Game Character description~

It wasn't easy for Hadrian to live through each day as hallucinations pierced into his dreams at night. Each time, he was reminded of the fateful day his mother and brother died, the crimson red that stained his view. As he fell asleep today, he found himself awakening to the deadly scene of the crash. Unlike other nights, he was unable to awaken from this hallucination. It trapped him within, forcing him to watch until a small orb of light came into view. The light, who is the helper, explained that he wasn't going to rouse until he was able to pass through the tests that his own mind offered. His own internal demons came forth as enemies, wisps of darkness that blocked his awakening. The only way the protagonist could awake, was if he defeated all these demons and managed to get to the entrance, where he would awake.

Game Character Design

Online game review: Layoff

This review is about the online, free to play game by the name of "Layoff" which uses similar game mechanics to those such as Candy Crush or Bejewled  but with a twist.
The game while staying true to its switch and match 3 of same theme is based around a large problem in reality: Unemployment. I found the game simple to play, with the rules clearly shown at the beginning of the game. It's a game made out of pixel art making it appealing to me with so many small details to each icon.

Things I liked most:

1. The pixel/8-bit style to it
2. It brings attention to real life problems. When you play a game you generally play it to have fun and escape reality.
3. Detailed.

Things I didn't like.

1. It gives you a reality check as mentioned in the positives.
2. It wasn't really challenging and the game mechanic itself got dull

Graphics = 5/10

Music = 3/10

Story = 2/10

Content = 4/10

Controls = 5/10

Overall I found that the game was a unique concept which taught you the truths behind how unemployment works. The bankers survive and the regular everyday people with any other jobs can be turned unemployed just so that the company saves money.

5/10

A game of Battleship

Last Monday I began my studies at AUT doing digital design, which focuses on cinematics, animation and game design in the first year.

Within game design we were asked to play a game of battleship with a partner, starting off with a normal un-modded version of the game on paper before adding in more elements to see how it would effect the game. One of the things we added were the element of the fact that when you manage to hit the other persons ships that you got another turn. This element caused the game to move along at a quicker pace which made playing a little less dull. You'd know if you've played before that the slow period of searching a predicting squares is of a tedious boring manner.

This experience was a good example of how simple modifications add and or change the way the game functions. Helping players to stay interested.

Crypt of The Necrodancer Review

The game Crypt of the Necrodancer developed by Brace Yourself Games, is a unique game featuring the mechanics of moving to the beat of music. While many games allow you to move the character freely, this game only allows the character to move with the beat of the catchy background soundtrack. 

The game surrounds the main character Cadence, a girl on a journey into the necrodancer's crypt in search of her missing father. But in order to find him, she must go through a series of dungeons full of monsters picking up items and treasure on the way.  

Things and points I liked most on the game:

1. I enjoyed the art and 8-bit retro style to it.
2. The catchy soundtrack and how it was a different beat for each level.

3. The challenging and difficulty as you progressed with the game.

4. The large (but not too large)  range of individual items you could collect within levels.

5. The menus were easy to navigate

Things and points I didn't like as much:

1. Although there were three levels per "zone" (4), it would've been nice to see more zones and levels as after you finished all for zones of a character, the game relies more on the different attributes and effects of the different characters vs new levels. This also effected the amount of soundtrack music, seeing as it was a different soundtrack song for each level.

Graphics = 8/10

Music = 8/10

Story = 6/10

Content = 6/10

Controls = 9/10

Overall I do recommend this game despite the low amount of levels, which are balanced by their difficulties. I have really enjoyed playing and will continue to try complete the achievements it has. The soundtrack is something this game would not work without and fundamental to it's success. 

8.5/10