anyway and others are stuck in a hole,but it can cause problems with lag and logic


Controls:

SQUARE: Left Sword Attack

CIRCLE: Right Sword Attack

RIGHT LEVER: Roll/Air Dash


Why "Vagrant"? Is the sequel of Vagrant Hero (i'm not a new noob Lord Gek,i know Vagrant Hero)?
Mmmhhh... no... yes... maybe
Surely is more near to what Vagrant Hero was supposed to be,before LBP1 stop his evolution with the wall of the sackboy's limits.
Why no story? I want story!
No story for you
Is going to be a series?
Let's see if it become "famous"... i've some ideas,but if i start see only people whining about "omg game over i'm a next-gen noob i don't want see game over" or more simple it get played by few peoples,i drop the "project",no reason to waste time
People to thanks?
YES! Enoch, B Coli, Cortez, Thi766 and many many others

Screenshot:

http://img716.imageshack.us/i/vagrantsword.jpg/






Ps: posted in Elvenbane's Wolly Bully, Jagrevi's Ama Toor and in many many others
http://lbp.me/v/GEK83		2011-03-06 17:50:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

I get to be the first reply!

I think you can tell from the times I played it.... I LOVE it! The layout, secrets, and puzzles are laid out really well. The sword play is snappy and feels right, and the way all the characters work is.... adorable! I love the way the enemies start swinging the sword at you. I'm going to play this about.... 50 more times today or until I get though it. Even though it's technically platforming, it has more of the tention of a survival challenge.... and each time I die I'm compelled to go in and get a bit further - which is the same feeling as classic arcade. All-in-all you've done something that feels quite different than anything else I've played so far.

Also, I need to mention - in your past levels there was always a bit of fiddly platforming due to the details you mixed in. In this level, the platforming is a joy.... even when balancing on a tiny stick to jump to another area (which may be a BIT tiny for many players - they may not see it there).

One thing to mention, I got in the habit of striking with the sword a bunch of times quickly... but then when I try to move I can't for a bit. Not sure why, but seemed odd. Doesn't hurt the gameplay too much, though.

One note on the thread.... it doesn't have the LBP2 icon on it, and the beginning of the thread nowadays usually ties in with LBP.ME, which makes it convenient for players to add your level to their queue. Maybe edit the OP to get these features.		2011-03-06 19:20:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

I agree with CCubbage, this is a fantastic level...I'll be playing it more later today. The visuals are superb and the sword play is fun and fast paced, I really like the decision to use box and circle for left and right attacks, makes the gameplay robust and reliable. The 1 life is pretty unforgiving but the level layout is such that you can get through it my being careful or learning from your mistake on the previous play through (I hope!).

I did encounter a couple problems that resulted in a cheap game over. The one I remember was early on, there's a star in a little room with a candle that I fell to because I didn't grab to swing over to the 2 way switch (just before waterless water wheel)...I got stuck on an invisble front layer wth no way to get back. If you can make sure to correct stuff like this then the 1 life isn't so unfair.

Currently up to the spiked tank thing...died horribly! This level is a great example of the sort of original stuff I was hoping to see people create with the new tools in LBP2. Nice work.		2011-03-06 21:25:00

Author:
fullofwin
Posts: 1214

I totally have to agree with what has been said so far, it's really a great and unique level!

The whole concept is awsome Ever played Deamon Souls? Your level reminds me of DS because just one mistake ---> you die
and that's not a negative aspect in my eyes, it's very challenging and rewarding for those who don't give. And I'm not giving up, going to start a new playthrough tomorrow

Really great job, looking forward to your next ideas 		2011-03-06 21:53:00

Author:
DragonHunterEx
Posts: 84

I get to be the first reply!

1- I'm going to play this about.... 50 more times today or until I get though it. Even though it's technically platforming, it has more of the tention of a survival challenge.... and each time I die I'm compelled to go in and get a bit further - which is the same feeling as classic arcade. All-in-all you've done something that feels quite different than anything else I've played so far.

2- One thing to mention, I got in the habit of striking with the sword a bunch of times quickly... but then when I try to move I can't for a bit. Not sure why, but seemed odd. Doesn't hurt the gameplay too much, though.

3- One note on the thread.... it doesn't have the LBP2 icon on it, and the beginning of the thread nowadays usually ties in with LBP.ME, which makes it convenient for players to add your level to their queue. Maybe edit the OP to get these features.

Thanks,great feedback

1- I'm glad you say this, you absolutely understand the type of feeling i want to put on this level

2- yep i know what you mean,it happen when you tap faster than 0,1 sec. (was the minimum possible),basically it don't reset the attack animation. If happen just tap one slash on the opposite direction and you're instantly free!

3-Yeah i noticed it,but i don't know why... may be because the level title is VAGRANT SWORD but the forum don't allow a title with CAPS LOCK? i don't know...		2011-03-07 01:42:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

I did encounter a couple problems that resulted in a cheap game over. The one I remember was early on, there's a star in a little room with a candle that I fell to because I didn't grab to swing over to the 2 way switch (just before waterless water wheel)...I got stuck on an invisble front layer wth no way to get back. If you can make sure to correct stuff like this then the 1 life isn't so unfair.

Glad you like it,i consider you absolutely one of the best creators!

I understand wich point you mean,i've yet done something to fix it but still sometimes happen... tomorrow i see what i can do to fix it!		2011-03-07 01:59:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

I totally have to agree with what has been said so far, it's really a great and unique level!

The whole concept is awsome Ever played Deamon Souls? Your level reminds me of DS because just one mistake ---> you die
and that's not a negative aspect in my eyes, it's very challenging and rewarding for those who don't give. And I'm not giving up, going to start a new playthrough tomorrow

Really great job, looking forward to your next ideas

LOL, Demon's Souls is exactly the last game i've played before LBP2, and i liked it for his "old style" way of gaming

Good eye dude!		2011-03-07 02:04:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

Just one more note... I went in and played this for a while again.... there is 1 area I'm having a BIG problem with.... and it may be just my skill, but I thought I'd mention in. The part where you need to grab the spinning water wheel and get up next to the rock, then drop onto the TINY branch, then jump over to dispatch the guy with the arrows to the right.... I did it the first time, and I simply couldn't do it again. Landing on that branch and making the jump to the right is just far to fiddly for me to do consistently. Maybe put a bit of invisible material to make the branch a TINY bit wider.

I'm not saying I think you should change it, I just think this area could end up being a problem.		2011-03-07 02:36:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

Glad you like it,i consider you absolutely one of the best creators!

I understand wich point you mean,i've yet done something to fix it but still sometimes happen... tomorrow i see what i can do to fix it!

Thanks. I've gotten a bit farther to a big dude that lets a couple wolves out of cages...how far along am I? I really love the humorous way some of the trolls (?) get squashed by ramps or boulders. Very addictive gameplay.

I remembered the 2nd problem...after the tank you do 4 or 5 bounce pads and grab a branch that takes you to an apple...if you jump back down here instead of grabbing the 2nd branch (to the awesome frogs) you can't get back up.

Anyway...not big problems... just stuff you learn to avoid on a replay, Your to ratio is excellent considering the diffculty...very cool.

CCubbage...taking another shortcut? Is this the 1st water wheel? You push the ramp down and attack the tank...don't go above the wheel...go 180 to the platform on the right. You can get the archer by chopping the rope while on top of the tank (or you can ignore him).		2011-03-07 02:50:00

Author:
fullofwin
Posts: 1214

Heh.... wow, I guess I saw that stick sticking out of the rock above, jumped down on it, jumped to the right to kill the archer, then dropped down onto the guy on the tank. Since it worked the first time, I kept doing it that way.... I couldn't seem to jump on top of the tank, and when I tried to hit the tank it didn't seem to be doing damage. Guess I'll need to try it again.2011-03-07 03:11:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

-Thanks. I've gotten a bit farther to a big dude that lets a couple wolves out of cages...how far along am I?

-I remembered the 2nd problem...after the tank you do 4 or 5 bounce pads and grab a branch that takes you to an apple...if you jump back down here instead of grabbing the 2nd branch (to the awesome frogs) you can't get back up.

-Is the Boss,you nearly did it!

-Oh,ok i understand where... maybe i can add a invisible barrier to prevent from jump-down,but i hope it don't give problems on landing(on the same platform) after the branch.
Tomorrow i try to fix it!		2011-03-07 03:40:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

I must say that im impressed with the images and your descripition.. i go play and soon ill say something 2011-03-07 12:27:00

Author:
PTdragon
Posts: 176

Lol was fast here it my review

- AWSOME level.. it was really fun. Like your Descripition said:
Hard level.. very hard ^^ i died a lot. I think like any ROG it misses a life indicator ^^ Something like a counter everytime we get hitted it goes down and when we eat the apple it go full again.. something simple like that ^^
My son loved your "enemies" that wanted ask you if u can share 1 of them when we end the level
Apart of the life bar.. i loved the level.. adored it.. the scenario was really well constructed.. the bot is very very nice.. he can grab.. he can roll.. he can attack.. the RPG simulation is there... Levers.. Jumps.. enemies.. girls to be saved..
Again i really loved the level.. and we need a life indicator

F4f lvl on Sig.		2011-03-07 12:38:00

Author:
PTdragon
Posts: 176

Glad you liked it!



My son loved your "enemies" that wanted ask you if u can share 1 of them when we end the level


Well,end the level finding all stars and you get not 1 but 2 enemies! 		2011-03-07 13:12:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

Grrrrrrrr!!!! I had, maybe 1 more hit on the boss..... I was ALMOST THERE!!!!!

Well, back to playing it tonight.... gotta say, this thing is REALLY addicting....		2011-03-07 13:21:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

Grrrrrrrr!!!! I had, maybe 1 more hit on the boss..... I was ALMOST THERE!!!!!

Well, back to playing it tonight.... gotta say, this thing is REALLY addicting....




2 days from now you will end it at every try,but you will be angry because you missed 1 star

3 days from now you will end it at every try and get all 5 stars,but you will be angry because you get hitted some times and this bring down your highscore

4 days from now you do all, and want just beat my score and gain the #1 place

5 days from you're officially the first VAGRANT SWORD Pro 		2011-03-07 13:56:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

Those stars are hidden pretty good, I've only seen 3!

btw: Forgot to mention...while you're making improvements. The very first bounce pad by the little tower w/the guy chucking spears in the beginning isn't glued down.		2011-03-07 14:12:00

Author:
fullofwin
Posts: 1214

1- Those stars are hidden pretty good, I've only seen 3!

2- btw: Forgot to mention...while you're making improvements. The very first bounce pad by the little tower w/the guy chucking spears in the beginning isn't glued down.

1- One hint, at the end you see also the order of the stars... for example you see that you've missed the first and the third,so you can have an idea of wich zone you must explore more

2- I know,at beginning was totally unintentional,but after some plays i'm getting used to push it down on the left(basically i do it everytime) to have more running space for the jump,so at the end i've just left it in that way 		2011-03-07 14:28:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

2- I know,at beginning was totally unintentional,but after some plays i'm getting used to push it down on the left(basically i do it everytime) to have more running space for the jump,so at the end i've just left it in that way

It's a pretty easy jump and there's plenty of space to the right of the pad...you don't even need to use the roll move. I've never messed this jump up...just thought I'd mention the pad, it's not that important...it just came across as being un-intentional. 		2011-03-07 15:36:00

Author:
fullofwin
Posts: 1214

LOL, Demon's Souls is exactly the last game i've played before LBP2, and i liked it for his "old style" way of gaming

Good eye dude!

hehe thanks can't wait for Dark Souls to come out, hope it's as great as Demon's Souls!		2011-03-07 17:16:00

Author:
DragonHunterEx
Posts: 84

OMG i tryed the level like 13 times in a row and i cant find the Stars and even end the level xD My son wantes the Bot i Need END it xD its really addicting2011-03-07 17:17:00

Author:
PTdragon
Posts: 176

OMG i tryed the level like 13 times in a row and i cant find the Stars and even end the level xD My son wantes the Bot i Need END it xD its really addicting

Don't give up

About the stars i don't want give spoiler hints, but one thing that i can say is that 3 of them are clearly visible during the main way 		2011-03-08 01:25:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

You are entirely to blame for me being up at 1.00 am on a work night! It was absolutely worth it though, even if your level needs health warnings, it's so addictive, lol!

The sackbot AI works brilliantly well, both the hero and the enemies, and I found the controls really intuitive (and I'm normally terrible at this sort of thing). The visuals were excellent too - the background scenery was nicely detailed and just fitted the action perfectly.

The crowning glory of the level though is the way it's set up to challenge you to replay and replay until you get to the end (which I have yet to do). Each time you play you get a little further and work out a strategy for getting past yet another set of enemies/hazards. It's you pitting your wits and skill against the level and that's what makes the whole thing so absorbing and engaging. The addition of the stars and extra points then just adds another whole layer of interest.

This is just a brilliant level from start to finish (if I ever get that far and I'm surely going to try!). A and a <3		2011-03-08 01:50:00

Author:
shropshirelass
Posts: 1455

Whew.... ok, I found all 5 stars and defeated the final boss.... WOW! Not sure my heart can take anymore . My hat's off to you, sir! That was a great time. Yes... I could go back and try to win without being hit to raise my score... but I've built up a bit of a psychological fear of the final boss....2011-03-08 03:58:00

Author:
CCubbage
Posts: 4430

This is wonderful! It's like playing Demon's Souls in Little Big Planet! Completely unforgiving and unhelpful, but doable and once it's done there's a huge sense of accomplishment. Awesomesauce.

Hearted, yay'd, and eventually I'll get good enough to finish it xD
Currently I've ragequit five times. <3		2011-03-08 07:16:00

Author:
Loius
Posts: 342

The crowning glory of the level though is the way it's set up to challenge you to replay and replay until you get to the end (which I have yet to do). Each time you play you get a little further and work out a strategy for getting past yet another set of enemies/hazards. It's you pitting your wits and skill against the level and that's what makes the whole thing so absorbing and engaging. The addition of the stars and extra points then just adds another whole layer of interest.

This is just a brilliant level from start to finish (if I ever get that far and I'm surely going to try!). A and a <3


This is wonderful! It's like playing Demon's Souls in Little Big Planet! Completely unforgiving and unhelpful, but doable and once it's done there's a huge sense of accomplishment. Awesomesauce.

Hearted, yay'd, and eventually I'll get good enough to finish it xD
Currently I've ragequit five times. <3

Thanks at both,i'm every time more glad to read that people perfectly get the spirit!!!

My fear was that the level was not understand because LBP "push" the average player in the opposite direction,a casual approach where you pretend to finish the level at the first try even playing bad, in 5 minutes finish,forget and go to the next one

I was honestly expecting to get an immense % of sad faces, but is happen the contrary 		2011-03-08 11:21:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

Hey i have tried your level and wow what a level. It is difficult to create a level that is so challenging yet so much fun but you have done it. The visuals are great too especially the sword animation. I tried the level 3 times now but i have hearted it so i can try again later.2011-03-08 19:42:00

Author:
hitman_472
Posts: 52

at first i want to say: wow wow, the sword attacks look amazing! good job
and the roll is amazing as well! sad that you only give one live - thats a bit frustrating. even more when you don't know where to go (for example the huge jump.) if you don't know ehre the right way is.
- i miss a lifebar because you say 5 hits and yoru death? should know how much i got left or?
- i don't like it if they booo when you go in the goal. try something what is not hitting you in the face when you feel bad anyway cause you losed again.

i must say this system is very fun. and well done. i would love to know how this sackbot stuff works. but i should test formyself first befor i wonder about that heh
well. amazing! keep it up! would love to see a knight topic with that bot-system-levels like fighting against other knights and than against a dragon. epic.

rating: yay and double heart		2011-03-08 22:53:00

Author:
ForcesWerwolf
Posts: 475

On the candle above the star (you know the one), it's possible to leap from the room's entrance to the candle. If you do, you get shoved forward to an invisible barrier layer, and there's no way back to the game - I had to jump to my death. I made a rage face at that.

But I did finally manage to beat it. Eggman - er, I mean, the boss - didn't ever hit me, though, and his weapon definitely passed through me several times. Maybe its damage radius just isn't as big as the visual?

Ah well. I still have to play more - I only managed to get to four of the stars!		2011-03-09 07:29:00

Author:
Loius
Posts: 342

But I did finally manage to beat it. Eggman - er, I mean, the boss - didn't ever hit me, though, and his weapon definitely passed through me several times. Maybe its damage radius just isn't as big as the visual?



Yes basically they have a colored magnetic key on the centre of the spiked ball,the range is'nt bigger than the damage range of the arrows... if it don't hit you full you don't get damaged		2011-03-09 15:55:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

Wow, So cool! just had a little go on this, best technique for sword attacking i have seen so far! very good!
The enemies look like bandits from mad max! great stuff! will play more later.		2011-03-10 14:56:00

Author:
FriedGoat
Posts: 102

IMPORTANT NEWS for all Vagrant Heroes:

Added a TIME ATTACK prize
Complete the level in less than 5 MINUTES and you win the wood tank.

But more important, collect ALL the prizes (so, beat Time Attack and find all 5 stars) to get a misterious sticker:

VAGRANT MASTER Level 1


May unlock something in future? Who know, my suggestion is to keep it







ps: due thermo explosion i can't fix the little room bug,sorry guys		2011-03-10 16:27:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

Got this queued but I probably have to wait till to tomorrow night before I can play it.2011-03-14 15:34:00

Author:
Alphagaia
Posts: 64

I need checkpoint. It is perfectly. Great job and nice idea. Thank you.2011-03-14 17:48:00

Author:
Unknown User

I need checkpoint. It is perfectly. Great job and nice idea. Thank you.

Lol but the gameplay of this level is ALL about don't have check points

Is about die -> retry playing better		2011-03-14 19:11:00

Author:
GEK83
Posts: 163

So yeah, I played this level a while ago but didn't have time to write anything about it.
In one word, it's AMAZING. I like how you have 3 (or more) effects for the sword swings so they don't look the same all the time.
The environments also look stunning and the enemies react to the player very nicely. Well done, keep up the good work!
I didn't have the time retry it enough to get through the level, but I'll definitely try it again later!

My only minor problem with the level was using R-stick for rolling. It felt a bit clumsy. Maybe it's just me though. Have you considered using the shoulder buttons (L2 and R2) or left stick combined with another button like L1 or triangle for rolling? Not sure if those would work any better than the R-stick, though. It's a minor thing anyway and probably just my personal preference, awesome level!		2011-03-15 08:52:00

Author:
Felkroth
Posts: 51

I played it, and I like most of it, but for a level where the focus is hard and one life, I died way to many times cause thanx to me not knowing where to go or inconsistent jumping/moving. The sackbot itself looks cute and the sword mechanic works well.

The enemies are great and have great character! I liked the feel of them. When hit some lose their attack animation though they are still firing arrows.
Not having a visible lifebar is very annoying. Also getting hit twice in a row when you should be hit once feels unfair. Mabe give the player a little invulnerability?

The level itself is a bit confusing. It's not clear where to go and i died lots of times in the first pit because the jump on the box takes the full height of a jump, but if you press right I sometimes jumped over the box completely and slide to my doom. Maybe give the sackboy just a little more jumphight or lower the height of some of the boxes so its easier to jump on them? It feels unfair to die this way.

Adding a little waving arrowsign here and there will give the level more structure. Expecially when one only has one life you should minimize the amount of deaths caused by players who fall in pits to see if this is the way to go next.

Also near the dry waterwheel I could not progress. The moving platform does not go low enough for me to jump to the ledge whit the switch. I made it once, but is this a bug? The one time I made it the lift brought me down and I got stuck under it. Jumping down killed me in the water. Maybe add something so jumping down will not work. This is an unfair death.

General I like it, but its to much guesswork and unfair death thx to the slidyness of the character, multiple hits from one enemy and confusing level layout. The level looks very nice though!		2011-03-16 00:31:00

Author:
Alphagaia
Posts: 64


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