DeseNutz's game Reviews on Newgrounds

[Ghost Light Part 1]

Whoa, after playing the Lost Levels, this game seems ultra easy (even on hard). The levels are nowhere near as busy, and, in nearly every case, you can just walk right up to an enemy and rapidly tap Z for the kill.

The game is fun, don't get me wrong, but it is super easy. To beat the first boss, you don't even have to move off the middle platform. I got all the way to last boss only losing 7 or so lives? The first 4 levels I didn't even die once. The last boss is moderately difficult, but once you figure out the pattern, you can avoid all damage.

Still a good game though. Lost Levels seems more of a high-level platformer, whilst this one seems more casual. I can do casual though.

Comacolors responds:

I can totally see how this game would come as a shock to anyone who started with the lost levels.

Ghost Light started out as a tough as nails, challenge platformer, but I ended up toning down the difficulty for the sake of the story I wanted to tell. I didn't want all the really hard levels to go to waste though, so I came up with the idea of lost levels. My thinking was that the main games could tell the story and introduce the player to the game's mechanics, and the lost levels could exist separately for all the people who wanted a serious challenge.

Unfortunately I didn't do nearly enough to communicate my intentions to players and as a result I've created a tonne of confusion. I'm glad the lapse in communications on my part didn't ruin your experience, I'll do my best not to let this happen again.

Thank you for all the feedback, I really appreciate it.

[Ghost Light Lost Levels 1]

This game is fantastic, and the difficulty level is right up my alley.

Regarding the difficulty level, since others seem to be complaining, the levels do ramp in difficulty properly. The first level IS NOT the hardest level, the last one is (requires exceptionally precise timing).

Games with difficult levels like this don't play like normal platformers - you must be patient, and plan your moves much in advance of doing them. All of the levels have 'safe zones', where nothing can hit you; all you need to do is plan your movement to these 'safe zones' (the first level has plenty, the last level only 3).

The only true flaws this game has regard the orbiting spike blocks: they are supposed to bounce off of you but sometimes (the fast moving ones on the last level) can get stuck inside you. Not a huge problem, since the easy solution is don't get hit. haha. A second possible flaw (unless it was intentional) was the moving platforms don't carry you with them and move slower than your walk, so you have to rapidly tap the arrow keys to position yourself on top.

I spent about 2 hours playing this awesome game, and I can play through the whole thing with <5 lives. (I can get all the way past the first boss without even losing a single health). If you want, message me and I will create a video walkthrough.

I would, however, put somewhere in the description that all of the enemies need to be killed to unlock the finish door. You might also consider putting a warning in future games of this difficulty, since the general NG audience may not be apt to these kinds of games. Make it like the entrance to porno sites (you didn't click 'exit', you knew what you were getting into).

Overall, very solid mechanics, great gameplay, I loved it! ^^ In games like this, the mechanics of the platformer engine itself REALLY matters (a properly difficult game shouldn't have the controls fucking you too), and this game play beautifully. Haha looks pretty too.

Great work, especially if you are new to this. Going to play the first Ghost Light.

Comacolors responds:

I'm really stoked to hear that you enjoyed my game, and I'm seriously impressed that you were able to master it that quickly.

It's really encouraging to hear that you felt the difficulty curve was alright. I think the biggest issue with the first level might be that it's just a totally unfair barrier to entry for a player I failed to adequately prepare. Anyone who didn't play part one really had to hit the ground running and that's a pretty serious blunder on my part, I'm glad it didn't ruin your experience.

The spike balls occasionally getting suck in the player's hitbox is definitely a problem, and while there was a way to address it it made them put even more of a strain on the game's performance than they already do so this was the best I could manage at the time. As for the platforms, they were intended to work that way, or rather, I built the game around them working that way before I knew enough about programming to do them properly. Both of these issues were a direct result of my limited programming knowledge, but I'm doing everything I can to improve and I'm hoping part two and it's lost levels will reflect that.

I'll definitely do more to warn players about the difficulty in future games like this, and just to better communicate to players in general. I'm truly grateful for all your feedback. Thank you.

[Qoosh]

Reminds me of Focus with Portal story elements. It feels like you should be able to instant-warp as soon as you hit the ground after finishing a warp, but there is a mandatory wait period which makes more fancy play near impossible. :/

Otherwise, fun game - killed a few minutes.

[Quin's Quest for a Beard]

Reminds me of early Klik games! ^^ Complete with klunkiness and all. I have a soft spot for those.

Keep at it guys!

[Slush Invaders Game]

I absolutely love this game, but I can't beat it for those errant black screens! Add in an autosave feature! With autosave, you could ignore the bugs and we would be able to pick up right where we left off!

I really want to beat this. :(

[William and Sly]

Very atmospheric!

Reminds me very much of the Kyntt Stories! A very peaceful game, if you ask me. A must play!

Regarding the boss, he never trolls the same area twice in a row.