DarkDedede's Review Shop.

[DarkDedede]

Hello everyone. I am DarkDedede. I am a reviewer at the LittleBigReviewers over at the Workshop forums. Since the group is on hiatus, I've decided to set up shop over here at LBPCentral.

If you would like your level to be reviewed, I would be happy to look it over. I am not the easiest reviewer, but I do try to give as much feedback as I can along with my ratings.

I rate each level based on 5 main criteria.

Concept/Originality: ★/5

Gameplay/Implementation: ★/5

Level Design/Communication: ★/5

Aesthetic/Presentation: ★/5

Overall: ★/5 (Not an average)

My Ratings Explanation & Tips

I will also include sections on what I feel are the level's strengths, its weaknesses, and just random nitpicks on things that just bother me. After the level has been rated, I will also include a list of suggestions on where I feel the level could be improved.

So if you're interested, leave the name of the level and your PSN, and I will get to it as soon as I can.

• One level or series request at a time, please. If you request more than one level, then I will choose the level to write a review on.
• A level series will be treated as one request, and will be reviewed as a whole.
• I prefer not to review multiplayer levels, as I tend to do the reviews alone. However, if you do request a multiplayer level, please be aware that I will probably play it by myself.
• Depending on the size of the request queue, I reserve the right to only review the first level of a level series request, if I so choose.
• If you do request a level series to be reviews, please list all the levels in your request. Also list the levels in the order that they should be played, assuming there is an order.
• I will be keeping a list of the order that requests were made. I will try to do reviews in a "first come, first serve" basis. However, as some reviews will take more time than others, I may not post the reviews in the order that they were requested.
• I reserve the right to break out the SackNun, if necessary.
• You are allowed to request a re-review of a level. Before making such a request, please make the effort to make a considerable amount of improvements. If an overwhelming majority of what I wrote before still stands, don't be surprised if I refer you back to the previous review the level.
• If you are planning to make a request only to get another review telling you how wonderful your levels are, I suggest you take your request to another reviewer that will be more willing to satisfy your needs. I will focus my reviews on how I feel the work may be improved.
  
  That said, my star rating standards may not coincide with that of other reviewers, or the rating that you feel entitled to. Again, my reviews focus on the work itself.
  
  Should you take issue with my review, I would advise that it would be a much more beneficial investment of your energy to take the time to reflect on what I have written, and focus on improving your own skills, as opposed to taking what I may say personally. I have no problem with a healthy debate. However, arguments and temper-tantrums have no place in this review thread.
  
  We should all strive to find ways to improve our own skills. I personally hope to gain as much insight from writing these reviews as you all may get from reading them.

[DarkDedede]

Recent Reviews:

Bot n’ Tot by mr_krispy_kreme

Review Archive: 1 ♦ 2 ♦ 3

Review(s) in Limbo:

Lucky Draw:

Request List:

Canceled List:

* These are levels are not reviewed by request, but because I want to review them.
** These levels have been re-reviewed, either by request or because I just want to give them a second look.

[DarkDedede]

Useful Links:

• Art of Game Design: A Deck of Lenses
• Writing Tips - Capitalization in Titles
• Kuler (Adobe) - Color Palette Help
• Pose Maniacs - Pose references

Useful Tutorials

• Creating Your Level: The Four P's

[Rasumii]

Oooo! I get to be your first level to review! How exciting!

PSN: Rasumii
PS3: Journey of a Thousand Inches

Thanks in advance!

[aagobert]

can you review my serie sacks in arms? psn aagobert thx

[figuer39]

Would love a review for my level.

Name: Onion Gale
PSN: NiKfY

It is a jumping challenge level. It is subdivided into eight stages, each one harder than the previous one. Try to get as far as you can.

[ShamgarBlade]

I would love if you reviewed this:

Level Name: Draconia Cave
PSN: ShamgarBlade

I'm thinking about making a sequel to this level, so I could use any advice or tips you could give for my improvement. Thanks.

[Syroc]

Would you like to review:

Cave Story
PSN: Syroc

?

[DarkDedede]

Journey of a Thousand Inches by Rasumii


Let it snow.

CATEGORY: Story
DIFFICULTY: Easy with Cheap Deaths

PRIZES:
[spoiler]In-Level: 5/8
Level Completed Gifts: N/A
Collected All Gifts: N/A
Aced Level Gifts: N/A

Prizes Worth Mentioning: N/A

Prizes Requested: N/A [/spoiler]

Summary:

This is an interesting level. At first I thought things were going to be interesting once I came across a set of masks that started watching me. Unfortunately, multiple frustrating and cheap deaths really killed the mood. If the designer intended to frustrate the player to the point where they don't want to finish, then I suppose that goal was accomplished. It's really not a bad attempt at a design, I just feel that the execution could be improved.

Strengths:

• Interesting title.
• Hidden stuff promote exploration.
• Three different zones.

Weaknesses:

• Level lacks a specific purpose.
• Obstacles may be too difficult/frustrating for most.
• Cheap deaths inconvenience the player.
• Unavoidable cheap death in the beginning.
• Presentation seem less interesting as level progresses.

Nitpicks:

• Not a fan of grabbable ceilings.
• Not a fan of being forced to do the same obstacle twice.
• Not a fan of having to do something over, because of a cheap death.
• Not a fan of grabbable floors.

Boss monster.

Ratings:

Originality: 3/5 ★★★

Gameplay/Implementation: 1/5 ★

Level Design/Communication: 1/5 ★

Scenery/Presentation: 2/5 ★★

Ratings Explanation & Tips

OVERALL SCORE: 2/5 ★★ The concept has a pulse, I just feel the execution could use more polish.

[Level not hearted/Author not hearted]

Suggestions

• Name your prizes. It makes for a much better presentation.
• The level needs more personality. I was really wasn't expecting the masks to start looking at me. Made me want to see what else was in your level. Too bad there wasn't too much past that, besides the snowman. The level needs more interesting things to look at to keep the player visually engaged, especially if you expect them to endure all of those sneaky cheap deaths.
• The level needs some sort of story to it. Why should people want to go past the first cheap death, and not quit? You have characters in that I want to know more about, but they play such a small role in the level. It doesn't need to be anything spectacular. I would just like to know if there is a reason why we are taking this journey.
• I would either scrap the minigame, or incorporate it into the level somehow. The concept also needs some more development.
• Give the boss some moving parts. I don't know if it was meant to be as easy as it was, but it would look more interesting if perhaps the vines were moving.
• Be a bit more creative with your obstacles. Some were either too cheap or too repetitive. If you're not going to be forgiving with the cheap deaths, at least be somewhat forgiving with the checkpoint. I wasn't too thrilled to get past a frustrating obstacle, to then get killed by something sneaky, only to be warped all the way back to where I had to do the obstacle again.
• I'd suggest decorating the gas that you use for death warps to look like doors. There's no guarantee that players are going to know that they are going to have to walk into a wall of lethal gas. Perhaps you could post an exit sign on it as well.

You can thank these guys for giving the level a pulse.

[figuer39]

That's one nice review format there. Looking forward to your review of my level.

Although I should warn you: my level has a fair amount of ceiling-grabbing.

[Rasumii]

Journey of a Thousand Inches by Rasumii


Caption

Review in progress... Not finished.
[spoiler]

CATEGORY: Story
DIFFICULTY: Cheap Deaths

PRIZES:
[spoiler]In-Level: 5/8
Level Completed Gifts: N/A
Collected All Gifts: N/A
Aced Level Gifts: N/A

Prizes Worth Mentioning: N/A

Prizes Requested: N/A [/spoiler]

Summary:

This is an interesting level. At first I thought things were going to be interesting once I came across a set of masks that started watching me. Unfortunately, multiple frustrating and cheap deaths really killed the mood. If the designer intended to frustrate the player to the point where they don't want to finish, then I suppose that goal was accomplished. It's really not a bad attempt at a design, I just feel that the execution could be improved.

Strengths:

• Interesting title.
• Hidden stuff promote exploration.
• Three different zones.

Weaknesses:

• Level lacks a specific purpose.
• Obstacles may be too difficult/frustrating for most.
• Cheap deaths inconvenience the player.
• Unavoidable cheap death in the beginning.
• Presentation seem less interesting as level progresses.

Nitpicks:

• Not a fan of grabbable ceilings.
• Not a fan of being forced to do the same obstacle twice.
• Not a fan of having to do something over, because of a cheap death.
• Not a fan of grabbable floors.

Caption

Ratings:

Originality: 3/5 ★★★

Gameplay/Implementation: 1/5 ★

Level Design/Communication: 1/5 ★

Scenery/Presentation: 2/5 ★★

Ratings Explanation & Tips

OVERALL SCORE: 2/5 ★★ comment here

[Level not hearted/Author not hearted]

Suggestions

• N/A

You can thank these guys for giving the level a pulse
[/spoiler]

Ehh, it was a go at my first real level that I had put work into. Btw the part i put in bold, its avoidable, but a bit tricky (b'.')b What is your PSN?

[DarkDedede]

Ehh, it was a go at my first real level that I had put work into. Btw the part i put in bold, its avoidable, but a bit tricky (b'.')b What is your PSN?

That may be the case, but that's no excuse not to want to make improvements. A two star rating isn't a bad rating (to me, at least). It basically means the concept has a pulse, but the design needs more thought and polish put into it.

By the way, I finished the rest of the review. I hope that you find the suggestions constructive.

[DarkDedede]

Sack in Arms Series by aagobert

CATEGORY: Story Level Series
DIFFICULTY: Easy

PRIZES:
[spoiler]

Nothing to see here folks
[/spoiler]

Summary:

This level series is composed of two levels: Boot-camp and Tank Mission. The levels are very simple in their construction.

Now I wouldn't say that this level series isn't good. However, I would just say that the design needs to and should improve. It suffers from many design flaws, and is broken in certain key areas. Many of which, if executed differently, could be much more successful.

For example, after I got to the end of the first level, I ended up being squished by something. I noticed that there were no checkpoints, except for at the beginning. Unfortunately, the player needs to use a vehicle to reach the end scoreboard. Well, the vehicle isn't set to respawn in its initial position. Now, had the vehicle respawned, or a checkpoint been placed on the vehicle, the designer would not run the risk of inconveniencing the player.


This could easily have been avoided.

Strengths:

• Story supported the overall experience (still could use some improvement).

Weaknesses:

• Lackluster visuals.
• Default light blue background
• Spelling errors, grammar errors, and net speak abbreviations.
• Bribing for more plays/hearts.
• Lack of checkpoints.
• Vehicles are difficult to operate, and do not respawn to initial position.

Nitpicks:

• Grabbable floors.
• Sackboy cutouts for characters.

SackNun is not pleased.

Ratings:

Originality: 2/5 ★★

Gameplay/Implementation: 1/5 ★

Level Design/Communication: 1/5 ★

Scenery/Presentation: 1/5 ★

Ratings Explanation & Tips

OVERALL SCORE: 1/5 ★ Don't be discouraged. Just keep fighting the good fight

[Level not hearted/Author not hearted]

Suggestions

• Keep looking for ways to improve. No one is expecting mastery on the first attempt
• Try to design original characters for your levels. Sackboy cutouts with a magic mouth just don't cut it for me. I would much prefer some effort going into the character design of the level.
• It is a good idea to have any vehicles respawn at their initial position. That way the player doesn't have to restart the level from the beginning, if the want to get to the end. Odds are they would just quit and go elsewhere.
• You might want to consider adding additional checkpoints throughout the level, especially on top of the vehicle on the first level.. The player shouldn't have to start all the way to the beginning, if they get squished somewhere near the end.
• Try to avoid spelling errors, grammar errors, or text speak abbreviations. It makes for a much better presentation. Try to get other players to proofread your text, if need be.
• Don't use the "If I get X number of plays/hearts, I'll do XYZ." It's really tacky. Just do XYZ anyways, and you'll get more plays/hearts/
• Get people to playtest your level, and give you feedback on what they liked and didn't like. Always look for ways to improve. Remember, if no one is enjoying your level, then it's your job to make sure that changes are made so they enjoy it more.
• Try not to display too many lines of text at one time. Having six-plus lines of text affects readability. I would suggest trying to keep text to a maximum of three lines. Most players won't want to read three lines, much less six or more. You could always break the text up with more than one magic mouth.
• If you are going to use multiple magic mouths try to connect them to one sensor. That way the player can easily read the text in the order that it was intended.

Need I say more?

[Mr Nive]

Great reviews, there are filled with constructive criticism, just hope the creators see it that way.

[DarkDedede]

That's one nice review format there. Looking forward to your review of my level.

Although I should warn you: my level has a fair amount of ceiling-grabbing.

Thanks. It's an upgraded version of what I used for the LittleBigReviewers thread at the workshop. I implemented certain elements from the LittleBigLand review format, since I applied to be a reviewer for the site. Unfortunately, since my format deviated from the way they write their reviews, my application was not accepted. It was somewhat discouraging, since I spent more than a couple hours working on the BB code for the review template. I wasn't going to let all that work go to waste, so I decided to set up shop here. I suppose their lose is your gain.

Now, about grabbable ceiling. When I think about design, it's more about the execution of the elements, as opposed to the elements being executed. It's not that I am against the implementation of such an obstacle. I'm just not a fan of certain implementations. For example, when the grabbable ceiling is extremely long, and over an electric hazard. Too much "wash-rinse-repeat," and a higher chance of hearing that annoying electrocution sound effect.