Dusk Desert

[Naranja]

A few weeks ago I decided to make a level after a couple of years, so I worked on it for many hours and I think it turned out well. I'm not sure if the standards of levels have changed since the last time I made one but still I'd like to share this here to see what you think about it.

Screenshots

Spoiler: show

Download

All the graphics except for the Pikachu NPCs I made are from the SMBX CGFX pack (the one from two or three years ago I think).

[JupiHornet]

I can't play this because it's an RAR D:

[Danny]

I can't play this because it's an RAR D:

I told you countless times before how about you just get WinRAR or 7zip, both are free and can open RARs.

Also why Pikachu?

[JupiHornet]

I can't play this because it's an RAR D:

I told you countless times before how about you just get WinRAR or 7zip, both are free and can open RARs.

Also why Pikachu?

I don't really like either of those programs, that's why I can't open these files.

Also Pikachu is overrated

[Naranja]

I can't play this because it's an RAR D:

https://www.sendspace.com/file/eikm4t

There you go, that's in Zip.

Also why Pikachu?

Hmm well I used to work on a project long time ago (just finished one world) and Pikachus were somehow 'main characters' there if I remember correctly, so I created this level to fill an spot in that world as it missed one level. I'm not planning on continuing the project though.

[JupiHornet]

UNOFFICIAL REVIEW of DUSK DESERT by NARANJA

Oof...this one was a bit painful for me.

Design (1.5/10)
I must say that I did not enjoy this level. Like, at ALL. The points that you get here are for effort. This level just had all of the qualities that I can't stand in a level: enemy spam, quicksand, difficult navigation, the works. ESPECIALLY that underground section. The first hidden vine is a bit unfair and if I didn't find it faster than I did, I might have stopped playing right there. I swear I had jumped there before D:
Also, like I said, this level is FULL of enemy spam. The first thing that I saw when I started theis level was a Pikachu kicked a...turban...at me...what??? Anyway, it was still unfair. Also, the quicksand right before the underground section has the water effect.

Atmosphere (4.5/10)
The graphics here were nice, but the music was actually really annoying, especially in the overworld parts. I'm not sure where it's from (sounds like a song from a GBA game) but it didn't sound like desert music to me. Also, the Pikachu graphics were pretty funny, but they didn't make any sense. Like, at all.

Other Comments: maybe i could use these pikachu gfx for my magl x2 level >:)

Overall 3/10 (Average)

Considering that you haven't made a level in a while, this actually wasn't bad, but I can't say I really enjoyed it. Sorry D:

[Naranja]

UNOFFICIAL REVIEW of DUSK DESERT by NARANJA

Spoiler: show

Oof...this one was a bit painful for me.

Design (1.5/10)
I must say that I did not enjoy this level. Like, at ALL. The points that you get here are for effort. This level just had all of the qualities that I can't stand in a level: enemy spam, quicksand, difficult navigation, the works. ESPECIALLY that underground section. The first hidden vine is a bit unfair and if I didn't find it faster than I did, I might have stopped playing right there. I swear I had jumped there before D:
Also, like I said, this level is FULL of enemy spam. The first thing that I saw when I started theis level was a Pikachu kicked a...turban...at me...what??? Anyway, it was still unfair. Also, the quicksand right before the underground section has the water effect.

Atmosphere (4.5/10)
The graphics here were nice, but the music was actually really annoying, especially in the overworld parts. I'm not sure where it's from (sounds like a song from a GBA game) but it didn't sound like desert music to me. Also, the Pikachu graphics were pretty funny, but they didn't make any sense. Like, at all.

Other Comments: maybe i could use these pikachu gfx for my magl x2 level >:)

Overall 3/10 (Average)

Considering that you haven't made a level in a while, this actually wasn't bad, but I can't say I really enjoyed it. Sorry D:

Hmm thanks a lot for the review, it seems that either the level standards have changed or you just disliked the obstacles I desgined for personal reasons and not due to standards. Imo I don't think that just because you don't like those types of obstacles (like difficult navigation which adds difficulty to a level and as far as I know it isn't considered unappealing, or quicksand which is something totally valid and used often in desert levels). Anyways, everyone has their own opinion about stuff so I respect yours.

Though what I really disagree about is that I spammed NPCs and the fact that you say that the whole level is NPC spam. Maybe some generators went a little too fast and if you took so long in some parts many NPCs would get stacked in one place but other than that I'm pretty sure I didn't overuse NPCs like you make it sound.

Oh, and I understand that they didn't make any sense haha, they're just me using a little bit of my creativity. You may use them if you want and it'll be nice if you give credit.

On the other hand, it would be cool if a Level Judge could review this level, it would be really helpful to get some other advice.

[JupiHornet]

Alright, fair enough. I'm still convinced that the level was spanmy but the judges can decide that :P

[Choco]

Every time I go to school and come back, some other LJ has reviewed the level I was going to do.

So I'll say this now; when I get home, I'll review this level.

[Naranja]

Every time I go to school and come back, some other LJ has reviewed the level I was going to do.

So I'll say this now; when I get home, I'll review this level.

Thank you, I'm looking forward to that.

[Choco]

Completely forgot about this. :/

I think we're gonna be snowed in tomorrow, so I'll have plenty of time to review your level then. My schedule hasn't been very kind to me this week.

[Choco]

My review is here.

Dusk Desert
Official Review

Design/Gameplay - 3/10
..hmm... well... a lot of things can be said here.

Alright, so this was a decent level, but it had a lot of issues. First of all, those invisible vine blocks are just mean. Why are they invisible? I almost gave up when I fell down that pit. But lets talk about something else first. The NPCs. I agree with Turtwig, they were spammed. Now, the level was very cramped. There wasn't much room to move. Maybe if there was, we wouldn't be talking about NPC spam right now. Because I didn't have any area that I could dodge the NPCs, except on the floating section with all the backtracking and switch blocks... While we're talking about that, how exactly are they floating? Even for Mario, that's just not right. It was a decent-length level, maybe a little on the long side, but it was fine. You... uhh... kind of sticked to one theme... sorta. We were in a desert, then a pyramid, then some floating sand bricks... I got a little confused.

So anyway, why did you put that midpoint... where you put that midpoint? Chances are, nobody's going to go and get that. They'll either forget about it, or realize its not worth getting to. I personally just continued playing, even after it was available. (to be honest with you, I forgot how to get to it)

Our next subject is gimmicks. You had one. That's a step above some levels. But was it executed well? I don't really think so. You had to stray off the path to get a shell so you could hit a switch block that you couldn't hit as the player. Then you had to backtrack and get to the switch blocks that came on/off so you could continue. Backtracking isn't typically a nice thing, and it wasn't in a level like this. Also, you had to hit a switch block and make some sand fall so you could reach the path to move on. One complaint; where did all that sand come from? Think about that.

And the theme of this level? You called it a desert, but it my eyes, its some sort of funky pyramid. Adherence to your level's name is actually pretty important.

Let's talk about some more technical issues now.

Spoiler: show

You cannot get down here, even by crouching.


You can very easily turn this place into a 1up generator. Look at my life count. This is the place with the Pikachu generator, where you have to get a shell to hit the blue switch block that was earlier on in the level.


How does one make this jump?


If you end up down here, you're stuck. Period.

Graphics/Atmosphere - 5/10
This wasn't as bad, but it had its own issues. It was all mostly SMB3. That's good. But as with the design of your level, it's nowhere near perfect.

First off, the Pikachus change color when they don't have their... weird hat thingies. How does that make sense? Second of all, why do the Pikachu statues have spikes on their heads? Also, why did you make the giant shell... a... dead Pikachu? That's just creepy.

You also made some other bad choices. Let's start with this one;

I don't like the wood at all in this level. The colors of it just don't go with everything else. But it's pretty bad here. It's half floating on sand, which NEVER looks good.

The sand was also supposed to be piling up on top of the temple. Here, its floating.

If you're going to defy logic in this way, at least use upside-down slopes instead of a bunch of corner pieces. This just looks terrible.

I don't really have much more to say about this, except for a technical issue. The ? blocks turn into used blocks that fit with the tileset, but Brick Blocks turn into their normal yellow. An example is here.


Overall Score - 4/10
This isn't the worst thing in the world, but it needs a lot of improvement. This level shall now go in the "Average" subform.

And yes, I just said "shall".

[JupiHornet]

OH NO YOU DIDNT JUST SAY SHALL