Coop's game Reviews on Newgrounds

[Effective Attack]

Somewhat infuriating

I was impressed with the simple nature of the game, but a four second fuel limit for these missiles seemed to be quite unrealistic. I'd have made a few changes to the format, which may or may not have had much of an effect upon the overall gameplay:

1) Targeting computer - plot out the route that the missile / rocket is to follow, then send it on it's way - this is really down to timing, dependant upon mobile obstacles.

2) 3D targeting - we know that nowadays targets can be shot at by launching things over the top, so this really needs to advance. I know that it brings in a whole new wave of issues with the programming, but if the game is to advance, then it needs to take something positive forward.

3) Blast radius - when a missile explodes, it will do some damage. After the four second limit expired, the explosion graphic practically engulfed the base and as a result, I was very dismayed to see that the base still stood, without so much as a scratch.

You've earned a daily 5th for this (getting props from the medal obsessed community is always good) but more work is required, if you're to get this up to daily feature standard. I'm sure you're capable of this :D

[Review Request Club]

[BlastOff Bunnies]

Not bad at all

I enjoyed playing this game, much like the "predecessors" of this kind, such as Hedgehog Launch, Toss the Turtle and the like. There are differences, such as the absence of a multiplier for the sum of the flight and the only powerups boost you slightly, give you more ammunition, more money, or another go at the course. I'm sure that more could be added there, along with more of a panorama from side to side. After all, we don't live in a giant tube on this planet.

Quirky graphics, very enjoyable and certainly addictive qualities to it, such as the medals for Newgrounds that I fully intend to collect over time. THere is plenty of room to develop more with this, including things that you can spend even more cash on. What about making the bunnies more aerodynamic, throwing them a parachute or a glider, for a few seconds? Things like this can get your players more money, more points and gives more playability.

Multiplying for the duration of the flight, or the height gained / distance traveled could be a nice way to expand, so I look forward to seeing what you're capable of there :)

[Review Request Club]

[Fever! Invaders]

Psychedelic SPace Invaders

I like this game - there's a lot of good stuff going for it. The music doesn't put me off too much, nor does the format of the game get too difficult, too quickly, either, which is nice.

You've captured much of the original appeal of Space Invaders, though without the shields that I recall from the original 80s arcade machines. I've been there and done that quite some time ago, I'm afraid. The control interface could use a little keyboard programming, as it would seem more at home than the mouse interface that you have as the default.

Combos were a nice addition and it really did focus on the annoying aspect, with even more colours floating around on the screen. I think it was a shame really that the Invaders themselves were so monochromatic and unchanging. Each wave seemed to pit the same groups against you and they never even bothered to fire their own excrement at you, just accepting the destruction by lazer as their inevitable fate.

So, to improve, give us more variation in the Invaders, have them shoot at us and give us the shields back. Also, when Invaders are destroyed off the sides, have the remaining Invaders move to the side of the screen, like in the classic - shooting the sides of the units can and should buy you more time ;)

A little colour added to the Invaders, some high scores tables and even a decent preloader would be a nice addition to make this piece really worthy of those last three stars. Oh, and NG Medals as well - I'd love to see a game like this that I can get medal score for.

[Review Request Club]

[The Powder Keg V2]

A real shame

There is great potential for this game - I feel that it's absolutely gutting that there were so many pitfalls, which stopped me from enjoying this game the the full extent of its potential.

As you walk along in the mine, there are idle pockets that give the impression of a maze game, but with one fatal issue - you can't get out of these holes. Why not have ladders in there, or more likely, a precarious looking wooden bridge across it, that you might have to repair, lest it cave in and then trap you good and proper?

Some issues with the controls did give the whole thing an issue, as you try to walk along a straight line and the guy seems incapable of walking up a slight gradient in a slope, which does make it annoying. Combined with the other issues within the game, it does even go so far as to become monotonous.

I would suggest a complete overhaul of the mechanics of the piece - why not have tanks of oxygen lying around, to give you more time in the mine? Collect them like powerups, along with things like drills, precious minerals, clues, more tools, which will help you build parts of the mine back up, as you might be trying to rescue some of your friends and / or colleagues. A plot is a must for a game like this, as it would give people some idea of what medals they are trying to get hold of.

Throw in a space bar command, where you can use tools, such as the drills and see what this will lead you towards, since there is so much potential, with games such as Minecraft making a stab at the modern games industry.

[Review Request Club]

[Crystal Crisis]

Hmm, not bad

Well, these games are rarely without fault and the gaps between some of the stepped platforms don't really look big enough to fit the guy between them, but by crikey, they are! If they are meantot be that close together, try making them just a little closer on top and stopping our erstwile hero from falling to his doom.

With the way that the game unfolds, failure seems to be almost rewarded, with a crack at a new level, the previous one just unfolding ad nauseum before your eyes on some weird sort of loop. Perhaps interlace the levels, so that you can progress through the world, rather than seeming like you lap some ridiculously small planet, causing issues with the crystal population, which seems limitless.

The graphics are good and so is the gameplay. This is an addictive game that will have me coming back for more.

[Review Request Club]

[Solar Strike]

I am so bad at this game >:(

What a great little game, though I was more than just a little confused about how the targeting system worked - one second you've got to aim the crosshair below the target and then in the next moment, you've got to point the crosshair directly at the target to get a hit.

I was quite surprised at how much these things swarm you so early on in the game. Again, I'll put this down to me being such a bad shot, but I would have thought that with the reload time being so long, you might want to consider making it shorter for people that enjoy "spam firing", since that does give a few more options for keeping the players that are genuinely interested in the game a little more chance of seeing the massive crab boss. Mines, rockets, asteroids and enemy ships bouncing off the armour really didn't help and as a result, I was quickly dispatched.

Overall, I'd say that this is a very good game. I just don't have the required skills to carry it off.

Still, with a few minor tweaks to the mechanism, such as automated, or assisted targeting for easier levels should make this a game that everyone can enjoy :)

[Review Request Club]

SantoNinoDeCebu responds:

Ye, since the game is all single point perspective things coming towards you aren't moving in a straight line.
I want to make a new one since I feel there's a lot of potential to be a good game, but working out a nice control system is one big headache.

[Santa Vs. Gravity]

Larry Meets Xmas!

Wow, this is just like Larry's descent game, which I loved as well. Thanks for the 100 medal points, which were relatively easy to get hold of in the end. A shame that there wasn't slightly more to this game, like Santa having a life bar and losing life for hitting the coal.

Perhaps some of the presents should have been opened, like candy canes, for additional help, snowballs, to throw at the coal or those horrible sweaters to act as parachutes, so you can get further in the game, with more control.

Good graphics, but I'd prefer to to have started each level with Santa getting pushed, or jumping from the sleigh - perhaps you could make a variety of intros, which work on a random looping system?

[Review Request Club]

thinking-man responds:

Maybe if I make a sequel I'll take those suggestions. Thanks :D

[Ban That Fulp!]

Good little time waster

Well, that was pretty enjoyable for a few minutes. I think that while there is limited replayability, as demonstrated by the fact that I got all of the medals and roundly left, only returning a few weeks later to actually review it, you've done a decent job, but not the best one possible. How you could improve it would be a mystery to this reviewer, but the addition of more people to the fold couldn't hurt. I mean aside from Wade-Mode, that is.

Smacking seven bells out of Tom is remarkably fun, it's just that I lack enough technique or rampant desire to ban Tom at massive speeds that for some reason other people obtain with consummate ease.

Catchy, if slightly annoying music, basic graphics and a decent game that's been done before, but seemingly will never get truly old.

[Review Request Club]

thinking-man responds:

Wow. This is arguably one of the longest and most thought out reviews I've ever gotten! Thanks!