Darren_'s Reviews

[Darren_]

Name - LBPForum.net Showcase Center
Author - Jidget

This is a simple level and so requires much less of an in-depth review, but i will do my best!

First Impression
My First Impression when I read the name ''Showcase Center'' was ''that sounds pretty boring''. How wrong I was.
You arrive by train to a Little slice of the LBPForums world . There is the cheerful characteristicly recognised LBP music ''Go!'' as you run down the steps of the platform eagerly waiting to see what lies in wait around the corner.

You are then met by the title of the level on a sign, and the black night-time backdrop changes to the ''empty level blue''.

After I realised that this wasn't some pictures only level, I realised a bit of time and a good idea went a long way in this... and even better this level has our name on it, so it must be good, right?

7/10 - I was intrigued as to what was beyond the walls, but not impressed by what i saw

Presentation
The presentation is simple, and elegant, with the ''White stone'' material (or something similar) being the standard material throughout the level.
After the sign, you take the elevator up to the tutorial area. Here there is 3 easy steps/rules about getting your own area. (will be explained in ''Overall Design'')
The signs are nicely done, with 3 pictures explaining your 3 steps.
You are then met by another elevator, when I played this level (15th August) Floor 1 & 2 & 3 are sealed off until Jidget gets more rooms.
Finally The top Floor is a comical sunroof/conservatory.. with a sun lounger and an umberella, for you to relax.

The potential is brilliant for everybodies personal rooms!

Presentation 9/10 - Plain, but it should be.

Length
I presume this will go on for as much as he can fit on the thermometer, as of August 15th it was quite short, but with the extra space for rooms, i can see this will be a very lengthy level with huge choice.

Length - 10/10

Platforming
Judging by what the players create, any amount can be done! i had great fun in some of our fellow users rooms, but i havn't seen any death yet... and its probably best its kept that way.

Platforming - 8/10 - Good Fun

Playability
With more and more rooms being added, this level will never end! (until thermometer is maxed )

Replay - 7/10 - makes you come back, but not straight away

Overall Design
Now if youve been reading wondering ''what the hell are these rooms??'' well here is your answer.

I will step by step this part,
- Once you arrive at the tutorial, you are given a bubble (should you choose to get it) that gives you a blank canvas standard room,
-You then go to your moon, and decorate it, but dont change the size!
-Then give it back to Jidget and he will place it in the level for you!
-This allows you to advertise your levels, creativity and humor in his level so others might be interested in seeing what you have to offer! The only catch is you need at least 100 posts.

The Layout is as follows -
After the tutorial you are met by a second elevator. This has 5 floors (i think.)
Floor X is the special rooms floor chosen personally by jidget.
The rest of the floors apart from the top floor will be host to the rooms, Think of it as an apartment block with your own personal apartment in there.

Though this is not an entirely new idea, it is implemented very well, and of course, its for us!

Design - 9/10
Innovativeness - 6/10
Layout - 8/10
Jidgets Switches - 7/10

Glitches...
None!

Glitches - 10/10

Lasting Appeal
Jidget Gives LBPF users a place to host a ''mimic level'' to advertise theirs. Which can be quite fun to play through!
Straight after i was finished i went to my moon and made my very own room... Now to get them 100 posts!!!

81%
***** 5 Star

2 Reviews in one day! .. Im tired

until next time
D.

[Jidget]

Wow, that's the most in-depth post I've ever received, thanks! You're easily one of the best reviewers on this site.

BTW, you say that you were intrigued to see what was beyond a wall, but were disappointed when you found out. Which wall were you talking about?

-Jidget

[Darren_]

i was intrigued to see what lay beyond the first elevator, and i was happy with what i found
oh and thanks for the compliment

[Chucky2000]

Wow great reviews! Can you reveiw my Nuka-Cola Survival Challenge?

[Darren_]

Wow great reviews! Can you reveiw my Nuka-Cola Survival Challenge?

ahh the famous chucky! i say famous coz ur name is on one of my pics in the review

sure ill do that next actaully, coz a survival challenge is a quick one
then ill do DRLONGS

[Chucky2000]

ahh the famous chucky! i say famous coz ur name is on one of my pics in the review

sure ill do that next actaully, coz a survival challenge is a quick one
then ill do DRLONGS

Haha yeah I saw that Thanks for accepting the level

[Darren_]

Name - Nuka Cola Survival Challenge
Author - Chucky2000

As this is a survival challenge I will be looking at diffrent aspects, which i have edited into my original post.

First Impressions
Being a big fan of ''Fallout 3'' for PS3, I was drawn to this level immediatly by the name. The Badge is big letters saying ''Nuka Cola'' in bright red and stands out quiet well.
As I arrived into the level, I was greeted by the enormous sign describing the title of the level, which may seem a bit unnecessary and out of place as it doesnt add anything to the atmosphere of the level.
I also failed to see where I appeared on screen but a couple of seconds later I realised, that I was in a little hole in the top right, and was told to ''Jump down''.
After I did so, the camera panned out and the full view of the room became clear and the 'Monster Kit' Music played...


I was let down upon arriving into this, as i was met by bland ''Brown rusty metal material'' which was very plain, and I didnt like being stuck in a small hole.
There are numerous ways of dropping you into the level, and a tight small hole, isn't one way i would choose.

First Impression - 4/10 - Dissapointed

Length
Of course, its variable.. I found that it can go on forever, which i will discuss in ''Faults/Glitches''

Length - 5/10 - A survival challenge shouldn't go on for potentially forever.

Presentation / Attention to Detail and Sound

As I have mentioned the bland 'Brown rusty metal' material is the main material used here, now I undertand that may have been what Chucky2000 was aiming for, (after all, Fallout has some pretty bland metals, practically everywhere), But I had kept this in mind.
Never in Fallout is there just one peace of massive metal everwhere, a bit of variation would of been nice, with some pipes, smoke, a diffrent material streaming across the backround...
Although the Sign did take up most of the backround...


When you land on the ground you find yourself to apparently be in whats known as ''The Nuka Cola-Plant''
There is a conveyor Belt behind you, but its not moving, and the conveyor belts computer. Scattered around are blue drop patches.

and It has to be said The ''Fallout'' Sign looks top quality.
You can grab a piece of white dissolve material to see the highscores. The Highscore area is a Metal box, with a few random numbers scattered aound (which i didnt have a clue why) and the finish line in the middle.

The foreground is more detailed with a band of Plain metal material being your floor amongst the brown rusty material.
There are numerous lights all around adding atmosphere to the level, and blocking out some of the lack of detail.
The monster kit music is the music throughout the challenge, and unexpectadly, it does suit everything.
The Quantum drops are big blue Drops with blue lights in the middle varying in sizes from about, 1 sackboy to 6sackboys in size. Before each drop falls, a flickering blue light shines down like a laser, telling you where the next drop will fall.

Backrounds 5/10
Foregrounds - 8/10
Detail - 7/10
Lighting - 8/10
Sound - 6/10

Playability
Being a survival challenge, you should want to go back and play again, But I wouldn't, unless i had more people, I feel this level is more suited to at least 3 players

Platforming
You run left and right collecting score bubbles avoiding the drops of quantum falling from the roof.

Platforming 7/10

Overall Design
The overall Design and layout is quite good though nothing unheard of. I think using the Fallout theme was a brilliant choice, but poorly executed.
Im not sure how chucky operated the emmitters that controlled when the drops fell, but I wasn't impressed. The drops fall in the same place all the time, and so develop a pattern.
How I felt it should be done, is put an emmitter on a piston moving across the level and slowly speeding up, that way it adds more variation and randomness as to where the drop falls.

Layout - 8/10
Switches - 5/10 (nothing goes wrong, but nothing impressive)


Known Glitches : Faults

Okay you may be wondering, why i'm being a bit harsh here... here's the reason : I found about 4 spots you can stand still and survive for as long as you want... I found 2 spots where I can collect points and avoid the drops.
If I wanted i could stand in that spot, walk away for an hour and have the highscore. The level is flawed. Unless he makes the drops fall Everywhere at some point, its not really a survival challenge.

Negative scores
-10/10


Lasting Appeal
The Level, has a good idea and theme behind it. I was dissapointed after I played it. I wouldn't say you should avoid this level, but only play it if you have people with you... That way, the issues arent a problem. But still, the presentation should have been better.

3/10 - Dissapointed

50%

** 2 Stars

D.

[bambs481]

i thought chuckys level was excelent! it was fun.

[embargoethan]

Review my Future warzone tributes, or you can review any of my levels if you want, that sound interesting.

[Mugsig]

Wow, I usally never look in review threads, but sometimes I do, and I'm sorry to say im not asking for a review, but I just wanted to tell you that you're one of the best reviewers i've seen! Good luck D