So when I came across This Is The Only Level, no sweats were dropped. Solving puzzles isn't anything compared to coming up with efficient algorithms. This was quick and easy. The design layout for each level was exactly the same but the mechanics were constantly switched up. Most games ease the user into the mechanics but this game's mechanics were so simple. The only challenge was it never stayed the same.
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| Finished! |
Now the real challenge was Wizard Wizard. This was like the old days of Mario where you had to beat the game in on sitting. You can't save in the middle of the level. The mechanics were simple. Move left or right, jump, double jump. Easy enough? Well the levels got incredibly difficult and I could audibly hear the whines of my peers of how they hated this game. In my head I rolled my eyes at how quickly this generation quits stuff. I go at it and quickly shoot to level 20 before realizing I had only a few minutes left to play a few more games. I could hear my partner exclaiming that I was a pro at the game as he was still stuck on the early levels. Maybe I should have been a video game tester. I asked Professor Morgan if he would give me extra credit if I beat the game. He told me he would but only if I play tested in front of the class. Sweet.
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Timing was crucial on level 22 |
I got through all the levels at home. Some like level 22 were simple. You knew how to beat the level from the beginning (the puzzle wasn't hard) but the execution was extremely difficult. I stuck through it without whining but definitely muttered a few "s" and "c" words I shouldn't say on the blog. (I have a British friend and that's where I picked up the "c" word.) I finally beat the game and picked up the gun to shoot the boss. I had forgotten the original purpose of the journey but I didn't care I beat the game.
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| Boss Battle was a letdown. Pick up the gun. Shoot. Win. |
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| It only took 236 deaths. #worth |
The mechanics were simple. A lot like the first game. But in the first game they kept altering the simple mechanics around. Here the mechanics stayed but the level designs became more and more intricate and challenging.
I watched my buddy Richard play and it was frustrating. I wanted to take over for him. Back in the day, you would ask your friend to beat the game for you because you couldn't. Now, there's cheat codes, walkthroughs, and a bunch of babies who whine about how hard the games are. Wusses.
I really loved Wizard Wizard. It was a throwback to those 8-bit games that challenged the hell out of you. The background of the game had a very clean feel to it and I liked that very much. It was very aesthetically pleasing to me.
I played a few more games like the Jurassic Heart dating sim which I found boring and incredibly linear. I also played Don't Shit Yourself which was a basic command line interface and you have to correctly guess the right commands before time runs out.
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| Mommy wow! I'm a big kid now! |
I also played good old QWOP which is an incredibly funny and challenging time for users to figure out a way to make the mechanics work in their favor. Mine usually ended up humping the ground and slowly inching forward. It's always an envy to see good players get into a rhythm to make their guy run.
Oregon Trail brought back memories from elementary school. My oxen always drowned in elementary school because I had no idea what I was doing. I beat the game this time even though it took like two hours.
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| Felt like I completed my childhood |
What a fun lab.
