Vectroids (MM Picked!!!!!!)

[CCubbage]

Hello!

Well, it's been a while since I published a level. Obviously, I'm pretty excited about the LittleBigPlanet2 tools and I wanted to release something interesting for my first released level.

So, here's the project:

Build a complete arcade game with all the trimmings, deep and challenging game play, and a lot of replay value. I wanted to build a game similar to "Asteroids", however I didn't want to the result to be simply a smaller LittleBigPlanet version of the original. I didn't want to create simply a survival challenge where I randomly throw objects at the player until they die. I wanted to build it bigger and better, with additional game play elements not found in the arcade version.

The Result? Vectroids!

Vectroids Features:

• 7 stages
• 2 unique power ups
• Wrapping asteroids (controlled by several hundred emitters)
• Many unique enemies in addition to the standard Asteroids enemies
• A 5 life system
• Custom designed destruction for every different enemy
• Some pretty planets and stars in the background
• A round scrolling screen
• A few additional surprises if you survive long enough....

Have a go and let me know what you think! Here's some low-res images for you to enjoy:

http://lbp.me/v/xrebq7

[julesyjules]

Queued. Been looking forward to your first LBP2 shooter!

[Entity]

Also queued. I've been looking forward to seeing what you can create with the new LBP2 tools.

My F4F level is in my sig.

[fullofwin]

Great work! Very polished and a cool look with the vector holo shapes. I was skeptical of anyone creating an arcade game in LBP2 that was actually fun to play...but you certainly pulled it off. The powerups added some nice variety. I found the controls a little awkward at first (for some reason I kept wanting to aim with the right stick) but I got use to them.

Anyway a fun little diversion to end today's create session with...I'm really liking the "recent activity" menu.

[steadler]

Vectroids by CuzFeeshe

Design:
The design was good with really bright and vivid retro colours, which as stated in other reviews i love.
The ship was good as it is a retro style game and needed a retro style ship, anything else would of looked out of place so i think you go it spot on.
The outline effect on everything was genious, it really took me back to old school gaming days, when gaming was about having fun and letting off steam so on this point i award for Design

Sound:
Sound again was good, retro arcade style with not one blip in any of the actions you preformed, just a suggestion tho maybe add a few more SFX in or maybe add a music track in the background, but not very loud.
So for that reason only for Sound

Gameplay:
gameplay is amazing, i played it 3 times in a rown and i will deffinatley be going back at some time to play more, lots of re-playability in any game like this, but you can see the effort that has been put into the level and it makes me want to play it more, deffinatley for Gameplay

Overall:
my overall opinion of Vectroids is its a great little top down Retro fun game, that i guarantee people who appreciate the older arcade style games will love and want to play again and again and again.
Everything is down to a T, and alot of work and effort has been put in, and apart from one other minor factor (for me) this would of gotten a perfect score, but its awarded for Gameplay

Other:
Nothing to add

Overall star rating is

24 STARS

I hope you like my review, check my siggy for my review thread i have just started, do you mind if i post this up on that thread? Also on the recomendations page.
Also in spirit of F4F please review my level in my sig also.
thanks.

[smasher•]

Hey CCubbage, took a run through this one tonight. Very impressed. I loved the title screen, very nice! I only played it twice, so I'll be back for more of that fantastic gameplay.
Great work man!!

[Pickle_of_Fire]

Quite a fantastic throwback to a classic arcade game!


PROS: Vivid color palette and faithfully recreated vector graphics really bring the nostalgia factor while the power ups and enemy variety add a new twist. The sheer number of emitters required to get wrapping meteors is rather impressive and shows the authors commitement and dedication. The intro scroll over the text is classic and made me enjoy playing the game prior to even playing it.

CONS: The toolset's inability to teleport the player makes a screen wrapping spaceship impossible. This caused me much duress as I attempted to screen wrap at full throttle more than once. This isn't an issue with the level, so much as the rules of Asteroids are ingrained into my synaptic response.

Suggestions: Nothing, I think it is an absolute winner as it is. The amount of time you must have spent on it is readily apparent and it is an instant classic. Hearted and smiled upon.


Please give me feedback on the 2 part level in my Sig as per F4F, thanks in advance and keep churning out the awesome!

[CCubbage]

Thanks, Steadler, for the nice review! You can certainly put it up on a review thread.

Sound again was good, retro arcade style with not one blip in any of the actions you preformed, just a suggestion tho maybe add a few more SFX in or maybe add a music track in the background, but not very loud.

Strange - there's a music track in the background - and, in fact, I change the track several times during gameplay later on. There should also be quite a bit of sound effects.

I have your level queued up for next time I'm on - definately tomorrow.

CONS: The toolset's inability to teleport the player makes a screen wrapping spaceship impossible. This caused me much duress as I attempted to screen wrap at full throttle more than once. This isn't an issue with the level, so much as the rules of Asteroids are ingrained into my synaptic response.

I totally agree. The reason I didn't wrap the player ship, however, was for a different reason - the toolset allows it, however when I wrap the asteroids since I can't make them come out at the exact angle from the emitter on the other side of the screen, I realized the ship could die cheaply coming out from the other side of the screen. I ended up going with the round arena just to change it up from Asteroids enough to make the design forgiving.

I've queued up your level to check out!

[jwwphotos]

Hmmm... Ccubbage somebody?

Yeah.. I'll play it.

[steadler]

Strange - there's a music track in the background - and, in fact, I change the track several times during gameplay later on. There should also be quite a bit of sound effects.

I have your level queued up for next time I'm on - definately tomorrow.

It was late, like 2:30am lol, i straied to hear it but maybe my TV was too low, i should of taken that into account, and i will replay that again today at higher volume levels to get the best experience possble in this game.
Sorry for the mistake in my review and congratulations at a 25 star review when i notice i am wrong, good start to my reviewing here at LBPCentral.com.

[TOXIC_KILLA_]

will play it ! cannot wait :P

[OCK]

After admiring possibly the coolest intro screen I have seen in LBP I was quickly brought back to my childhood in the best possible way with flashes of Asteroids on the Atari 2600. I knew I would be in for something special!

This level is old-school in every sense of the word. Games like this would often seem unfairly tough but with each playthrough the player would recognize their mistakes and adjust their strategy (and man is there a lot of strategy here!). Strategic thrusts, subtle drifting, knowing when to stay still, knowing when NOT to go for that enticing power-up beckoning in the periphery. The level encourages replay and it becomes addictive once you grasp the nuances of the design. This is one of the few mini-games where I actually care about my place on the scoreboard and will keep playing until I have a respectable position (currently 6th)

Visually this does everything right, a pure throwback to the glorious arcade games of yesterday. Great choice of blue for the basic asteroids, green spaceships were cool, the red mother ship really stood out when it came boosting onto the playing field and seeing those white ships come attacking upon it's destruction was very cool indeed. I love the destroy animations which are very faithful to the classic. I am guessing you used about a million emitters to make this all work?

Ultimately this level is a must play and an instant classic. I already consider it amongst my top 3 mini-games and I suspect I will keep playing in in hopes of achieving the top spot. Fantastic work, here is a heart and a smile

[mutant_red_peas]

Wow! This looks amazing!

Queued!

(feedback will be left here after I play)

Little creators have the ambition to vastly improve a classic arcade game. I can't wait to play it, it looks completely awesome!

[Entity]

Very good game! The visuals and sound effects were spot on! If it wasn't for the score counter at the top-left of the screen, I would've forgotten I was playing LBP.

It took me a while to get used to the old-school controls, though. That's probably due to playing hundreds of twin-stick shooters. Nice to see you're doing something different.

[wexfordian]

hehe... I beat OCK! In fairness it took me 21 trys

just got to a very cool section where it all changes before dying... now I'm going to have to try again another 20 time to see what the heck was going on there!

[The Adventurer]

Looks great! For sure going to play.

[OCK]

hehe... I beat OCK! In fairness it took me 21 trys

just got to a very cool section where it all changes before dying... now I'm going to have to try again another 20 time to see what the heck was going on there!

I'm up for some friendly competition so I vow to pass you on the scoreboard before the days end. 21 tries? That's what I call dedication I am very curious to see what surprises there are further in the level so that alone warrants further replay.

EDIT:

Took me about 8 tries but it's done, your turn The level just started changing but I was down to my last life and nerves got the best of me. I want to see what happens next!!!

[antman]

I played your version of this during the beta. I was impressed by the visual improvements you made to it. It takes some getting used to the fact that its not a twin stick shooter as I'm so used to playing these days. I never played the arcade back in the day but it seems you might have improved upon the original game. I liked all the added bonuses and powerups that were added since the beta version. The whole feel of the game is very polished it could almost pass for a PSN download lol. Anyway I could get addicted. Hearted for sure.

If you get the chance, try "Jersey S'mores" for F4F. Thanks.

[steadler]

ill be back on it after dinner been looking forward to playing it again. i am then changing my review to 25 stars for the mis-understandinng on my part about sound.

[Loius]

I hate to have to ask this, but how are you destroying the little tiny blue asteroids? They seem to be capable of hitting my ship for a tick or two after I've blown them up. Lost quite a few lives due to my odd play style of not moving at all and shooting whatever's closest - one of them will be right next to me, it'll explode, and then I'll explode as it moves closer for a tick or two before actually disappearing. I had to change how I play to actually dodge things I know I could have shot out of the way.

The music was very quiet for me as well.

I'd also like to see more bugs in the red section - it was a little boring just drifting through with nothing to shoot.

But those issues are inconsequential as I had a blast (once I figured out I had to dodge earlier than normal), especially in that last wave.
Between this and Vertigo you've single-handedly got me hooked on LBP.