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I Dream of Genie: The Bottle

Archive: 22 posts

I Dream of Genie: The Bottle
http://lbp.me/v/c7nhcb

Hey everone,

I finally finished my first installment of a 2 part series I've been working on for over a month now. I hope everyone reading this has the opportunity to try it out and let me know what you think.

I want to thank all my Beta testers from the GhostCreators: Sabre, SonofSack96, EvilFishy, Stryder12 and Bikerider12.
I would also like to thank Garack101, Oxydope, AVundCV, Jamiljlkc for there testing and feed back too.
Special Thanx to Bikerider for his glitch and Awesome music by SoundisMe and 0165_Vivaldi-Nl.


http://lbp.me/v/c7nhcb

http://i3.lbp.me/img/ft/a93ca4c454ebf7809a9e33340ac92a42d36cdea6.jpg
http://i0.lbp.me/img/ft/9c03e58da816730e62dbef8e07223567ba3aa633.jpg
http://ie.lbp.me/img/ft/9deb8a5977a4af7ba98cec2f5864e424b5822580.jpg		2012-06-22 00:33:00

Author:
tripple_sss
Posts: 250

Level was really good man, loved the gameplay and the temple feel to it. Visuals also were well done also good job man keep up the good work ! 2012-06-22 00:58:00

Author:
Sabre_
Posts: 653

played this last night, very impressed! great work, as i said in my review in game, this level deserves to do well.2012-06-22 07:19:00

Author:
thespacemonkey187
Posts: 318

This looks pretty sweet , queued and looking forward to it 2012-06-22 07:27:00

Author:
Pyrotrooper91
Posts: 337

@Sabre, thanx for the awesome feedback bro. and thanx for testing as well.
@TheNotorious-187, Appreciate your comments and hopefully more will get a chance to play it.
Wait til what I have in store for part 2. It'll have a boss-fight with plenty of gameplay. You'll just have to wait til then		2012-06-22 19:23:00

Author:
tripple_sss
Posts: 250

This is a definite must play- no questions! And I loved the Genie costume.2012-06-22 23:20:00

Author:
Unknown User

Very nice looking, and the mechanisms worked very well! I died a lot though.2012-06-23 00:11:00

Author:
Deurklink1
Posts: 346

Really appreciate all the feedback everybody. Please anyone whose gotten a chance to play it or going to play it to advise of any problems or glitches you've encountered. I've managed to speed up some of the cut scenes several people complained about. Hopefully it's more suitable now2012-06-23 05:45:00

Author:
tripple_sss
Posts: 250

I played this level yesterday and it is a blast. The visuals looked unique thanks to its great use of 3D layer, cinematics, and layer usage. The platforming gameplay is really good, too. The serpents that shoot fireballs are the best part of this level. Speaking of serpents, I accidentally got on a very small checkpoint near the gate, and I have to go back to the checkpoint before the serpents. Other than that, this level is a must play.
VISUALS: 5/5
SOUND: 5/5
GAMEPLAY: 5/5
OVERALL: A yay, heart and positive review		2012-06-23 18:23:00

Author:
JustinArt
Posts: 1314

Looks great! I have it queued! I'll review it soon.

If you're still doing F4F, my level is in my signature.

saved for your review		2012-06-24 19:36:00

Author:
RakasaPlus
Posts: 136

@RakasaPlus, I got your zombie level que'd. I'll play and review as soon as I get home2012-06-24 21:36:00

Author:
tripple_sss
Posts: 250

Wow that was amazing.

Great visuals, so much creativity and brilliant platforming! I can't wait to see what you do next with this level, I really enjoyed your platforming segments by the way especially that snake part.

The only complaint I have is that there is this one part after the fire snakes that you are able to activate a checkpoint, I got stuck there and couldn't get back so I had to restart. Other than that it was inspiring, nice use of 3d layers.		2012-06-25 20:19:00

Author:
RakasaPlus
Posts: 136

wow cool visual and awesome challenges!
However, movie was too long and I felt it troublesome.
good work!		2012-06-26 19:05:00

Author:
nyanchuoya
Posts: 57

Alright, I have played your level, and here's what I thought. (Please note for levels I review, I play them while reviewing.)

--------------------------------------------

Just as things start off, I'm already impressed. I like how you've used smoke as dust around this big 'ol desert, with sounds thrown in as well. The canyons behind work well, and tiny things like the fidgeting of one of the skeleton's arms, or the use of white fur beneath the tries, is simply great, and makes things a bit creepy to be quite honest. I love the scene with the genie. His design is really well done, with a great mix of purple and yellow, and I love the splats you included. (Okay, maybe I'm getting too focused on specifics, but I just had to mention it, being a costume maker myself) The blue spinning thingamajig the genie rides on looks great, and I loved the effects added in of when he shoots the flaming ball at the rubble.

I don't really have much of a problem with movie cutscenes at first, but, right after listening to the genie, who has some real good dialogue added, you get on a platform with some stairs that leads deep into the tombs. Sometimes in my reviews I have real unnecessary nitpicks, and this is probably one of them, but, in my opinion, I think a gameplay camera would be better suited when the platform of stairs descends downward, instead of a movie camera. Up to you in the end though of course. I liked the use of rainbow bubbly material by the way, it sorta gives certain parts of the level a divine feeling to it. The various music tracks are also a great addition, by the way.

Then we get another movie cutscene, for the first challenge of the ancient Egyptian palace. Just like when the player descends down into the tomb, I think a gameplay camera would work better here. Again, it might just be me, but waiting as each platform slowly falls into place gets a little boring, at least, in movie form, and I think it would've been better if it were a gameplay camera with say...an invisible wlal in front of you, that gets out of your war once the platforms are down. The flames around checkpoints, flowing water in the middle, and golden spikes all make up though for more seriously great minor details.

The variety of challenges you must face are great, and I just have to say, you really have done a marvelous job presenting them, oh, and I really like the design for some of the platforms you stand on in, the ones in the picture below to be exact.

http://lbp.me/p/qrkppe7

I see that you attempt using a modified camera, (not exactly a movie camera) in one particular section, which I do like and other movie cameras fit well like the yellow tube one, short like ones used in gameplay should be sometimes, and it also works with the scenery. Briefly bouncing around was good fun too by the way. The challenges have really proved to be a great treat, and the level design throughout the temple is just a beauty to wander on.Taking a step outside was an interesting change of pace by the way, even if it wasn't very long. The sea serpents were cool enemies, and carrying around the ball to throw at multiple projectiles was a good challenge thrown in. The little ending scene was nicely done, even if it didn't touch upon what happened besides picking up the lamp, but there's nothing wrong with that, especially since a Part 2 will be coming.

TL;DR...

Pros
---------
1. Great level design and challenges thrown at you.
2. Awesome use of materials, stickers and decos, along with plenty of minor details that set the scene.
3. Plenty of sounds and pieces of music to fill your ears as you look for the genie's soul.
4. Nice introduction, with a cool looking genie and some quirky dialogue

Cons
---------
1. Just a movie angle or two I think could be done a little differently. Nothing else besides that really.

This was an absolute thrill to play, and I cannot wait for Part 2. ^^		2012-06-26 19:10:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity
Posts: 5208

queued and played it. Wow! Really great work here. I wish it was fresh in my mind so that I could leave a more in depth feedback. I'll just leave it at Dragonvarsity's. He does an awesome job don't he? Thanks DV! Loved the whole layout and all the special effects were done really well. I also liked all the mechanisms on display, really neat looking contraptions. Like DV, I thought there were a few too many cut-scenes. It kind of breaks the flow of the level but other than that, awesome level. Outstanding job on this.2012-06-27 00:28:00

Author:
biorogue
Posts: 8424

@JustinArt and RakasaPlus: I tried different approaches to fixing the problems you guys encountered after the serpent's checkpoint, but would have to redo that whole part, and my thermo wasn't being nice to me. Unfortunately, I don't want to mess with that area. Still, I'll keep that in mind next time around. Thanx for pointing that out guys.

@Dragonvarsity: what can I say but OMG, that has got to be the best detailed review any creator can ask for. Man, am I ever so grateful for your time and effort. I'm also very pleased that you've noticed those little details from the genie costume to the intricate areas of each platform. Believe it or not, I practically spent more time in those small areas than designing and putting my logic together. As far as the camera work goes, I'm still learning, and feedback such as yours is what'll make me improve as a creator. Thank you for that. However, more importantly is to be able to give a certain joy to all my players who love platform levels such as myself.

@Biorogue: I value your comments and feedback, so to have that kind of response coming from you puts a huge smile on my face. In fact Lockstitch commented on my level stating how fun my platform was. And you all know, he is the king of platforms IMO. So thanx for making my day Biorogue		2012-06-28 06:15:00

Author:
tripple_sss
Posts: 250

Played this level a couple of times and loved it.
The cut scenes at the start sets up the action nicely, good dialogue with genie who appears to be sitting on part of car wash?
Then the action starts with the raising of the entrance to the temple. Right from the start every obstacle and gameplay mechanic looks great. They all are challenging and fun without being frustrating. Nice variety too! The whole package is a brilliant combination of polished visuals and gameplay. My new favourite Eygptian style level alongside Natturas lost temple of annubis on LBP1!
A tip for anyone who is going to play..green paint splodges		2012-07-01 20:37:00

Author:
EnochRoot
Posts: 533

I will play this tomorrow, looks really great level 2012-07-01 20:41:00

Author:
Dansku1698
Posts: 36

@Dragonvarsity: what can I say but OMG, that has got to be the best detailed review any creator can ask for. Man, am I ever so grateful for your time and effort. I'm also very pleased that you've noticed those little details from the genie costume to the intricate areas of each platform. Believe it or not, I practically spent more time in those small areas than designing and putting my logic together. As far as the camera work goes, I'm still learning, and feedback such as yours is what'll make me improve as a creator. Thank you for that. However, more importantly is to be able to give a certain joy to all my players who love platform levels such as myself.


Thank you very much, and I'm just as pleased to come across such a great level to have the honor of reviewing. Also, thanks for not taking any of my nitpicks the wrong way, as well as taking some of my points into consideration. I'm glad my review has been helpful, that's one of my goals in the grand scheme of reviewing.

P.S. Sorry for the late-ish response.		2012-07-01 23:34:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity
Posts: 5208

Played this level a couple of times and loved it.
The cut scenes at the start sets up the action nicely, good dialogue with genie who appears to be sitting on part of car wash?
Then the action starts with the raising of the entrance to the temple. Right from the start every obstacle and gameplay mechanic looks great. They all are challenging and fun without being frustrating. Nice variety too! The whole package is a brilliant combination of polished visuals and gameplay. My new favourite Eygptian style level alongside Natturas lost temple of annubis on LBP1!
A tip for anyone who is going to play..green paint splodges


Haha, "sitting on part of a car wash": haven't heard that one before, lol. I really appreciate such an awesome review...
I don't know what I did to deserve such a review from you and everyone else, but I couldn't be more ecstatic. Everyone reading this, let me tell you, I'm flying pretty high right now on cloud nine knowing all my effort creating has put such joy to all my players by far. Nice tip by the way Enoch. I didn't want my level to be too frustrating, but enough of a challenge to be rewarding as well. Thanx man

@Dragonvarsity, I meant everything I said and then some. As much as I would love to publish part 2 soon, I want to be able to top this. That'll be my challenge. So, dont expect it anytime soon, however. Only hint I can offer is that there will be a boss fight and plenty of new contraptions. Thanx again		2012-07-02 01:19:00

Author:
tripple_sss
Posts: 250

@Dragonvarsity, I meant everything I said and then some. As much as I would love to publish part 2 soon, I want to be able to top this. That'll be my challenge. So, dont expect it anytime soon, however. Only hint I can offer is that there will be a boss fight and plenty of new contraptions. Thanx again

Contraptions are always great to hear about. Oh, and yeah, take your time, if you ever need help finding any bugs that might be hiding in the crevices of Part 2 when you're developing it, I'd be happy to lend a helping hand in beta testing. There's a great, devilish feeling about trying to break other people's levels. 		2012-07-02 01:24:00

Author:
Dragonvarsity
Posts: 5208

..And it was really great level I liked the little secrets, like collecting golden apples. Also your logic in the level was really cool and level was beautiful. Waiting for the part 2! 2012-07-02 14:10:00

Author:
Dansku1698
Posts: 36


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