Super Mario Bros. X Forums

Please reply with what you think!

Screens: Sendspace download: http://www.sendspace.com/file/q689eu

By the use of your screenshots, it looks very neat. How your design is builded up with all those varieties you made is clever. Two things what I do not like is if this Level is themed as "Volcano", why is there a random Waterfall at the second screenshot but maybe it could just me because I did not even played that Level yet. The second thing is I can see a little cutoff by the grass and dirt at the second screenshot. Maybe you have those inside corners to cover it up or use something else that does not make this little cutoff by that.

Currently I am unable to record this level because I am not at Home. At Friday at around 16 o Clock (European Time +1(?)) I have full access to my Home and hopefully play & record it for you.

The volcano area could use some scenery, and I believe you start in a jungle before the volcano, which means it could be like the Bahamas Island and the volcano world map in the game "Spy Mouse", which is quite an odd idea.

bossedit8 wrote:Two things what I do not like is if this Level is themed as "Volcano", why is there a random Waterfall at the second screenshot but maybe it could just me because I did not even played that Level yet.

My idea was to have the level be like an inactive volcano where only the inside was filled with lava and barren, this would allow a bit more freedom for the outside to be more forest like. The point of the waterfall was to be the source of the water at the very bottom of the level when you begin, and to kind of interconnect the path together. The reason why there is water at the bottom of the level is so that the player doesn't die every time they miss a jump on moving platforms, later in the level this is removed for added difficulty.

This is a really fun level to play through. Waiting until the Paratroopa wasn't perfectly aligned with the jump I had to make was certainly annoying, but I soon found a way around it.
I like the change in scenery as I played the level. As someone pointed out, there are cut off edges in many parts of the level, including one of your screenshots, but they're all pretty much the same thing.

My playthrough:



Original YouTube Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noT5DI3BX7I

Review: Thwomp Volcano Ascension

Summary: In terms of level design, it was decent. It was simple platforming and dodging enemies. Difficulty wise, I would say around average or a little bit below average. In terms of asthetics, graphics and music choices were alright. However, I didn't necessarily feel like I was scaling the outside of the volcano in the first and third sections, but that's just me.

Suggestions: I feel like you can make the level stand out more by using different graphics to capture that feel of scaling a mountain/volcano. In addition, what's the purpose of the key you find if you decide to not take the SMB3 exit at first? Unless I missed something, there isn't a purpose to the key. Perhaps you should try placing a hidden vine block that's not hard to discover, which leads to a 3up moon. I think that would work better. Other than that, not bad.

Final Score: 7/10
Level Status: Pretty Good

m4sterbr0s wrote:In addition, what's the purpose of the key you find if you decide to not take the SMB3 exit at first? Unless I missed something, there isn't a purpose to the key.

The key is for the key hole that is hidden behind a thwomp in the final section. I tried to make it episode friendly by having a secret exit.

Aesthetically, the level needs serious improvements The first and the last sections seem alienated from the volcanic theme, and the thwomps seem out of place. There are loads of cutoffs especially in the first and second sections:

The gameplay suffers from serious issues as well. Jumping in the water at the beginning (the water under the moving platforms) will get the player killed because there's no way out. I do like the use of moving layers, however. There's an area where you have to wait for the moving ground to get close and I think you should add SMW lines to make the moving ground more obvious. I was inclined to make a blind jump because I couldn't see the moving ground.The second section made me realize how little this level revolves around the volcano theme. The volcano looks incredibly barren as there are no scenery objects. You should have added a ceiling in the volcano section and walls on all sides to make it look more appealing. The way you hid the keyhole was ingenious, but also pretty hard to figure out.

Other than that, the level is of average quality and needs improvements but it's generally OK. Good work!