Tarantulabean's game Reviews on Newgrounds

[Escaparazzi]

Eh. Not quiet sure how this got frontpaged. It's an interesting idea, a nice twist on snake with a bit of a little joke plot to it. But it felt very short, and didn't really live very long. It's too simple, and the game's frame rate is very choppy (not slow!), which makes it difficult to move, especially when trying to avoid so many cars.

The objective also wasn't very clear either. When I first played it, I had no idea that I need to collect five cash until a taxi would appear which would then uh... win me the game.

So, I give you 2.5 for concept and effort. But it needs more. It feels very basic and unpolished. The grammar as well could use some improvement ("popstar deaded"?). And why would sales increase after he died? It doesn't make sense. A better headline would be something more simply like, "popstar dies in tragic car accident" or something.

Here's what I suggest you do. First, make the pace and framerate less choppy. Second, expand on it! Maybe make it at first nice and easy, to introduce the player. Like a tutorial. Then maybe when you take the taxi it takes you to a brand new location (background), and you start a new level. I'd say make at LEAST 10 levels, increasing in difficulty. And maybe add powerups, like maybe one that removes all cars currently on screen. Something like that.

It's alright, but it need work and a lot more content.

FelipeBudinich responds:

Thanks very much for your detailed feedback :)

I only disagree on this point "why would sales increase after he died?"
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/arts/music/02sales.html?_r=0

The grammar thing was an ongoing joke when I made it a few years ago, I should fix it now (I'm currently doing that on the source code, that for some reason I fail to understand, I decided to write in that fashion too)

[no-one has to die.]

Wow. This is just amazing, especially since it isn't even very gameplay focused. The pure simplicity, and great music by F-777 (who brought me here, by the way), along with what was probably one of the best time travel plots I've heard of yet.

The best part is that the gameplay does not occur on the screen- it occurs in your head. It really makes you think, and everything actually makes sense! I can only just imagine the time you took writing up the story for this whole thing. It's flawless. Personally, I'd enjoy seeing a sequel to this, but if it would be something that would risk ruining everything this did right, then don't do it.

Overall, loved the game, and loved how it made me think. Bravo.

[The Drawing Grounds]

Awesomely simple and fun.

Inspired by Draw Something, obviously, but is still something of its own. First of all, I'm glad that you were the person to bring a game like Draw Something onto Newgrounds, or even the PC in general. The ability to select any range colours is great too, but you're limited to saving them. I find sometimes I'm forced to have to replicate a colour I accidentally wrote over so I can use it again, and even so it's tricky to get the same shade. It would be great if you added a colour picker tool, since you seem to be wanting to make the game more different than Draw Something, but I don't think you should add a fill tool. A fill tool would make things too easy, and it would change the overall style of finished drawings. Besides, you can appreciate someone who can work without a fill tool.

The music is great, catchy, and overall the game is fun and addicting. And I'm sure it took a lot of work to code this thing. A gold star for you.

[Vivirion.2]

I have to agree with fruitberryboy's review. It's a fun game, but could use some fixes.

Once I had reached the fourth level, I found that cells that were slightly smaller than me could kill me. And this was very annoying because cells smaller than that were rare, and once I was on a roll, I would try to kill one but instead it damaged me, putting me back at square one. Eventually I got fed up and killed myself.

Again, the game isn't very original. It's fun and it has a few new ideas and concepts, but otherwise there are hundreds of games like these all over the net. The music as well, is fairly repetitive. The graphics, however, were quite decent. I also think the upgrades didn't effect things enough, except for maybe speed and bonuses.

I also found that when I first played the game, I wasn't sure how the health bar worked. At first sight, I thought that my health was black, and was depleting when I ate cells. It only occurred to me once I beat the level that the health bar or 'grow meter' goes backwards.

And I do agree with some of the other biological flaws that others below me have pointed out.

Over all, it's a fun game, some effort was made, but just not enough. It could use some more work. Hopefully an update will be seen in the future.

[Tiny Timmy and Big Bill]

Awesome guys. Glad to see you decided to add more stuff to the game before submitting it here. I like the volley mode, but sometimes the ball gets stuck on the pole. An AI mode for it wouldn't hurt either. :3 Also I like how you guys made it so that Big Bill turns around when you go backwards, but it just makes it a little difficult to move, especially when you only want to move a little distance backwards. Oh, and I like the improved first level, the tutorial I find is much clearer for people who are unfamiliar with the game.

Besides these little things, in all, a great game you guys did for Ludum Dare, and a fun game for NG. :D

3D-xelu responds:

Thank you for the nice review :P yes we tried to improve the game a bit before releasing and regarding Volley AI mode... a bit too hard to add considering the value of the game, it might be a possibility in the future.. we'll see :D

Thanks again for being awesome though

[Incident 010A SC Beta]

Kay, few things I suggest:

Number 1: You spelt my username wrong :3 it's "Tarantulakid96" double check next time, because if it's wrong in the complete version I will come back with my rage face on.

Number 2: The music doesn't loop, you should probably fix that.

Number 3: Not everything is draggable, but I'm sure you'll get around to it later.

Number 4: I suggest (So things don't get too cluttered) is that you make buttons on the left and right sides of the backgrounds and make it so you can scroll through them instead of having to drag them around. Also, you should toss in some backgrounds from Incident 001A just so that there is more of a selection.

Number 5: If this is a work in progress, you should've submitted it here: http://www.newgrounds.com/dump/ and then posted a link to it in your blog.

Do this stuff, and it will be awesome. Also, maybe if you are good enough with scripting, you could add multiple soundtracks to select from, maybe the Incident 010A music and the Incident 001A music.

And ONE last thing: You should probably put somewhere instructions for the rotate script, because some noobs will complain that they can't rotate the sprites when you actually can.

...That is all. :3

XxJ0K3RxX10 responds:

RE: Number 1: Well that's how it was spelled in your file you gave me.

RE: Number 2: Can you help me with that cause i don't know how to.

RE: Number 3: Well i know that. I'm not done with it.

RE: Number 4: When i did the buttons to switch the backgrounds, every time you go back to the first background, the song starts again and overlaps the song before that one. I will add the Incident 001A backgrounds if i get the sprites.

RE: Number 5: I know i forgot about that.

I will try to add multiple soundtracks

RE: And ONE last thing: I added the instructions in the loading screen, but for some reason it did not show up in the flash.

...This is my response. :3

[Continuity]

Awesome.

Amazing, I love the creative platormer/puzzler gameplay. Really makes you think in new ways. The music goes nice, too.

[Tankmen: Battle 3]

Not Bad.

However, major suggestions are:

-Improve Animations (Often just movement of still vectors)
-idle movements (ex. breathing, body language)
-Graphics (ex. hit graphics [blood, sparks])
-Improve background graphics (cmon, you didn't even make that many backgrounds, you could've put some good effort into them, maybe even animated too ex. clouds, portal)

Added notes:
My main reasons for improving animations with background and idle breathing is because often the atmosphere does not feel enough action. Like two stickmen standing still facing each other going "Your turn. My turn." Blood or spark effects would also greatly improve, as well as maybe smoke and small background animations.
Speaking of backgrounds, they need improving. I liked some of the textures on the walls, but otherwise it was repetitive and boring, seaming as if when you move from room to room, only the content is changing. The battle background could also be spiced up.
Perhaps multiple attacks could also liven up the game instead of spamming the attack button and hitting a damage boost every once in a while.

But that is my honest review, I'm sure many others would agree with me. :)

Hope you can put in some of these improvements throughout future updates.

[Madness Lunacy]

Not Bad

I liked, however, I have the same complaints as the many reviews below me. I was, also, quite dissapionted at the final fight. It was over WAY too fast, becuase I still had the uzis which took down the auditor almost instantly.

[Madness Retaliation]

The best turn-based battle strategy game evar

I have got to say, the combonation of Madness Combat and turn-based strategy go very well. Personally, I don't play turn-based games often, but I do very well enjoy this one.

At first I thought "No level-up system? Darn." but now I actually prefer it. I really like the true dedication that you've put into this game, to make it so amazing. Really, I enjoyed playing it alot, even though I became really frustrated with the Tricky boss. I mean, hey... what's a game without a challenge?

I've completed the game 100%, and have found everything. The customization is also great, and liked changing my characters' gear around to fit certain situations.

Either way, I give it a Perfect 10. (Not to be confused with hair product by Clairol)