The Harp of Seasons

[Lleonard Pler]

"The Harp of Seasons" is my new level after "The Frozen Kingdom of Skadi", which received a generally positive feedback. In the "The Harp of Seasons", you explore an abandoned dig site to reveal the secret entrance to the Temple of Dagda. You're looking for a celtic artifact that can control the weather...

PSN ID: Lleonard
Map: The Harp of Seasons

EDIT: Level fixed! The door of the temple should open now for everyone. Thanks for your patience. I hope all of you can enjoy the level now.

EDIT 2: Adding some pictures of my level:













Because of the editor issues, I'm not as satisfied with "The Harp of Seasons" as I was with my first level, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. This will be my last level until Sony releases a definitive patch for the game that solves all the problems.

This was supposed to be a long, complex and epic level, inspired by St. Francis Folly of the first Tomb Raider: a giant hall connecting to themed areas full of puzzles and situations about each theme. But because of the many bugs of the editor that kept on breaking most parts of my level, I had to cut out entire sections, simplify puzzles and modify everything into a more boring environment. Thus, themed areas became small rooms, most puzzles disappeared or became a shadow of what I intended, etc...

It has been a nightmare and I almost quited a couple of times. But after so many hours already invested in the level, I made an extra effort to finish it. This is the result. I know it could be much more polished, and certain sections would benefit from further tweaking. But currently I'm afraid to touch anything. With so many bugs, whenever I changed thing A, then thing B broke and I had to rebuild it, which in turn caused thing C to disappear and thing D to fall apart. I managed to make everything work, even if it's not perfect.

Anyway, like I said: I hope you enjoy the level despite all the unintended flaws.

[PokerPolo]

I didn't rate it yet but so far you get a 4/5. But, I couldn't finish it because the door won;t open when I put the two symbols in.

[ryryryan•]

Just playing through at the moment. The puzzle with the rocks going up and down that squish you... when you get to the purple thing at the end the magic mouth is censored. What did it say? You'll have to change it obviously.

So far... AMAZING. Going back to play now - will update post.

[Lleonard Pler]

I didn't rate it yet but so far you get a 4/5. But, I couldn't finish it because the door won;t open when I put the two symbols in.

Don't tell me that! I had many problems with that puzzle because the mechanism kept breaking, but at last I managed to make it work and tested it a lot just to be sure. The door should take a couple of seconds to open after you input the correct symbols...

For now, try entering them in a different order. And just to be sure, they need to be next to the check mark at the same time.

Just playing through at the moment. The puzzle with the rocks going up and down that squish you... when you get to the purple thing at the end the magic mouth is censored. What did it say? You'll have to change it obviously.

It said nothing too important: "Well done. Now you can grab the gift of Autumn: grapes". I guess that it's censored because "grapes" includes "rape"...

Thank you both for playing!

[merkaba48]

Really really good, great use of the space to provide some interesting paths. Unfortunately, the door did not open for me either, unless I was doing something wrong? (SPOILER!: Fire on left, Swirly thing on right)
I could not easily tell if 'wiggling' the pieces fixed it, as the camera doesn't show the door. If a camera turned on when the door opened, which focused on the door, that would be a definate improvement.

I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the level, and the rest of your levels. Great stuff, love it

[Lleonard Pler]

A magic mouth activates when you match the correct symbols, with a custom camera showing that the door is now open.

I don't know why it works for some people and it doesn't work for others. I tested it again four times and it always works for me. It would be strange... if the editor wasn't so full of bugs.

Just to be sure:

SPOILERS OF THE DOOR PUZZLE

Left wheel: Fire symbol, pointing to the left (next to the sticker-mark on the wall).
Right wheel: Whirlpool symbol, pointing to the right (next to the sticker-mark on the wall)

.......X.............X
FIRE....X.......X....WHIRLPOOL
.......X.............X

Thanks for playing it anyway, you might like to try my first level, bug-free: "The Frozen Kingdom of Skadi". I posted it here:

http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19384

[Coxy224]

Hmmm, looks like people are having the same problem as me. But this level is gorgeous and well made and just great. Wish I could get past the door

Still Five stars

[ryryryan•]

I completed it right after my last post, but then went straight to sleep :P
This level truly is magnificent. The use of stickers is the best I have seen yet, and the areas of the levels really did feel like huge tomb places. I loved it. 5 Stars, Heart, Author Heart.

[Lleonard Pler]

I completed it right after my last post, but then went straight to sleep :P
This level truly is magnificent. The use of stickers is the best I have seen yet, and the areas of the levels really did feel like huge tomb places. I loved it. 5 Stars, Heart, Author Heart.

Thanks for your kind comments, Ryan. At least the temple door worked for someone!

Did you like the spring garden room? When Sony fixes the editor, I was thinking of making a jungle level like that.

[ryryryan•]

Thanks for your kind comments, Ryan. At least the temple door worked for someone!

Did you like the spring garden room? When Sony fixes the editor, I was thinking of making a jungle level like that.

I was actually going to say... the look and feel of that section was so brilliant it could of been it's own theme of a level. Go for it!

[Lleonard Pler]

Ok, I made a new mechanism for the door and published the level again. Everyone should be able to beat the level now. Thanks for the feedback... and for your patience, too. Those who already had downloaded it, please do it again and tell me if you can open the door now!

I was actually going to say... the look and feel of that section was so brilliant it could of been it's own theme of a level. Go for it!

It's one of the few parts of the level that I'm really proud of (even if the original plan for that room was bigger).

If only Sony released a patch soon, I'd create that jungle level.

[ryryryan•]

Yeah I was actually really impressed with the detail in that section. Couldn't believe how you had such a jungle like feel to the level with the materials and stickers given.

[jeffcu28•]

Hey Lleonard,

What an amazing level, and that Indiana Jones-like music to go with it! I was impressed again by your sculpting skills, and that spring-room is definitely a jewel. Unlike many levels that I played, I felt this gave me a wholesome experience, and I thought it had an appropriate length despite the cutbacks you mentioned.

One thing I did notice though was that I think I was able to cheat your door mechanism. I had uncovered the first symbol and as soon as I manipulated the crane in order to cross over to the other arm, I just guessed the second symbol and the door opened. I had a hard time finding the symbol on the left hand of the statue, and I know it has something to do with those immovable rocks made of dissolve, but I never found a way to move them...is this perhaps intended so that others won't have problems entering the door? But then again, I feel all that effort to uncover the second symbol would be discarded...

Anyways, loved the concept, music, and convincing adventure you created. Five stars, author and level heart.

Blissfully lost in the spring-room,
jeffcu28

[Lleonard Pler]

Hi Jeff, you're right. To discover the other symbol, you had to remove those rocks. (How? SPOILER Moving the first crane until the box hits the rocks and breaks them. END OF SPOILER)

The puzzle of the symbols can be cheated just by guessing (or because you already know the symbols from another playthrough), but that's why I put some bubble prizes along the way for those who still explore the whole dig site.

Anyway, thanks once more for such a detailed review! It's always great to know that people not only enjoy your level but also appreciate certain details and sections that required extra effort.

Funny thing about the Spring room is that it was a last-minute change. Originally, there was a large puzzle where you had to sort flowers and birds in a room which was rather conventional, built with the stone material and a plain green background. But I discarded the puzzle after all the problems I was experiencing in the rest of the level. Instead, I built a small garden using only one material. I decided to use the remaining 10% of the thermometer with stickers for the garden... and that was the quick, improvised result. (Then I remembered that the Winter room wasn't fully decorated, but it was too late, full thermometer, hehe.)

[jeffcu28•]

Hey again,

Okay now I feel dumb. But that makes a lot of sense. I got distracted by the functioning elevator that I simply climbed upwards and forgot everything else in that area. But that doesn't change the integrity of this level one bit, I guess the error was my part. I'm glad to hear that the Spring room was improvised last minute and that it inspires you to create a whole new level once the glitches have been ironed out. It comforts me to know that exceptional creators like you don't have everything planned out and epiphany can strike at any moment.

Looking forward to that other level,
jeffcu28