Great game, if you can look past the surface
Despite what the others say, I like the way you used the text in this. It was deep and almost poetic. Even if you do manage to get the audio to work you'll still have to work on the visuals though. Don't get discouraged though.
P.S.
If you'd like some help adding ambient music just send me a P.M. and I'll see what I can do.
Thanks! I'm going though the tutorials so I will be making MUCH better games in the future.
Excellent work on the mechanics!
As one who is in the process of learning actionscript, I have a great appreciation for this. If you used those mechanics with some creative audio and visuals you'd have yourself a winner. Don't get discouraged, don't give up.
You sir.. Are very positive! :DD thank you so much.. ^__^
this is definitely something I will complete one day! :D
peace and love! :D
Well on your way.
While the visuals leave much to be desired, the game simple mechanics work well. Keep up the good work.
I go try keep up the good work.
Thanks!
Great game, except for the lack of creativity.
Overall this game was well made and was worthy of front page. However, most areas to improve on seem to stem from a lack of creativity within the game.
Animation:
Was pretty flawless no real complaints.
Audio:
The sound effects and music did the job for the most part. However the one glaring problem is that the music is the same throughout, even at the boss stage.
Visuals:
This is the area that could have used some extra effort. I'm not saying you can't make pixel art, your technical skill is excellent. My complaint is that the visuals are very plain and unimaginative. Let's break it down.
- Mike and Betty:
Compared to most video game protagonists they are very plain. Mike is a generic white male with brown hair, red shirt and jeans- nothing special. Betty is a blondie in a pink dress- very generic. While there is nothing wrong with using average Joes they could have had at least a little more fashion sense.
-Level sets:
A city district, a cave and the inside of a spaceship, done many times before (at least there was no ice level). While it's okay to use these they were still quite generic. Perhaps a few more decorations such as graffiti, skeletons, and screens would have gone a long way.
- Enemies and hazards: 3 of your 4 enemies had a blob-like quality, 2 possessing legs. While this is okay, some definition and a little more shape would have been nice. As for environmental hazards all you had were spikes everywhere. Some variety/environment specific hazards would have been nice.
- Items:
Keys, coins and button-like power ups, nothing new or exciting
Playability:
Excellent, games like this are few and far apart. The one button thing is a refreshing break from modern games that demand memorization of complex key sequences. The puzzles are well made and seem to be one of your greatest strengths here.
Plot:
Very plain. It uses the age old "hero's girlfriend gets kidnapped by monsters and you have to rescue her". Also, Mike and Betty's personalities were as plain as their appearances as they never did or said much of anything beyond what one would expect (except for that surprise at the end).
Misc:
A little more creativity would have gone a long way. Mike cannot turn on his own unless he touches a wall (which isn't a bad thing). There is no visible reason for this as Mike seems perfectly fine so it begs the question. The final boss has legs but never uses them. Perhaps he could have been hooked up to machines or something to give a reason for his lack of movement.
Overall:
It's a great game that would have been greater with a little more creativity. You have great art skill DON'T LET IT GO TO WASTE!
Don't loose hope
This is a refreshing change from the usual happy, cute and/or funny drivel usually made with fixel (see also: Robot Wants Ice Cream). You can really feel the sense of loneliness and despair coming from this game. Personally, I've come back to play this one on numerous occasions and have added it to my favorites list (It's the first fixel game to be added). Onto the formal review:
Plot:
Nice and depressing. As I said before, you get a sense of loneliness. There doesn't seem to be any other living thing on the planet which adds to the dreariness. One major plot flaw stands out which is the lack of a name for the player (although you could have a reason for leaving this out). I just have one question: How does one use a dead cat in making a homing beacon or repairing a space suit?
Art:
The pixel art is really well done. The artist seems to be well versed in working with a limited pallet (ie, checker-board shading). What I like are the statues. Not only are there a diverse assortment of them but they're scattered evenly acting as landmarks which makes up for lack of a map (to a degree).
My one complaint (and I hate to sound ungrateful) is that a few still images would have gone well where there was just text (ie, the intro story, the "use-the-parts-to-fix-her-suit-but-th en-you-both-die-anyway" ending).
Audio:
Minimal. Understandably, if there's no atmosphere, there's no sound except what comes from the player (ie, heartbeat). However, there could have been more like perhaps at least a jump and backpack noise.
Animation:
Now that I think about it while there wasn't that much apart from the main character and the ghosts but it seemed to work. I'd suggest that if you decide to revise or modify the game that you should make the character's walk change depending on his level of hope. Granted he slows down when all hope is gone but he always seems to swing his arm in a confident manner.
Gameplay:
Very hard. It took me a few plays to find all the parts and I have yet to see all ghosts and bodies. As it's been said before, a Map would have been helpful (and perhaps a hope meter). However, you seem to be going for simplicity, which is good so I guess both having more and having less has their advantages and disadvantages.
Misc:
I also found the ending B glitch but another one where if you come close enough to a "ship part" the text will activate. Overall, a great game. Learn from your mistakes, keep going and don't get discouraged (loose hope) .
I can has haunted?
Sure, you had that guy in the second last screen, but I'd say this is a bit lacking to call it "haunted" or even to be a horror game. Perhaps it would be better if you throw in a few ghosts here and there. Still, the game was enjoyable.
Visuals:
Actual pictures, like in any good horror point 'n click. It looks like you put some effort into walking through the park and getting those pictures which is to be appreciated. However, what prevented this from really being scary was that these are pictures of a sunny day. Sure, you darkened everything and added thunder and lighting (during a sunny day?) but still. If you want my advise: Try something dark and at night. I wouldn't recommend the park since it's likely closed and possibly dangerous at night. There is the house, but that's been done many times before.
Audio:
"Horror Ambience" was a good choice and the thunder was nice and clear. However, some may say it was somewhat lacking as far as sound effects were concerned. How about adding sound effects to player actions such as selecting keys or "Continue down path"?
Gameplay:
Short and simple, good for a short break. However some may argue that it is too simple. Solving this puzzle doesn't seem to require much creative thinking (ie, use the shovel on the X, use that one small key that you found on the box). Also, one can use the tab button to see what's selectable which becomes a must when the X-marks-the-spot place has no other indication that you can click there.
Overall, while this arguably doesn't really qualify for a horror game it's a nice simple puzzle with well incorporated pictures.
You've got a long way to go.
I don't know much about programming, but it would seem that you have quite a ways to go before you can make a "successful career doing this".
Art:
So-so. While I like the colored text against the black background the game graphics have a way to go yet. What graphics you have are very basic with no shading and the "ninja" doesn't really look like much of a ninja but closer to an Asian woman with black hair. Also, "pro" reviewers usually whine about the use of gradients (ie, the red background). I would strongly recommend making an icon for this.
Audio:
None, some music would have been nice.
Animation:
Not much. "Pro" reviewers usually whine about tweens but this can't be avoided.
Game play:
Simple, and perhaps relaxing. The simplistic game play seems to work for a while but gets old. Also, the shuriken movement pattern seems to be more consistent with snowflakes in being slow and "drifty" (of course, realistic movement would make the game impossible).
Overall:
A good start. Continue to work on your art and programming skills.
Thank you for your words, but i didn't use tweens.
Flying Zombies For the Win!
I didn't think much of this game until I realized that the zombies were literally flying. This image is reinforced by the zombies flapping their arms. I doubt you intended that to happen but either way that part was so bad it was good. Now on with the formal review
Gameplay:
Rescue the object while fighting off zombies, simple and fun, for a while. Without variation between the levels games get old fast. You might try at least try adding visual variation between the levels such as different platforms. My main complaint is about the pizzas. In most games touching the object is enough to pick it up, but here you have to be on the same platform. What I did like was that the zombies died with one hit and, as said before, the fact that they were flying (epic, just epic).
Art:
The low point of this game. For starters, you overused the gradient tool. As I've been told, the gradient tool should be used sparingly. For the grass on the platforms it looked good but not so much on the characters. Your drawing skill is acceptable but there is still room for improvement. This also could have used a little more overall creativity. Take the signs for example: They were little more than plain white picket signs sticking out of the ground. In my opinion it would have also made more sense had he of been delivering pizzas to portals than to signs because one would assume they were going somewhere.
Animation:
Needed work. Ironically, the zombies were more animated than the "living" character. Sure, he could swing his arm and have another arm appear when he picked up a pizza, but that was it. His legs didn't move to jump or walk (yes, I know the walk cycle is hard to master) and his face didn't change when he got hit. The zombies the lack of leg movement was arguably acceptable because they appeared to be flapping their arms to fly.
Audio:
Could have used more work. While the music was acceptable it was the same throughout the whole thing (even while the menu screen was up). While you did have a good gunshot sound effects It could have also used more for things like getting hit or picking up a pizza.
Overall:
It was a good game for a beginner but you've got a way to go yet. You're well on your way so don't get discouraged, practice your drawing, animation and programming.
Pretty good
It's a nice little game which is Indeed a challenge for the mind. It reminds me of that "Total people in the house" game in "Brain Age". Although this game was a bit too hard for me (not 100% sure where I stand with the rest of newgrounds in mathematical prowess but...).
I liked the neonish effects against the black background, it really brings out the colors. However, the game seemed to take itself too seriously with the siren noises and the futuristic box and tube, it is just math after all. I'd suggest trying a calmer theme for things like this.
I also noticed that there was no music, which was probably a good call on your part as that may have distracted the player's concentration. But again, the siren noises were a bit over the top.
So in a nutshell, it's a simple yet hard game that while it has great graphics, is a little overboard on the seriousness.
As others said, it's lacking
A flinch animation might work and perhaps a jump attack as well. I guess the lackingness works in the games favor by keeping the controls simple.
"He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich." - Proverbs 21:17 KJV
Age 37, Male
Animutopia
Joined on 4/9/09
I would never lie to you 
Gametest 
TMGMCA V1.5 
Aliens Kidnapped Betty 
After Years In Dark Tunne 
Haunted Forrest Escape 
Ninja Training Course 
Pizza Attack 
Subtotal 
Protect Your Planet! 
