Hey so I was thinking of hosting a contest based around the infamous bramble levels from Donkey Kong Country 2.
Rules (Failure to follow rules results in being disqualified) :
Don't put your name in any of the files
Don't post any screenshots of the level nor a download link in the comments
You must submit your level before the deadline.
You may only submit one level, if you send two levels the second will be disqualified.
No joke levels, joke levels will not be judged.
Give your level a unique name. Nothing random or funky though (like no "Poopy Dance 52" or something unrelated to the level)
Level can end in any fashion.
Bramble Graphics are required.
Additional Custom Graphics would be preferred
Bramble Recolors can help make your level stand out too, but also not required (hence I can supply different backgrounds where you can recolor the background objects based on the background)
Custom Music is preferred, but not required (Donkey Kong Country Music or other unique music would be cool if you can)
Adding a boss is optional Edit - A bramble background setting isn't required, but may make things much easier for you. The idea is to integrate brambles as the general theme, so if you want to have a general themed level (lava, ice, underwater, desert, swamp, cave, mountain, sky, etc) that is perfectly fine if you're able to involve brambles in an effective way (hence recoloring brambles may help you out despite being bothersome to some).
Judges: (No more judges are needed. If you really do want to judge still though, pm me. Otherwise these are the five judges for this contest.)
The Thwomp King
MECHDRAGON777
Miles Troopa
Fennor
witchking666
Contestants: (BOLDED PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO'VE SUBMITTED THEIR LEVEL) andialifbatara
BlazingZtar755
Daemon64 SamyPlaysSmbx
Nien RoundPiplup
How to Send a Level
Send me a download link with the level. It'd be easier to send me a link through Mediafire personally, though I'm unsure of other judge's preferences once more judges sign up.
Deadline: May 31st (Deadline may be pushed depending on how many participants and their progress)
Prizes:
A large pack of music (credit goes to witchking666)
Also, block 598 (the jellyfish) is generally used to cause the brambles to hurt people (unless you have alternate brambles to use and there's another way for brambles to hurt people. They are invisible when you use the custom graphic for it, so it might be recommended to use the default graphic for a duration of your building.
Any other questions feel free to reply on here or PM me.
I wish everyone best of luck!
Bramble Graphics Pack (UPDATED) (You will have to recolor bramble background objects depending on the background you use, but that may help you with appeal depending on what you go for) http://www.mediafire.com/download/0v8b2 ... s_Pack.zip
I opened up this level to see some nice graphics, but I failed to see any brambles in that initial screen. I assumed the brambles would appear at some point, but there remained none. I actually really wanted to like this level. Something about it seemed nice with a unique background. some relaxing music, and some standout graphics. Unfortunately I was disappointed with graphics that weren't fully developed whenever the enemies were killed or hurt. The giant koopa for example would revert to a standard smb3 koopa, which would eventually clash with the smw koopas that appeared. The flying piranha plant was out of place too, where it doesn't fit having it in a wasteland, though I'd have let this slide if the brambles appeared on this level. The flying piranha lacks any objects to throw at the player, but I assume that was intention. The lack of hints at where there are secrets hurts this level too. The level lacks background objects that could make the checkpoint stand out (I swear I didn't see it at all until my final play through of this level). The level hurt most when I saw that it didn't seem to be complete, but I made sure to check with the participant, and I was informed this was the final product. Lastly, this is a bramble contest. You don't need to have the music and backgrounds I supported, but there's practically nothing that says this level is bramble wasteland. It's simply a wasteland. Again I wanted to like this, but I can't because of the issues I encountered. I saw the potential this level could've been, but it failed on many parts.
1.5/10
Colorless Bramble Swampy
I was impressed to see that this level took the resources I supplied and enhanced them by having the grayscale color theme. The music was perfect with this, giving an unsettling feeling to go with the atmosphere. So I give props for having the visuals and music down perfectly! As far as the level, it plays decently well. As one thing I noticed early on, it'd be nice if there was a distinct difference between the cheep-cheeps that jump and the ones that swim, but maybe that's just me being too picky. The bouncing platforms is a nice touch, but I have experienced issues in past levels that used this mechanic and all of the sudden the platforms bounce waaay too high to use safely. I didn't encounter the issue with this level fortunately for you, but for future reference I'd give the platforms a height limit by adding a line and second end for the top height. I appreciate how this level warns you about the brambles (even though it's generally obvious, there's always someone out there that may experiment and try to touch them XD hahaha) and how the signs mention that mud is good to walk on (another thing that should be obvious, but it's nice to have out there). This level did give me some issues with lag as well, but that wasn't always the case. Some platforming was a little cramped and hard to pull off at times too (especially with Link). The level is nearly impossible to complete with the rinkas (if that's the right name... the spiny gears is what I'm pointing at) because 3/5 characters can actually spin jump, so if you're playing as Peach or Link, you'll need to save up on health and power-ups by not getting hurt easily. So I think some of the platforming didn't consider every character, and I don't believe I was informed that the level wasn't fully beatable with certain characters (again you would have to do well with not getting hurt as much otherwise). There's the occasional background object dispute where I saw a line for a platform interfere with some brambles which is quite a downer. The piranha plants scattered throughout the map helped keep focused on all of my surroundings which is a nice touch to have, and the event blocks help give the level life in its gloomy setting. The part with the three platform lines is rather difficult to pull off too, and waaay to short of a section, so I think it'd be best to not have it in there or have take a bigger role in the level possibly. If I didn't mention earlier, the gears didn't really fit with the spooky forest setting, but attempts at giving a touch of factory in it, but it does sound unsettling too with the level theme, so I'll give you that. Otherwise the level was quite long and pretty difficult, and I'm aware that there was care in this level too. Fixing up this level would benefit it, and I recommend making it playable with every character, or make it so some characters are prohibited from venturing into this colorless bramble swampy. The level did kinda drag out, where I probably wouldn't replay it too much, but I still recommend for players to try it out. Otherwise good job with this.
6/10
Brambles and Posion Water
This was another level that seemed to have been taken care of. It also used resources, but it didn't enhance too much on them (which isn't necessarily a bad thing considering you used what you believed would create the best product). I can't judge the music because I supplied it, and I love this music with all my heart. I would recommend to change the color of the bramble background objects to go with the background itself more, but that's also partially my fault for not supplying the graphics since I wasn't able to make some alternate colors until right before the deadline (and I only completed two different alternate colors). The level also informs the player to avoid brambles which is again good to do just in case. It would be nice to have been able to have a subtle clue into what brambles we were able to walk through. I would've never caught the easter egg if it weren't by accident. I would also suggest that there aren't small brambles sticking out of the mud. I like the intention, but I fear most people would initially think it might be hurtful too. Funny thing too I noticed, and that's that Link's downward sword attack bounces off of the brambles. I didn't try this in any other bramble level, but I just wanted to say I discovered this on your level (this won't affect the score of course). The easter egg is a nice touch, and I wish the background had a less blurry image. The song for this is nice of course, and the platforming is fun and difficult too! I wish I could see the bottom blocks when I first entered this and at the end by the way, I feared I was gonna end up walking or jumping into my demise. The mini neckies were a little overused as well and made some parts more difficult and cramped than need be. The zinger on the platform cruise section is obnoxious too and nearly forces you to get hurt if you are a new or standard player. The bosses are impossible to defeat as link sadly, and they require crucial timing to pick up the eggs (which I wish were cannonballs or something fitting to the bazookas). Overall though I enjoyed this level the most. This level was short, but it was still fun. It didn't drag out for too long, and I find it has nice replay value for what it is. Great job on this level!
-Looks like a normal level at first. But it simply is incomplete. I have no idea where to go in the second room, I also can't find more sections in the editor.
-There is a Lakitu like plant in the air, that doesn't really do anything. Is it supposed to throw stuff?
-There are many enemies that already walked off the cliff before you can even reach them.
-It uses stuff from the bramble tileset, but it doesn't really take advantage of that, it doesn't feel like a bramble level.
It looks decent though, but since that is the only good thing about it I can't give more than
2/10
Colorless Bramble Swampy:
-I like the atmosphere. The music fits the black and white style well
-It is nice that you tried out different game mechanics. Like the 3 moving platforms where you have to get on the right one so that you don't hit the brambles.
-It is not really clear that you can't jump on the Tiki things. I think they are burning, but you can only recognize that if you know the DK games.
-In the end there is a room with a switch, but you can't get out of there, the pipe has no warp. What is the point of that room either way? The switch blocks that block the way to the pipe that leads to the star room are already turned off before you go into that room.
Overall it is nice to play, it has some flaws though and could have been executed better.
6/10
Brambles and Posion (poison?) Water:
-does the best job in feeling like a bramble level. The brambles are always placed in a way so that they are relevant for the gameplay.
-Not only the design, but also the atmosphere fits a DK bramble level.
-many enemy death effects are goombas, should have changed that
-Enemy placement feels a little imbalanced sometimes. The bee at the moving platform directly after the midway point is very hard to avoid without a fire flower.
-Can die after getting the star. Not a big deal though since you usually shouldn't have built up speed before getting it, so it is very unlikely that you will fall into the pits if you don't do it on purpose.
Overall I enjoyed this level the most. It has some minor flaws, but the other levels have bigger flaws.
WHERE ARE THE BRAMBLES ?!?!?!?!
no seriously where are they, and why did you (or whoever made those graphics)
not make death effects or even recolor all the necessary npc's?
like if you jump on those giant parakoopas, they will change into regular smb3 koopa troopas
and same with those galoomba's if you jump on them they will change into the regular smw galoomba
and why the heck did you use two kinds of spinies?
and what does the lakitu do other then throwing air?
and that only was the top of my list of complaints
because the level isnt even beatable
there are 2 smw stars in it but there is absolutely nothing that ends the level
did you even finish this level?
Score 3.5 -10
Brambles and poison water
this was actually a pretty good level
other than the fact that the boss was just a duo of birdo's
making it not really enjoyable...
and there was one big graphical flaw going on
the brambles that hurt you actually use the same graphics as the ones that don't making it almost impossible to tell the difference
and what does that one smb3 styled ?-block do in the second section while all the other ones are smw styled
and i don't know if this is on purpose or not but the zingers can be killed with fire and the death effect is just a goomba (what is wrong with making death effects doods)
i really liked the gameplay though
but that easter egg though
it was kinda funny
but the fact stays that nobody with decent brain will walk into a wall of thorn bushes
thinking there might be an easter egg there (i discovered it after playing the level)
score 6,2 -10
Colorless bramble swampy
this level was awesome in a way
and only had a few flaws
there was one giant flaw in the first section
there was a blue switch that you were FORCED to hit in order to advance
but if you accidently kill the cheep cheep and the tiki there is no way to do so, so you cannot advance
but other than that, there is not much negative content really
i really liked that obstacle with the line platforms and the brambles in the 3rd section
and the colorless theme was executed quite well too
氷 wrote:This ignored the level theme gimmick and was unfinished. I do not think I have the right to review a level that is unfinished, and as buggy as this. My personal 1,5 is a gift. Take the buggy level and finish it before you submit it. I will re-review it if you do. The flaming enemies are placed to low, and a lot of enemies are placed to high. The fling Giant Koopa shrinks when hit, it is all unnatural. There are places you can crouch under slopes and a leaf-coin block to plummet under the sizable. The two stars are way to easy to get to. I had to look in the editor to see where I was supposed to go, and I found no exits. Please finish this level. Also, I did not see a single spike. How is this a bramble level? This should not be submitted into a bramble contest. If this was not a Bramble only contest, this would of scored a bit higher. The music is from New Super Mario Brothers Wii and it only fits because you did not follow the rules of "bramble levels only" and still. I congratulate for using Emral (Enjl)'s tile-set better then me; other then the graphics, this still has a long way to go til you reach the other levels in this contest.
氷 wrote:The boss was overly difficult since you have to land on the Birdo egg, and grab (spin-jumping off of it (this is a glitch)) or grab the egg and hover over to the mud slope. The Mud has the spike brambles comeing out of it, making it look not save. There was an Easter Egg by sliding into the wall of brambles at the bottom right of the section. You really do have a few neat ideas though. The Snifit-birds were used nicely! The Hammer Brothers are placed in fair spots. The Music fits, but is not memorable! The music used in the Easter Egg room is unfitting and I would give off just for that room. The music in the Boss room is labeled as "FF6 The Popular Song" but in truth, it is Final Fantasy 6's boss theme, and the fact I do like that song, it may not have been the best choice for that boss. I do like other Final Fantasy boss themes more. Why did you go with it instead of Mario or DK stuff? It fits, but still. The Atmosphere is held through-out the level, however, the joke at the end about "bramble lovers" made me laugh. Was this meant to be a joke level in this contest? Also, Why did this have broken death effects?
氷 wrote:Okay, this level creeped me out, but had three game breaking errors! Each time you can raise a block hitting switches, if you fall off, you can not get back up! Also, if you go past the saws in sector 4, you get to a switch that has no use! It also leads to the only pipe that can not be re-entered! It is the only pipe that needs to be re-entered, yet it is the only one that can-not. On the plus side, I discovered a Link Glitch in that room! Before the check-point, you claim that you need to Spin jump across the saws; you however forgot to mention that Link can Spike Pogo and the Princess can Hover across that! I have done both without getting hit! There are spots that make me fell like it is impossible without Link or Peach. Just because of how narrow the jumps are. The first time you hit the switch that I assume is blue, you actually open the pipe so going to the pipe that is a no-return is useless. You would of gotten a 10 if you had not overlooked these simple oversights.
On top of that, the Black and White recolors you did made it look even creepier! Your atmosphere is spot on to the idea. This is also not being taken from the fact that you can use the crouch glitch in several places on pipes to get stuck in the ground, because only me and bossedit8 would even try stuff like that. The enemy placement is at it's peak through-out the level, giving it immense difficulty that is kept balanced through-out the entire level. I will not torture myself to beat this with Mario, Luigi, or Toad. Even with the errors you have in this level, you will win this contest!
SuperMario12345 wrote:I will the contest join too!
Welcome to the contest as well. I'll try to update this as frequently as possible. Also prize suggestion would help to if you guys want to PM me ideas or graphics.
SuperMario12345 wrote:I will the contest join too!
Welcome to the contest as well. I'll try to update this as frequently as possible. Also prize suggestion would help to if you guys want to PM me ideas or graphics.
Sorry but I actually don't want to enter. I didn't read the rules all the way.
I can also spread this to other forums too if need be. What other SMBX forums are as big as this one? I'm not sure how Knux forums and NSMBX forums are holding, but are there others as well?
There isn't really another big as this now. NSMBX hasn't really get activity but they working on it. Knux Forum? There is like zero stuff happening expect arguments rn.
Sinem wrote:There isn't really another big as this now. NSMBX hasn't really get activity but they working on it. Knux Forum? There is like zero stuff happening expect arguments rn.
Ah gotcha. You interested in joining Sinem?
Also I added reference videos from Donkey Kong Country 2 in case people didn't know what bramble levels are.
How does this topic gain the fire flower icon on the general topics page?
