Archive: 8 posts

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(It's important to note I judge my numbers completely separately from other reviewers, a low score here may mean just as much as a high score there and vise versa.) Game Play 7/10, Good, Worth Playing The level has two major paths, both of these paths are diverse in game mechanics but are each lacking and somewhat unoriginal, they are repetitive and occasionally frustrating, the path in particular: where you spare the Little Big Planet The Other path: Where you destroy the Little Big Planet does have some solid platforming and a good look but it is still somewhat repetitive. Aesthetic 8/10, Very good The level has a post apocalyptic feel to it, burning rubble, crumbling structures, ect. The music, lighting, and appearance all blend very well with the chosen theme. Unfortunately this theme does not match well with the story, here is why: the paths presented are chosen when you are given the option to either destroy the planet or spare it but the level looks like the apocalypse has happened before the presented choice and it still does even if you chose to spare the planet. despite the discrepancy of the appearance and the story, it looks really good and still manages an 8/10. Story 5/10, Poor Very little is spoken about any sort of substantial plot. Even in this plot that hardly exists there are vast, unfilled holes. For instance even if you choose to spare the planet it still looks destroyed or if you chose to destroy the planet it looked destroyed before hand but now it looks like it's being destroyed, fireballs falling from the sky and such. Because there is very little plot and what little plot there is, was poorly thought through, this only received 5/10. Averaged Score 6.7/10 This was attained by adding the numbers together, dividing them by 3 and rounding up.

2008-12-15 16:02:00 Author: Hexagohn Posts: 335

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Since I published it a couple weeks after launch, I've seen plenty of "choose your path levels" since, but at the time it felt pretty original. I feel the reasoning and display of your moral decision is what makes it legitimately good/evil in comparison to others. I like lots of dialogue, but I hate to slow the player down, especially with the run happy crowd that frequents the servers - it results in too many quits. You aren't IN the planet when you destroy it, your are in the position of overseer - like a Watcher. The temple itself is in ruins, yet the lighting starts in a neutral yellow - yet the ****ation path is displaying inferno and penance - your punishment with heavy lighting of red, not the circumstances of LBP. The upper path is free of hellflame, but the power to quake and destroy is still present - it is much less in ruins, much brighter as an orange and white. Anyway... appreciate the time taken. Will contemplate more developed dialogue in the future if I can find a way to balance it to not inhibit the players desire to run and hop.

2008-12-15 21:10:00 Author: Unknown User

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Yeah using a lot of dialogue appeals to some gamers and turns others off. Personally I don't mind taking the time to do a level if the dialogue is actually good. I've run into a lot of levels with the leet speak crap that makes me want to jump infront of a moving train. Those are the levels that really grind my gears. But you sound like a pretty smart cat, so I think adding some good dialogue to that level shouldn't be a problem

2008-12-15 22:24:00 Author: Neverynnal Posts: 374

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Well, Hex, not everybody is at good at story telling as your are, you big bully.

2008-12-15 23:50:00 Author: qrtda235566 Posts: 3664

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Yeah using a lot of dialogue appeals to some gamers and turns others off. Personally I don't mind taking the time to do a level if the dialogue is actually good. I've run into a lot of levels with the leet speak crap that makes me want to jump infront of a moving train. Those are the levels that really grind my gears. But you sound like a pretty smart cat, so I think adding some good dialogue to that level shouldn't be a problem Perhaps... I actually am a decent writer among other things. I write poetry and lyrics... I have binder full of about 500 pages of material written over the course of the last ten years, but have neglected it for a long time. I hope this isn't considered spamming, but the personal homepage link in my profile is my music page. It links to my ursession site, which is a myspace kind of thing for recording artists, producers, musicians, songwriters and vocalists.

2008-12-16 02:15:00 Author: Unknown User

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I have played your level, NinjaMicWZ, and I think it really would benefit from a few more story bubbles. Not just because it has a prequel that people might not have played, but also to help people better understand why they are there and why they have this choice. I think you should be fine writing, and I really think it would add to the overall great atmosphere you have there in place.

2008-12-16 03:00:00 Author: Elbee23 Posts: 1280

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I like lots of dialogue, but I hate to slow the player down, especially with the run happy crowd that frequents the servers - it results in too many quits. Please realize story is not exclusively dialogue. You chose not to use very much dialogue and what little you did I thought could have been more effectively implemented. That's what I meant by "Spoken Story." As far as the unspoken story communicated through look, music and game play I found it very confusing for the reasons I mentioned above. You could have (and still can) use dialogue to explain the unspoken story. Even one line, if used correctly could make everything fall into place. Concerning dialogue it is not the amount you use, but how you use the chosen amount. Perhaps I seemed harsh in my rating of the story section, most levels would score about the same, and I am yet to see a level I would give a 10. If what you say is true you have more experience as a writer than I, I'm still in my teens so that's expected. But I do think with video games this stands true. Also, any significant improvements will result in a change of the review score and potentially it's text. Elbee23 posted write as I posted this, to clarify I think how we both feel. The story just needs a little dialogue to tie the whole thing together and to eliminate haziness from the players view.

2008-12-16 03:03:00 Author: Hexagohn Posts: 335

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Nah, you make a valid point. I just take for granted that the player will accept being dropped into a world without direction and suspend their disbelief - I suppose to make a grand theme more acceptable to the target player, an introspective type, more explanation is necessary. As if one were watching a movie and a point for critique were that certain questions were never answered. I just approach these levels more with pick up and go, serialization approach and maybe I should slow the player down or pander to their curiosity. Come to think of it, perhaps I'm trying to appeal to the wrong audience by simplifying the content - that's what I was doing early on by making mini-game types of levels and when I go back to them I wonder what I was thinking by wasting an impressive creation on a 10 minute level targeted at the casual LBP fan. In the long run, only serious creators and appreciative fans will be playing this game down the line. I'm working on a 3rd installment for the False Idols series, and perhaps when I finish that I will have a more thematic direction to tie the levels together at that point - and a scripted dialogue tree will fall right in place. EDIT: since I can't post again - I added dialogue to Sands of Time, and a hint of change to Free Will Hunting. They still have their own styles... SoT is your interview and FWH is your burden. The planet is ugly and obtrusive with any other textures, or stickers. It will not be changed, and the splits are tectonic plates: nothing more.

2008-12-16 04:44:00 Author: Unknown User

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