Hello, Calvin speaking. I'd like to order a large pepperoni pizza.
Pyro MBP 724 Advanced Marbler [ss:Dark Winter] member is offline
Returning to MB after a while.....excited!
Joined: Feb 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 203 Location: Awaiting MBP 1.5...
Re: Instinct « Reply #1 on Dec 31, 2009, 7:10pm »
Wow. 2 LotM victories for you this year. 9.6-Originality: *sniff* *sniff* My instincts tell me that instinct is not required in any other level. 9-Creativity: Your challenges use instict like it should be used. The design is very nicely planned. 8-Challenge: It's a bit too hard, but I do not see impossibility. 7.5-Replayability: Above average, I keep playing until I feel it's time to move on. 7.8-Editing: Good, good. Only a handfull of flaws throughout the level.' 8.5-Fun Factor: It's ok, but I eventually get somewhat bored with it.
9.6-Originality: *sniff* *sniff* My instincts tell me that instinct is not required in any other level.
You call this adequate reasoning? As far as I'm concerned, instinct is required in every MB level except an RGM.
Instinct by Andrew Sears
Originality: 5/10
It’s a real mixed bag here. Most of the level is made up of challenges we’ve all seen before, but then a few twists come into the picture: Random Force on the giant halfpipe, a moving sloped MP (used to boost your leap), holey flooring, – a lot of very interesting challenges done in a familiar context but with an original spark. Nonetheless, we also have things like the old tarmac/bumpers combo and a replication of Ordeal’s gravity MP ride. Overall, I get the impression that small things were done with innovation in mind, but overall, Instinct doesn’t present anything astoundingly new to the player. Its main problem is that even if originality does occur, it’s based on something old.
Creativity: 10/10
Quite excellent. This level did a fantastic job of changing things up for every stage, and the player is constantly being presented with new things to do and challenges to figure out. I’m positive you must have used every friction short of Oaky’s zero-control purple one (in which case you would have had to jump in the time machine and set the clock forward for half a year), and each is used in a well-chosen context. MPs are here, as are everything from wall-hitting to a speed challenge (the final teleport room). Huge variety = huge points.
Gameplay: 8/10
Gameplay is excellent – never too challenging and always moving and testing one’s skills further. But I felt a few of the challenges were a bit frustrating considering their simplicity, although other than that, I felt consistency was excellent. Among those challenges in question are the icy curved slope (I flew off many times even with just one Speed Booster), the sloped MP that you use in combination with a jump, the trapdoors, and a lot near the end (including those super-irritating tiny sand squares).There was another challenge in particular that bothered me: sand + Gravity Modifier. The first Modifier is so easily skippable that it really defeated the whole challenge and made it pointless. Checkpoints were well-placed so as balance the level’s difficulty and even things out.
Replayability: 7/10
Not incredibly replayable, despite the fact that it has a lot to offer. Its length is a big minus, and many challenges aren’t ones that would attract me after a long period of time. Nonetheless, for the time being, it’s fun enough.
+1 for using awesome custom textures (Mkbul’s, I think?)
IsraeliRD Administrator Controlling Marble Blast with my Mind...[ss:Default Skin] member is offline
Dragon Power Supreme
Joined: Oct 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 9,929 Location: One of the sides of Core
Re: Instinct « Reply #4 on Mar 3, 2010, 6:45am »
Instinct has to be the only level this year to use just about everything, and then some. It's definitely one of my favourite levels of all times (for normal marble only) thanks to its creative and unique layout with many themes involved. There's just about everything one can imagine in this level.
Despite its early applause from me, the originality value of this level is actually not that very high because most challenges have been done before, or just been given a different way to do them. The most obvious one is the moving platform ride that easily resembles that of ordeal's. Other than that, a few challenges are pretty nice (the random force with the half pipe comes to mind) but none really jump out at you as being innovative. Nonetheless, all well executed flawlessly. Now, while the originality values isn't the highest, the creativity value is definitely top marks. Just about everything has been done and the flow of the level is perfect, everything is linked as supposed to be and it doesn't feel like a tower level (though it is). No challenges repeat and the ending even needs the player to do everything in speed in order to complete the final part of the level.
The level is surprisingly fun, none of the challenges are really hard or irritating like Andrew sometimes likes to do which is really good, but the level is too lengthy to keep up such fun raised but it's definitely above average. Probably the most annoying thing is the ending but that would be me. However, none of the challenges were extra fun, which meant that the level cannot attain full score, but it's not annoying enough to be thrown out. This also goes for replayability, where the level definitely offers just less than advanced players to actually have a good chance of beating the level and has a great set PT/UT as well as many shortcuts to keep it entertaining, but some challenges can be skipped completely even by normal means (like the sand/gravity). Short shelf life, but its above others in its category (even though it's lengthy) to provide quick enjoyment.
The level editing is flawless, as expected from Andrew and the presentation is another perfect mark, so that's already nearly quarter of the marks alone from two categories. The level is consistent in terms of challenge, it doesn't go too hard or too easy, but stays around the same level of difficulty (although a few incosistencies are found) but nothing too bad. The PT/UT is definitely something that can be attained easily enough with a number of shortcuts as well as plenty of TTs on the way. I'll give the level a good mention for having good balance of TTs with each TT being worth the difficulty of achieving it or finding it. The whole variety by itself was maintained well enough and kept in check with the challenge. Finally, the gameplay is great and as mentioned, with so many different challenges and themes there's just about everything one would need from a level without any really advanced tricks whatsoever. Most things that are required are basics things that anyone knows and they are put nicely into the level. I'd like to mention that sometimes some simple looking challenges are actually harder than they look (the starting ice slope with the super speed), which actually gives a fake difficulty feeling. However, with the use of some shortcuts some of the challenges can be skipped (some don't need anything special, like the sand/gravity section).
All categories except Gameplay are worth 12 points. Gameplay is worth 16 points.
Creativity - 12 : Loads of challenges, each one a few seconds long and all are placed with a nice flow from one another so that you don't waste time in "empty space" so to speak. All themes were used and no challenges are repeated.
Originality - 7 : A couple of challenges just feel rather odd for this level, most notable the Ordeal moving platform towards the end of the level. The level lacks in full originality and sometimes challenges are just a bit different from how we're used to them (but essentially the same) but none are really fillers. Sometimes not everything has been put to good use as it could have been and therefore it feels like it could have been done better.
Replayability - 6 : Short term the level is great, it's not too hard so it's rather accessible to more players and it doesn't do anything bad to hurt it's replayability. I don't see this level lasting long enough mainly due to the length of the level, so it just misses out.
Fun Factor - 9 : The level is pretty fun because it's not too difficulty, and the challenges are pretty cool. The only downside to this is that it's a long level and sometimes some challenges are more difficult than they should be (the starting superspeed+ice slope and the ending's teleport room).
Level Editing - 12 : Flawless, as expected from an Andrew's standard level.
Challenge - 10 : Good use of checkpoints to further balance a simple yet effective level where most challenges are the same in terms of difficulty-- nothing too easy, nothing too hard. PT/UT are well set.
Presentation - 12 : Great job overall, no mistakes spotted, pic's awesome.
Gameplay - 15 : Very good throughout thanks to the many challenges and themes involved (just about everything is used) and they all last a few seconds, so nothing is pushed beyond what it should be. A couple of challenges are harder than their simple looks (fake difficulty) which while hurts the gameplay a little because this isn't supposed to occur. Nonetheless, no advanced tricks are required, so if you know the basics of Marble Blast, you should have no problems beating this level at all.
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 88 Location: Missing all the TMs in the FHZ
Re: Instinct « Reply #6 on Jul 25, 2010, 4:58pm »
Some of these links are broken (Error 404). Whoever has these levels, may you please post working links to this level and others (Water World, MC No Trim)?
Perishingflames Council Member All hail the gods of metal[ss:Default Skin] member is offline
Joined: Oct 2006 Gender: Male Posts: 3,971 Location: Atlanta, USA
Re: Instinct « Reply #7 on Jul 25, 2010, 6:23pm »
I don't know why anyone would ever host important stuff like this on localhostr... you can find the levelin one of the level packs though in the meantime (http://www.perishingflames.com/LevelPacks/).
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 88 Location: Missing all the TMs in the FHZ
Re: Instinct « Reply #8 on Jul 28, 2010, 3:58pm »
Thanks, PF!
Instinct by Andrew Sears: Review by asuul714
Creativity - 8 : Very creative challenges. I saw a lot of old gimmicks, but they were used in a totally new way. Although a few challenges were pointless, with no time travels (the tightrope, or the ordeal-esque moving platform), and could be removed; most of the challenges were simple but effective. The durations of the TMs were a bit inconsistent, but it doesn't really matter when you get all of them.
Originality - 7 : Instinct would not be what I would describe as a "one-of-a-kind" level, but the challenges were original enough to boost the score, and I absolutely love the layout: sort of a mega-remake of Ascent of Peril only this one's actually possible.
Replayability - 9 : This level is more replayable to me than to most other people. I really enjoyed finding ways to get the TMs quickly, and the UT still remains a challenge for me to overcome. The level requires a perfect combination of speed, accuracy and stamina, and the fact that the level was so long made it even more replayable for me.
Fun Factor - 9 : The fun that I got out of this level is surprising given how long it was. The challenges were of the right difficulty (so I still messed up a lot) but most of the time it was my fault, and not the level's fault. The PT was easy, as a PT should be; but I like how the UT can be challenging for me, yet it can also be uber-pwned by the pros.
Level Editing - 10 : Yea whatever. You know, since nobody reads this section, it might be a good place to insert subliminal messages: dabfil7lh4r8htos9bgils8uw3lgounbfdvwatchporn892gfdusbludsbjhwbcjgi3lufgebv2012isrealziuawduaibssluslnzsl38wz9999bfzvlsmo keweedbuidaobfalwudbuladsjbfdsfhbjfdlvivfxhubfjxk
Challenge - 7 : Despite the length of the level, there weren't any extremely hard mess-up areas for me. Neither were there challenges that I got past every time. The only parts I have complaints about are the one with the fast moving platform, the tightropes (eww), and the bumpy half-pipe which I always seem to get stuck in.
Presentation - 10 : Well presented, but I think the picture left something to be desired. Nothing much to say for the presentation: the spelling/grammar were good, the help texts were helpful, and the textures were very vivid and eye-catching.
Total: 60/70 ~ 9/10. Nice level, and I hope you do well in LotY!
![[Home]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/home.png "[Home]")
![[New Topics]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/menu/topics.png "[New Topics]")
![[Help]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/help.png "[Help]")
![[Search]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/search.png "[Search]")
![[Calendar]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/calendar.png "[Calendar]")
![[Login]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/login.png "[Login]")
![[Register]](http://images.proboards.com/new/menu/register.png "[Register]")
![[Search This Thread]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/search2.png "[Search This Thread]")
![[Reply]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/reply.png "[Reply]")
![[Send Topic To Friend]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/sendtopic.png "[Send Topic To Friend]")
![[Print]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/print.png "[Print]")
![[poll]](http://images.proboards.com/new/poll_icon.png "[poll]"){kind=icon}
Poll
Author
![[msn]](http://images.proboards.com/new/msn.png "[msn]")
![[homepage]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/www_sm.png "[homepage]")
![[Quote]](http://images.proboards.com/new/buttons/quote.png "[Quote]")
Logged
![[avatar]](http://platinum.philsempire.com/platinum/original.jpg "[avatar]")
![[image]](http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9523/marbleblastbannerdefaul.jpg "[image]")
![[avatar]](http://www.graphicsgrotto.com/animatedgifs/stickfigures/images/agstickfigures15.gif "[avatar]")
![[homepage]](http://rogue-ninja.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/pwned.jpg "[homepage]")
![[image]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_clW92NzmFvI/SgbEcBXksnI/AAAAAAAABK0/A46yTleYmHI/s320/funny-sign1.jpg "[image]")
![[avatar]](http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/attachments/the-world-is-a-joke/4373d1243693805-american-world-map-472f2713d9a0famerican_world_map16.jpg "[avatar]")
![[image]](http://i47.tinypic.com/2zzhir4.png "[image]")
![[image]](http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1544/377jq6.jpg "[image]")
![[image]](http://s.ytimg.com/yt/img/creators_corner/200x120_watchme_grey.png "[image]")
![[avatar]](http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9599/dragonavatar2.png "[avatar]"){kind=avatar}
![[avatar]](http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/Perishingflames/janedoe.jpg "[avatar]")
![[image]](http://www.rss2gif.com/rss_Hh9wxxg7AutPuVNfzBrT.gif "[image]")
