While I must admit, I wasn't the hugest fan of the first couple of games in the series, I couldn't help but not pass up the opportunity to play as everybody's favorite miniature blue elephant. Anybody who has played the first two submissions will grow comfortable with the motif and gameplay, that is to say... that nothing involving the control or level design has drastically changed since the last game, other than the fact that you can now poop out exploding pastries and the inclusion of teleporting doorways allow for different opportunities for unique and creative programming opportunities. Visually, the game is a major upgrade from the first two; The colours are more vibrant, and the environment is more fleshed out than just blocks and squares. Clues are given through the title of each 'stage' and the various methods for beating each stage is just as impressive as the last game, though I still feel that This is the Only Level 3 is a trial-and-error based game; While there are some elements that you can pick up on in the first play-through, you can only achieve a shorter time once you've beaten the game and have realized how each stage works. For that matter, I would've liked to see some medals in this game to amp up the replayability, but overall... I felt that this game fully delivered on entertaining the player, with some impressive programming by jmtb02 along the way.
'Random Heroes' is as generic as an action platformer will ever get. A generic background involving zombies(how original), and run n' gun style gameplay make this title pretty stale in comparison to other games on Newgrounds, today. Characters have no distinguishable attributes other than their skins, and achievements are a nice touch... if they actually attributed to the medal system. The gameplay is quite easy, which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, if it didn't make the game boring and(let's be honest here) mindless. Upgrades would also be great, if the most powerful weapon in the game wasn't available from the start. Because then, I would just save up enough money to get that weapon, and then I'd be unstoppable. Now, with all that said... this game is visually impressive. I love the background detail and the variety of music. The controls are easy to master, and secret areas will always keep you wondering off the path in search for some hidden gold and silver. However, with such simplistic level design and slowly progressing gameplay, it's hard to stay interested for more than a few minutes. Keep on trying though, I'd love to see you guys do something else.
While I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of the 'Bullet Bill' series, I have to give props to Psycosis91 for making something so stunningly original. It's only a shame that I am unable to dictate what could be added to the series to make the next game better than the last. With Bullet Bill 3, I'm afraid that this is as perfect as this series is ever going to get... realistically. Well, to start off, the ability to use the arrow keys for controls are absent, which will make some players angry, though to be fair, the mouse works rather well in this game... for the most part. The problem with using the mouse, is that the control is way too slippery and it leaves the player optimally handicapped when trying to dodge really low or really high platforms. With that said, the game isn't impossible, and the boss fights this time around are reasonably difficult. However, if you pick up the key and try to beat the boss with it, you're shit out of luck, seeing as how masks like to mystically spawn from the right side of the screen and careen quickly towards you. Another thing to acknowledge is the vast array of enemies that you could hit on your way to the goal. Sure, there are the occasional Koopas and Goombas, but there are now Bomb-ombs and POW blocks. There are even instances where you can pick up a giant mushroom. There are also additional power-ups that can be unlocked that help out graciously; Such as the triple bomb or the stopwatch. These will definitely come in handy when you face certain obstacles. Being able to switch inbetween power-ups while progressing through each world is also impressive. Visually, the game looks nice. It's hard to complain about 16-bit graphics, and there wasn't really much to criticize except for the sufficient lag that appears whenever I die, or sometimes, when I leave a cannon. I also notice that whenever a boss is beaten, the goal posts seem to appear to transport from the top of the screen to the lower end. This optical snag is rarely acknowledged though. The music is fantastic; Each level has its theme cleverly remixed to add energy to the chaotic gameplay, and the sound effects differentiate, depending on what you hit. Add some medals, some unlockable character skins, and a level creator, and you certainly have one of the heaviest uplifts to any flash game you've ever seen. It is reasonable to assume that the game will progressively get harder, and with some lag issues and the sloppy controls of the mouse, it'll take some patience to get use to the whole new layout. However, it's still impressive to think that its mediocre predecessor has evolved this far. Which is why I find it hard to believe that there is still more that could be added to this game. Truth be told, I'm sure that if a 'Bullet Bill 4' was to be made... there could be some significant upgrades that Psychosis91 would be sure to debunk. But in the meantime, this works out just fine.
Given the fact that this game was made in 96 hours, it'd be rather unpatriotic to say that this is a horrible game. But with all-do respect, this game needs a great deal of development still. At first glance, it doesn't look too bad; The art style is enticing and the ambient sounds are fitting. However, the animation is painful to watch, and the "traps" are activated so quickly, that it's almost impossible to maneuver around on the first play through. Not only that, but they're quite hard to see, even when you use your Sight. You'd have to die over and over again, until you've memorized every trap you come across. Or: Keep coming back to the light, and continue to use your Sight for each step that you take, which is vexatious. I've also come across a glitch where a piece of ceiling rock(which is impossible to see.) fell right in front of me: I walked into it, and died. Honestly, it's nice to see such an ambitious attempt at a thought provoking title, but this still needs a great deal of work before it's ready to be played by anyone.
Before I start off with this review, I'd just like the acknowledge the first part in this fantastic retelling of the ancient Grimm fairytale. The original 'Gretel and Hansel,' took a serious, graphic approach to an already horrific fable, and for what it was worth, it was a great game. It's certainly one of the most underrated flash games I've ever played, because it didn't necessarily gain the recognition it deserved. With 'Gretel and Hansel Part 2,' we pretty much get the same general game, except that Part excels in all the areas that the original game was weak in. I'd dare to say that it just may be one of the greatest sequels to a flash game I've ever played. To start off, the controls are pitch-perfect. It's easy to move in all four directions, and even diagonally if you so chose to. Using items is easy to pull off and the programming is flawless. The interactivity between Gretel and the environmental elements are just amazing. As far as the story is concerned, it's Hansel and Gretel but with a nice little spin with subplots involving carnivorous tree-people, ice queens, and faceless fairies to guide you upon your quest. Some of these side missions give you money to buy items you'll be needing, or you can just do them for the hell of it. The graphics are fantastic, the watercolour paint of the characters and the setting are just gorgeous, and I like the sudden bursts of humour that appears whenever you play as Hansel, or when you mess with objects in the environment. The music was also great, the string-styled tracks that play as you walk around gives a sense of foreboding and a chilling, haunting presence. The time when I saved Emma's 'spirit,' I actually felt a tad emotional, if that says anything. Also, the medal system is hilarious. Playing the game, you'll feel the need to unlock every medal on the first play-through. Well, the vast majority of the medals for this game is the many possible ways you're able to brutally kill off your main character, which is absolutely hysterical(in a sick sort of way). With all these fantastic accolades awarded, it is fair to mention that there are still some bugs and glitches that could use a patch here-and-there, and sometimes the difficulty could raise to ridiculous measures. But honestly, I find it hard to believe that even those little attributes would stop you from enjoying this one-of-a-kind game. Check it out, it's awesome.
From the developers and creators of the unforgivingly hard, 'Alien Hominid,' comes an all-new beat 'em up that's sure to please any pissed off fan of generic fighting games. While the idea of a sequel to 'Chainsaw the Children,' just seems illogical, and(let's be honest), impossible, this little submission is as close to a perfect sequel as it's going to get. The thing to realize with this game is that it was developed by The Behemoth, so while it takes some thought to understand the controls and figuring out where to go, the plot has absolutely no moral, no seriousness, and really, no ambition. It's just a skull-faced kid beating the ever-living shit out of some other poorly drawn children. This, I'm okay with. The fighting system is very well done, and the combos are surprisingly well programmed. The art is typical Dan Paladin style. Simple, but effective, and while the lack of plot may feel unnerving to others, I actually find that there really doesn't need to be any detailed story for a beat 'em up. Just kick some ass, that's simple enough, and with graphics so primitive and animation so smooth and solid, it's hard to not judge this as one of the best that Newgrounds has to offer. However, when you're not wondering who cruelly names their own child, 'Farter,' you'll be wondering where the real challenge is outside of the steroid-induced miniboss in the beginning. Well, while it's certainly fun to chase around helpless children to pummel to death, the actual difficulty comes when you run into A)the boss that I mentioned before, B) Two Ninja children, and C) the Hoodrat in the junkyard. While all the practice with the lesser children may seem helpful, these 'bosses' are still a tad too challenging. Primarily because the first boss can corner you against the wall, grab when you're about get back up, and damage you before you can even move. The Ninjas seem impossible to dodge(I know they aren't, but still), and the gangster will just spam a gun over, and over, and over again. It feels like I don't have time to react, and soon enough, I die and end up having to restart from the very beginning of the game. Sure, the difficulty in this game is way dumbed down compared to 'Alien Hominid,' I'm not trying to complain, like difficulty is a bad thing. But when I'm unable to fight back because of the spamming from the bosses... that just seems pretty week to me, as a gamer. Other than that, the games still one-of-a-kind. Give it a go.
It's hard to critically analyze games that were made to be viewed as art. Granted, I think all games should be viewed as art on some level, but when a game like this comes along, where you just have no idea what the hell is going on... it makes it harder for me, the player, to fully analyze the game for what it is. The first thing I could think of when I started to play Gyossait, was that the visual style is clearly going for a more macabre style. It reminds me of Ghost n' Goblins(with pixilation), Exmortis, and a Lovecraftian Romance all compiled into one. The flixel graphics add a layer of surrealism to the stages and follows a more gothic approach. With that said, the backgrounds are uninteresting, the objects are hard to make out, and the cutscenes look decent, at best. Controls were fairly simple, though it was hard to land a few jumps here-and-there, and the music was chilling and chaotic, which totally fit the mood, until it stopped awkwardly and began to loop again. The game is relatively easy, and with unlimited continues and compatible checkpoints along the way, it's hard to not finish the game, unless you deliberately walk away and decide that the game is just not for you. It seems to me, that the strong points that this game, is style. It's story is too symbolic to be understood, and the controls and music are nothing to be blown away by, but the surreal atmosphere and the haunting imagery, along with the bone-chilling music(consisting of pipe-organs and demonic whispering) create an eerie tone that follows the player from start-to-finish, and it does a good job at keeping that feeling for the rest of the game. If you want to see what I'm talking about, or if you just want to try out a game that's totally different, then, give this one a go.
I must confess, when I find a game on the front page of Newgrounds entitled, "Discount Mayonnaise," I'm not entirely sure what to expect. So, when I find out that the same game is a fast-paced action-based platforming adventure with zero accountability for the sanity of it's gamers and a giant Dune-styled sandworm in every level, I nod my head slowly, and try my best. While the idea may seem half-baked and there is no actual plot to the game, Discount Mayonnaise still delivers with riveting action, customization, and some rarely well-programmed gameplay. The addition of customizing your characters with different clothing and weaponry, depending on the type of skill level you want your character to have, is rarely done well in flash games, but this time, I can feel the difference in my running speed, and the height of my jumps. A medal system is a smart route, adding new levels of difficulty for the player to match that of the perfect difficulty that has been encrypted into the flash, itself with difficult jumps and intelligent enemies that follow you around. I will say that while the infinite lives are very much helpful and the difficulty is well where it should be, some of the jumps that are to be performed feel tedious and with somewhat stiff and rigid controls in the beginning of the game, it'll prove difficult to maintain an audience. I also found many glitches when I first started playing; My character wouldn't move when I started up the game for the first time, and there appears to be a lag here-and-there. Music consists of intense techno beats that change with each world change, and the artwork is rather fantastic(in that Meatboy sort of way). In the long-run, this game proves more than sufficient. With a few patches to cover those glitches, this could quite possibly be the best game of 2011. But, even if you keep it as it is, it'll still have my vote as one of the greatest games this year, by far. It's not every day we get to play a game as compelling and personal as this one. Check this one out, you won't regret it.
Thanks for the great review!
In our future games I'll make sure that the first few levels are easier, so that people can pick up on the game mechanics before the challenging levels really begin
With Regard to the rest of the Power Star installments in the series, this one is by-far the weakest of the bunch. I'm not sure what about this submission makes it weaker than the rest, but there's an overwhelming feeling that this part wasn't necessarily stronger than that of One, Four, or even Two with its minor inconsistencies. I find that with this installment, the plot of the first two Power Star submissions is never developed. It's just an extremely long, extended fight scene inbetween Mario and Luigi. Which isn't bad, but it doesn't necessarily make this film necessary to understand the plot of Power Star, so fans of the series will find that they can just skip this installment and head straight for Power Star 4, and not miss anything. With that said, this fight scene is pretty badass. Daniel's signature animation is swift and unforgivingly fast, and the change in setting was clever and unusual. The music wasn't too bad, either. At times, it felt like it was the soundtrack for some lost Fast & the Furious sequel, at other times, it felt tense and powerful with Matrix-esque orchestral movements that strengthened the tension within the battle. Overall, this installment is a must-see for adrenaline junkies and action fans alike, but if you're trying to follow the plot of Power Star, then this isn't entirely necessary to watch.
To start off this review, I would just like to state how brilliantly this game was made. From the preloading Newgrounds logo to the artistic flamboyance of the interactive credits, there was never a dull moment that made me want to exit out of the flash. From the get-go the artwork is stunning. The bleak, Noir-styled setting of the household interior and the forests, give a sense of confinement and isolation, and the ambient creaks and moans that accompany this image, only emphasize the depth of disturbia that the scene already portrays. Once you get outside of the house, you are welcomed to a world filled to the brim with bright, orgasmic color, and soothing Acoustic Guitar Sounds to provide for background music. While the scenery is gorgeous, and the music is complementary to the game itself, I must say that I also enjoyed the simplistic structure of the characters, as all of them(except the worm) are black blobs, and the controls are also easy to manipulate as well. Standard arrow movements are your only basic controls, and the difficulty is relatively easy, sort of playing like a platforming adventure game with elements of point-n-click styled gameplay. Any misdemeanors to this game are minor; there are a few times where jumping has failed to provide its necessity... and the lack of challenge during the daytime parts cause a sense of a game that is far too easy. On the other hand, the part of the game that takes place in the basement is a bit too difficult, but now I'm just nitpicking. Overall, to compare to every other poorly rendered flash game that appears on Newgrounds, this is indeed, a breath of fresh air. It has beautiful graphics, a grand collection of symbolic interactivity, and is sure to entertain.
N20k
All 151 flash Reviews
Rated 4 / 5 stars April 10, 2012
While I must admit, I wasn't the hugest fan of the first couple of games in the series, I couldn't help but not pass up the opportunity to play as everybody's favorite miniature blue elephant. Anybody who has played the first two submissions will grow comfortable with the motif and gameplay, that is to say... that nothing involving the control or level design has drastically changed since the last game, other than the fact that you can now poop out exploding pastries and the inclusion of teleporting doorways allow for different opportunities for unique and creative programming opportunities. Visually, the game is a major upgrade from the first two; The colours are more vibrant, and the environment is more fleshed out than just blocks and squares. Clues are given through the title of each 'stage' and the various methods for beating each stage is just as impressive as the last game, though I still feel that This is the Only Level 3 is a trial-and-error based game; While there are some elements that you can pick up on in the first play-through, you can only achieve a shorter time once you've beaten the game and have realized how each stage works. For that matter, I would've liked to see some medals in this game to amp up the replayability, but overall... I felt that this game fully delivered on entertaining the player, with some impressive programming by jmtb02 along the way.
8/10
Rated 2.5 / 5 stars December 9, 2011
Read Economics Book, Gain Life.
'Random Heroes' is as generic as an action platformer will ever get. A generic background involving zombies(how original), and run n' gun style gameplay make this title pretty stale in comparison to other games on Newgrounds, today. Characters have no distinguishable attributes other than their skins, and achievements are a nice touch... if they actually attributed to the medal system. The gameplay is quite easy, which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, if it didn't make the game boring and(let's be honest here) mindless. Upgrades would also be great, if the most powerful weapon in the game wasn't available from the start. Because then, I would just save up enough money to get that weapon, and then I'd be unstoppable. Now, with all that said... this game is visually impressive. I love the background detail and the variety of music. The controls are easy to master, and secret areas will always keep you wondering off the path in search for some hidden gold and silver. However, with such simplistic level design and slowly progressing gameplay, it's hard to stay interested for more than a few minutes. Keep on trying though, I'd love to see you guys do something else.
5/10
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars December 9, 2011
Rock
While I have to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of the 'Bullet Bill' series, I have to give props to Psycosis91 for making something so stunningly original. It's only a shame that I am unable to dictate what could be added to the series to make the next game better than the last. With Bullet Bill 3, I'm afraid that this is as perfect as this series is ever going to get... realistically. Well, to start off, the ability to use the arrow keys for controls are absent, which will make some players angry, though to be fair, the mouse works rather well in this game... for the most part. The problem with using the mouse, is that the control is way too slippery and it leaves the player optimally handicapped when trying to dodge really low or really high platforms. With that said, the game isn't impossible, and the boss fights this time around are reasonably difficult. However, if you pick up the key and try to beat the boss with it, you're shit out of luck, seeing as how masks like to mystically spawn from the right side of the screen and careen quickly towards you. Another thing to acknowledge is the vast array of enemies that you could hit on your way to the goal. Sure, there are the occasional Koopas and Goombas, but there are now Bomb-ombs and POW blocks. There are even instances where you can pick up a giant mushroom. There are also additional power-ups that can be unlocked that help out graciously; Such as the triple bomb or the stopwatch. These will definitely come in handy when you face certain obstacles. Being able to switch inbetween power-ups while progressing through each world is also impressive. Visually, the game looks nice. It's hard to complain about 16-bit graphics, and there wasn't really much to criticize except for the sufficient lag that appears whenever I die, or sometimes, when I leave a cannon. I also notice that whenever a boss is beaten, the goal posts seem to appear to transport from the top of the screen to the lower end. This optical snag is rarely acknowledged though. The music is fantastic; Each level has its theme cleverly remixed to add energy to the chaotic gameplay, and the sound effects differentiate, depending on what you hit. Add some medals, some unlockable character skins, and a level creator, and you certainly have one of the heaviest uplifts to any flash game you've ever seen. It is reasonable to assume that the game will progressively get harder, and with some lag issues and the sloppy controls of the mouse, it'll take some patience to get use to the whole new layout. However, it's still impressive to think that its mediocre predecessor has evolved this far. Which is why I find it hard to believe that there is still more that could be added to this game. Truth be told, I'm sure that if a 'Bullet Bill 4' was to be made... there could be some significant upgrades that Psychosis91 would be sure to debunk. But in the meantime, this works out just fine.
9/10
Rated 1.5 / 5 stars December 9, 2011
Walden Sleeps
Given the fact that this game was made in 96 hours, it'd be rather unpatriotic to say that this is a horrible game. But with all-do respect, this game needs a great deal of development still. At first glance, it doesn't look too bad; The art style is enticing and the ambient sounds are fitting. However, the animation is painful to watch, and the "traps" are activated so quickly, that it's almost impossible to maneuver around on the first play through. Not only that, but they're quite hard to see, even when you use your Sight. You'd have to die over and over again, until you've memorized every trap you come across. Or: Keep coming back to the light, and continue to use your Sight for each step that you take, which is vexatious. I've also come across a glitch where a piece of ceiling rock(which is impossible to see.) fell right in front of me: I walked into it, and died. Honestly, it's nice to see such an ambitious attempt at a thought provoking title, but this still needs a great deal of work before it's ready to be played by anyone.
3/10
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars November 3, 2011
The Brutality Continues...
Before I start off with this review, I'd just like the acknowledge the first part in this fantastic retelling of the ancient Grimm fairytale. The original 'Gretel and Hansel,' took a serious, graphic approach to an already horrific fable, and for what it was worth, it was a great game. It's certainly one of the most underrated flash games I've ever played, because it didn't necessarily gain the recognition it deserved. With 'Gretel and Hansel Part 2,' we pretty much get the same general game, except that Part excels in all the areas that the original game was weak in. I'd dare to say that it just may be one of the greatest sequels to a flash game I've ever played. To start off, the controls are pitch-perfect. It's easy to move in all four directions, and even diagonally if you so chose to. Using items is easy to pull off and the programming is flawless. The interactivity between Gretel and the environmental elements are just amazing. As far as the story is concerned, it's Hansel and Gretel but with a nice little spin with subplots involving carnivorous tree-people, ice queens, and faceless fairies to guide you upon your quest. Some of these side missions give you money to buy items you'll be needing, or you can just do them for the hell of it. The graphics are fantastic, the watercolour paint of the characters and the setting are just gorgeous, and I like the sudden bursts of humour that appears whenever you play as Hansel, or when you mess with objects in the environment. The music was also great, the string-styled tracks that play as you walk around gives a sense of foreboding and a chilling, haunting presence. The time when I saved Emma's 'spirit,' I actually felt a tad emotional, if that says anything. Also, the medal system is hilarious. Playing the game, you'll feel the need to unlock every medal on the first play-through. Well, the vast majority of the medals for this game is the many possible ways you're able to brutally kill off your main character, which is absolutely hysterical(in a sick sort of way). With all these fantastic accolades awarded, it is fair to mention that there are still some bugs and glitches that could use a patch here-and-there, and sometimes the difficulty could raise to ridiculous measures. But honestly, I find it hard to believe that even those little attributes would stop you from enjoying this one-of-a-kind game. Check it out, it's awesome.
9/10
Rated 4 / 5 stars November 2, 2011
...Sun Chips.
From the developers and creators of the unforgivingly hard, 'Alien Hominid,' comes an all-new beat 'em up that's sure to please any pissed off fan of generic fighting games. While the idea of a sequel to 'Chainsaw the Children,' just seems illogical, and(let's be honest), impossible, this little submission is as close to a perfect sequel as it's going to get. The thing to realize with this game is that it was developed by The Behemoth, so while it takes some thought to understand the controls and figuring out where to go, the plot has absolutely no moral, no seriousness, and really, no ambition. It's just a skull-faced kid beating the ever-living shit out of some other poorly drawn children. This, I'm okay with. The fighting system is very well done, and the combos are surprisingly well programmed. The art is typical Dan Paladin style. Simple, but effective, and while the lack of plot may feel unnerving to others, I actually find that there really doesn't need to be any detailed story for a beat 'em up. Just kick some ass, that's simple enough, and with graphics so primitive and animation so smooth and solid, it's hard to not judge this as one of the best that Newgrounds has to offer. However, when you're not wondering who cruelly names their own child, 'Farter,' you'll be wondering where the real challenge is outside of the steroid-induced miniboss in the beginning. Well, while it's certainly fun to chase around helpless children to pummel to death, the actual difficulty comes when you run into A)the boss that I mentioned before, B) Two Ninja children, and C) the Hoodrat in the junkyard. While all the practice with the lesser children may seem helpful, these 'bosses' are still a tad too challenging. Primarily because the first boss can corner you against the wall, grab when you're about get back up, and damage you before you can even move. The Ninjas seem impossible to dodge(I know they aren't, but still), and the gangster will just spam a gun over, and over, and over again. It feels like I don't have time to react, and soon enough, I die and end up having to restart from the very beginning of the game. Sure, the difficulty in this game is way dumbed down compared to 'Alien Hominid,' I'm not trying to complain, like difficulty is a bad thing. But when I'm unable to fight back because of the spamming from the bosses... that just seems pretty week to me, as a gamer. Other than that, the games still one-of-a-kind. Give it a go.
8/10
Rated 3 / 5 stars November 2, 2011
We are fire for the sun
It's hard to critically analyze games that were made to be viewed as art. Granted, I think all games should be viewed as art on some level, but when a game like this comes along, where you just have no idea what the hell is going on... it makes it harder for me, the player, to fully analyze the game for what it is. The first thing I could think of when I started to play Gyossait, was that the visual style is clearly going for a more macabre style. It reminds me of Ghost n' Goblins(with pixilation), Exmortis, and a Lovecraftian Romance all compiled into one. The flixel graphics add a layer of surrealism to the stages and follows a more gothic approach. With that said, the backgrounds are uninteresting, the objects are hard to make out, and the cutscenes look decent, at best. Controls were fairly simple, though it was hard to land a few jumps here-and-there, and the music was chilling and chaotic, which totally fit the mood, until it stopped awkwardly and began to loop again. The game is relatively easy, and with unlimited continues and compatible checkpoints along the way, it's hard to not finish the game, unless you deliberately walk away and decide that the game is just not for you. It seems to me, that the strong points that this game, is style. It's story is too symbolic to be understood, and the controls and music are nothing to be blown away by, but the surreal atmosphere and the haunting imagery, along with the bone-chilling music(consisting of pipe-organs and demonic whispering) create an eerie tone that follows the player from start-to-finish, and it does a good job at keeping that feeling for the rest of the game. If you want to see what I'm talking about, or if you just want to try out a game that's totally different, then, give this one a go.
6/10
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars October 31, 2011
The Spice...
I must confess, when I find a game on the front page of Newgrounds entitled, "Discount Mayonnaise," I'm not entirely sure what to expect. So, when I find out that the same game is a fast-paced action-based platforming adventure with zero accountability for the sanity of it's gamers and a giant Dune-styled sandworm in every level, I nod my head slowly, and try my best. While the idea may seem half-baked and there is no actual plot to the game, Discount Mayonnaise still delivers with riveting action, customization, and some rarely well-programmed gameplay. The addition of customizing your characters with different clothing and weaponry, depending on the type of skill level you want your character to have, is rarely done well in flash games, but this time, I can feel the difference in my running speed, and the height of my jumps. A medal system is a smart route, adding new levels of difficulty for the player to match that of the perfect difficulty that has been encrypted into the flash, itself with difficult jumps and intelligent enemies that follow you around. I will say that while the infinite lives are very much helpful and the difficulty is well where it should be, some of the jumps that are to be performed feel tedious and with somewhat stiff and rigid controls in the beginning of the game, it'll prove difficult to maintain an audience. I also found many glitches when I first started playing; My character wouldn't move when I started up the game for the first time, and there appears to be a lag here-and-there. Music consists of intense techno beats that change with each world change, and the artwork is rather fantastic(in that Meatboy sort of way). In the long-run, this game proves more than sufficient. With a few patches to cover those glitches, this could quite possibly be the best game of 2011. But, even if you keep it as it is, it'll still have my vote as one of the greatest games this year, by far. It's not every day we get to play a game as compelling and personal as this one. Check this one out, you won't regret it.
9/10
Thanks for the great review!
In our future games I'll make sure that the first few levels are easier, so that people can pick up on the game mechanics before the challenging levels really begin
Rated 4 / 5 stars October 12, 2011
Heaven or Hell
With Regard to the rest of the Power Star installments in the series, this one is by-far the weakest of the bunch. I'm not sure what about this submission makes it weaker than the rest, but there's an overwhelming feeling that this part wasn't necessarily stronger than that of One, Four, or even Two with its minor inconsistencies. I find that with this installment, the plot of the first two Power Star submissions is never developed. It's just an extremely long, extended fight scene inbetween Mario and Luigi. Which isn't bad, but it doesn't necessarily make this film necessary to understand the plot of Power Star, so fans of the series will find that they can just skip this installment and head straight for Power Star 4, and not miss anything. With that said, this fight scene is pretty badass. Daniel's signature animation is swift and unforgivingly fast, and the change in setting was clever and unusual. The music wasn't too bad, either. At times, it felt like it was the soundtrack for some lost Fast & the Furious sequel, at other times, it felt tense and powerful with Matrix-esque orchestral movements that strengthened the tension within the battle. Overall, this installment is a must-see for adrenaline junkies and action fans alike, but if you're trying to follow the plot of Power Star, then this isn't entirely necessary to watch.
8/10
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars April 9, 2011
I'm Excited to See You, Pete.
To start off this review, I would just like to state how brilliantly this game was made. From the preloading Newgrounds logo to the artistic flamboyance of the interactive credits, there was never a dull moment that made me want to exit out of the flash. From the get-go the artwork is stunning. The bleak, Noir-styled setting of the household interior and the forests, give a sense of confinement and isolation, and the ambient creaks and moans that accompany this image, only emphasize the depth of disturbia that the scene already portrays. Once you get outside of the house, you are welcomed to a world filled to the brim with bright, orgasmic color, and soothing Acoustic Guitar Sounds to provide for background music. While the scenery is gorgeous, and the music is complementary to the game itself, I must say that I also enjoyed the simplistic structure of the characters, as all of them(except the worm) are black blobs, and the controls are also easy to manipulate as well. Standard arrow movements are your only basic controls, and the difficulty is relatively easy, sort of playing like a platforming adventure game with elements of point-n-click styled gameplay. Any misdemeanors to this game are minor; there are a few times where jumping has failed to provide its necessity... and the lack of challenge during the daytime parts cause a sense of a game that is far too easy. On the other hand, the part of the game that takes place in the basement is a bit too difficult, but now I'm just nitpicking. Overall, to compare to every other poorly rendered flash game that appears on Newgrounds, this is indeed, a breath of fresh air. It has beautiful graphics, a grand collection of symbolic interactivity, and is sure to entertain.
9/10