Excuse me for the long post!
Really short! I played it a 2nd time just to see what was in that bottom door. It's generally fine as a level mostly to have fun and try to be cute in but I said I'd critique so here I go...
The biggest problem is that the P switch needed to beat the stage isn't telegraphed at all. I could see someone missing it completely and getting frustrated. There is a feather on the bottom path but if they use up the mushroom and take a hit they can't get to it, or they could take a hit with the feather, too. Both of these could be solved by providing them with pipe dispensers. I don't know if that would make it too easy but whatever.
The death trap door is probably a no no. Not a big deal since it comes so soon but I think more of an imminent death that the player can run from is preferable. Think that Bowser door in the Nintendo World Championships level.
Finally, I'd have liked to have seen a way for a skilled player to beat it through the thwomp/ bob omb door. Make it hard as hell and only give them 1 bomb to make the path. This is all fine since it's clearly hard as hell and they have other paths to try if they wish.
Thanks for the critique. The feather is the normal way to go through the cave. It is not that hard to use it right, you can kill all goombas and even the spike top (normally I just call it a spiny lol) if you thow them. The cape can even kill the spike top. So I think placement wise I was pretty generous there. Of course I could dispense more feathers, but it takes part of the exploration away if they have all they need there. If the player messes it up, the P-switch is there. However it adds the risk of having the moles come after you.
The trap doors in the beginning were added later. I wanted to add a bit more trolls to my level and say to the average player, this is not the way.For the skilled player they can finish this level via the thwomp way. It's actually not that hard, all it requires is a few spin jumps and jump back to the one tile platform then go through the blast zone and clear the goal. Another possibility came up during playtesting. If I went to the last door in the 'instant death' zone and reacted quick enough to jump back to the start then go through the second door and time the jump with the bar of the goal, you would still make it. However nobody would think about doing this, I discovered by accident and kept it in.
The funny thing is, I created this level with the sole intent for player to get back to the start by springs and die. The rest was built around it, that's why it's kinda short.
Anyway it's very helpful. I think I'll keep this one up and maybe merge some ideas with previous levels I made
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Bowser's Castle 64:Fun level and cool MK64 throwback. I feel like the Lakitus kinda got in the way and the giant thomp at the end killed some of the fast pacing. Sweet bowser sprite!
Glad you liked it! The Lakitu's is there for another throwback. Didn't want him to be fatal so I let him give you some coins and later on a star. You can use him to travel to two secret areas near the final lap.
I upped the challenge with each room, first creating a safe room, then one with some danger and so on. I used a lot of symmetry in it so the the big Thwomp was a result of that. I ran out of blocks and the goal wasn't that far away so I had to connect it with the final room. I was pretty generous with power ups, so it shouldn't be a big problem.
I actually googled a 8-bit bowser grind for it, but had to adapt it, because he's too big! After about 3/4 I just quit and finished him, so the shell is not really accurate. There is also a certain shortcut with the big red koopa. And a big shortcut if you jump down before climbing bowser. The door there sends you to a minature Bowser boss battle with a 1-UP in the ? block.
Marioary
I think I missed the reference on this one? But it was short and easy so
nice!
A is for jumping, R is for spin jumping and Y is for sprinting. I tagged those on to mario, it's almost a real word
Cave Trolls Cheeky little level. Player gets kinda screwed though if they use the p-switch, get the cape, and then lose the cape (unless Im missing something).
Didn't think about this. I hope the arrow is enough indication that you need to get up there tho.
Last Hours (Dawn of a New Day): Sweet MM level, I like the moon getting bigger as you go through the level. It felt a bit directionless at times, like I was just kinda moving forward without feeling progress, but thanks to the generous power ups and helpful coin patterns I made it through.
Yeah I definitely need to work on the direction and the power ups where generous because you need them. Especially the distribution of the propellor suit was kinda hard, maybe I should have used a pipe there.
Another designer's note is that the first screen is based on previous Dawn of The ... Day title. I may just drop it when I remix this in SMB or SMB3 style.
Thanks for all the feedback, really helps for the next one or updates for older levels!
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For other GAF members, a list of my levels:
Super Mario Bros.
Tutorial gone wrong?!
43D6-0000-0014-90F4
Description: Tutorial level with a twist, I put this in because a lot of people played this one.
Coins in the Underground!!
AD36-0000-0015-23E7
Description: My first real design made with the day 1 tools. Collect all the coins!!
Bowser's Castle 64
4DE0-0000-004B-3AD
Description: Revisit Mario Kart 64 while racing through Bowser's castle. The ? blocks are mostly filled with Mario Kart items.
Super Mario World
Marioary
73FC-0000-0028-6208
Description: Fun and short level traversing warp pipes in the underground and some Super Mario World ABC's.
Cave Trolls
8274-0000-0043-CBB2
Description: Watch your step, there is a troll in the level!
New Super Mario Bros. U
Dawn Of The First Day
4076-000-0016-AD0D
Description: Another Day 1 level after the first and second batch of unlocking things
Dawn Of The Second Day
FFE0-0000-0022-323B
Description: Improved version of First Day with lots of secrets and warp pipes. The ending should be a little clearer now.
Dawn Of The Third Day
AC47-0000-0030-18A7
Description: A more lineair version of Second Day, with a bit more star power near the end.
Last Hours (Dawn of a New Day)
2BBD-0000-003F-4B9
Description: A short retelling of the moon crashing on Termina. Spiritual succesor to the Dawn trilogy.
Bowservania
5A65-0000-0020-6DC2
Description: Inspired by IGA's level a Bowser boss battle right off the bat. Analyse the AI and get away, but do it fast he will chase after you! It's bit sadistic, but not hard.
Let me know what you think of it
