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using Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy game engines
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Message: 5584
Author: dunny291073
Date: 25/02/2006
Subject: Re: UMM: "The game release is just abysmal"
--- In manicminerandjetsetwilly@yahoogroups.com, "darkman_1971_2004"
> Hmm, two points I think:
Well, if people can't manage to take constructive criticism then
>
> 1) You can't please everyone no matter what you do
there's nothing *I* can do about that either. I'm not going to say
"it's great" when I don't think it is.
I played for a while, and found that the game was lacking not in
actual content, but in execution. My original points about graphics
and gameplay elements (such as the colour scheme, and the enormous
number of areas where willy can literally walk 4 pixels above the
platforms. Colour clash is unavoidable on a spectrum, but some
ink/paper combinations are dreadful - large black blocks appearing,
large white blocks etc).
> 2) There's a LOT of negativity seems to go around on the WOS boards
I'm not negative about many things. This one just made me very upset
> on a whole range of subjects - it seems to be endemic there I'm afraid
to see a great idea ruined by the use of an inappropriate engine
coupled with some extremely bad gameplay traps.
Previous work by this author has been excellent - ZX Heroes was
outstanding and very playable.
The JSW engine just wasn't designed to do this, and as such that comes
across very strongly indeed. I've just learned that the author also
punishes players for not being aware of the extensive list of gameplay
quirks too, in the first room (after the intro) no less! That was
possibly one of the worst things that could have been done, imo. It
says that you can only play this game if you're a *real* fan of the
Willy saga. I can finish JSW, JSW2 and Manic Miner, but I'm still
excluded from those that can play the game to its full because I'm
"not a real fan".
Thanks a lot.
And speaking of the intro - what is the point of it? Especially as you
can just skip it?
Summing up, there's some very glaring issues with the layout of the
rooms and the choice of gameplay mechanics. Graphics can be fixed, but
some of this would require extensive rewriting. I can't help but feel
that a custom engine should have been developed for this.
Oh yes, unless there's some sort of *extensive* underground tunnel,
when did Surbiton become Stone Henge?
D.
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