DoctorThrift's messages

Yup. That’s it with all of this “Quasi-Reviewing Games” – but only posting on my own Activity Feed, intending to deliver it to the Game’s Site … but … yeah – it’s a challenge if any perceived “criticsm” is going to be attacked as “wrong”. Which is why I’ve withheld some of my Feedbacks – particularly the Constuctive Ones, where clearly, I think the comments could help [but wouldn’t hurt]. A of other things on here are a bit unpolished or off-tangent – perhaps a Game that just took way too long, or I finished it over time, and forgot this or that – something I wouldn’t post anyway.

Not interested anymore. A tid-bit of useful information is great to post on one’s own Feed for future use or notice – but the Forum Threads just sound the most appropriate avenue to go to here. This site really offers a LOT MORE than I expected – and this is clearly evinced when other Gaming Sites are visited, where even constructing a simple profile is virtually non-existent, much less having a whole Activity Feed of your own to post ideas and anything to do for whenever. All of the Forums too – and the fact that they offer sections for things unrelated to this Site, or even to Gaming to General. That’s just f-in Awesome – bc if anything, the connectedness via these avenues with such flexibility is a feature that seems severely underrated when looking at other sites – especially when one cannot construct even a decent personal profile. That’s just Basic for me. Someone wants to “Stand out” – here’s my Avatar, here I am – it’s not bad, it’s just being able to be an individual on the site …

Know I haven’t been giving out my customary reviews & ratings. Guess I’m kind of wiped out – and I’m just drawing blanks when I look at the “Add Comment” tab. Typically, I don’t really need to think much about what I’m going to say. And if I press my brain too hard right now, I fear my reviews & ratings will be a bit off. But so goes it. I’ve enjoyed the last few games. Just haven’t got the words to put to any of it right now.

Played a Puzzle/Platform Game called “The Valley Rule” – and honestly, I don’t think that boasting a “made-in-72-hours-game” is quite the way to go. It shows. I couldn’t even complete this game, due to the awkward, frustrating, 30+ Attempts at trying to jump off wall over 2 spaces and up [after getting 2 “white things”, and have double-jump, there’s a high wall, and trying to get up & around 2 spaces worth was practically impossible for me. I play a lot of Puzzle & Puzzle/Platformer Games [and the latter I’ve been playing on & off since childhood, “hello Super M Bros!”]. I’ve conquered some pretty tough games, but the “toughness” isn’t because of poor controls, or poor design choices. Rough & Tough, but you learn through falling & dying, only to improve one’s skill level. Trying to hit L + Jump, then hold up/right – only to somehow fly off in the opposite direction, into whatever “white acid” kills you. The Puzzle aspect, as well, is limited to block-pushing – and there’s nothing mind-bending respecting the solutions. Essentially, my progress was halted because of terribly frustrating platforming – and this game needs a definite makeover. “2.2 Stars”. Final.

Too many games with Badges that aren’t functioning – where no progress is tracked. Was just playing a platforming game, and the “Easy Badge” merely required passing Level 1 – so much for that – had already completed over 10 or so – and … nope. 21 Levels – and the tracking bar still indicates that I’ve completed ZERO Levels. This happened to me just recently with another game that I completed & met the criteria for 3 Badges [Easy, Medium, and Hard], and notwithstanding a screenshot, I was only awarded the Easy Badge. The problem is: Replaying the game won’t solve it. No progress tracked = No Badge. I just closed out of the game I was just playing – too many games like this.

Just played a Game called “Speck Oppression” – and the word “oppression” really suits my experience. I have only completed 2 out of 16 levels [and typically, I’ll slug my through many games just get the full feel of it – makes any review and/or commentary more reliable, I suppose] – but truthfully, I don’t even know if I’ll go back to it, let alone finish it. I don’t even know WHAT I’m trying to complete, really – the game’s description is short [not concise, not to-the-point, just … short … WAY TOO SHORT] … “Herd sparks into collectors” – or what have you. And I’m moving this circle around – then next level, widening or shortening a fence/gate around this collector – I have no idea. I don’t know what this is. I should probably go back at another point and see what happens as I “progress” – [as it seems, thus far, that every level introduces some new “thing” to do – which is a plus, as it keeps the game from going stagnant – but if EVERY level introduces new elements, perhaps it’s a bit too much? – [or maybe it’s just too much for this game, given how obscure and “what-am-I-doing?” it is]. I don’t know. But I can say this: I’m not pleased with my experience, thus far. I don’t really even see what the “Puzzle Element” is here. Short & Concise: Nothing is clear here. There’s no clarity. I don’t even know what my Brain is supposed to be toning here. END.

Pixoji: Despite actually choosing to Save Progress this time [as well as NOT restarting PC, deleted history/cache/etc.] I … well …lost ALL OF MY PROGRESS AGAIN. How? Just by closing Tab – went back to site, still logged on. In my Badge Progress, I have 128 out of 150 Levels Completed. Now, all menus show that no boards have been completed, which means that ALL previously completed levels would have to be done again before the Number 128 would rise to 129 and so forth. Total BS. Took forever to get this far. And I was very cautious respecting PC issues that often result in lost saves.

Ugh. Now, “Hexiom” is a pretty damned challenging Game – and there’s a Badge for completing Levels 1-40 … Well – my current PC had a problem, and after completing 31-32 Levels … Well – No Save. All progress is generally kept so long as the computer doesn’t [for example] Shut off, etc. – but … ugh. Think there’s an option to at least start on Level 16 [or something like that] rather than at Level 1. Too much. Addictive & Hard. END.

That’s it. No more “thoughts” for subsequent, concise reviews on here. Too many are disappearing. And it’s taken me a lot of time to type out some of those … I’ll just type it elsewhere – or perhaps do it under notification that is less likely to disappear [e.g. Badge Earnings – so it seems]. Really frustrating. Last Game I played [“Evo Explores”] is Awesome – and it is now one of my Top, Favorite Games. Awesome Job.

Just “played” [barely] a game Called “Interlock”. Can’t review it & I can’t Rate it [as I have no idea if sleep deprivation has caused me to … move … so slowly. Is it the Clicker on the Mouse? Space Bar? I shift perspectives and look at the way in which thse blaocks are held together. But dammit … HOW HARD IS IT TO MOVE A PIECE [progressively]? I pull 1 piece out, and then it just sits there – notwithstanding my attempts to move it off the screen. The game keeps telling me to hit the Space Bar to change “Tools”. Initially, I was somehow able to switch using the Mouse … But … All of what I’ve typed here. Nothing to say of this game thus far – but I’m not liking how stressful it is to “Complete” Levels by taking apart interlocked shapes. I’ll have to go back to it when eyes aren’t heavy.

??? – I wrote a Commentary with respect to what goes [and what will potentially go] into my Ratings of variegated Puzzle Games under a notification that I received a Badge for a Game that … well … it’s NOT ON MY ACTIVITY FEED … IT’s GONE! – I’m not going to attempt to recall specifics right now. Much of it was much like clouds – nothing hard, set, systematic, at this point [and perhaps it might never be]. Essentially, I was elucidating the fundamental component of my Ratings of Puzzle Games: And [again] for lack of better words, “does the game make you smarter?” – in other words, in order for me to find a Puzzle Game worthwhile, it must give the Brain A Decent Workout – so much so that it helps bend, shift, and shape the Brain in all the right directions, helping one increase cognitive skills [e.g. Memory, Spatial Understanding, Arithmetic, Pattern Recognition, etc.] … If the game is lacking in any significant challenge [which, yes, some might not be looking for a game that requires too much critical thinking – they just want to relax with a casual, cozy game – and that’s quite all right] – then it will have a negative impact on my overall Rating [excepting games that are tailor-made for a younger crowd, in which case, I expect an easier go at thing]. Essentially: There are a number of factors that go into my Ratings [or so I imagine, but I can probably narrow it down to 4 or 5 things], but if the Game doesn’t leave me with that Rewarding Brain Boost “I did it!” Feeling – then, no. Get enough of that on our current Generation Consoles. Visually Rich & Musical – but that doesn’t compensate for a poor Puzzle Game. END FOR NOW [AGAIN].