The House of 1000 Skulls (remastered for LBP 2)

[CCubbage]

I'll queue it up and run through it again tonight. As mentioned, it's a really nice story and has a nice progression. Getting plays obviously requires a catalyst, such as building new levels, getting spotlights, creating a hub with multiple levels.... We're all in the same boat.

[futureboy]

queued it! Will play asap.

[Nejimelliko]

Very well done level. It felt like old Resident Evil games with all these puzzles, keys and atmosphere. The only thing I didn't like is music. I understand that it fits the level, but listening to one track for about 30 minutes is a bit boring. Also, very good visuals.
I missed platinum and gold trophies. If I get all, I'll be able to play that sub-level?

[xiSiCx]

Very well done level. It felt like old Resident Evil games with all these puzzles, keys and atmosphere. The only thing I didn't like is music. I understand that it fits the level, but listening to one track for about 30 minutes is a bit boring. Also, very good visuals.
I missed platinum and gold trophies. If I get all, I'll be able to play that sub-level?

First of all, Thanks for taking the time to play my level and leaving feedback. It is greatly appreciated!

As for the sub-level, the only way to play it is to take the "wrong" path at the end. If you take the "wrong" path, then you cannot access the scoreboard but you can access the sub-level and If you take the "right" path, you will only have access to the scoreboard.

Thanks again for your feedback and I hope you try it again not only to find the trophies but to play the sub-level.
HINT: Look for the glowing light from the trophies.

[fruitmanlolli]

Hello there!

First I want to thank you for taking some time to review and play my level and now I will leave my thoughts on yours!

Well, the gameplay was really quite awesome! I was entertained the whole time and I thought the puzzles were nice. The way the level is set out must have been some kind of nightmare to create and organize but it payed off!

The visuals considering it was mostly made in LBP1 were also pretty good, not really any blank areas and the little details with stickers were sweet!

All in all I think this level was great to play and it got a from me!

[futureboy]

I'm probably not the best person to pass comment on this, as I'm not big on what I call 'traditional' levels.
Playabilty, layout and visuals good, but I got stuck just after the x-ray room (trying to jump up from the metal platform that rises up...tried for about ten minutes and then gave up, sorry. I don't know how much more there was, but I did get taken in, I did want to escape. Some tricksd in there I want to know how you did, like "how do you get an image in the middle of a level entrance/respawn point"?

[xiSiCx]

Thanks you guys for playing my level and leaving some feedback! I really appreciate it.

@fruitmanlolli - I am glad you were able to make it through the level and I am also glad you enjoyed it. You are right, this was a nightmare to put together and I am hoping more people play it because of that. Thanks again and I look forward to checking out more of your levels!

@futureboy - I will be the first to admit that this level is not for everyone. This level takes patience and in some ways plays more like entire game than a level.Not sure exactly where you got stuck. Not sure if its the metal thing in the first room of the X-Ray facilities or if it's just past that on the balcony. If it's in the X-Ray room, then you need to grab the flickering light to reach the hole in the wall. If it's on the balcony, you just need to pull the switch and then use the wood panels to make it up to the platform. The sticker trick was easy. Just get a sticker that is somewhat symmetrical and place one on each side. It takes a bit to line up just right but it's not too hard. Thanks again for taking the time to play my level!

[Tellous]

When catering to the "LBP" audience it's important to remember aesthetics as well as impressive logic. The house needs to say goodbye to the simplicity of LBP 1 and jump into the new complex real estate that is LBP 2.

Notes:
This level is unnecessarily hard. This is the second time I review a level today stating that there needs to be more visual aid. (Ex. a crack on the wall in the beginning showing that you can jump over the half wall. Some arrows towards the freakin' vent and/or something that points out that it can be pulled.) Pretty much more stickers like the 3 skull puzzle.

The yellow switches are easy to understand but making your own switch is more impressive. Or, if you can't let go of the switch at least throw some color on it.

A jetpack?! :/ With a chain?!?!

"There's a hole on the cealing. It's far but I think I can jump up there"

Body ID! Ha I was totally paying attention. A calculator would have been way easier...Wait, that grabinator was there the whole time?

I enjoyed going back into previous rooms.

Final statement. I really dislike those "keys". Maybe use that SIM card decoration on a sticker panel. Also, I suggest a little HUD that shows if you have the key and be able to just walk through the door.

</notes>

If you need help with anything, I'm down fo' whateva'. Send me an invite.

F4F in my sig.

[xiSiCx]

Thanks for playing my level Tellous! I will be sure to check out yours and leave feedback.

This level was originally an LBP 1 level so it's naturally a bit simpler than what can be done on LBP 2, but with that said I do believe it stands well on it's own even in LBP 2. It's a house that I wanted to be to scale with Sackboy's size so real estate will naturally be smaller whether I made it in 1 or 2.

It's funny that you say it is "unnecessarily hard" because my real good friend Mnniska played it and gave me some feedback. And in his feedback he said that he felt like I was holding the player's hand too much and the level was too easy. He said that this level is for people who are patient, like solving problems and exploring. I believe what Mnniska said when he said that this level is for a certain type of player and I shouldn't change it so that it is easier for those who are not patient. Bottom line is that the majority of LBP players want something that they can mindlessly run through in a couple minutes with little to no challenge so that they can move onto the next level... well this level is not for those type and I think I will listen to Mnniska and keep the difficulty right where it is.

I'm not sure what the deal is with the switches (you are the second person to mention that they don't like them) I really like the way they look. Plain and simple and they fit the mood of the level. Yellow is my favorite color so naturally I'm gonna leave them yellow. And I need 2-way switches so I think they are a perfect fit. Sorry to disappoint the switch haters, but they are not going any where... they are too perfect for what I need.

Yes a jetpack with a chain! It works perfect for the part, it looks cool as all hell and it was a feature from the LBP 1 version so I wanted to keep it the same.

The hole in the wall is another one of those difficulty things Mnniska was talking about. I have a movie camera that points to the hole in the wall, I have text stating there is a hole in the wall during the movie camera, I have a light in the hole that lights up for a clue, and I have a grabbable flickering light (the only grabbable flickering light in the level) right next to the ledge needed to reach the hole so I think that if you can't figure it out from all those clues, then you probably don't fit the type of person that this level is aimed at. This is one of the areas Mnniska specified as holding the players hand too much.

Again, if you could not find the grabbinator in that tiny room, then you are not being patient enough because it really is not that hard to find, heck it isn't even hidden.

As far as the Key's go, I like something that the player has to physically grab and carry, plus this was a feature in the LBP 1 version so again I wanted to upgrade my level not completely redo it. Plus in some cases, the Key is part of the puzzle so I don't want to nerf it too much.

Overall, to be successful at this level, you must first explore and assess each room, try and figure out what needs to be done, come up with an execution plan and then try it out. So many people rush into the rooms expecting to know exactly what to do the instant they get there and when they don't, they thinks it's broke or just give up and quit. I implore you to be patient, take your time to think things through and try not to play frantically, it's just not that type of level. This level plays more like a game than a level so don't expect to complete it in a couple minutes. This thing takes a little time to think through and complete.

Thanks again for the feedback and I will be sure to play your F4F level and leave some feedback as well. Maybe we could get together and create some stuff sometime, and maybe see what we can come up with.

[Tellous]

Hm... I guess when I went in I was thinking you were looking for feedback that would get you more plays. But hey if it satisfies the creator.

Great challenging level! Wish I would have had more patience so it wouldn't have been frustrating. May want to be careful with the anatomically correct bodies, doesn't play too well with those... Ugh... Kids... And... Blah... Parents.

[xiSiCx]

Hm... I guess when I went in I was thinking you were looking for feedback that would get you more plays. But hey if it satisfies the creator.

Great challenging level! Wish I would have had more patience so it wouldn't have been frustrating. May want to be careful with the anatomically correct bodies, doesn't play too well with those... Ugh... Kids... And... Blah... Parents.

Well I guess I am looking for plays, but I think I am looking for feedback more. This level, since it's conception on LBP 1 has over 1700 plays and numerous people have givin feedback. This level has been greatly shaped by the feedback that I have received here at LBPC, LBL, LBW and LBN as well as LBP itself. With that said, not all feedback is used because I do have some ideas that I'm stuck on and I'm not breaking from. I'm open to some and I'm stubborn on others... Just the way I am.

I come from a time when video games were really simple and challenging. There was no help, you pretty much had to figure things out on your own. No guides, internets, no fancy graphics so sometimes you couldn't tell what you were looking at let alone what to do. It sounds silly, but there was something special about that feeling. Something more personal. It was just you vs the game. Very isolated. Games like the original Metroid on the NES gave you that feeling. That feeling is pretty much a thing of the past in gaming these days and so I just want to bring a little of that feeling back. I know it's not really what people want out of their gaming experience these days, so I guess really, I'm just looking for those few who do appreciate that feeling of being alone and isolated. Stuck with little to no direction as to where to go or what to do next.

You might ask why someone would appreciate the feeling of isolation and being alone with no help?... Because with that feeling, comes great reward!

As for the 3 bodies, I am a kid and a parent and I have no problems with them. Please don't take it too seriously. They are not done in bad taste and are content not uncommon for "Horror" based entertainment. I'm not out to offend anyone or make any enemies, but if my views of artistic expression do happen to offend you, then I am truly sorry and want you to know, that is not my intention at all.

Thank you for your feedback Tellous! Just because I may or may not use your feedback does not make it bad feedback. As an artist I appreciate all feedback and yours was as good as any. Thanks again!

[Tellous]

I wasn't offended by the bodies. I just didn't want the level to be taken down if some little brat reports it.

[CCubbage]

Went back and checked this out again. I felt the changes made this much more polished. Using the caption instead of magic mouths kept the immersion. Happy fac and a heart.

[xiSiCx]

Sweet, I'm glad you liked the changes. The suggestions you and others made, definitely improved the experience in my eyes and I was hoping others would feel the same. I appreciate the feedback and the help that everyone has provided. I'm not sure if this level has what it takes to make it in the spotlight, but I will be utilizing the feedback and advice that I have absorbed so far in my next level series (which will be epic) to hopefully make the spotlight.

Thanks again to everyone for their feedback, this is truly a very valuable resource!

[hellfire]

Ok, feedback time! Sorry if it's jumbled, I'm on my phone...

Well, where to start-

The good:
Nice visual style
Lighting

The problem:

I was extremely, extremely frustrated with this level. I tried my hardest to finish it, I really did. The first time I played it through, I got to the skull box room, and jokingly dropped one between the two tables, not knowing that they were a key of sorts. It got stuck down there and I had to restart.

The second time, I finally figured out what to do, and that they needed to be put on proper tables. Then followed 20 hours of backtracking and retracing steps to go to other doors that kept opening up. That was frustrating in itself, but I sucked it up, until I got to that room with the little blocks with numbers on them.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to get those on the slots? It's **** near impossible mate! I tried for 20 minutes, and when I finally got the little blue light to turn on on all of the slots, nothing happened. At all... :/

So I had to quit. I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do.

This highlights the major, major problem with your level. I understand making players think for themselves at certain parts, but to consistently give the player no direction at all is a sure way to infuriate them. Its just no fun after you start raging at little numbered blocks.

You NEED to put advice or direction in this game, that triggers where everyone will find it, not just after they've climbed up a box to find there's a jetpack up there...
And the keys, oh the keys. They are just awful, having to lug them around. And why would you put one on the same plane as the tables? You forced me to jetpack it halfway, and STOP, because you didn't make the chain longer, go and find the second jetpack, go back to the halfway, and try and get it past the boxes again, just to reach simple door. That was very close to making me quit right there.

Don't get me wrong, it is an interesting level in it's own right, and it's visual style is unique, but the absolute refusal to help the player in any way, and some very poor game mechanics make this more of a rage-fest than true enjoyment.

My advice to you is this:
-please include directions in your level
-rework the number cubes so they don't slide all to hell when you bump them
-directions
-directions
-directions

If you had directions, my review would be almost overwhelmingly positive, as I would have been able to focus on the level, instead of the headache of what I was supposed to do. Please don't take this the wrong way, it is meant to help your level become the best it can be!

The first time I posted a level, it got shot down with a resounding no, and a bucket load of constructive criticism. But I reworked it
I truly hope you will do the same, as it has so much potential, but as it sits right now, it's just not cutting it for me.

I've read all the comments here so far, I know you said you want people to think, but remember you made this level, what seems challenging to get for you, may be downright impossible for others.