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Feedback wanted on difficulty curve (puzzle platformer - free browser game)

A topic by PaulsGames created May 01, 2024 Views: 343 Replies: 6
Viewing posts 1 to 6
(2 edits)

EDIT:

I just made a new major update, so feedback is again welcome! The major new changes are that the controls are faster (but also enemies are faster to compensate), and a new ability is introduced: laying an egg! If you just want to try out the new ability: in the first level, go all the way to the left with both birds, and then jump simultaneously.

ORIGINAL POST:

I recently updated one of my browser games, Ostark & Didi, a puzzle platformer for one or two players:

https://paulsgames.itch.io/ostarkdidi

One of the recent additions was adding online leaderboards. According to those, only few people manage to get past the early levels, so now I'm wondering:

- is the difficulty curve too steep and are people bouncing off?

- or is the difficulty curve to gentle, and does it take too long before the game gets interesting? (Is "the hook" presented too late?)

- is there something else that's holding players back from enjoying the game? (controls? I don't know...)

So I would love to get some more feedback on this. If you play it, was something holding you back? Was some level too difficult? Or was it boring because new abilities were introduced too slowly? What were your (least) favorite levels?


Also, if you give useful feedback, and you have a browser game that you want feedback on (not NSFW, not horror), let me know - I'd be happy to return the favor.

As soon as the invisibility thing was introduced I found it frustratingly difficult to play single-player. Even for two players, I could see this being a frustrating level, and since there are no other puzzle elements introduced before this it just doesn't set a good trajectory for the game. I would have expected to at least do the "player presses button, other player walks through door" thing once or twice before being chased down by a bot. 

Thanks for the feedback! Yeah I was in doubt about this level. I think I'll put it a bit later - it's always good to let the player practice new abilities in a safe environment (I have known and preached this for years - just didn't apply it myself...).

By the way there's no standard "one player presses button, other walks through door" mechanic in this game. The core cooperative mechanic has a similar function, but is a bit more original. It's only introduced in Level 8 however...

More feedback is still welcome!

I created a gameplay video which shows some of the gameplay as it is in the later, more challenging levels:

Deleted 164 days ago

Hello Howard,

Your game looks interesting! I'm interested in play testing it. The need for creating an account and another player is a bit of a hurdle, but I'll try it later this week and let you know how it goes.

(2 edits)

One thing I might suggest (and I don't suggest this for every game), is Touch controls.

I realize that not every game can be a Mobile game, but I feel this game in particular might work well as a Mobile game, in addition to being a Desktop game.

As for the question of the difficulty curve being too gentle - I don't think it's too gentle. I see this as a fun game that leans toward being challenging.

Overall, I like the game and the graphics.

I just made a major update again. Have fun, and let me know what you think!