Shoot! Jump! Die? by Jackofcourse

Shoot! Jump! Die? by Jackofcourse

It is basically a challenging platformer with lots of paintinator goodness! As most of you know I'm a massive fan of straight forward challenging platformers, so I thought it was about time I did my own take on one! Now I've had people say that it's very challenging, and I've had others say that it's not that bad. I think the reason it's varied so much is because pretty much all of it is paintinator based, and peoples skill level with the gun differs greatly!

Anyway, there's a few secret areas and a few sections that just take some Ninja'ing to get to. Point distribution should lead to some good high score battles (if you like it enough to want to replay it of course!)

There's some good fun to be had multiplayer with it too. With paint and plasmas flying everywhere, comedy definitely follows! (Especially if you wait until someone's about to jump a hazard and then start shooting at them! :D)

Interest fact: Not at any point will you have to grab in this level!
Not-so-interesting fact: Not at any point will you have to grab in this level!

Note: Thanks to all the testers who have took time to give me feedback! And a big thanks to Comph for popping in and out a lot and just generally being Comph :)

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...APhoto_1-3.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...APhoto_6-3.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...APhoto_9-1.jpg http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...Photo_12-1.jpg

OOOOOOOO! Now whats this? A new JackOfCourse level? =D ONTO MY PS3!!!

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Originally Posted by Tawarf

OOOOOOOO! Now whats this? A new JackOfCourse level? =D ONTO MY PS3!!!

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Originally Posted by jackofcourse

This isn't published yet! I'm just waiting for my housemate to finish messing around on it and then it shall be up!

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:)............

I'll give this a try tonight when im on. Its obviously gona be a good level, i'll leave you some feedback when ive played it :)

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Originally Posted by jackofcourse

And a big thanks to Comph for popping in and out a lot and just generally being Comph :)

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I'm everywhere! It's stage one in my plan of total world LBP domination!

I'm surprised you finished it already, though. It was just last night that we came up with that last challenging bit, which looks slightly better when not made out of DM...

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...Photo_12-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by comphermc

I'm everywhere! It's stage one in my plan of world LBP domination!

I'm surprised you finished it already, though. It was just last night that we came up with that last challenging bit, which looks slightly better when not made out of DM...

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n...Photo_12-1.jpg

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Only slightly! Do you like my action shot? :D Taking pictures when on disappearing platforms is tricky!

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Originally Posted by jackofcourse

There's some good fun to be had multiplayer with it too. With paint and plasmas flying everywhere, comedy definitely follows! (Especially if you wait until someone's about to jump a hazard and then start shooting at them! :D)

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Don't expect to get through the level at any particularly quick pace this way though ;) But hilarity does indeed ensue :D

Finally published! :) Have fun (good luck).

Will I be known as a H4H now? (A lying one... ^^)

I will play the full thing at some point in the future, but from what I have seen this is a level I like and it is actually a bit different to your previous levels. That is of course a plus point in my book. ;)

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Originally Posted by Syroc

Will I be known as a H4H now? (A lying one... ^^)

I will play the full thing at some point in the future, but from what I have seen this is a level I like and it is actually a bit different to your previous levels. That is of course a plus point in my book. ;)

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No, you won't, I published it on a new slot! :)

Thanks Syroc. There's a good few sections after where you have seen up to now :)

Just finished it... and yeah you are right, it's pretty hard.

I liked the theme, a lot different to all your others although it perhaps got a bit repetitive. The game play mechanics were quite unique and interesting, but very challenging.

Id say the result of this is probably a slightly less enjoyable level but will reward those players who are up for a bit of a challenge.

5 stars and a heart from me.

For F4F could u check out my new level 'Atomic Assistance' cheers

Thanks a lot Ladylyn

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Originally Posted by ladylyn1

Id say the result of this is probably a slightly less enjoyable level but will reward those players who are up for a bit of a challenge.
5 stars and a heart from me.

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That's exactly who this level is aimed at, people who are up for a challenge! :) The gameplay mechanics that are in it work so much better with challenging stuff too. There's only so much you can do with it if you're trying to keep it quite easy. It was always intended to be a tough level so I'm not really worried if the kiddies don't find it quite as fun as my others.

I will be checking out your new level as soon as I can :)

The first comment on the level: 'Don't play if you have anger issues lol really good' :D :D

That's the response I am after! :)

Can't wait to play this refined and finished version. It looks very nice!

Jack jack jack.... well, you've finally done it. You've made a level that "I" totally, 100% enjoyed. Yes, I like your other levels. They were fun once or twice and I enjoyed the mechanics. But THIS level was fantastic! It got my palms sweaty, which is how I gauge a really great game! Played it 4 times. Nice job!

I love that you exited your comfort zone and targetted a different kind of player... and did it with flying colors, proving that you are diverse. Yes, you may not get the 5 star success as with some of your others, but... isn't it worth it? :p

5 stars, a heart, and hectic!

Hey Jack, when you changed that last obstacle, you made it so you can now shoot the switches from the left. It's much, much easier now.

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Originally Posted by CCubbage

Jack jack jack.... well, you've finally done it. You've made a level that "I" totally, 100% enjoyed. Yes, I like your other levels. They were fun once or twice and I enjoyed the mechanics. But THIS level was fantastic! It got my palms sweaty, which is how I gauge a really great game! Played it 4 times. Nice job!

I love that you exited your comfort zone and targetted a different kind of player... and did it with flying colors, proving that you are diverse. Yes, you may not get the 5 star success as with some of your others, but... isn't it worth it? :p

5 stars, a heart, and hectic!

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I thought you might like this one! :) Really glad you enjoyed it because it's people like you that I had in mind what creating! :)

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Originally Posted by comphermc

Hey Jack, when you changed that last obstacle, you made it so you can now shoot the switches from the left. It's much, much easier now.

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Oops yeah you're right. Although I've just tried and I died like 4 times in a row trying to do it that way. I can do it every time but jumping haha. I will bring the back of the obstacles up slightly to stop it being possible though. Because I was so used to just jumping and shooting I didn't really think of that. I knew it was possible with the first one, but it has to be that precise that it's harder than just jumping and shooting. Anyway, I shall refine.

From what I've seen no one has tried to do it that way though, and everyone has died a lot on that part...all is good :D

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Originally Posted by jackofcourse

I thought you might like this one! :) Really glad you enjoyed it because it's people like you that I had in mind what creating! :)



Oops yeah you're right. Although I've just tried and I died like 4 times in a row trying to do it that way. I can do it every time but jumping haha. I will bring the back of the obstacles up slightly to stop it being possible though. Because I was so used to just jumping and shooting I didn't really think of that. I knew it was possible with the first one, but it has to be that precise that it's harder than just jumping and shooting. Anyway, I shall refine.

From what I've seen no one has tried to do it that way though, and everyone has died a lot on that part...all is good :D

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Thats the way I did it? It did take me about 20 tries I think lol

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Originally Posted by ladylyn1

Thats the way I did it? It did take me about 20 tries I think lol

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haha fair enough then! I've just had like 10 goes doing it that way and couldn't hit the last of the top 3 platforms platforms quick enough to get off it. I managed it like once. Jumping and shooting definitely works better! :) Will be refining that though.

looks cool I'll have to give it a play :)

awesome. yet another sick entry into ur portfolio. KEEP BUILDING LEVELS. lol

Ooooooh, I'll have to play this soon.:D Nice to see you spreading out into a different type of level.

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Originally Posted by CCubbage

Jack jack jack.... well, you've finally done it. You've made a level that "I" totally, 100% enjoyed. Yes, I like your other levels. They were fun once or twice and I enjoyed the mechanics. But THIS level was fantastic!

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I'm sure you could guess, from our previous conversations, that this is exactly how I feel about this level too jack. Although I'd probably concede I IA2 was the first level of yours I genuinely enjoyed. Yes I fully appreciated the previous ones and gave them 5 stars and hearted them, they are often first port of call when I have friends round, but I can't say that I ever really found them that fun.

Plus this level has my face in it, how could I not like it? ;)

Much more enjoyable than your other levels :)
More gameplay and less watching stuff happen.

I liked the location, pretty cool. The level was blue by the time I finished, haha.

A few things though:
1) When the infinite checkpoints open up, half of the inside isn't painted. It broke the imersion for me. It's probably just a case of increasing the black sticker size. (It is, just checked. Why do you have 3 stickers instead of one large one?)

2) After the horizontal slo-mo enemy, there is a new checkpoint. Each time you respawn here, the sound of the previous enemy gets more and more annoying each time you die. I would turn that off if possible.

3) In the top-right section (the one with the paintinator above the checkpoint), did you intentionally make it so the player has to jump for the paintinator? Maybe to help with the timer? I just found that a little annoying.

4) I'm not sure the "jump after the slide" bits are worth it. Personally I would have prefered an automatic springboard as you cannot predict it the first time.

5) I would have liked an end boss or something, nothing too complicated, just using the same mechanics. If there's room.

6) I found the lights a little distracting, as usually they indicate to the player where/when to move.

I only critise because I care. :)

Heart from me. :D

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Originally Posted by Midnight_Height

I'm not sure the "jump after the slide" bits are worth it. Personally I would have prefered an automatic springboard as you cannot predict it the first time.

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Actually, I have to argue this point... I did it the first time (2nd time I missed :D). The jumping here doesn't require pinpoint precision - you have enough time when you see the ledge to jump. I thought it was pretty cool, as it reminded me of the part in subterranean setbacks where you have a FRACTION of a second to make a decision.... and you die if you don't act quickly.

I've got a presentation at Uni in like an hour and still haven't made it so I really don't have time to reply yet :D I will be back later and shall edit it in! Thanks everyone! :)

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Originally Posted by rtm223

Plus this level has my face in it, how could I not like it? ;)

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Note to self: don't allow rtm on my moon. :p

Lips on a piston, rtm, how could you? ;)

I played this while it was still in development - haven't had a go at the final version yet, but I'm assuming it's not dissimilar.

I actually quite liked the look of this level. When zoomed out it looks like a set of interconnected spaceships which is quite cool.

As for gameplay, I think this is more aimed at the people who think trying to ace the bunker is fun (yeah, I'm looking at the masochistic weirdos out there :)), so not quite my cup of tea, as it's a but too frustrating in places, but still fun, particularly the bit which took me a couple of goes to figure out, which was where you have to layer-change-jump down onto the platform while shooting. Jack was chuckling at me, all the time I couldn't figure out how to do it.

Personally I think he gets some perverse pleasure watching people die over and over, and really ought to see a psychiatrist about that. :p

This level is amazing and really challenging, the red lights in the background was great as detail.
Very hard, but at the same time really fun!
Cool obstacles aswell
5 stars and 1 heart :D

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Originally Posted by rtm223

I'm sure you could guess, from our previous conversations, that this is exactly how I feel about this level too jack. Although I'd probably concede I IA2 was the first level of yours I genuinely enjoyed. Yes I fully appreciated the previous ones and gave them 5 stars and hearted them, they are often first port of call when I have friends round, but I can't say that I ever really found them that fun.

Plus this level has my face in it, how could I not like it? ;)

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That was definitely the plan of this one. I talk to CCH quite a lot and he's been pushing me to take this kind of level for a while, and it was always something I wanted to have a go at. Part of it is probably giving something different to you guys too. A lot of people on this forum have always supported me and my levels even though it isn't really their cup of tea. So big thanks to all of you for that! :)

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Originally Posted by midnight_heist

Much more enjoyable than your other levels :)
More gameplay and less watching stuff happen.

I liked the location, pretty cool. The level was blue by the time I finished, haha.

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Yeah more gameplay based was definitely the main aim here...I'm glad you approve :)

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A few things though:
1) When the infinite checkpoints open up, half of the inside isn't painted. It broke the imersion for me. It's probably just a case of increasing the black sticker size. (It is, just checked. Why do you have 3 stickers instead of one large one?)

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Yeah I know about this. Changing all the checkpoints to black was like literally the last thing I did. Me and Rtm ran through the level once more and noticed this but I just couldn't be bothered going all the way back through them all again! :) I will get around to it eventually.

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2) After the horizontal slo-mo enemy, there is a new checkpoint. Each time you respawn here, the sound of the previous enemy gets more and more annoying each time you die. I would turn that off if possible.

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This is pretty funny! It actually does turn off, I knew how annoying that noise would get. You'll notice if you just step away from it a little bit more the noise totally cuts off (whereas it would usually just get quieter). The checkpoint there was actually a lot closer to the next section so originally you wouldn't have heard it. But when I was playing it through with Comph we noticed that if one of us died and the other carried on and got to the top, the camera moved back across and respawned the other person at the bottom. So I moved the checkpoint back a bit. Hence why you're still in the radius of the noise now :) It's just a matter of shrinking it a little, easy enough :) (If that makes sense to anyone...well done!)

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3) In the top-right section (the one with the paintinator above the checkpoint), did you intentionally make it so the player has to jump for the paintinator? Maybe to help with the timer? I just found that a little annoying.

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Nope, not intentional. Where possible I made it so that you would automatically get the paintinator when you spawned. But sometimes the design of the surrounding just meant it wouldn't be that easy to do. I didn't think it was much of an issue as there isn't any level (if any) that give you the paintinator automatically when you need it.

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4) I'm not sure the "jump after the slide" bits are worth it. Personally I would have prefered an automatic springboard as you cannot predict it the first time.

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This is something that I would never have done in my other levels, as it could be seen as a bit cheap. However seeing as this level is all about reactions and is much more challenging I thought it fitted well. You do have just enough time to notice the jump and react, so it's not that bad. There's also the fact that on a first play through, no one is ever going to get to that part and not have died before it, so the chances of that bit ruining an ace are pretty unlikely :)

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5) I would have liked an end boss or something, nothing too complicated, just using the same mechanics. If there's room.

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I'm not a bit fan of bosses but I actually do a agree that some kind of boss would have fitted nicely here. Unfortunately...no thermo! :(

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6) I found the lights a little distracting, as usually they indicate to the player where/when to move.

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I agree that sometimes people do use lights as an indicator of where to go, but in this level it is clear right from the start that they are nothing but decoration. If I had used them to guide the player earlier in the level, and then just started to use them as decoration. I agree that would be a bit odd. But it shouldn't really be confusing or off putting in anyway as their use in the level is consistent throughout :)[/quote]

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I only critise because I care. :)

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And it is much appreciated! :) Thanks for taking the time to write it all out! Glad you had fun.

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Originally Posted by Aya042

Note to self: don't allow rtm on my moon. :p

Lips on a piston, rtm, how could you? ;)

I played this while it was still in development - haven't had a go at the final version yet, but I'm assuming it's not dissimilar.

I actually quite liked the look of this level. When zoomed out it looks like a set of interconnected spaceships which is quite cool.

As for gameplay, I think this is more aimed at the people who think trying to ace the bunker is fun (yeah, I'm looking at the masochistic weirdos out there :)), so not quite my cup of tea, as it's a but too frustrating in places, but still fun, particularly the bit which took me a couple of goes to figure out, which was where you have to layer-change-jump down onto the platform while shooting. Jack was chuckling at me, all the time I couldn't figure out how to do it.

Personally I think he gets some perverse pleasure watching people die over and over, and really ought to see a psychiatrist about that. :p

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There's nothing wrong with wanting to watch you all fail and die over and over again...is there? :)

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Originally Posted by CrazeAlec

This level is amazing and really challenging, the red lights in the background was great as detail.
Very hard, but at the same time really fun!
Cool obstacles aswell
5 stars and 1 heart :D

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Thanks a lot! :) Glad you liked it, and thanks for your feedback during the testing period too!

Wow! 9 published levels Jack. Where do you get the time?? :p

I loved how different this one was of the rest, but still as good as your previous work.
You crearly choosed to make it quite harder this time. But I wasn't in any moment fustrating at all.
Simple yet very good visuals, and most important, very fun and challenging.
Perfectly balanced.
Well done!

ACED!!! And by that I mean.... er.... I died less than 50 times. That counts as acing on this level, right? :p

I really enjoyed it. It's challenging, but not in a cheap or frustrating way. Every time I died, I felt like I deserved it for being stupid. I love the parts where you have to jump out to certain death and quickly shoot to get a platform to land on. The slides killed me the first time, which was kind of cheap I suppose.... but in an awesome way.

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Originally Posted by Aya042

As for gameplay, I think this is more aimed at the people who think trying to ace the bunker is fun (yeah, I'm looking at the masochistic weirdos out there :))

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I hated.... HATED.... HATE--ED!!!!! trying to ace the bunker. I finally pulled it off for the first time yesterday and was disappointed when I couldn't sticker the helmet that it gave me, which makes it completely useless. But I digress. So I wouldn't call myself a masochist, but I did really enjoy this level. Then again, I really liked Ninja Gaiden on Xbox, and that was a pretty difficult game too. I like challenges when they don't feel too cheap (when I lose, it's because I legitimately should've done something better). This level felt like that to me: I only died when I was stupid.... and at the end of the slide when I had no idea that I would need to jump.

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Originally Posted by poms

Wow! 9 published levels Jack. Where do you get the time?? :p

I loved how different this one was of the rest, but still as good as your previous work.
You crearly choosed to make it quite harder this time. But I wasn't in any moment fustrating at all.
Simple yet very good visuals, and most important, very fun and challenging.
Perfectly balanced.
Well done!

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Thanks a lot Poms. I'm glad you still enjoyed it even though it is far from what you yourself create! :) Much appreciated!

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Originally Posted by Sehven

ACED!!! And by that I mean.... er.... I did less than 50 times. That counts as acing on this level, right? :p

I really enjoyed it. It's challenging, but not in a cheap or frustrating way. Every time I died, I felt like I deserved it for being stupid. I love the parts where you have to jump out to certain death and quickly shoot to get a platform to land on. The slides killed me the first time, which was kind of cheap I suppose.... but in an awesome way.



I hated.... HATED.... HATE--ED!!!!! trying to ace the bunker. I finally pulled it off for the first time yesterday and was disappointed when I couldn't sticker the helmet that it gave me, which makes it completely useless. But I digress. So I wouldn't call myself a masochist, but I did really enjoy this level. Then again, I really liked Ninja Gaiden on Xbox, and that was a pretty difficult game too. I like challenges when they don't feel too cheap (when I lose, it's because I legitimately should've done something better). This level felt like that to me: I only died when I was stupid.... and at the end of the slide when I had no idea that I would need to jump.

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Thanks a lot! I'm really glad everyone is enjoying it as much as I had hoped. I like that the slide is causing a bit of a stir :P haha. I guess it's the one section that's not to intense and seems a bit more relaxing...but if you let your guard down for just that split second and don't notice the jump...DEAD! haha :)

By you saying that everytime you died you felt like it was your own fault, it means I must have done my job right :) It was my intention to make something that was hard, but at all times fair. (Other than the sneaky slide, I guess) :D

UPDATE:

Fixed/tweaked a few parts that have been mentioned.

- Got around to sorting the checkpoints (procrastinating from doing uni work)
- Tweaked last area so you know have to suicidally jump then shoot back at the platforms :)
- andddd something else that I've totally forgotten!

EDIT: Oh! reduced the proximity switch so the annoying death ray noise stops once you've past the enemy! :)

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Originally Posted by jackofcourse

- Tweaked last area so you know have to suicidally jump then shoot back at the platforms :)

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Made that part surprisingly more difficult. You can't shoot straight down as you're going over the target now: have to shoot down and to the left after you've already passed it. That's not a complaint, btw.

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Originally Posted by Sehven

Made that part surprisingly more difficult. You can't shoot straight down as you're going over the target now: have to shoot down and to the left after you've already passed it. That's not a complaint, btw.

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Yep, that's the way it was supposed to be! I just made it too friendly without realising because I was just used to going to the suicidal way! :)

I just broke the plus signs that go around the obstacles and kill you...don't think anyone but Comph was playing it at the time though, so all fixed! :)

Sorry another double post but I have another update!

I've just added a prize for acing it! First one to get it and post a picture wins!

Actually.... I found the suicidal jump part strangely easier... before I kept trying to shoot the top, which was a smaller target.... and kept dying a few times. Now I can get past it more easily. :D

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Originally Posted by CCubbage

Actually.... I found the suicidal jump part strangely easier... before I kept trying to shoot the top, which was a smaller target.... and kept dying a few times. Now I can get past it more easily. :D

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haha that's pretty much what I was doing when I was testing it. Once you're used to jumping and shooting backwards it's quite easy. It's just knowing where to position the paintinator before you shoot :)

Comph currently has the top score with about 7,100 I think! There's quite a bit of room for improvement though there if anyone is up to it ;)

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Originally Posted by JackOfCourse

Comph currently has the top score with about 7,100 I think!

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Yeah, I was royally peaved. When he topped my score he sent me a PSN to gloat.... :p

What!? I would never do something like that... :rolleyes:

I really enjoyed how you just focused purly on gameplay in this level. Its nice to play a level that challenges you a lot and yet is not frustrating in anyway. The progression in difficulty was perfect. I only died on two of the sections in the level. One was at the slide part where you have to jump the gap. It wasnt clear that I need to jump in order to cross it safely.

Its great to see creators trying new things as it keeps the game from becoming stale and dull. The contrasting visuals, gamplay and difficulty to your previous work kept me really interest while playing. I had a lot of fun playing, well done :D