Air Brawler- Almost polished enough.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

This game was originally for a competition over at shmup-dev but I felt that the game was not as polished as I might have liked.

I'm fairly happy with it now, the graphics set the mood I was looking for and the music is OK for what I can do. The game play is still a bit up in the air however. Players originally suggested that I put healing items in the game instead of a 1 life system. Now I feel that the game is far too easy.

Game play is as follows.

This is a game of equal combatants. You and your enemies are essentially the same. You must collect green glyphs for point boosts and pink glyphs for 1 unit of health regained. Highscores are saved after each play. To clear the highscore table open the scores.dat file and then select all data and delete then save the file. There are some special tactics to learn. Use the walls to your advantage to instantly change direction. Much faster than turning this way.

Controls are as follows

left arrow-turn left
right arrow-turn right
up arrow-speed up
down arrow-speed down
space bar or z-fire

http://www.sendspace.com/file/um7qfm

[benny!]

Cannot download :-(

Sorry all servers are busy at this time.
Please try back later.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

try this one.
http://myfreefilehosting.com/f/8e393d208d_3.6MB

[Shockwave]

Sorry, I am getting a terrible download rate from the second link. 0.3 kb/sec... The first one doesn't work at all.. Will like to see the preview if you can find a decent host to store it on?

[benny!]

What shockwave says. The second download link works - but it is so slow - it would take
ages.

[Jim]

That link is dead too, now.
Try rapidshare or sendspace.

Jim

[frea]

GREAT!
One thing only. please change the space key to not close the score screen. After about 10 games i discovered that something like that actualy existed .

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Updated the link.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/um7qfm

[benny!]

Awesome game. Like the gameplay very much. Very well done !!!

A multiplayer option would be real fun !

Keep up the cool quality !!!

[Pixel_Outlaw]

GREAT!
One thing only. please change the space key to not close the score screen. After about 10 games i discovered that something like that actualy existed .

I'll look into that in the next version. I had assumed that a player would simply hold the spacebar or z key.





Thanks for the kind words. I fear that the game is too easy and the player gains back health too randomly. Sure when they kill an enemy they have a shot at healing 1/6 of their life but should it always be this easy and methodical? Also the game feels boring at times. I wonder if I could add some sort of sub challenge like boxes in the arena that reflect a player in a fashion similar to the arena walls. I think the path to victory is too defined. What would the game of golf be if the object was simply to drop a ball into a hole at your feet. This analogy is quite appropriate. The goal is clear but obtained too directly. I'm not into the "add more powerups and guns" school of thought. That just usually ruins the fine balance in a game. Overcomplication doesn't;t always mean better gameplay. Challenge with a clear goal is usually a good rule.

I want to keep the basic feeling of the game but it feels like it is lacking something.

[Jim]

Very nice game.  Good stuff.  Perhaps to make it harder you don't always give a powerup after every kill on later levels?

Jim

[Shockwave]

Some honest feedback coming up!

(Thanks for providing a better link).

+ Nice almost tron like style of graphics.
+ Totally smooth.
+ Intuitive controls.
+ Nice music.

- No sound effects.
- Far too easy.
- Unimaginative weapons.

The biggie has to be that there are no sfx only music.

It also needs some effects to happen to the screen sometimes when you get a powerup etc.

This could be a great game but it only seems about half finished to me, maybe look at anything that Jeff Minter made to get some inspiration to turn this into a much more intense experience.

hth.

[Clanky]

Great game!

- Far too easy.

I.. I... I found it hard... lol... owell... better practice


Great music too! Thumping start

[Paul]

- Far too easy.

I.. I... I found it hard... lol... owell... better practice

hehe, Me Too :S

as Shockwave said, it needs more interesting weapons and some sound effects.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Thanks for your feedback gents. I'll start work again as soon as I finish this 6 page report on M.C. Escher due tomorrow. Ahhh the college stress.

[Clanky]

I know how you feel!

Have you thought about applying special bonuses for 'special' people?

First Kill: Be the first to kill
Kill Joy: Kill n number of enemies in a certain time
Blood Bath: Kill n number of enemies (without enemies killing each other)
Sniper: Kill n number of enemies within x percentile.
Surviver: One on one win (meaning win level)

Hmm...
Also, weapon upgrades (can diminish over shots) throughout level... or weapon upgrade after levels (like a shop - time consuming though)
Sound effects would be great!