Old school platforming = the most fun I've had in LBP for ages

[jackofcourse]

I've just played the OH NO! Princess series....

I fell in love from the very first text bubble. The opening speech is something that I was going to do for my next level. For the people who wanted a story...I was going to do something exactly like this, stupidly generic and making fun of it's self.

Anyway back to my point. I forgot how platforming should be. I try to make my levels so fancy and clever that I've missed that old school 'Jump Jump Jump, watch that hazard, Jump Jump Jump!'

I've just had the most fun I've had in absolute ages. I died a ridiculous amount of times but not at any stage did it become frustrating. It was just like old school Mario, you know where you just get killed and killed on the same point over and over again, and eventually you work out the timings and get it spot on.

These are the only levels that I've seen that have got this sussed. Usually in levels, if you keep dying on the same spot, it's frustrating as hell and you start to blame it on bad design. Where as this is the opposite, it's timed so that's it's possible, it's just down to you to work it out, just like Mario was!

Basically, this isn't just about this levels (I don't want the thread getting moved). It's about platforming in general. Playing these levels have just opened up my eyes to like a whole other side of LBP. I thought Mm had got the fun basic platforming side perfected. But this has just shown me another side to the game, and it feels weird because it's like, TOO simple. It's just how platforming used to be, and I don't think we should ever forget it.

As you can tell I'm just so excited about what I've just played. I fooking love this game!!!

[Adam9001]

I've just played the OH NO! Princess series....

I fell in love from the very first text bubble. The opening speech is something that I was going to do for my next level. For the people who wanted a story...I was going to do something exactly like this, stupidly generic and making fun of it's self.

Anyway back to my point. I forgot how platforming should be. I try to make my levels so fancy and clever that I've missed that old school 'Jump Jump Jump, watch that hazard, Jump Jump Jump!'

I've just had the most fun I've had in absolute ages. I died a ridiculous amount of times but not at any stage did it become frustrating. It was just like old school Mario, you know where you just get killed and killed on the same point over and over again, and eventually you work out the timings and get it stop on.

These are the only levels that I've seen that have got this sussed. Usually in levels, if you keep dying on the same spot, it's frustrating as hell and you start to blame it on bad design. Where as this is the opposite, it's timed so that's it's possible, it's just down to you to work it out, just like Mario was!

Basically, this isn't just about this levels (I don't want the thread getting moved). It's about platforming in general. Playing these levels have just opened up my eyes to like a whole other side of LBP. I thought Mm had got the fun basic platforming side perfected. But this has just shown me another side to the game, and it feels weird because it's like, TOO simple. It's just how platforming used to be, and I don't think we should ever forget it.

As you can tell I'm just so excited about what I've just played. I fooking love this game!!!

I cant possibley see a connetion.

[CCubbage]

Yup, loved these. I put a comment on the level thread that I really appreciated the Mario "feel", not just the "look" like many other levels have done.

Super Mario Brothers games are hard - but yet virtually every level in LBP that tried to do it were fairly easy.

[brnxblze]

LOL I thought you might enjoy those levels, they are pretty **** awesome, probably some of the best in LBP. I'd love to see you make one of these kinds of platformers, it'd be cool to see how yours comes out.

[jackofcourse]

I've seen loads of peoples scores pop up saying they'd played these but never thought of giving them a go. Thanks so much for sending me a message brnxblze.

I honestly don't see how I could top these levels in anyway. They are absolutely perfect. People in the comments were moaning they're too difficult, and they do get hard, there's no doubt about it. But the difficulty rises gradually across all 3.

As I said, they do it in a way that it's never unfair or frustrating, if you die, it's your own fault and you didn't time your jump right.

[BSprague]

I am a huge fan of the series as well. CaptainCowboyHat keeps cranking them out and the quality is top-notch every time.

[Matt 82•]

He`s been spotlighted 3 times. I do love his levels, they are perfect for LBP.

[julesyjules]

Big fan here too! It's ALL about the jumping in these levels and nothing else. Love 'em. Plus they make me larf.

[brnxblze]

People in the comments were moaning they're too difficult, and they do get hard, there's no doubt about it. But the difficulty rises gradually across all 3.

I noticed the gradual change in difficulty across the 3 but these levels really should have 5 stars. He puts infinite-life checkpoints so if you keep trying you will get it.
But back on topic, it does seem like these simple platformers are in the minority. It seems like the only ones are those "Jump 9999 times til u die lolz" levels :\ .

[Coxy224]

Yeah as usual you've raised a very good point here Jack.
Story driven levels are great yeah - but at heart LBP is a platformer just like Mario. But you've gotta capture the feeling as opposed to the visuals of mario.

The spotlight crew really enjoyed the levels by CaptainCowboyHat (even with his weird name) mainly for the platforming. Jump, jump. Wait. Die. Curse. Start over.
It's the greatest genre of games and has been around since.....forever! Donkey Kong was a platofmrer was it not?

The greatest games are platformers and there's not enough Old school ones within LBP.

[Syroc]

Seems like I have to play them too. Always was put off by the title thinking it would be some boring story level.

Incidentally I was thinking about doing a basic platforming level that pretty much ignores that there are three layers and only uses the last two for decoration.

[deboerdave]

Thanks for pointing these out these are the kind of levels that i like, so i will go try them. If you like straight up platforming you should try my Jumper levels. I have two out know ... The Red Zone and The Blue Zone. I have finished making a third The Green zone but just havent got around to publishing it yet.

[Leonardo]

I've just played the OH NO! Princess series....

I fell in love from the very first text bubble. The opening speech is something that I was going to do for my next level. For the people who wanted a story...I was going to do something exactly like this, stupidly generic and making fun of it's self.

Anyway back to my point. I forgot how platforming should be. I try to make my levels so fancy and clever that I've missed that old school 'Jump Jump Jump, watch that hazard, Jump Jump Jump!'

I've just had the most fun I've had in absolute ages. I died a ridiculous amount of times but not at any stage did it become frustrating. It was just like old school Mario, you know where you just get killed and killed on the same point over and over again, and eventually you work out the timings and get it spot on.

These are the only levels that I've seen that have got this sussed. Usually in levels, if you keep dying on the same spot, it's frustrating as hell and you start to blame it on bad design. Where as this is the opposite, it's timed so that's it's possible, it's just down to you to work it out, just like Mario was!

Basically, this isn't just about this levels (I don't want the thread getting moved). It's about platforming in general. Playing these levels have just opened up my eyes to like a whole other side of LBP. I thought Mm had got the fun basic platforming side perfected. But this has just shown me another side to the game, and it feels weird because it's like, TOO simple. It's just how platforming used to be, and I don't think we should ever forget it.

As you can tell I'm just so excited about what I've just played. I fooking love this game!!!

Glad you're having fun.
When I first played it online, I was screaming loud cause how fun jumping over things is.

[Morgana25]

Yup I love these too. Designed so the player is only in one layer too. Take that 3D glitch. lol.

It's very hard to make it look that easy too don't you think? I've always admired levels that can pull off that effortless look even though you know it was a challenge and a half to design. I'd love to see more of these "old school" kinds of levels too. Problem is I think they are very hard to do and it takes a creator who really gets how they work to make a good one.

Thanks for pointing this out though - I think a lot of people overlook the cleverness in this sort of gaming.

[MrsSpookyBuz•]

Yes, great fun. I love simple and effective stuff.

jackofcourse - forget platforming, make me a Pong or Arkanoid tribute level! Now THAT would be worth playing. In return? Er... either a big wet snog or a poem about rubber and dark matter!

[jackofcourse]

Yup I love these too. Designed so the player is only in one layer too. Take that 3D glitch. lol.

It's very hard to make it look that easy too don't you think? I've always admired levels that can pull off that effortless look even though you know it was a challenge and a half to design. I'd love to see more of these "old school" kinds of levels too. Problem is I think they are very hard to do and it takes a creator who really gets how they work to make a good one.

Thanks for pointing this out though - I think a lot of people overlook the cleverness in this sort of gaming.

Definitely, I'd love to try and make one of these kind of levels. The thing that I doubt most people will realise is how hard they are to make. They look and play so simply but it's really not that straight forward.

While I've been doing the one layer thick thing for a while, (I only ever use the amount of layers I need, so usually it's just the one) it is definitely a much under used technique.

To think up simple yet fun platforming elements is no easy task either!

[mrsupercomputer]

I'm a big fan of those levels as well. There were a few areas that I found to be too difficult, but overall, had a blast with it. I'm a big fan of that platforming style as well. You don't always have to be innovative, you just need to make it fun!

[Syroc]

To think up simple yet fun platforming elements is no easy task either!

But probably more fun to create than a highly detailed level. At least in my opinion.

[Mr_T-Shirt]

This is fun to an extent, i mean, it really depends on how well made the obstacle is.

For instance, if i'm playing a level with several jumps, followed by some swings, followed by a hazard, it will get boring and linear.

If you have the same content, but have added your own little touch to it, just enough to make it stand out from the rest; then that can be terrific fun!

[jackofcourse]

Yes, great fun. I love simple and effective stuff.

jackofcourse - forget platforming, make me a Pong or Arkanoid tribute level! Now THAT would be worth playing. In return? Er... either a big wet snog or a poem about rubber and dark matter!

Both and we have a deal...!


I've just played these again and they've left me inspired and a feeling a bit rubbish at the same time! I absolutely loved them (as you can tell) yet they are the total opposite to the level that I'm making at the minute.

It's about 60% done and it's quite a moody arty type level...I still like it...it's just that having been inspired by the total opposite while in the middle of creating it, it's left my brain in two different places!

I would also like to comment on the story...this is what LBP is all about. These levels are now my definition of LBP. I know that's quite a daft comment when LBP can be anything you want it to be. But at heart, it's a fun platformer, and the story in these levels fit perfectly.