Starfall: Alyssa's adventure

I'm going to start out by saying that this game takes way too long to load up.  I guess a game's gotta do what a game's gotta do, but I started this game up for a second time just to check and make sure I got the title right, but the loading screen had burned such an infernal memory into my brain that I alt+f4'd as soon as I saw it.  So yeah, I'm not 100% sure this game is in fact subtitled "Alyssa's Adventure," so let's just call it Starfall

Starfall is a third-person platformer, and if I could maintain any semblance of credibility as a reviewer and just say "iz rly gud," I would, because I have very little to comment on that isn't simply a summary of mechanics....

...so here's a summary of the mechanics.

You have 3 abilities: dash, double-jump and platform.  By right clicking in the air, you can place a platform underneath you, holding left click makes you go super fast, and you can double-jump.  Pretty self explanatory, right?  You use these three mechanics to reach the top of a spiral mountain type place and do some stuff with stars that I didn't really catch onto.

With a little more fine tuning, I would've been ready to call this game great...fantastic, in fact.  The three movement abilities work together nothing short of beautifully.  They allow for freedom while maintaining focus.  If this game had a bit of a bigger budget and was more open, even my Spartan behind would be inspired to fork up some cash to have it in my collection.

Now, when I say "if this game had a budget," included in that is the fine tuning I was talking about before. Sometimes, the mechanics simply refuse to work.  Obviously, you can't double-jump from a platform and create another platform underneath you; such freedom would be game-breaking, but there's this weird half-second cooldown period between your moves that will undoubtedly have you fall into more abysses than you would like.

It's also worth noting that I got stuck in a loop in the level at one point, which probably means the level design should have been a tad more refined, but once I died and respawned without consequence Prince of Persia style, I was pointed in the right place, so who really cares.  All-in-all, this is a very well constructed game.  I say give it a shot.  This one gets my seal of approval.

That's all I got for now.  Until next time, stay stellar

Links
ponytail of destiny: https://www.digipen.edu/?id=1170&proj=26170

Squishy the Starfish

You know, we've all got our problems in life.  Maybe school's getting you down, maybe your boss is giving you a hard time, or maybe an oppressive blogging schedule that you set for yourself in late December is finally starting to drive you to the brink of insanity, but the bottom line is that every now and again, people need to unwind...escape, you know?

Squishy the Starfish aims to be a "feel good game."  One that you can turn to when you need to turn your frown upside down.  Aesthetically, it hits the nail right on the head.  The pink pastel color scheme and ridiculously cheery visual style could make even the world's toughest man go "d'aww." The sound direction also nails it with those peppy steel-drum melodies, though the game allows you to import your own music, so if you feel like floating through the ocean as a smiling starfish while Murder Sermon plays in the background, you can do that too, you sick bastard.

The gameplay is, for the most part, done well.  All you really do is use the mouse buttons to cast out one of your five starfish arms, which will then stick to a wall, leaving you to swing accordingly. Rinse and repeat. It works well enough, but lil' Squishy's arms are only limber when they're outstretched, so you can't aim your arm at all.  You're put completely at the mercy of the physics engine, which will leave you patiently waiting for your arm's trajectory to line up the way you want it.

Apart from this frustration, I have nothing to complain about.  If you put your arms in the right places, Squishy folds in upon himself, but I found that more charming than annoying.  All-in-all, it's quite a relaxing game.  I'd give it a shot if you're feeling down.

That's all I got for now.  Until next time, stay squishy

Links
Happy Starfish Man: https://www.digipen.edu/?id=1170&proj=474