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Released Games => Knytt Stories => Topic started by: Fubaka on July 29, 2015, 06:57:20

Title: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on July 29, 2015, 06:57:20
Well lookie here! This forum's still alive, and what's more, people are STILL making KS levels!  O_o

This game really doesn't ever get old, does it? I think I'll start reviewing levels again!

Ground rules:

Okay! With that out of the way, it's good to be back! I will post my first review momentarily. You are of course welcome to post your own reviews, but you will have to either follow my rules, or specify your own in your post.

REVIEW DIRECTORY:

FUBAKA

VEGETAL GIBBER

IXMARCEL

SC
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on July 29, 2015, 08:03:47 
REVIEW 01
===================================
(http://orig14.deviantart.net/4ddb/f/2015/211/4/0/journey_to_the_golden_land_by_blahson256-d93h90t.png) (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=6588.0)
===================================
Journey to the Golden Land
Made by Vegetal Gibber
Released on 14 July 2015
Challenge/Environmental
Small
=============================

What we have here is a small level made largely to share with personal circles. That it ended up here should be considered a treat on our part. While small, this level features custom graphics and music, which, in my mind, is a necessity to distinguish it as its own thing. Let us begin with the categories:

Trustworthiness: I am forever in a bind on how to feel about the label 'Challenge/Environmental'. Challenge implies that there are obstacles that must be overcome, but Environmental suggests that the level was made with no obstacles at all.  However, when opened in KS itself, Environmental is not one of the categories it is listed under. I have to scratch my head at that sort of confusion, but it's not the end of the world.

The term 'Environmental' is a bit of a misnomer here anyways, since as you play this level, there are a few pitfalls to be avoided. As advertised, the level is pretty easy, and apart from the pits of water and lava, there are no enemies or other hazards.

Overall, I feel that the level's alignment is Neutral Good.

Design: The level uses a less pixelated style and instead opts for a more textured look. In addition, most of the floor tiles do not utilize an outline, which at times can make it difficult to tell what's in the foreground and what isn't. This isn't really a problem in this case, but it can make things a bit confusing at first. I personally find it odd, for instance, that you can't climb the tree trunks, but you can jump on the canopies. The graphics themselves blend well, but are a bit clunky in some areas, especially on corners and ramps.

In addition, there are a few instances of COs (Custom Objects) utilized in the level, particularly in the tree canopies that make them feel just a bit more vibrant. The swaying leaves are a nice touch, but I feel they clash with the traditional falling leaves object that are utilized in tandem with them.

Save points are easy to spot, and the level definitely looks nice. The topography is interesting and easy to recognize as well. My personal favorite areas were the caves. The textures there are very well done, despite being almost all grey. I was especially fond of the lighting on the back walls.

I did not find any voids or wallswims when playing the level, and I did the usual routine of umbrella gliding as far as I could in any direction I could.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Overall, I find the design to be favorable.

Agenda: As far as the story is concerned, you find yourself in a green field and must find the 'Golden Land'. Everything you need to know is told to you by the level's icon itself. There is no introductory cut-scene.

In order to reach the Golden Land, you must find all the necessary powerups scattered throughout the area you start in, and then find the four keys to unlock the doors barring the way into the land itself. The keys are generally hidden from view, in areas that require thorough investigation to uncover.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

The premise couldn't be simpler, but I do kind of wish I knew where I was to begin with, and why I wanted to reach the Golden Land at all. Honestly, I liked the starting area a bit more.

Overall, I find the objective is met at a passable level.

Vibe: The atmosphere was really nice. I loved the music in the main area, but I did get a little distracted when it didn't extend across the entire surface plain. It ends early in front of the far right gate wall and at the far left lake. Use of ambiance was pretty solid, and nothing felt like it didn't belong. The caves being quiet was understandable, especially since they didn't extend all that far.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Overall, the level gave off a nice warm feeling.

Enjoyability: I enjoyed the level, particularly the trek to get the powerups. I did find it to be a bit of a drag once I was searching for the keys, though. Still, I got through it with no trouble.

This is likely one I would play again, every now and then.

Summation: I thought the level was quite nice. Definitely worth playing at least once. Don't expect a challenge though, unless you are bad at exploring.  :P The custom material within the level also definitely sells its uniqueness. Don't expect it to be much like the classic Nifflas ones.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on July 29, 2015, 10:44:43
I was planning on reviewing Looking for Flynnas, but man oh man, that level's challenges are way too unforgiving. If someone else wants to tackle that beast, go ahead.

Edit: http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=6604.msg69845#msg69845
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on July 29, 2015, 15:01:52
Hey, this is a very interesting initiative! Oh, and thanks for starting with my level :D Glad you enjoyed it.

That was a really detailed review. I really wish my friends would have paid this map even a small fraction of the attention you gave it :moody:

Regarding the categorization for "Journey to the Golden Land", I put "Challenge/Environmental" in the link because I had some doubts about what type this level really is. It was originally just "Challenge", but based on the feedback I got and the very low amount of hazards in the map, I thought it'd be more accurate to tag it as "Environmental" too (even though it does have a tiny bit of challenge in there). What do you personally think it should be?
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on July 29, 2015, 18:32:51
Quote from: Vegetal Gibber on July 29, 2015, 15:01:52
Hey, this is a very interesting initiative! Oh, and thanks for starting with my level :D Glad you enjoyed it.

That was a really detailed review. I really wish my friends would have paid this map even a small fraction of the attention you gave it :moody:

Regarding the categorization for "Journey to the Golden Land", I put "Challenge/Environmental" in the link because I had some doubts about what type this level really is. It was originally just "Challenge", but based on the feedback I got and the very low amount of hazards in the map, I thought it'd be more accurate to tag it as "Environmental" too (even though it does have a tiny bit of challenge in there). What do you personally think it should be?

Because you have to jump over some hazards, it is not an Environmental level by my definition.

Marking it as an Easy Challenge level is the most accurate IMO.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: sergiocornaga on July 29, 2015, 19:30:14
Personally, I support the use of Challenge/Environmental to refer to this kind of low challenge level (even if it is allegedly an impossible combination).

Anyway, amazingly huge and comprehensive review there. I appreciate your use of alignments and coloured text.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on July 29, 2015, 20:26:42 
REVIEW 02
===================================
(http://orig14.deviantart.net/b68b/f/2015/210/c/8/house_key_by_blahson256-d93bb6x.png) (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=6545.0)
===================================
House Key
Made by Healy
Released on 1 April 2015
Environmental/Misc
Small
=============================

Today's subject was released a decent amount of time ago, back in April of this year, but it's still relatively fresh. Ultimately, I won't be able to say much here without going into spoiler territory, so I would recommend playing the level first. As stated, it won't take you more than 5 minutes.

Trustworthiness: Small and Environmental/Misc is the best way to designate this level. It definitely puts an emphasis on its environments.

The advertising also does deliver on what it promises. It. Definitely. Does.

Overall, the alignment of this level is Lawful Evil.

Design: Given the small size of the level, I'd be surprised if there were any glaring errors in the design. Thankfully, there aren't any. The level is pretty straightforward, and each area sells its mood perfectly. I especially am fond of the design of the various rooms of Juni's house. Each one paints a picture of isolation and solitude.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

I find the design to be substantial.

Agenda: When the level begins, we are presented with a black background and an opening narration describing Juni's dread of going outside. However, her food supplies are running short, so she will just have to suffer the trip.

Once the level begins, you find yourself in your house, where you can see that the front door's been barricaded using red key blocks, with the key itself on a high shelf. To get it, you have to collect a number of powerups inside the house. Clearly, Juni wanted to take maximum precautions to ensure that she could push the idea of the key out of her head unless she had no other choice. I love that attention to detail!

It would only be just to quote myself when I first stepped out of the house to accurately portray the horror of what awaits you:

Spoiler: Fubaka's Reaction (click to show/hide)

Agenda is passed magna cum laude!

Vibe: As stated before, each area sells itself extremely well. I love that eerie cave sound in Juni's house. Although, It might have been best to only have it in the main foyer. (Had it been me, I would've given each room a different ambiance, with the cellar having a water sound, and the blue room having a soft electric hum)

The ambiance outside really couldn't have been better though. No complaints there.

Overall, the vibe is harrowing!

Enjoyability: I definitely had fun with my playthrough. Unfortunately, the magic only works once. I would definitely consider showing it to friends and other victims to get their reactions though!

Overall, I'd play it again, but I'd have to give it ample time to grow fuzzy in my mind first.

Summation: Definitely a well-executed level! I'd recommend it to anyone who plays KS to give it a shot. You will not be disappointed!
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on July 30, 2015, 22:12:36 
REVIEW 00
===================================
(http://orig09.deviantart.net/90f9/f/2015/211/f/c/the_machine_by_blahson256-d93gld2.png) (http://nifflas.ni2.se/?page=Knytt+Stories)
===================================
The Machine
Made by Nifflas
Released on 28 Aug 2007
Challenge - Easy/Normal
Large
=============================

(NOTE: This is not an official review, hence the title Review 00. I'm doing this partly as an experiment, and also as a benchmark so people know more objectively how I rate things. Take this as you will.)

A great deal of time ago, I first found Knytt Stories while I was browsing through suggestions from other game designers. I played a level called 'The Machine', described as a 'save-the-world adventure'. After the Tutorial, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect, but the level itself had hours of world to see, and graphics that, while simple, were mesmerizing. It inspired me to keep playing, even after I was finished with the level. I found expansions, and once I'd cleared my palate of those, I realized that there was a full Editor as well! People had been making levels with it by the bushel-full, many of which would surpass the original Nifflas creations. Over the years, I kind of forgot about these old levels. It's about time I went back to the start and ran through again.

My memory of this level has gotten a bit fuzzy, so hopefully this will be an objective analysis, or, as much as it can be given the impact this game has had on my life. Let's step in to it, shall we?

Trustworthiness: The level icon is a picture of the machine itself, a black squaroid aberration with red and blue lights and tubes coming out. The level is marked as a Large Challenge level, with the choice of either Easy or Normal difficulties. None of this information is false or misleading.

Once you get into the game itself, the difficulty is presented at the start as a switch which you can flip any time you visit it to swap between Easy and Normal. Doing so alters the challenges you'll see, adding or removing hazards, based on which way you switched it. Playing on Easy is, naturally, easier, but it also removes nearly all of the secrets, giving the player good incentive to play on a higher difficulty if they can take it.

Overall, this level's alignment is Lawful Good.

Design: Each area is designed using a minimalistic pixelated style, and each one is quite distinct in both appearance, ambiance and music. They are almost all connected through multiple pathways, and some can be skipped entirely if the player prefers not to visit them. These lands include a barren desert area, an underwater lab tunnel, many different plains, a dark complex, several cave systems of unique distinction, and a snowy tundra, to name a few. Juni will have to venture through most, if not all of them to find the powerups she needs to track down the source of her problems.

Each powerup is introduced in systematic fashion, and usually after a series of ordeals. Selecting between Easy and Normal will affect the presence or absence of various hazards, and in many places, alter the topography of the land as well. Challenges are lain out in a simple and straightforward fashion, and nothing feels like it's been spammed in. (except for one particular room) Void screens are nonexistent, and there are no inorganic attempts to hide them, in either the Easy or Normal paths.

On the Normal path, there are a number of areas that yield secret passageways that lead to keys, which, while not required to beat the level, are required to find the hidden ending. After beating the level on either difficulty, Juni has the option to return to the main world prior to the end sequence, which, unlike at the start of the game, will automatically place her in the Normal path.

Everything works together quite well, and the difficulty ratings are appropriate. The design overall is admirable.

Agenda: The story is fairly straightforward, and presents itself as just that. A story. One day, Juni receives a letter from her friend Henna, who explains how her land has become cold and barren, and asks if the same had happened to Juni's land. She urges Juni to come visit her and discuss the details. The adventure begins proper from there.

Henna's house is located in a grey barren forest zone, which cannot be accessed at the start of the level. Juni will have to find enough powerups to allow access. Once she gets there, Henna will tell her that there's a machine inside a cave just to the left of her house which she suspects is responsible for the life draining that has been seen. However, a creature blocks the entrance to that cave, preventing her from getting in.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Overall, the agenda is passed magna cum laude!

Vibe: Each area of the level is lain out in a minimalistic fashion. As such, there is a great deal of open space and not very many creatures. Apart from Henna, nobody talks to you in the level, and there are only a handful of Knytts anyhow. The ambiance and music are all well-picked, and play together to a key. However, I start to feel a little aloof and alone when playing for long enough. Apart from collecting the powerups and seeing the sights, there is not a whole lot to do, and some of the areas seem a little too empty for my taste. Perhaps that was intentional, and perhaps I don't remember how I felt the first time I played anymore. It might have helped if there were more Knytts to talk to in the various zones.

Overall, I feel a bit somber when I play this level.

Enjoyment: I did enjoy playing this level again, and the challenges and topography are still things I attempt to emulate whenever I try my hand at level design. (not just in Knytt Stories) Playing this again brought back some fond memories. However, I am still more fond of the expansion levels, like 'A Strange Dream' and 'An Underwater Adventure'. Those to me are the true classics of this game.

Still I will probably play this again some time in the future, when it's no longer fresh in my mind.

Summation: This was an interesting experiment. Given that the songs are and have been overused in so many custom levels since this first step, I am surprised that it still fits so well here in this level. It gives me hope that people will continue to play this game for the forseeable future. A large reason why I chose to resume this review program in the first place was precisely to encourage people to start making levels again.

Carry on, folks! Let's show them that the best is still ahead!
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on July 31, 2015, 00:41:53 
REVIEW 03
===================================
(http://orig01.deviantart.net/9683/f/2015/211/4/8/tower_of_joy_by_blahson256-d93hjz7.png) (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=6551.0)
===================================
Tower of Joy
Made by pfrangip
Released on 12 April 2015
Environmental (or Scenic/Challenge - Easy)   :huh:
Medium
=============================

Today, we take a look at a level, which, much like House Key, was released in April of this year. It was made specifically as a tribute to 'A Song of Ice and Fire' which I have not read, so I wasn't able to follow the story all that well. As such, I will not judge that aspect too harshly.

Trustworthiness: In the forum thread, the level is labeled as [Challenge/Scenic], and that is an accurate description of the level. However, in KS itself, it is labeled only as [Environmental]. This latter label is not accurate at all, and directly conflicts with the former.  Additionally, while the level is labeled as 'Easy', I personally did not find it to be so. I would have labeled it as at least Medium, and perhaps Hard if the secret areas were factored in as well.

In terms of content, it pulls quotes from its source material and uses tilesets that would seem to reflect the general setting pretty well. At the very least, this aspect is advertised correctly.

Overall, this level's alignment is Chaotic Neutral.

Design: The level is designed in a more-or-less linear fashion, and your goal is to merely get to the end, as you run through the various scenery and see the lines appear as narration over your head. The level starts you off with the Run and High-Jump powers, and you are not given any others throughout the story.

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

During my playthrough, and in subsequent editor poking, I never found any Voids or wallswims, so as far as I can tell, the level is air-tight.

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

As for the challenges, I found many of them to be a bit frustrating. The level is littered with invisible mazes and in many places, you have to make leaps of faith. It definitely does not fit the bill of 'Easy'.

The visual design is nice in many places, but a bit messy in others. I liked the castle areas, but many of the fields and outside places were a bit clunky.

I find the design overall to be mixed in quality.

Agenda: The story revolves around a character named Lyanna, who you control in this level. The opening cut-scene depicts her sleeping, and slowly zooms in without any dialog. You start the level proper at the balcony of a tall tower. From there, you jump off, fall a considerable distance, and then run throughout various places which have little connective tissue, implying that it is a dream sequence. During this run, the narration you see appears to be directed at you. (as the character)

Spoiler: Ending (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

Despite not having read the story this was based off of, I did find the narration to be poignant at times, and the backgrounds did serve to exemplify it well. Overall, the objective is met cum laude.

Vibe: The idea that this level was a dream sequence was definitely sold well. The various environments were nearly all striking and memorable, though I would have preferred a different selection of music than the standard crop. As I said before, I especially liked the various castles you wander through. On the other hand, I wasn't too fond of the dark areas and the outside areas.

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

Overall, the vibe is aloof, but in a good way!

Enjoyability: I did enjoy the narration and many of the areas. However, I found myself getting frustrated with some of the challenges, and the invisible mazes. Personally speaking, I do not enjoy jumping around in the dark, nor do I like to try and dodge fireballs while being restricted from walking.

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

I may play it again, but it would be a while.

Summation: The level is definitely worth at least one play. The secrets are a bit hard to find, though. If you're anything like me, you may find yourself burned out after finishing the level's secret path. Take it for what you will.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Talps on August 02, 2015, 01:24:18
Hey Fu, just wanted to let you know I am reading and enjoying your reviews. :)

Hopefully get 'Dragon Myth' in here if I can ever tackle this last nasty tileset...
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on August 02, 2015, 03:50:09
Quote from: Talps on August 02, 2015, 01:24:18
Hey Fu, just wanted to let you know I am reading and enjoying your reviews. :)

Hopefully get 'Dragon Myth' in here if I can ever tackle this last nasty tileset...

Thanks, Bubs! If you want to write a review for something as well, go right ahead. Just make sure you let us know if your review rules and/or criteria are different.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on August 02, 2015, 16:35:31
I used to post somewhat detailed opinions and criticism of levels I played in their respective threads. I might take a stab at this and contribute from time to time, if you're cool with that.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on August 02, 2015, 19:37:06
Quote from: Vegetal Gibber on August 02, 2015, 16:35:31
I used to post somewhat detailed opinions and criticism of levels I played in their respective threads. I might take a stab at this and contribute from time to time, if you're cool with that.


Believe me, I'm quite cool with that.  8)
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on August 04, 2015, 21:10:21
Alright, let's give this a shot. I'm going to try a somewhat different approach, though. Here is the set of criteria I've decided on and how I'll be grading all of the categories:

Spoiler: Full criteria list (click to show/hide)

I will be awarding scores in each department, but keep in mind they will be all subjective and merely orientative. Also, I will not follow any particular reason to choose which level I'm going to review. I'll simply be picking among the maps I'm playing at the moment. However, like Fubaka, I'll be giving priority to levels that do not have a lot of exposure, as I feel there isn't much point in speaking at length about a very well-known level that many people have probably already played.

That said, let me start with one of the levels I've played most recently:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47886996/knytt/screenshots/review_high_jump.png) (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=5935)

Save the high jump! by CWolvie
Type: Challenge / Size: Small / Difficulty: Easy


"Save the high jump!" is a short, exploration based challenge level in which Juni has to recover her high jump power-up from the evil toasts. In order to do so, you will need to find several other abilities scattered across the map, until you get the artifact that will let you bypass your sworn enemies and get back what is rightfully yours (or is it...? We haven't hear the toasts' version of the story, after all :P )



Level design: 6.5/10 - Nice

The level fits its description perfectly. The main objective of the level is your standard "find all required power-ups to proceed to the end" challenge and, while it's a simple one, it's well executed. I didn't find any obvious way to sequence-break the game, nor did I felt any part of the level was being unfair or frustrating.

The layout of the level is simple, with many relatively flat areas. It was alright, but it could have benefited from an extended and slightly more maze-like layout with multiple paths, to incite the player more to explore.

Taking into account that this is the author's first attempt at level design, I didn't find any of the typical annoying sections that are rampant in first releases (such as screens with lots of random moving/shooting enemies "because it looks cool", challenges that completely rely on knowledge that only the map creator has, etc.), and that's definitely a plus.

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)


Ambience / Eye-candy: 6/10 - Decent

For the most part, the level doesn't look particularly good, but at the same time it doesn't look bad. There are, however, some pretty areas included in the mix.

The gradients and tilesets used are not bad and they go reasonably well with each other, but the arrangement of the tiles in some screens could be better. Both the underground area and the lab sport very repetitive walls without borders nor decorations. On the other side, the starting area, and particularly the "Night City", are decently detailed (the latter being definitely the nicest looking part of the level, by a longshot).

One of the weakest points of the level regarding the ambience is the very limited use of ambient sound and particle effects. Some areas could have definitely benefited from them, especially the ones with a lot of empty space (such as the first forest/cave zone).


Polish: 7/10 - Good

I didn't found any errors while playing (no void screens nor wallswims, at least). Also, the info screen and icon are both present. It doesn't look like a rushed release.

There are intro and ending cutscenes, although they are very rudimentary. It would have been nice to include at least a mock-up screenshot showing Juni and the evil toasts arguing, or something like that.


Creativity / Originality: 5/10 - Acceptable

The level has some variety of areas to explore, although most of them are the typical forest/cave sections present in many KS adventures. The premise of the level is quirky and interesting, but apart from that, it doesn't feature any other idea particularly new or remarkable.


Personal experience: 7/10 - Good

Not much to say here, except that I had fun playing this little adventure. It did felt rather short and lacking in exploration, but being officially labeled a "Small" level, I couldn't possibly complain much about this :P

I also enjoyed the random dialogue here and there. I felt it contributed to the cute and comical tone of the adventure.


OVERALL: 6.5/10 - Nice. It's not one of those big and/or feature rich levels with lots of custom content, but it's entertaining and does have some charm to it. Check it out if you're looking for a small and peaceful adventure to pass the time :)


[ Link to level release thread (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=5935) ]
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on August 04, 2015, 21:33:27
Solid review, Mr. Gibber! I've added a sub-section for you in the directory on the first post. I hope I will see more contributions from you in the future!
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on August 04, 2015, 21:46:21
Thanks, glad you liked it :)  I'll try to contribute to this thread from time to time. I really like the idea of having a directory of KS reviews here.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: CWolvie on August 10, 2015, 19:46:15
Quote from: Vegetal Gibber on August 04, 2015, 21:10:21
That said, let me start with one of the levels I've played most recently:

I'm glad that my level is on your some kind of ?the most recently playable levels? list. Honestly, I didn't expect that my level could be so popular, because it's quite simple and small and childish (even for the first level) and so...I think more professional levels are better for the review. :oops:
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on August 11, 2015, 00:42:00
But childish IS fun :D

Simple levels can be very enjoyable. And that's the charm of Knytt Stories: whether you're in the mood for an epic and elaborated adventure, or for a short and quirky game, you're guaranteed to find a level matching what you want to play at that moment.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: CWolvie on August 11, 2015, 18:18:25
Maybe. :P

As I said before I'm thinking about improved version of my level so it won't be childish anymore. :D Or making a new level, I can't decide. But definitely something. It's been a long time since I've create something, so I feel ashamed as hell. And now I feel it even more, because it seems that everyone is in the mood to make various levels.

But anyway, your review is highly appreciated! :)
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on August 13, 2015, 21:34:11 
REVIEW 04
===================================
(http://orig10.deviantart.net/2324/f/2015/225/b/d/looking_for_flynnas_by_blahson256-d95iptr.png) (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=6571.0)
===================================
Looking for Flynnas
Made by Kira
Released on 21 June 2015
Challenge/Challenge - Medium or Hard
Large
=============================

Initially, I said I wasn't going to do this review, cause I thought the level was too unfair. Interesting how opinions can change over the course of a few weeks. After ample time to cool down, I remembered the things this level presented me with, and felt the urge to try again, but for real this time. For clarity's sake, I will quote myself with what I had initially stated in the level's thread:

Spoiler: Fubaka's initial quote (click to show/hide)

I would later go on to apologize for being so blunt in that initial statement, but I had still asserted that I wouldn't be able to finish the level fairly. Looking back on it now, it seems silly to me the things I was saying. I played through this again and, this time knowing what I was getting into, the level wasn't quite as hard as I remember. I actually DID manage to complete it without cheating. As such, I think I owe it to Kira to make a formal review, especially after the needless bad-talking I had been doing before. Especially in recent times, I know what it's like to have someone bad mouth something you'd worked so hard on, so, among other things, I feel the need to avoid hypocrisy and atone for my gaming sins.

Let's dive into it, shall we?

Trustworthiness: This is a bit of a different beast in terms of how the trust is played out. Most of us grew up playing Portal. As such, we assume that designers will expect us to disobey them when they tell us not to do something.

Spoiler: Story elements (click to show/hide)

I played to this type during my first playthrough, and was punished severely for it. At the time, I was already taken off my guard by the unorthodox design (see below for more on that) and was already losing my patience. When I inevitably went for the magical white key, despite several warnings, I was sent to a prison and had to start the game over. (so of course, at that point I ended up cheating)  I was mad, I was tired, I was not thinking straight, to be honest.

What can I say? I just have a bad habit of picking up keys. (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=5156.0)  :P

On my second playthrough, I knew how things were going to be. Ultimately, if you know who you can trust, you will make it through just fine.

Spoiler: Gameplay hints (click to show/hide)

Because of the Chaotic Evil nature of the level itself, combined with the Lawful Good nature of the tips and advice, this level's overall alignment is True Neutral.

Design: When I first played this, I was baffled by the design. I felt it went against everything that made a level good. After all, having things in the level that when touched force you to restart the entire game seems a bit ludicrous in principle. However, upon my second playthrough, I realized that those things were VERY avoidable, and that the game gave you ample warnings not to tovch them.

If you are not rock stubborn enough to get caught in those traps, you will find the design is pretty straightforward. It is very clunky in places, and transitions are not always perfect, but if you follow the path and find all the tips, you will eventually reach the end.
Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

The design, as I already stated, is unorthodox, but it does follow its own rules in most places. Unfortunately, there are still some glaring problems, including several places where wallswims and Voids are accessible. As far as I can tell, however, none of these can lead to sequence breaks. In addition, the placement of enemies in several of the areas can be off-putting, especially if you're the type of Knyttist who loses patience quickly when save points are uncommon. You can expect to be killed from transitioning between screens a couple of times. However, if you can forgive this transgression, you will find the level is more or less fair in its challenges.

However, there are some jumps that require very precise timing, especially near the end. To many, this would warrant a higher difficulty rating than the one advertised, and I am inclined to agree for the most part. In addition, the level has a bad habit of confiscating your powerups without warning, then telling you too late that you've lost them. Some of these are re-collectible, but others are not. In the context of the story, this phenomenon does make sense, but it can still be off-putting.

I find the design overall to be shaky.

Agenda: The premise of the level is simple enough. Flynnas, a nerdy game designer, was developing a game world that would be fun and easy, but somewhere down the line, a separate entity came and took the game over, locking Flynnas up in the process. The goal of the level is to find and free Flynnas.

Spoiler: Story elements (click to show/hide)

This story is not immediately obvious to the player. As Juni traverses the world, she will encounter notes left behind from Flynnas who is trying to explain the situation, as well as running into the main antagonist who will attempt to set traps that will send her to a place of eternal torment known simply as White Hell, under the guise of a fair challenge. If Juni does get sent to White Hell, she can escape by reverting to the last save point.

As the level continues, Juni will need to traverse more areas of the game world, segmented together in a haphazard manner and broken in several places. Only after collecting enough tips and (real) keys will she be able to overcome the force holding Flynnas hostage.

I personally thought the story was told very well, and there are many points that are striking and memorable. However, I do not think most people will come away from it the same way I did.

Overall, the objective is met passably.

Vibe: This is the level's strongest standing point. In many ways, the artistic prowess of this world rivals that of my all time favorite KS level, Teenhmifnoeafgil. There are so many areas in this level that are strikingly beautiful and/or otherwise memorable. I can show you a few examples of places that stuck with me, and encouraged me to give this level another shot.

Spoiler: Images (click to show/hide)

In addition, the music and ambiance is (almost) all striking and memorable, each giving the areas they inhabit a distinct feel to them. It's definitely a roller coaster ride of tonality, which is masterfully executed thanks to the superb art and sound.

Overall, the vibe is mesmerizing!

Enjoyability: First time I played this, I didn't enjoy it. The level was too far from my usual standards, and I was getting frustrated with some of the challenges. When I grabbed the white key and was stuck, that put the toothpick through my burger of discontent.

When I returned to it, I found the challenges much more doable, and, knowing what to avoid, I managed to enjoy myself quite a bit more. I feel like players who are overly obsessed with secret hunting will probably get tired of running around in the lower sectors of the early stages, and come out disappointed that they didn't find anything of note. (aside from a certain important path that you have to take later)

I suspect that those who do not read this review and play it for the first time will probably have a similar reaction to the one I initially had. I hope that they, like me, will give the level another shot. It's definitely worth the re-play.

Summation: I feel like this level was an important deprogramming tool for me, in terms of what constitutes a 'good' KS level, or a good game in general. I can only hope that I didn't hurt Kira's feelings with my initial comments. I feel a sense of completion, and a renewed vigor to play and make more content for KS after finishing this level legitimately. Given enough time, this may even break my top 10 favorite KS levels of all time, it really is that good IMO. Take my words for what you will. In the mean-time, I gotta go back and do more work on my KS projects.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on August 17, 2015, 19:23:52
I found this new level in the Knyttlevels.com archive just a few days ago. It seems to be an interesting level and I haven't seen a release thread for it yet, so I thought it would be a good candidate for a review.


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47886996/knytt/screenshots/review_choice.png) (http://knyttlevels.com/levels/TigerNDV%20-%20Choice.knytt.bin)

Choice by TigerNDV
Type: [Puzzle/Challenge] / Size: [Medium] / Difficulty: [Normal/Hard]

In this level, you play as a prisoner trapped in some sort of high-security complex. Your objective is to endure the rough life there and survive for as long as you can while trying to escape the facility. As the name of the level suggests, the player is often presented with different choices and possible actions that determine the flow of the adventure.

This story is structured in days (each chapter begins with you waking up and ends when you go to sleep, unless something goes terribly wrong) and features multiple endings.

[ Download link (http://knyttlevels.com/levels/TigerNDV%20-%20Choice.knytt.bin) ] (Knyttlevels.com)

Spoiler: Screenshot (click to show/hide)


Level Design: 7 - Good

The first thing I want to address is that this level is played in a rather unconventional way, much more like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" multiple choice game (hence the title) than a platforming adventure. Therefore, I feel that the categories chosen by the author for this level don't describe it correctly. Since it doesn't feature challenges based on reflexes and platforming skills, I'd label it as a Puzzle/Misc level instead. As for the difficulty, there is a single mode and I'd say it's Easy because I reached the true ending with very little trouble (I did have to retry once, as I will explain later).

The overall design for this level is pretty good and shows a lot of work. It's mainly storytelling-based, so it features a good amount of NPCs (with even a bit of character development for some of them) and dialogue. The map is designed in a pretty clever way so that you can only use your abilities when the situation allows you to. You can only climb walls that have ladders on it, and you can't run around when you're too hungry or exhausted.

The layout of the map is relatively simple, composed mostly by flat areas, but since most of the story takes place inside a building, that's something to be expected. It is also a very linear experience, which may or may not be your cup of tea. I think it suits the story just fine (even though it feels somewhat repetitive after a while), but if you were looking for level with a big map to explore and secrets to find, you'll be disappointed.

There are no regular save points in this level. Your progress is automatically saved at certain moments, which is nice. However, there's a big flaw in this system, and it's the fact that you can get easily locked in a bad ending path with no other way to correct your mistake than restarting the game from the beginning.

Spoiler: Save system rant (click to show/hide)

It's not a total deal breaker because the game is somewhat short and you can retrace your steps pretty quickly once you know what to do, but it would have been really nice if the game gave you the option to start at any day you have successfully completed up to that point.


Ambience / Eye-candy: 8 - Very good

Most of the graphics are pretty nice (I especially liked the tiles used in the cave/mine areas), although some of the tiles used in the interiors lack detail. The walls of the prison complex look a bit strange, as if they were made of wooden planks instead of bricks.

What really brings the score up here are the really cool lightning effects, mostly present in the last part of the game. These include shadows, flashes and flickering lights, and they really help set the ambience for that section. I'd even say it's one of the best uses of COs for lightning I've seen in a KS level in a long time.

Sound is also very well used in this level, with some nice ambience tracks and plenty of custom sound effects that contribute a lot to the oppresive and tense atmosphere of the adventure.


Polish: 6.5 - Nice

I didn't find any obvious void screens and/or wallswim errors, which is really good for a level that relies so much on shifts and duplicate screens. Also, most of the multiple choice and special action sections are handled correctly and carefully (the author definitely put a lot of effort into not letting the player do unexpected things during these events). I did, however, find a room with undefined shift objects in the last section of the game:

Spoiler: Screenshot of the buggy room (click to show/hide)

This error didn't prevent me from completing the level, though.

Spoiler: Nitpicking (click to show/hide)

The intro screen and the cutscenes are really simple, featuring only a plain black background and some bits of straightforward text. I can't help but feel that the storytelling and tense atmosphere in the level would have benefited a lot from more elaborate cutscenes.

The level icon is also present but it isn't very descriptive, as the only thing it shows is Juni wearing an orange outfit (which represents the prison uniform, but you won't probably know that until you start playing).


Creativity / Originality: 8 - Very good

A story about a modern prison in a non-fantasy setting is not something we usually see in KS levels (I do recall seeing at least one old level featuring this theme, though). The CYOA-like game structure and the custom graphics (custom tilesets are used exclusively) gives this level a rather unique style. I liked how some of your choices affected the flow of the game, while some others were only there to give you a more interactive feeling.

Spoiler: End area (spoilers) (click to show/hide)


Personal experience: 7 - Good

For the most part, I enjoyed the story. I was curious about what was going to happen at any moment, and that kept me playing until the very end.

Spoiler: Final part and Ending rant (spoiler heavy!) (click to show/hide)

I should also mention that there are a few jumpscares present in the last section of the game, and these aren't exactly my thing. They are only a few though, so this wasn't a big deal for me.

Spoiler: Nitpicking again! (click to show/hide)


OVERALL: 7.25 - Good. It's a pretty neat level all around, with a rather dark theme and unique style. If you like multiple choice games and story driven levels, you should definitely give it a shot. On the other hand, if you are looking for a platforming challenge and/or a big map to explore, this might not be what you're looking for.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on August 17, 2015, 20:05:35
Ah, I was planning on reviewing this'n, but it looks like you beat me to it. Just as well, since I hadn't thought about it at all this morning.

As it is a level that relies so heavily on shifts, there actually were a few places (the elevator, in particular) where I managed to get caught in a wallswim. The story didn't make much sense to me either, but the effects were very well done. This is definitely something that could have been expanded on.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on August 18, 2015, 14:25:31
Yeah, this level could definitely have used some additional character backstory (for starters, you never learn the reason you got thrown into that prison) and some way to establish a connection between the prison and that last area. I thought the events of the first 6 days were a very interesting start, but then you find yourself suddenly stuck in the final area with no explanation of what's really happening, and it felt like a missed opportunity. Still, I thought it was an overall interesting experience that made for a nice change of pace from the more traditional levels we are used to.

I could tell you by PM beforehand whenever I'm thinking of doing a review of a recent release. This way we can avoid writing two articles about the same level. What do you think?
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on August 18, 2015, 19:53:20
Quote from: Vegetal Gibber on August 18, 2015, 14:25:31
I could tell you by PM beforehand whenever I'm thinking of doing a review of a recent release. This way we can avoid writing two articles about the same level. What do you think?

Might be worth mentioning, if you intend to do this sort of thing regularly.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on August 19, 2015, 09:07:14 
REVIEW 05
===================================
(http://orig01.deviantart.net/0e7d/f/2015/230/6/a/mystery_island_by_blahson256-d96a6zr.png) (http://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/9540)
===================================
Mystery Island (v3)
Made by RelicShine
Released on 18 August 2015
Challenge - Hard
Small
=============================

We encounter another new level from knyttlevels.com. (because apparently people not associated with the forums still make and submit KS levels. Go figure.) This is one of those short and sweet levels where you run around and collect powerups and keys to reach the end, whilst avoiding the baddies, but it has a few nice touches to help distinguish it from the sea of average levels.

Trustworthiness: This level is certainly Small. It certainly is Hard. It definitely has an island. It's definitely mysterious.

Lawful Good.

Design: The level design is minimalistic, and some would say it doesn't make full use of the tilesets picked for it, especially in the caves. While the placement of the monsters does fit the bill of Hard, it does so in many instances by being crammed together in amateur fashion. Still, it isn't too annoying to deal with until near the end, and even so, you only contend with three screens of them at that point.

The level, while a bit awkward-looking, is solid and free of voids and wallswims. (except for one cliff which can be passed for void access at x998y997) There are a few areas, particularly in the caves, which seem to serve no function. But I personally don't mind this. The only thing I would gripe about is the relative lack of save points. There's only one in the entire cave area, and four in total.

I find the design overall to be decent.

Agenda: The story begins with a field of grass, and words which tell you to 'Look Up!'. You then find yourself in a swamp, and from there you may go wherever you want. To the left, you find a young lady who says what may be one of my new favorite lines from any KS level:

(http://orig13.deviantart.net/bada/f/2015/230/1/9/review_05_image_1_by_blahson256-d96a9nz.png)

From there, it's merely a matter of dodging the evil flowers and stuff to get the powers and eventually find your way to the end. There are a couple of other things to talk to along the way, but they don't say anything all that useful either.

Spoiler: Ending (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

Overall, the objective is met normally.

Vibe: This level utilizes the standard Knytt Stories music, and ambiance is not present anywhere other than the cave. Apart from the general awkwardness of the level, the level is pitifully standard in this regard.

Overall, the vibe is shallow.

Enjoyability: Honestly, this level was worth playing for the line near the beginning. Additionally, as said, there are no serious game-breaking flaws here. (unless you count the Void up top) As long as you don't get frustrated by the enemies, you will make it to the end with little issue.

I'd play it again, but it'd be a while.

Summation: If you are in need of a new KS level, this one's not a bad play. Don't expect Shakespeare, however. That I feel is all that needs to be said.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on August 19, 2015, 15:12:39
It doesn't have a forum thread here, but there is a page for this level at Glorious Trainwrecks (http://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/9540) where you can read and post comments (it was one of the entries submitted for the Knytt of the Month #9 (http://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/9533) event).

I thought it was a pretty good level with a nice amount of exploration, especially for being made in such short time with no prior preparations (about 2:15 hours, according to the author), although I agree that the enemy placement in some of the screens made for some frustrating moments.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on August 19, 2015, 20:25:07
Quote from: Vegetal Gibber on August 19, 2015, 15:12:39
It doesn't have a forum thread here, but there is a page for this level at Glorious Trainwrecks (http://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/9540) where you can read and post comments (it was one of the entries submitted for the Knytt of the Month #9 (http://www.glorioustrainwrecks.com/node/9533) event).

I thought it was a pretty good level with a nice amount of exploration, especially for being made in such short time with no prior preparations (about 2:15 hours, according to the author), although I agree that the enemy placement in some of the screens made for some frustrating moments.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. I didn't think to look there again since the event was over.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: seattalite on September 28, 2015, 02:08:21
where do I get the yellow key from? thnx
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on January 13, 2016, 20:54:13
I wrote this review a few months ago, but decided not to post it here at the last minute because I wasn't very happy with the negative tone of the article. Might as well post it now to breathe some life into the thread:


(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/47886996/knytt/screenshots/review_pastfuture.png)

"Past and Future" by Deni
Type: [Challenge] / Size: Not specified / Difficulty: [Normal/Hard]

[ Download link ] Link removed, search at Knyttlevels.com if you want to try the level for yourself.


This is a level I found by randomly searching in the Knyttlevels archive while looking for one of those unknown gems that haven't been mentioned on the forums, or at least something entertaining to pass the time. Unfortunately, what I unearthed was something that would probably have been better left buried.

Normally I would refrain from doing this kind of commentary. I'm trying to become a game developer myself and I know from personal experience how appalling can be for an author to have something that they put a lot of effort on be harhsly criticized or even ridiculized. However, I think the present level is a very good example of pretty much everything that should be avoided when making a game, so I feel it can be an interesting case study. I'll try my hardest to avoid being unfair and/or needlessly insulting, out of respect for the author's efforts... but let's just say this won't be pretty :/


Level design: 2/10 - Really bad

The level description is... well... very non-descriptive. The title seems to have been chosen purely at random, the "size" category is blank (which should be "Large" in my opinion), and there's only one difficulty level, which I'd say it's downright Lunatic. In fact, I've played Lunatic levels that were easier than this.

However, it's not just that the challenges themselves are difficult. Part of the reason the level is so hard lies in what it's usually called "fake" or "artificial" difficulty: scarcity of save points, sudden deaths, generally unfair situations and challenges that require prior knowledge of the level that only the designer has. This results in a bad and frustrating experience for most players.

The structure of the level is extremely linear, with practically no room for exploration. This isn't necessarily a bad thing in itself, but not only there's no definite goal, there's also absolutely no explanation whatsoever about what you are supposed to do (other than going forward and overcome the various challenges). Every area seems to have a radically different theme and purpose from the others, which makes the experience really confusing.

As for the individual features of this level...

Spoiler: Short version (click to show/hide)

Spoiler: Long version (click to show/hide)


Ambience / Eye-candy: 4/10 - Very mixed up

The overall design of the level is very inconsistent. The map basically consists of a bunch of different-looking areas connected by tunnels, and the transition between them is often too sudden. Some of them look decent, like the laboratory part, but others look either too bland or cluttered with tons of pointless objects and particles.

Use of ambience sound is very limited. The vast majority of the screens just have the default ambience tracks #3 and #4 on them, even when it doesn't really fit their contents.


Polish: 3/10 - Poor

I found plenty of misalignments that will trigger a wallswim if you try to enter a room while jumping (Megaman boss door style :P), especially in the black & white area. I'm also not really sure if the level has been tested from start to end before the release, judging from the unforgiving nature of the proposed challenges.

It seems the author didn't put much care on the presentation. Neither the icon nor the info screen say anything relevant about the level. There are no cutscenes (other than a badly scaled "You Win" text at the end), and there are absolutely no mention of the original authors or sources of the graphics and music used.


Creativity / Originality: 0/10 - Plagiarism detected

There seems to be no definite theme or objective whatsoever. You're jump dumped into a long, linear series of challenges with no specified goal and that's it. There's a decent variety of areas, but that's about the only good thing I can say.

The black and white area is a blatant plagiarism of the level Going Left (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=1259.0) by SecretGlitch, but devoid of any humor and riddled with much more frustrating challenges. Some of the screens are almost carbon copies of the original with more traps added.

Spoiler: Proof (click to show/hide)

The level does feature custom music in almost all the areas, but most of the songs are (as far as I know) ripped from other games without even giving them credit. Not exactly something that would earn you bonus points in this category.


Personal experience: 1/10 - Downright painful

At first I thought the level was just going to be a somewhat bland and pointless environmental-ish map, but I kept going forward even if it seemed a little boring. It became a bit more interesting when I reached the first actual challenge, but that only lasted a little while until I got to a section full of unfair situations and almost no save points. I resorted to cheating so I could at least have a look at what the level had in store for the player after that really bad section, but things didn't improve at all. It quickly became a chore, so when I reached the previously mentioned invisible maze, I just gave up and used the editor to peek at the rest of the level and satisfy my curiosity in a much easier way.

Spoiler: My (bad) experience with the rest of the series (click to show/hide)


OVERALL: 2/10 - Really bad. This isn't a level I'd recommend to anybody. It isn't the ugliest level I've seen and, to be completely fair, it does have a few decent screens here and there... but the average player (myself included) won't have the patience to keep playing for more than 10 minutes. Also, shamelessly stealing content from other games and authors is absolutely not cool.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: ixMarcel on January 13, 2016, 22:59:09
Nicely written, I have had a good time reading this XD.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on January 13, 2016, 23:18:28
I think it is important to have reviews of bad levels from time to time.

However, methinks this one in particular should probably have not been reviewed, but rather, reported, for plagiarism and lack of credit to the music used. I'll leave it up to you how to proceed, since nobody would really care either way.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on January 14, 2016, 15:08:49
@Fubaka: I wasn't completely sure of what to do with this one, which is part of the reason I didn't submit the review back then when I wrote it. In the end, I thought it'd be interesting to use it as a "counter-example" illustrating pretty much everything you shouldn't do when making a game (including the rampant plagiarism, maybe making a point publicly that the community will notice if you do this kind of thing).

I will, however, remove the direct download link from the post in order to avoid further spreading the damage :P2 (although you can still search for it manually at Knyttlevels.com, if you want to check the level out anyway for some reason).

@ixMarcel: Thanks, glad you found it a good read :)
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on January 16, 2016, 03:28:24
Thanks for kicking this horse back into gear, Mr. Gibber.

REVIEW 06
===================================
(http://orig12.deviantart.net/4936/f/2016/015/1/8/hinterland_by_blahson256-d9o2ym0.png) (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=6687.0)
===================================
Hinterland
Made by pfrangip
Released on 15 January 2016
Challenge/Scenic - Normal
Small
=============================

Warning, a wild Knytt Stories level appears!

Hinterland is a small level with interesting visuals and somewhat tough jumps. Released just today by our very own pfrangip, it chronicles a young lass's journey through the Hinterland, a strange and unknown place beneath waves of darkness.

Trustworthiness: The level is true to its classification. It possesses decently challenging jumps, and focuses on the scenery, which will take you through tattered brick towers and halls, and under black pools of water. If you are at all decent at jumping, you will finish in less than 10 minutes.

Overall, the level is best described as Lawful Good.

Design: Throughout the level, you find yourself beneath waves of black water. Much care has been taken to ensure that you won't accidentally kill yourself jumping into the waves. In fact, in order to do so, one must be making a conscious effort, and jump as hard as they can. I was unable to find or otherwise access any Voids, even when I poked around in the editor. However, there was one screen in particular where I came very close.

Spoiler: Screen (click to show/hide)

The only thing I found annoying was that, after obtaining the climb powerup, I was unable to go back to the previous area, even though nothing seemed to have changed about the area I entered from.

Overall, the level is rock solid.

Agenda: The level starts you off by giving you a dictionary definition of the word 'hinterland'. From there, it's more or less a straight path through this strange place. Personally, I might have preferred a more open area to explore in, but not every level can be like that.

I do think the level does its job well enough, but it still doesn't match the strange feeling I had when I first played 'An Underwater Adventure'.

Overall, the objective is met well.

Vibe: Although this isn't the first underwater-themed level I have played, it certainly was the first one to do it with medieval imagery. I appreciated the choice of music, and the challenges were just enough to keep my attention, without being frustrating.

Overall, the vibe is surreal.

Enjoyability: I liked this level. It was nice and quick.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

The music was great, and I liked the one little puzzle thrown in there.

I'd definitely play it again if the fancy struck me.

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

Summation: This was a nice little level. Definitely worth the download, and a keeper to boot. If you have the time to read this review, you have time to go download and play the level. Click the level icon at the top of this post, and you'll be whisked to the level's forum thread like MAGIC!
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on February 29, 2016, 03:18:06 
REVIEW 07
===================================
(http://orig05.deviantart.net/338d/f/2016/059/e/4/who_kidnaps_the_knytts_by_blahson256-d9thb5q.png) (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=6708.0)
===================================
Who kidnaps the Knytts
Made by Dr.Korbin
Released on 21 February 2016
Challenge/Puzzle/Maze - Hard
Large
=============================

Knytts disappear... but I don't care.

Ah yes, another large ambitious level from a first-time producer. This is exactly the sort of thing this review thread was made for.

Let's dive right into it, shall we?

Trustworthiness: The level is definitely true to all of its labels. It will take several hours to complete, has a very disorienting cave maze, and has a few puzzles to boot. Apart from that, there are several tough challenge stages. However, I would classify this level as Very Hard, rather than just Hard, especially near the end.

Overall, the level is best described as Neutral Good.

Design: This level makes use of several custom tilesets, some of which were designed by the level maker. The overall layout of the world is nice, reminiscent of Nifflas' A Strange Dream, though more wormhole-like in nature. The level itself is divided into two primary sections, as well as some smaller sections bridging them, and also features multiple possible endings.

In terms of challenge, there are the usual enemies in various places that need to be avoided. In addition, there are some shift-based challenges near the end, and some COs to dodge. Players who render KS faster may have trouble with the shift-based challenges, and may have to cheat to pass them. Additionally, there are some areas of the level where popping spikes will cause some undue pain, since they seem to have no purpose for existing. However, most of the level is fair regarding its challenges, and Save points are frequent enough.

There are three distinct puzzle sections, spaced out more-or-less evenly through the level. Two of them are what could be described as 'filling' puzzles, and the last is a chess-like maneuvering puzzle. They are designed rather well, and I could not find any point where I could glitch through improperly-placed shifts here.

The maze-like nature of the level comes into play with the caves. It is a maze truly worthy of the name. While it warps time and space in order to get its maziness across, it never actually loses its consistency. You can always travel back and forth between the same two screens, making it possible to keep your bearings while navigating it. Once you've familiarized yourself with the layout, you can use the caves to fast-travel between points of the overworld. Of course, that's not its only purpose. Your ultimate destiny lies somewhere within its depths.

The level is very solidly put together for the majority of its duration. However, it still seems a bit haphazard in places, especially in some of the challenge sections near the end. About half of the gameplay will be spent in the open overworld, and the other half will be spent in a linear challenge portion, once you've managed to enter a up-to-then inaccessible area.

Overall, the level is solid.

Agenda: The overall story being told here is a bit odd, but straightforward for a video game. By the end of the level, you know who kidnaps those Knytts, and why, even if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

The story is this sort of semi-detective type tale, where all you really have to do to find out what's happening is to progress through the level. As you explore the world, you learn more about how it operates, though it may leave you scratching your head, wondering what any of it actually means.

Based on some choices you make through the level, as well as how many secrets you manage to find, you will be set on the path for better endings. It all fits together very well, even if you do get lost at certain points. It definitely helps to bring a pen and paper so you can write things down.

Overall, the objective is met very well.

Vibe: Custom music is employed throughout the level. With little exception, it's all upbeat and energized, making it a stark contrast to the more typical Nifflas adventures. There isn't much in the way of actual ambiance, but all the songs loop, so it's not usually missed.

My favorite areas were the Caves, the Clock Town, and the eastern forest ruins.

Overall, the vibe is nice.

Enjoyability: The level itself is fun to explore, especially the caves. Without exception, the music is nice to listen to, and fits each respective area. However, I found some of the challenges, especially the ones near the end, to be very much annoying. The sort of thing where you spend more than 50 tries on a single obstacle in your way.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

The level is worth looking back on every now and then.

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

Summation: While it is an admirable first attempt, especially regarding its scale and puzzles, I think this level will be difficult if not impossible for more casual players to enjoy fully. The level really is divided evenly by its more open-world laid-back first half, and its intense challenge-oriented linear second half. For most players, I would recommend playing through the first half and having fun exploring the world, and cheating to see the rest of the story.

That, Doctor Korbin, is my diagnosis.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: egomassive on February 29, 2016, 21:55:40
^That's a very accurate and well put review of Who Kidnaps the Knytts. *applause*
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on April 17, 2016, 00:03:21
NOTICE: This review was written prior to a rather large update to the level. See the end of the review for details on that:

REVIEW 08
===================================
(http://orig09.deviantart.net/df94/f/2016/107/0/2/advena_by_blahson256-d9z978i.png) (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=6728.0)
===================================
Advena
Made by Purple Ink
Released on 1 April 2016
Challenge/Misc. - Normal (Contains optional harder challenges, up to Very Hard)
Large (Epic Length)
Requires Knytt Stories Plus (http://nifflas.lpchip.nl/index.php?topic=4175.0)
=============================

At last!

This level has been in the works for nearly three and a half years, first announced in December of 2012. Since then, it has steadily grown in size and complexity, resulting in the monstrosity I have to talk about now. In terms of sheer exploration and size, this level puts Gaia to shame, as you can literally spend hours traversing it, and that even comes before the massive amount of secret content.

Before we begin, I would make it clear that, due to my own influence in this level's content, this review cannot be entirely unbiased. I will attempt to be as impartial as possible.

Alright, here we go.

Trustworthiness: To say that this level is simply 'large' is an understatement. On rough estimate, there are certainly more than a thousand unique screens; a truly epic length leviathan of a level. However, since there are no higher selections for size in KS itself, it can't be helped.

The Challenge label comes from the fact that there are a good number of standard enemies, pools and other hazards lain about the land. If no secrets were discovered, the difficulty could be conceived of as simply Normal. The harder challenges naturally come from those hidden and locked away areas. There is also a challenge in and of itself when it comes to simply remembering where you are in the world in relation to the other areas. That is where the Misc. label comes in, which Purple Ink identified in the release thread as 'Exploration'.

Overall, the level holds true to Lawful Good principles.

Design: The level itself is almost completely open-ended, much like the large Nifflas levels. It is subdivided into several distinct areas, each with its own name, tileset, and music. Nearly every area has at least one secret to find, and some areas are secrets unto themselves. The world, by extension, also loops on itself, meaning that one cannot find an actual end to it.

As you explore this land, you will be subject to all sorts of different environments, from open fields, hilly terrain, caves, ruins, forests, clouds, marshes, castles, and all that other good stuff. The distinctiveness of each area means that it isn't really possible to confuse them from each-other, though some are similar, especially certain caves.

In addition, the level is nearly flawless on a technical standpoint, which is quite impressive for one of this size.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Overall, the level is rock solid!

Agenda: The story is a very simple one. Juni wakes up on a beach, on the shore of an unfamiliar land. She got there after her ship was downed in a storm. Naturally, she may want to explore this land she found herself in, but at the same time, she feels she could be rescued. Surely enough, a boat does  appear on the shore where she initially wound up, and taking it will end the level. However, if she chooses to explore the land first, she will find what is essentially an entire continent, devoid of any other Knytts.

As such, this journey is entirely optional, as Juni can leave at any time. This means that however much of the world that you see depends solely on your own curiosity. You could spend upward of six hours just exploring this place, or you could finish the level in less than two minutes. To help incentivize your exploration, however, there are numerous collectibles to obtain in this expedition. In order to have proof that you found everything in the level, you will need the following:


This necessitates exploring every area, and finding nearly every secret within these areas. Without a map, this will be very difficult to do, and even I had to resort to the Editor to find many of the secrets. Ultimately, I would have preferred an in-game map to help keep track of where things are. Even Knytt Underground, as big as it was, and as secret-laden as it was, had a reliable map to fall back on. Still, if you think you are up to the challenge, go for it. Just keep in mind that some of the secrets are VERY well hidden.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

Overall, the objective is met magna cum laude!

Vibe: As mentioned before, each area in the world has its own distinctive look, name, and soundtrack. I very much appreciated that the graphics themselves were very distinctive, simple and striking. At no point was I ever confused about what was or was not in the foreground. The creatures that thrive in each area are also distinctly colored to match their surroundings, which helps to accentuate the mood. You will naturally come to find your own favorite areas out of this lot.

Most of the music is upbeat, and none of it is irritating. However, some songs have a bad tendency to end abruptly, which can hinder the mood at times. To avoid this, one might be tempted not to spend too much time in the given areas. If the music is missed, however, one can restart it by muting and unmuting the game.

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

All in all, there is very little to be desired in terms of variety of environment. You will find nearly everything here, making the overall vibe exorbitant!

Enjoyability: It can be very easy to burn yourself out if you play for too long at a time. However, if you pace yourself, you will find the exploring quite enjoyable. Each distinct area helps to prevent a sense of monotony from setting in, so long as you are tactful enough to avoid running around in circles. The secret hunting, while I think some are too well hidden, is a very engaging part of the level, and the crux of the challenge.

In addition, as was outlined above, the level is very accessible to people of almost all skill levels. Every major challenge in the level is completely optional, and one could simply just have a little fun exploring the world for a bit before sailing off. I think this versatility will help this level to be remembered fondly in the long run.

Overall, I think the level is very much replayable.

Spoiler: Secrets (click to show/hide)

Summation: This is probably the biggest and most complex level that I have reviewed to date, including my previous series of reviews. It's definitely a landmark achievement for Purple Ink, and should be ignored by nobody. For those who like open world exploration levels, this is probably the pinnacle of that sub-genre.

If you haven't already, go and download it.

UPDATE ADDENDUM:

Not long after this review was completed, Purple Ink released a rather large update to this level. Among the changes was the inclusion of a proper map for the level. As such, it is now significantly easier to find your way around the place without getting lost and having to resort to the editor. Keep in mind that apart from the bigger ones you warp to, secret areas do not show up on the map.

In addition, effort has been made to make some of the songs end less abruptly. This was done by reducing the volume of the songs at the end. However, it is my personal opinion that this does little to actually help the issue. My offer to give the songs proper endings is still on the table if you want, Purple Ink!

Lastly, some of the secrets were made a little less obscure, in that hidden passageways now react to your detector, as they should. The more well-hidden secrets will just have to remain as such, since they don't involve hidden tunnels per se.

All in all, I think this is a good improvement. The songs still need work though.  :P
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Purple Ink on April 20, 2016, 04:11:39
Thanks for the review, Fubbles. I've since updated Advena to include a map and also loop the offending music. I don't know if you want to make a note in your review or not.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on April 20, 2016, 04:43:12
Quote from: Purple Ink on April 20, 2016, 04:11:39
Thanks for the review, Fubbles. I've since updated Advena to include a map and also loop the offending music. I don't know if you want to make a note in your review or not.

I'll make an addendum once I have the time. (i.e. when I am done working on my own level. :P)
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: ixMarcel on November 12, 2016, 19:28:47
===================================
(http://i.imgur.com/3tNkKBO.png)
===================================
Red Flower
Made by GBoots
Released on 6 November 2016
Playground/Misc. - Easy/Lunatic
Medium
Requires Knytt Stories Plus (http://egomassive.com/ks/)

Disclaimer: This level contains sexual content, graphic images and strong language. Rated M by the creator.
[ Download link ] I'm not sure if posting this type of content is allowed on the forums... You can find it at knyttlevels.com
===================================

First of all - pardon my bad English (or mediocre English hopefully). Writing things like this is a good practice and lets me polish my skill. BTW there are a lot of grammar mistakes in the level I'm about to review so it seems fitting :P2.

I stumbled upon this level a couple days ago while scrolling through knyttlevels.com. I downloaded and installed it, not knowing that I'm about to experience the most bizarre KS level I've ever seen.
The level was not posted on the forums and I couldn't find anything about it on the internet. It looks like the author wants to remain anonymous. I can guess why...

Trustworthiness:  3 - Nah
The level flair is misleading. I'd categorise it as Scenic/Challenge (But yes, there are some elements of a Playground level. Categorising KS was always tricky.). Looks like the difficulty flair was just a joke (and I got it!). It is not Easy, nor is it Lunatic - I'd call it Normal/Hard. The Info Screen tells us that this level contains bullshit, trash, ignorance and autism among other things. This statement is mostly true and it's good that the author discouraged children from playing it.

Design: 7 - Good
The level design is good and very creative. You'll wander the halls of a grim orphanage, explore the depths of a dark cave or infiltrate a tightly secured building through the air vents. The areas look decent and believeable, a lot of KS+ are used to achieve lots of different fun effects. Also - minigames are included! That's a rere sight in Knytt Stories. For example there's one time where you need to pick an electric lock while avoiding bolts of energy(?). You can also play Pac-Man. Fun! I havn't run into any bugs (for example like the one in the ending sequence in Saving Thalanill where the player is randomly teleported to a non-existing room by the game's engine and dies - anyway, back to the review).

The level is split across a timeline like in Choice by TigerNDV. Each day brings a new, bigger adventure. You'll also have the chance to play as different characters.
Spoiler: Screens (click to show/hide)

Agenda: 8 - For KS standards at least
You play as Sofia - an orphan who suddenly and mysteriously appears in an orphanage. She tries to make friends with the other kids and gets involved in a lot of different situations. There are a lot of characters who have their personality and a lot of things to say.
Spoiler: Screens (click to show/hide)

Vibe: 9 - Hey, that's pretty good!
The level is definietly something different. It truly shows the power of the simple KS level editor combined with a wide imagination and creativity. The overall atmosphere is dark and grim with glimpses of hope. I was constantly interested in what's coming next and the level kept on rewarding me. I'd say that playing this level was almost a cinematic experience.
A lot of custom tilesets, COs, gradients and music were used. There are also a lot of nicely made cutscenes and they add much to the overall experience.

Enjoyability: ? - About that...
As you may already assume I enjoyed most of the level very much. However - there is a lot of hidden/optional explicit content (hentai art among other things) and there's also a rough sex scene (you can mash ↓ arrow to skip it). I believe that those things can make the overall experience unenjoyable for some people.

Summation:
Red Flower is a wierd, bizzare and unique (and a bit cringey) experience. It's very different from what we're used to and it manages to surprise even the seasoned KS players. Give it a shot if you feel like it!
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: SC on March 02, 2017, 06:40:12
Hey, can I join in this too? I've been tempted to do some level reviews recently (maybe even in video form)!
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Fubaka on March 02, 2017, 17:14:00
Quote from: SC on March 02, 2017, 06:40:12
Hey, can I join in this too? I've been tempted to do some level reviews recently (maybe even in video form)!

Go right ahead. Just make sure you tell us in advance what your criteria are.
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: SC on March 02, 2017, 18:30:08
Sure! My criteria is as follows:

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

I'm also going to rate every category out of 10, with .5 segments and specific words to describe each rating number. Sort of like how IGN does it. Expect the first review to be out SOON(tm).
Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: SC on March 03, 2017, 01:04:48
===================================
(http://i.imgur.com/qnTIebm.png)
===================================
altf4
Level design and tilesets by 14 and Takahashi Lua
Music by 14, Takahashi Lua, and -C/1i
Released some time in 2011
Genre: Misc.
Difficulty: Easy
Size: Medium
Doesn't require any mods

[ Download link (http://knyttlevels.com/levels/14-%20altf4.fix2.knytt.bin) ] (via knyttlevels)
===================================

I’m not going to lie, I don’t remember where I found this level. I’m 90% sure I’ve never come upon it in the forums, I don’t even remember me finding it on Knyttlevels. It just sort of... appeared. In my downloads folder. Like a deer in the headlights, standing still, frozen in time, waiting for me to install it. Haunting. When I installed and played it for the first time, I had no idea of what I was in for. And what I got was... well, it’s something at least.

First Impresssions:
When I found this level on my KS install, I clicked on it to see what the start screen was like, and, well… it's something, alright. Some weird abstract cube-thing that probably was made from two hours of screwing around in Photoshop, I'm assuming. This gave me a very weird vibe for the level, and I expected something a bit abstract. And, I was completely correct! It's… very odd. In a good way, mind you. We'll talk more about that in a minute. Also, the level descriptors I'd say are pretty much accurate to what the level entails (except I think Medium might be stretching the length a bit). It isn't hard to play, it isn't very long, and it's quite easy...

Spoiler: (click to show/hide)

I give this level's vibe an 8.5/10 because of how abstract it is.

Agenda:
I'm pretty sure this level was made after the creator(s) was/were interested in the Knytt Stories platform and wanted to make something unique of their own. They really went all-out on doing whatever tickled their fancy, creating tilesets out of images Photoshopped and modified to oblivion and using bits and pieces of that throught some sections of the level. Overall, the agenda has been met very well, in that regard. It feels like I'm playing a weird art game, like Hylics or Space Funeral.

It fits the bill, so it deserves an 8.5/10!

Level Design:
The level design in this level is short, but sweet. The level is divided into different sections aesthetically, with you starting in a basic grayscale "tutorial-esque overworld" area, then moving onto a more darker area that's basically the same area but darker and it teaches you how to climb, then you fall into a forest area with a lot of trees and a lot of room to climb. It's a fun experience to climb the trees and bounce on the mushrooms.  

My only complaint is that it's so… kind of short that it's over before you even know it. I would have totally loved some more areas and maybe even an abstract story, but I still loved the design, even if it wasn't particularly challenging (as far as I remember).

Spoiler: Secret ending (click to show/hide)

I give it an 8/10.

Aesthetics:
Wow. Just wow. This level has some of the weirdest and subsequently most amazing aesthetics I've seen in a level since Teenhmifnoeafgil.

Spoiler: Some screens (click to show/hide)

The music is also really good and really weird. Some of it is obnoxious, but overall I absolutely adored the weird clash of piano noises and slowed-down beeps and bops in one of the songs. (And distortion pedals, that's a nice touch.) Very avant-garde, which might not be the type of music for some people, which is fine, but in my humble opinion, I liked it very much.

(A bit odd that the ending cutscene is just a completely black image, though...)

The aesthetics get a 9.5/10 for being so unique for a Knytt Stories level! Huzzah!

Experience and Replayability:
When I finished this level for the first time, it was subsequently the most weird yet pleasant experience I've had with a level up to that point. Then, when I finally found out about the secret ending, I went and did that and wow, the credits sequence finally making sense felt good to me. (Even though the ending cutscene is the same as the normal ending.) It's one of those levels that definitely stuck out to me and I'll gladly play it every now and again just to see if I missed anything.

9.5/10.

FINAL SCORE:
9.0/10 - Awesome

I really, really enjoyed this level even though it's not as big as it could be. Its collateral weirdness really sticks with me and I too want to make a level as weird and as fun like this someday. 14, I don't know where you are now, but I hope you learned a lot from making this level and I hope you're doing well for yourself!

=============================
Phew. One review done. Think it might be time for me to review another weird-ish level next...

~SC

Title: Re: Fubaka Reviews 2: The Knyttening
Post by: Vegetal Gibber on March 03, 2017, 21:05:54
It's great to see new KS reviews here after all this time :D  Besides being entertaining reads, they sometimes bring hidden gems to my attention that I'd probably have never noticed otherwise. Thank you for the effort, SC :)