Lightbringer - (Spotlighted/MM Community Pick)

[Trindall]

Lightbringer by Trindall
A prophecy from an age long past told of a Hero that would cleanse the land of a dark evil. Yet the Hero never came and the evil scoured the land. You find yourself in this dead kingdom, can you bring light back to the land?


Title: LightBringer
Author: Trindall
Level Description: “A prophecy from an age long past told of a Hero that would cleanse the land of a dark evil. Yet the Hero never came and the evil scoured the land. You find yourself in this dead kingdom, can you bring light back to the land?”

Update: Selected for the Sony Blog's LittleBigPlanet: Sack it to me community pick

Introduction
I've wanted to try my hand at a level that didn't move, shift or rotate. A level where I can pull the view back and give the player wider, more open environments.

This level is the culmination of ideas, themes and images raised in other games, books and movies and puts the player into the role of an unknowing hero that is destined to defeat an ancient evil.

There is a great deal of depth to the back-story and psychology of the antagonist for those wanting to look for it though it. (Both implicitly and explicitly explored in the level.) But I've worked hard to make the level accessible and fun for those wanting depth as well for those simply wanting a straightforward level.

Pictures








Video

I appreciate your time and focus on this level. I'd be happy to hear back in regards to any complaints, issues or comments regarding the level and I'm also happy to help others out as I am able.

[OmegaSlayer]

Cool, I like the pics.
Good looking stuff...and wonderful experience on your levels.
I'm expecting a lot.

[RickTheRipper]

This level was lots of fun and full of epicness. I liked the way you used gas so effectively as obstacles and how we used the light to clear paths. The environment itself looked really good as well. Your use of the lighting tool throughout the level was very well done, especially after the boss fight (his death was so cool). I also liked how large the areas in your level were, I like long levels.

One thing I think you could do is add some decorations. But the main thing you need to do is put in some sound effects. The level is way too quiet without the sounds.

and a heart. If you could try Hectic Hallways, that'd be swell

[Kipmonlin]

So I just played this one and it's very impressive technically. Great puzzling stuff. Everything seems to work well.

The environment is so austere I didn't really enjoy spending time here, but the gameplay was so good it kept me going.

The dramatic ending was awesome but so short it felt underwhelming. I didn't feel rewarded after a somewhat lengthy adventure.

I think three players had completed and everyone had under 1000 points maybe a few more points to separate us would be good. I did die a lot so I suppose we can get better a high score!

[Trindall]

One thing I think you could do is add some decorations. But the main thing you need to do is put in some sound effects. The level is way too quiet without the sounds.

and a heart. If you could try Hectic Hallways, that'd be swell

There are a bit of SFX in the level but they are all supporting/background type items. Breaking stone and eerie wind are fairly common and there are quite a few variations on the Nemesis pain/growl/snarl type sounds.

I'll head back to see if some more sounds will work out in various spots though I did intend the level to be a bit more introspective. The life of the land has been leeched away a long time ago it is meant to be a lonely, empty feeling.

Thanks for the comments on level, I'll get on Hectic Hallways for some feedback a bit later this evening.

The environment is so austere I didn't really enjoy spending time here, but the gameplay was so good it kept me going.

The dramatic ending was awesome but so short it felt underwhelming. I didn't feel rewarded after a somewhat lengthy adventure.

I think three players had completed and everyone had under 1000 points maybe a few more points to separate us would be good. I did die a lot so I suppose we can get better a high score!

'Austere' is one of the feelings I was looking to convey through the level design, 'desolate', 'empty' and 'haunted' to name a few others.

I agree that it won't appeal players looking for more life and visual energy but I'm hoping that it doesn't come off too badly in those cases.

I was a bit stumped on how to deliver an ending that would fit the story of the level yet feel more rewarding and don't think I've gotten it just right.

Endings are a hard thing to do right in many cases but as light is an integral role in the level both literally and symbolically I went with the light breaking through the crumbled keep to show that the darkness has been lifted and light is coming back to shine on the land once again.

Yes, points where something I had originally thought to not use at all as bubble-catching didn't feel in the spirit that I was trying to create. I did go with rewarding the player for passing the light on from point to point and for digging into the level's backstory.

This lets those who ace the level get the highest score to show their achievement but also keeps the focus more so on the images and events. I think it is a trade-off that some will not enjoy.

Thank you for taking the time to play the level.

Cool, I like the pics.
Good looking stuff...and wonderful experience on your levels.
I'm expecting a lot.

I look forward to hearing what you think of the level.

Cheers.

[MrsSpookyBuz•]

Hi Trindall! You were kind enough to leave feedback for my level, and here I am reviewing yours...

What a beautiful, involving, engrossing level you've built!

In fact, I was surprised I continued playing it after watching your fantastic ocean shore scene right at the beginning. What did I do? I tried to jump in it, and got gassed! lol

Anyway... you seem to have spent a lot of time with your panoramic camera angles, and the great majority of them were great. You used some good tricks, too. Nothing too 'in your face', but more subtle, more understated, almost modest.

Some of the black gas parts and design reminded me of ICO (that's a plus, by the way), and your music choice was spot on.

I found it quite tricky in places, but in a challenging way, and I loved the atmosphere.

Overall, I'm very pleased to have played this great offering of yours.

I rated 5*, hearted and tagged with 'Beautiful'.

[mistervista]

Hi . I've played your level and here is my feedback

Pros :
Like MrsSB I spent quite a while looking at the waves lapping up on the shore at the start. That was very effective and I have no idea how you did it.

Great design throughout

Wonderful atmosphere and sound effects

Excellent puzzles and mechanisms

Cons :

A few problems with plane shifting , mostly minor but the worst one was at the boss fight. In conjunction with the checkpoint being placed very badly it made it really awkward every time I got killed ( which was a lot ) because I spent ages just trying to get around the rocks and back to the boss area and when I finally managed it I invariably died straight away again. That made it very annoying.

Lack of music. I didn't hear any music at all so unless you've added it since I played it I would suggest the 'Daniel Pemberton' track 'Rainbow Warrior' would be perfect for the atmosphere you're trying to project. Alternatively 'Tricky business' or 'New Delhi Dawn' would be good choices too. If you've already added music ignore this.

Overall :

Brilliant level with some very clever innovative ideas which totally baffle me and presented very well. Apart from the awkward boss bit I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to your future levels.

[ZipCity]

one of the light "keys" didn't work the first time I tried it (the one with the red, yellow, blue rotating pieces)

[mistervista]

one of the light "keys" didn't work the first time I tried it (the one with the red, yellow, blue rotating pieces)

I think that's just a matter of getting them in the right order and in the right place using the 2 switches.

[Trindall]

A few problems with plane shifting , mostly minor but the worst one was at the boss fight. In conjunction with the checkpoint being placed very badly it made it really awkward every time I got killed ( which was a lot ) because I spent ages just trying to get around the rocks and back to the boss area and when I finally managed it I invariably died straight away again. That made it very annoying.

Lack of music. I didn't hear any music at all so unless you've added it since I played it I would suggest the 'Daniel Pemberton' track 'Rainbow Warrior' would be perfect for the atmosphere you're trying to project. Alternatively 'Tricky business' or 'New Delhi Dawn' would be good choices too. If you've already added music ignore this.

I appreciate the good comments especially on the matters that didn't work out so great.

I elevate the final checkpoint to avoid it getting blocked by falling debris but I have had to jump over the rubble to get back to the action and it is a bit too wonky. I'll look to move it closer in, in a spot that will be clear yet out of the main fray.

I do have music in the level, three different tracks that I've gotten some positive comments on it from MrsSpookyBuz in an earlier post. I do play/create on my computer monitor and wear headphones and as such I think I hear the sound louder than others may.

Current the music that is there is down two or three notches from full volume but I can raise it back to full volume. My original take on the music was that I wanted to accompany the level rather than overpower it which is why I toned it back just a hair.

I'm glad that people are liking the ocean waves I put in. Building the level linearly put this as the very first thing I made for the level. It is completely unnecessary in the overall picture and chews up a little bit of thermo that may be better used elsewhere but I've worked to keep it through the different fat cutting sessions I've had to do on this level.

In fact, I was surprised I continued playing it after watching your fantastic ocean shore scene right at the beginning. What did I do? I tried to jump in it, and got gassed! lol

Anyway... you seem to have spent a lot of time with your panoramic camera angles, and the great majority of them were great. You used some good tricks, too. Nothing too 'in your face', but more subtle, more understated, almost modest.

Some of the black gas parts and design reminded me of ICO (that's a plus, by the way), and your music choice was spot on.

Thank you for taking the time to play the level. I’m glad that the play was enjoyable. The gas on the ocean wave is a must as I figured the first impulse the most players will have will be to jump out onto the waves.

The three separate waves with all of their pieces use up enough thermo that I didn’t want to extend it any further and as such I can’t let the player see much more than they already do or they’ll see the end of the level.

One of the five or six different intentions/objectives I had going into this level was that I wanted to make a level that occupied the same spiritual environment as the Ico/SOTC levels without doing a rip-off of the same games. I’ve used visual elements from both of those levels to try and invoke this type of connection because I think it will help set the theme/setting better for the player.

There are also themes, images and elements in the level from a couple other sources though some of them are fairly obscure.

one of the light "keys" didn't work the first time I tried it (the one with the red, yellow, blue rotating pieces)

What mistervista has said is correct, when you get all three pieces aligned properly and the blue lights lit the puzzle will complete and you can progress.

Can you explain a bit about what you saw so I can check if it is a bug or not? The solution to the puzzle is straightforward from the current starting point unless you start mixing up the different prism. I can PM you more information if you want.

[Delirium]

looks good btw can you tell me what F4F means? :-/

[Trindall]

looks good btw can you tell me what F4F means? :-/

F4F is a system implemented in this forum meaning "Feedback 4 Feedback".

Levels that have this prefix on their post are a part of this feedback system.

The person posting that thread is committing themselves to give feedback to players who post feedback on their level. Usually a poster will include in their feedback post if they are looking for feedback a level of their own.

It is a very good tit for tat method the promotes a lot of feedback from various members and it helps out players who are new to the site or may not know many people.

F4F works both ways, if you are looking for feedback on your level you can easily go to other F4F posts and post feedback on them to solicit feedback on your own levels.

I hope this helps out.

Cheers.

[Delirium]

oh thanks. wish i knew that befor i just posted my level on here just now

[Trindall]

oh thanks. wish i knew that befor i just posted my level on here just now

You may edit your original level posting to change it into or or out of the F4F. Open up your level post and click on the 'Edit' button in the lower right of the post.

Select the 'Go Advanced' option to enter the details page. From here you can change the level prefix to be yes or no for F4F.

Once you set this parameter then save the level post and it will update to reflect. If you have further questions I'll be happy to help but PMs would be better than in this level thread.

There is also a sticky at the top of this forum that may answer your questions.

Good luck on your level.

[ZipCity]

I meant I got the three prisms in the right order, with all 3 blue lights on, but for whatever reason, they didn't merge and reflect the light. When I restarted the level and did the exact same thing, it worked