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Episode 2 Level Review and Testing Discussion

The second SMBX collab!
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snoruntpyro
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by snoruntpyro »

Frightening Factory by Darkonius Makavar [Approved]
Lyrani Desert by Mabel [Approved]
Frolic by Mikkofier [Approved]

In other news, the number of approved levels now outnumber the level of rejected levels, and the number of approved levels is fast approaching the amount of levels sitting in the queue. Woo!
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SAJewers
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by SAJewers »

Can I get a couple of reviews for Industrial Pandeonium? Got 1 spot left for World 5-1, and that would fit it.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by snoruntpyro »

WELL IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT

Industrial Pandemonium by Axon [Approved]
Hillside Romp by zmonbobbo & WestonSmith [Approved]
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Mabel
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by Mabel »

Pyro wrote: Lyrani Desert by Mabel [Approved]
I forgot to change the powerup for raocow.

i will do that since its not possible to exit the bonus room without the correct powerup
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Darkonius64
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by Darkonius64 »

Pyro wrote:Frightening Factory by Darkonius Makavar [Approved]
Lyrani Desert by Mabel [Approved]
Frolic by Mikkofier [Approved]

In other news, the number of approved levels now outnumber the level of rejected levels, and the number of approved levels is fast approaching the amount of levels sitting in the queue. Woo!

Yay thanks for approving my level, Pyro!
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WestonSmith
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by WestonSmith »

MonkeyShrapnel wrote:Abode of the Bunnies - Approved
Level Suggestions - The secret leek having two exits at the end feels odd and overly meta (outright referring to the player beating the level). I'd probably suggest ditching the two choices and simply having one pipe that re-enters the level; whether that one pipe is right where you entered the secret area or a pipe closer to the exit is your call. Also, ditch the square box surround the leek; it looks odd and ugly with the leek floating out of it.

Thoughts - Between this and Muffin Bluff, I've earmarked you as possibly the most improved Talkhaus level designer (especially compared to something like Time For a Romp, which you rightly decried as being bad). You're level design is strong and generally well thought out, your music choices interesting and memorable, and the challenge feels spot on right. Without digging into crazy Lua shenanigans, massive graphic swaps, text dumps, or even anything particularly new, you managed to produce two VERY solid levels, each memorable and thoroughly enjoyable. Good work.
SeriousUguu wrote:Sweet Desert - Rejected
Let me just list what irked me.
-The Player 1 Default was in a trap room. I was stuck there doing nothing for about a minute waiting for the level to start.
-No Lua filters.
-Army of Furbas dropping from above
-Random, spammy enemy placement
-Very bland visuals (and sometimes outright ugly)
-Lopsided midpoint
-A "shoot em all" segment that offers nothing new or interesting

There might be some merit here, but I think this one would need serious work to reach playable status. And since the level author appears to be MIA, I'm not holding my breath on this one getting the TLC it needs to be something of quality. Rejecting.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by snoruntpyro »

ROUND 1! FIGHT
Mikkofier wrote:ping
Louiejub wrote:ping
Axon wrote:ping
Sheath and the Mysterious House by Mikkofier [Approved]
Sweet Desert by SeriousUguu [Rejected]
Goo's Gym by InvisibleSandwhich [Rejected]
Casually Underwater by Anshwo [Rejected]
Castle Climb During Wintertime by Louiejub [Approved]
Ann Brown and the Fountainhead by Axon [Approved]
Gravity Falls by ztarwuff [Approved]

AXON MY VIDEO GOT CONTENT ID'D BY CHINESE BLUES YOU GOTTA CHANGE THE MUSIC SORRY
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by Mikkofier »

Pyro wrote:ROUND 1! FIGHT


Sheath and the Mysterious House by Mikkofier [Approved]
Seeing this level being played by another human being is just heartbreaking to me, because it really shows just how much of a piece of crap this level is. I wouldn't have approved it. Just... put it in the Rejected pile and maybe I'll remake it from scratch at some point.
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Axon
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by Axon »

Thank you very much for the criticism! I'm definitely going to change most of the things you mentionned, especially the boss. I always thought the boss was the weakest part of the level, but people who played the level didn't seem to have a problem with it.

Pyro wrote: AXON MY VIDEO GOT CONTENT ID'D BY CHINESE BLUES YOU GOTTA CHANGE THE MUSIC SORRY
Yes, SAJewers had mentioned a problem with that song, but I was waiting until another judge's review to change anything so I could decide if it was worth keeping (and improving) the level.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by WestonSmith »

Alpherio wrote:Arctic Fissure - Rejected
Filters - Add a Lua filter rather than a block filter. Consider filtering out mounts, since Red Sacks break the level.

Level Suggestions - Provide a tutorial section to the start of the level. Something to show off both the Ice Breaking concept and the lava freezing concept. Swap the graphics (or change the colour) on enemies who can't be frozen (it's extremely odd to face enemies I know I can freeze and find out it doesn't work). Fix the snowball throwing Goopa (he keeps throwing, even when frozen). I'd consider dropping the Ice power up in favour of the snowball flavour, but that might be a REALLY bad idea.

Thoughts - The idea is there, but the execution feels off. Aside from the above suggestions, the level has a general feel of "first draft." I'm not sure I can offer much meaningful criticism on the actual level design, but it feels like it needs work. I'm not sure Alpherio is even around, but this level might be worth saving from the scrappy heap if someone feels so inclined to fix it up.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by GenesisJames »

Pyro wrote:ROUND 1! FIGHT


Castle Climb During Wintertime by Louiejub [Approved]
Thanks for the approval. Yeah, I'll try to find a high-quality version of Cossack Stage 2. And it WAS winter themed! It's more subtle since you're on a castle, but all outside backgrounds are the snowy hills, there's ice everywhere, the pipes are frozen/slippery, and I used the snow-covered fences for the mountains under the castle.

To address filter concerns, I tested and beat every part of the level with every character, so no need to worry about that.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

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Axon
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by Axon »

Thank you very much for the review!
About the zip-through-walls glitch thing, I just tried it at the place with the moving pipes and died because when I touched the moving block. I'm guessing it's probably not possible to use it for a shortcut.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by SAJewers »

Bit late, but why find different music for the second half when you could just reuse the music in the first half?
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by snoruntpyro »

SAJewers wrote: Bit late, but why find different music for the second half when you could just reuse the music in the first half?
You could also do that, yeah. I honestly didn't really think about it, other than the music sounded kinda bad in the second half and needed some kind of changing.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by SAJewers »

I'd keep it the same. No reason to change it.

Also, who did the third approval for Gravity Falls? I only see 2.

EDIT: Something I just noticed in Pyro's review of Gravity Falls: high chance of a Kaizo Trap at the end of the boss there.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by Hoeloe »

Pyro wrote: The Descent of Nine by Hoeloe [Approved]
Thanks for the review! Just goes to show how much difference a checkpoint makes. The older version only had one midpoint and involved repeated chaining of lunapoints, with a short section of each circle before it. Iteration times were a nightmare.

Also the difficulty has been substantially toned down from the first version. It used to be borderline kaizo.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by ztarwuff »

SAJewers wrote:I'd keep it the same. No reason to change it.

Also, who did the third approval for Gravity Falls? I only see 2.
Duvi0. He's on the list, right?
EDIT: Something I just noticed in Pyro's review of Gravity Falls: high chance of a Kaizo Trap at the end of the boss there.
That's why I don't want it moved to the approved list until I can get a chance to enact pyro's suggestions.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

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I only see him and Pyro approving it.

Also, if it wasn't mentioned in any of the reviews, throw some checkpoints in there.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by ztarwuff »

SAJewers wrote:I only see him and Pyro approving it.
Huh, you're right. Where'd I see the third one?
Also, if it wasn't mentioned in any of the reviews, throw some checkpoints in there.
You mean in addition to the existing checkpoint?
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by SAJewers »

I would put 2 extra checkpoints in there, 1 right at the start of the secret route (so you don't have to do the p-switch thing every time), and 1 right before the boss. That would make the secret less aggravating for me, and I'd probably approve it.

Also, is the dog boss a reference?
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by snoruntpyro »

ALRIGHT you BUTTS i reviewed all of your levels
Jappio wrote:ping
Isrieri wrote:ping
Duvi0 wrote:ping
A Lock's Fate by Jappio [Rejected]
HISSATSU! by Isrieri [Rejected]
Fire Production Land by Duvi0 [Approved]
Frenzy Citadel by Duvi0 [Rejected]
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by ztarwuff »

SAJewers wrote:I would put 2 extra checkpoints in there, 1 right at the start of the secret route (so you don't have to do the p-switch thing every time), and 1 right before the boss. That would make the secret less aggravating for me, and I'd probably approve it.
Sure, but I need to play around with an example level. I learn best when I can dissect other people's code.
Also, is the dog boss a reference?
It's a reference to one of the secret endings to Silent Hill 2.
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Re: Episode 2 Review Thread

Post by Oddwrath »

Pyro wrote: review
WestonSmith wrote: review
Thank you both for approving Bat an Eye! It took a lot of testing and reworking to make that one better and I'm glad to see it all payed off. 2 things though:
1) Am I allowed to edit my level anymore even though it's already approved? Just some tidying up, nothing major.
2) I dunno why the LunaLua code broke in Pyro's video. Can somebody more versed in LunaLua explain why it did?
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