PoisonHeart's game Reviews on Newgrounds

[Dystopia 101]

really anticipating a sequel!!!!!

plopix responds:

Thank you! That might happen, indeed, but I have other ideas that may be interresting too. But thanks for your support anyway !

[Electric War]

i was sort of annoyed that a tiny game without much fanfare that I played less than the ad ran....had ads to start with.

I like the level of "polish" on this. It looks and plays sharp, within the constraints of the design....which i think could have been tightened just ever-so. As is, I wouldn't doubt that there is ZERO proof this game is able to be finished.

Therefor, based on this, i must concede that there isn't a win-condition and so....I shouldn't rate a title at all of this variety.

However....

Out of 10...

GFX - 7 (minimal, sharp, and positive)
SFX - N/A (muted speakers during ad, did not unmute)
DESIGN - 3 (a terrific concept laid to waste by poor timing)
GAMEPLAY - 6 (overall falls short as hope dwindles of a win)

Overall, this could've been really something. I feel this project was abandoned too soon out of doubt at its potential, which I think could have been really great.

DBuck-Eye responds:

To be fair, the ads were from Newgrounds, not my game, and they go away if you get supporter status :) /endadforng

You're right that there's a lot more to be done with this game/idea, but really, this release was more about putting out a base product. This is as basic a game as I can make and the sequel is where it's gonna start to kick ass, I promise.

PS there's no sound in the game, because, come on, who doesn't immediately mute it anyway?

[Candy Road]

Super fun! how many levels..??

kwaji responds:

Thx ! 9 levels for the moment...

[Land of Enki 2]

it won't load in either firefox or IE, latest versions of both on WIndows XP. briefly flashes the ad window, then just dissapears leaving the NG gray/black wood-looking background. so....sorry.

TheEnkian responds:

The description has updated to reflect this.

[Cycle; Fourth Moon]

feels like a blurry mishmash demo that got some serious buckling down put it into it...not a...4th game.

JackAstral responds:

Ahaha fair call. Thanks for giving it a go anyway :)

[Basic Space Shot]

not a game, more of a "technical demonstration". music's kind of rad, i love the art. but still, there's nothing here, i wish the author had been less excited about uploading this project, but the zeal wins out.

still....i can't really feel ok about reviewing something with no ending, no challenge presented....no title screen....nothing more than:

if(Key.isDown(Key.BLAH)){
this._x-/+=var;
}

and:

if(this.var_HP<=0){
unloadMovie(this);
}

*shrug*

oh, wait, stencyl? oh lordy. i'm not even sure how much original content there is, here.... *leaves*

zeroflash97 responds:

All true points man, i guess it does fit "demonstration" more than game. Even so i suppose it was more of a way to show competency with the program.

[Fist Puncher: SoO]

this demo represents someone's dream. but it's definitely SHAREWARE being passed off as a "mini-game". the premise and formula are the same, but i'll let the Author argue that point in a response if they like.

not sure if it's "inappropriate" to distribute and promote this on NG in this way, not sure if that's actually codeman38's font going uncredited in a commercial project (don't think he cares) or a great reproduction of classic bitmap fonts. it certainly locks in the vintage feeling that most fuex-bit games would lose most of their slick atmosphere without.

i have no comment regarding the quality of this demo. i mean, i DID, but way too belligerent as it is.

shareware...that greedy little thing from the 90's when my computer used to go "CRACKLEFIZZLECRACKLE, ZZZZT' and that's how you knew it was working real good.

HEY! WAIT! LISTEN! I just realized that my favorite NG game of all time was sort of a 'preview' in its way. Alien Hominid was never fleshed out into a full-on Flash title. it was made into a PS2 game. but dammit, i still believe that the value is there for that. it was physical. it came with an instruction manual and display case. this doesn't. also, Alien Hominid didn't START as a demo.

i hate to say it, but for things like this, I tend to feel like i'm just backsliding. really? i bought a game from feux '88, and it doesn't even come with a box or have the nintendo seal of quality? can i take it back to the video store....? without speaking on the quality of the content, this mode of production feels very empty. it seems petty, complex, and cheap. like a boss that won't buy a new mop cause you can mop with the old one "just fine".

in conclusion, new personal rule: no rating and review process for demo titles or shareware.
not trying to be insulting, but i really can only review the delivery pipeline and not the content out of fear that I would be overstepping too many boundaries at that point.

PestoForce responds:

I guess you could over-think it to that point. But I think you're missing the fact that the Steam game is some normal guys' attempt to make something they love and this mini-game is my attempt to help a friend out. I think it's worth the price (FREE) as a fun SMALL beatemup with a semi-interesting boss. I'll be the first to admit it's not groundbreaking or my best work, but it's not bad, all things considered, and helping out fellow indie developers is never a bad thing. I appreciate your review though, I just think it's a bit extreme :-)

[Cosmic Clicks]

well, i thought cookie clicker was a great exercise in psychology. if you've got a propensity for addiction, and had never seen the mechanics of cookie clicker before, then you'd probably be up all night. if you have enough time to wonder why you're wasting it playing cookie clicker, you'll probably be joining Peace Corp tomorrow.

i hope the author does continue to make games, and i'm sure the development was a ton of fun. after reading ridiculous comments that compare the games characters to "Mickey & Goofy" or "Bugs and Daffy", I have to say that those characters were funny because i was interested in them.

these characters here, while they come close to being a shot in arm for something i was bored with as soon as i realized was it was, don't cut it. the banter doesn't run consistently, is excessive for something so....mundane, and while it ends up being the most original and interesting part of the game....definitely does NOT make up for less than zero ingenuity or improvement to a formula i'd describe as total pipe-dream waffling.

I had released me own game, Square Millionaire, in....October(?), without realizing cookie clicker existed. seeing that game only made me want to try harder, burn hotter, and kick more ass than fifty cookie-clicker clones strapped together like snow-hounds.

eh......ahem....anyway, in conclusion this game is EXACTLY cookie clicker, but instead of constant reinforcement of how amazingly useless you are as a member of society (heads up, Andromeda's still coming straight at us and many people still have AIDS), we have an NES-version of Abbot and Costello in space.

as usual, not TRYING to be a major buzz-kill, but the author should divert attention towards putting this to shame. A definite backslide from Boss 101.

final thoughts? it's not much of a genre, but i guess in a world where cancer cures itself and we've got no shortage of free time to spend not helping anyone, i'd rather people sit indoors and do this than touch my microscopes...

DarkTimmy responds:

Hey man, I am glad you have the faith something bigger and better is inside me. On that I think we completely agree! HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

In all seriousness, I'd love to say in my game making life every step I've taken is the correct one and I've miraculously avoided all the landmines of bad choice. Alas, I have not and I still sometimes venture down a path only to gain nothing except the experience.

Cosmic Clicks was as you noted, a blast to make and for that it paid for itself. I am still learning, still making mistakes and I can't even promise I won't make more as I go. I will. That said - as long as people like yourself CARE enough to write and tell me what they like and what they want to see more of I think things will work out OK.

I love making games, it's completely fulfilling and with your generosity and support I can make this work. Thanks for the reply and the comment! Totally appreciate you taking a moment to write! Best, -Tim