New non-AGS game: Darkside Adventures

[Nikolas]

85%? That's quite a lot...

Anyways... I'm back at 1.6... It's proving quite a challenge... I wonder what these stars are... the dark ones, that do nothing...

Eitherway I've still to gather more diamonds... so...

But it is a great little game, and if you dont' mind I will promote it elsewhere as well.

[Bernie]

Dark stars? Some levels have stars as background graphics, or maybe you're talking about something else. Those stars in the air are definitely backgrounds, though.

Feel free to tell others about the game! I always feel a little bad about posting about it on other places because it feels like... pimping it, or something.

[DoorKnobHandle]

Okay, I'll take my time to give you a more detailed feedback of your game, Bernie.

First of all, I wouldn't do this, if I wouldn't be absolutely happy with what you created. I think "Darkside Adventures" is an amazing fun game that I'd rather have on my hard-drive than any kind of emulator and Super Mario part.

Some points though:

- Your level-design is outstanding, however I now think I've found a major-annoyance: I'm on the tower-level and the bar of blocks follow me (like in Super Mario). It's a rather hard and long way to get there, and once this bar gets you, it's game over. You've lost all lifes. This is the first time I've lost the will to keep on playing the game, because it's just so hard to nail those run-up-the-wall-jumps the first time and the game doesn't even give you a second chance and makes you start the whole hard level all over. The other tricky parts where always well covered with a save-station right in front of them, which is part of your great game-design, but this part really seems off to me.

- I loved how you made the player go back and collect 800 diamonds before letting him pass on that tower station as well. First, I thought: "Oh no. I'll have to go back and look for all those big things. That can't be fun", but your game taught me better. After a little while it was great fun to search for all those hidden items, especially since once you found them and finished the level, the game would save that progress. This was all really great, however I think you could've explained what the player should do a tad bit better. Your sign in front of the tower with this message confused me and still confuses me. I think it should rather say: "You'll need 800 diamonds to pass, go find them!" or something other than giving you trading-prices.

- Your enemies are as great as your game- and level-design, however one thing about jumping enemies (especially those green blobs that jump and spawn a small mine and the jumping cannonballs) always confused me. When you jump on them while they jump themselves it seems to be kinda random who gets the damage. In lots of situations, I jumped on them the first time while they sat on the ground (which damaged them correctly), then I hit them a second time (same thing happens), and while falling down to hit the final third time, they jump up to do their attack and I get hurt, which didn't seem very logical.

- One or two times I managed to touch a level boundary in a corner and somehow died instantly.

- Just an idea: I would've liked to see some possibilities to choose levels - even if the player needs to do both anyways, it would've just felt great to see two levels unlock themselves after finishing one.


That's it, I think, I'll add more comments if I can think of more or remember those aspects I forgot now while typing the post. Again, I want to make sure you understand that this game is one of the best one-man-productions I have ever played. You should announce it on GameDev.net as you did with Kitty, I'm sure there'll be tons more fans!

[Bernie]

Thanks for the feedback! They'll be things I'll keep in mind for my next platformer.

Some things can't be implemented at this point, but changes like a saving point before the following-bar and changing the aurora road entry sign text can be done. I'm writing down what to update for a possible new version.

By the way, you can run-jump off the moving bar like on normal walls. This may help you out a lot!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.

I'll post it on gamedev.net, thanks!

[DoorKnobHandle]

Cool to see that you take criticism seriously, I can't wait for a new version (or for your next platformer). How do you write them anyways? Using C++ or some kind of creation system? Also, if you post at Gamedev.net, I'd advise you not to post in the Announcements-forum, but in the Image of the Day-forum, it'll get more looks over there and your screen-shots are looking great anyways.

Keep it up!

EDIT: Just read this...

The game was made with Clickteam's Multimedia Fusion 2.

That answers my question above...

[Nikolas]

You know... you've heard it before, but the lack of saving option is making the game really difficult and frustrating... I@m at 69% and trying to get to 85% (before compliting the game), but well... some things are really difficult.

That level in 1.2 (I think) with the two cannons and the destroyed floors is a nightmare. And far away from the begining...

[Bernie]

I'll note it for my update. A few have finished 100% of the game without those savepoints, though, so I'll have to give this some thought.

This update could take a while, so you may want to try getting other big gems first. 85% isn't as much as it may seem. Seeing as you only get to watch a slightly different ending if you've finished the secret level you need the 85% for, there's no real reason to not finish the game at the percentage you're at.

Good luck!

[Dave Gilbert]

I sorta beta tested this game and I figured I'd put my two cents in.  This game royally ROCKS.  Very cute, very fun, and very challanging.  I still haven't beaten it.

[Chicky]

And after that... i shall now download it!

[TheJBurger]

I'd also have to agree about the savepoints. There were some places in the game where I thought it was unfair I had to go back so far and restart the level.

I'm playing the game through a second time (trying to get everything) and I got to 97% (I got all gems and found 3 secret levels). I didn't get an extra heart, or is that after the extra secret level?

Concerning the secret levels:

Spoiler

I found 1-6, 3-4, and 4-X. I'm trying to find the last one and I'm assuming it's in section 2, but I can't find it anyhwere! Help please?Ã, 

[close]

Also, I noticed the game is much easier the 2nd time through.

[Bernie]

TheJBurger:

Spoiler

The last secret level is pretty close to the last boss. Some areas may be higher than they seem! And there's a secret heart in the first area of that level, too. Better get it before entering the secret level!

[close]

Wow, 97%! You're good! The savepoint thingy's been noted, I'll look through the game and put a few additional ones up. Could take a while, however. I'm quite busy with Reactor 09 now, fixing bugs the testers have found and so on.

Dave: Thank you! And thanks for beta-testing!

Chicky: Hooray!

[DoorKnobHandle]

I can't figure out how to get by the locked door with a sign telling me to kill all evil beings nearby. There are two of those little blue guys around in both upper corners of the room, who send out a small and a big ball every few seconds. I can't reach them and I can't get up in the middle - not with the help of my buddy or with the double-jump.

A hint?

[Nikolas]

Same here.

Bernie?

Please?

(also btw, I'm 85% but can't seem to find anything different anywhere in the world... I guess it has to do with the door at 4.4 in the begining maybe???)

[TheJBurger]

I can't figure out how to get by the locked door with a sign telling me to kill all evil beings nearby. There are two of those little blue guys around in both upper corners of the room, who send out a small and a big ball every few seconds. I can't reach them and I can't get up in the middle - not with the help of my buddy or with the double-jump.

A hint?

Hint:

Spoiler

You can jump up in the air and then press down to deploy the "star man" so he acts as a boost up high.

[close]

Answer:

Spoiler

I forget exactly how to do it, but you have to jump/double jump, deploy the star man, then you have to do another double/triple jump, jump on his head, and you will be able to get to the top.

[close]

(also btw, I'm 85% but can't seem to find anything different anywhere in the world... I guess it has to do with the door at 4.4 in the begining maybe???)

I think there's 2 things that 85% gives you, and both are on the final level.

Spoiler

The first thing that requires 85% is the secret level. The 2nd is a secret heart, also on the final level.

[close]

[Bernie]

Okay-o! Hints have already been posted, but I'll be close by just in case anyone still needs help!

[Nikolas]

Nope no help needed so far.

2 comments.

The wind sequence is damn difficult but it's desinged brilliantly!

You cannot die (at least not so far that I've tried),
and actually if you play correctly you can still remain on the upper floors while trying without having to restart all over again. The platforms extend to off screen places, so you are getting saved most of the times... Thos vines though are still difficult!

Second comment.

It's been 1 week and I'm still playing. This means extreme sucess Bernie! Well done!

[Bernie]

Thanks!

The vines in the windy area should be easy if you jump to them while keeping UP pressed. As soon as Mr. Arch-Chancellor overlaps them, he'll hold on to 'em.

dkh - about getting higher with the little star guy:

Spoiler

The solution to the height problem is combing moves with jumping on the star guy. You can place him in the air and run/jump on him and so forth. You can then use the wallrun skill and the double-jumps to get as high as you need.

[close]

[DoorKnobHandle]

Hehe, thanks for the tips. I did this part now (only to find out that a little later, you need to do similar stuff again - now with a triple-jump). I like those features, however I personally think the whole system with the jumping buddy is a bit too much for my taste. The fact that jumping on him costs stars doesn't make sense to me, but isn't that much of a problem, it's more annoying that he will only stay in place for very few seconds giving you barely time to run away from him to get a running-jump - I've been screaming at him to stay numerous times now, whenever I want to take a big jump only for him to move away when I'm in the air right in front of him... I'm probably doing something wrong, but those sequences take me very long to perform and are highly annoying/frustrating. Still, I can't stop playing the game, which is a very good sign, I just hope those long jumps will soon be over...

[Bernie]

You only need to do use this technique three times, and you already passed 2 of those places! The last one is in one of the secret levels. There is always enough time to place mr. star buddy and run/jump at him, though. Place him at a normal jump's top point, then run/jump on him.

[Nikolas]

Ok last hint I promise:

I'm at the last boss. How on earth can I defeat that guy?

Spoiler

I know that probably it has something to do with setting the beary on fire, but can't seem to find what to do next...

[close]