Okay, got the time to play it yesterday
All in all, this game could really become a REALLY good game
Now, onto my little conclusion:
Control:
Very good. Wouldn't want to change it
Sound:
Needs definately some more sounds.
As said above, a sound for getting hit by an enemy would be fine (something like Turrican...?)
Music:
Nice chiptune, not annoying, but not very catchy. Doesn't have a clear theme.
Super Mario: Catchy tune, you won't get it ouf of your head once you heard it a few minutes.
Sonic: Not as catchy as Mario, but you definately recognize the music.
Crocodingus: Well... I couldn't remember the theme a few minutes after playing it.
In fact, a lot of fairly good Amiga Jump'n'Run games had this problem - console games mostly always had better themed music, that's why most people first think of consoles when talking about Jump'n'Runs...
Some more good examples (in my opinion):
Superfrog, Giana Sisters
Level Design:
Well... the last post already told you, I'm going to tell you again:
The level is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY to huge.
Take any good Jump'n'Run you want - you will reach the end of the first level with your first try. I didn't even make it with my third try.
I also collected 50 bananas to buy the map - and saw it was MUCH too huge.
The map is larger as the ones from Turrican (and THIS is something I haven't seen before!)
It would be better to make smaller levels and more levels.
If you want to keep large levels: Mark the way from the start to the end very well.
Turrican has lots of Exit signs in the larger levels.
Superfrog, which also has large levels, also has exit signs.
This way, you can explore if you want, but don't do it, if you don't want.
BTW: In almost EVERY game you can finish each level in about 5 minutes (if you know where you need to go and run straight from the start to the exit).
I don't think that's possible in the first map of Crocodingus, is it...?
Also, it's really hard to get 50 bananas to buy a map, almost impossible to get enough to buy the rest... and we're talking about Level 1 here...
So, basically:
Either make the levels smaller or lead the "non-explorative" player clearly from the beginning to the end.
Gameplay:
Basically very good, some minor flaws in my opinion:
- Why don't you die when your energy runs out? You lose one life after another without even noticing... until it's Game Over
- Why can't I jump on top of the birds? Doesn't make sense for me...?
- More Energy refills would be nice... you die pretty fast.
- Also: Make it easier to get some shooting equipment. Really annoying in the first level is, that there are quite a few places too low to jump on the enemies, but you don't have anything to shoot at that time...
- You have the feeling, nothing happens if you collect a star.
Is this right or do stars open new ways, let doors appear, etc.?
If this is the case, a star should at least make some sounds (rumbling when a new way opens, a different sound when a door appears, etc.).
At the moment, it feels like it is the less needed item in the whole game.
Well, basically, that's it.
I hope you don't hate me now - I don't want to sound rude, and as I said, it's already PRETTY impressive for a first release (in my opinion, better than Super Plusha, which, btw. also suffers from large levels, so I never played further than to Level 2...)
But as you asked here for opinions, I wrote down everything that came into my mind - please see this as constructive criticism and not a destructive comment.
PLEASE keep up the good work
I'd really like to see this cool game finished!